Orthodox Filmmaking

The Protestants have them...
The Catholics have them...
The Jews have them...
Even the Mormons have them...
Why don't the Orthodox have feature films?

Here we are Lord...Send us!

Years ago I wrote a mission statement to the Christian World with the challenge to reach the world through the art of film making and to support filmmakers just as we support missionaries. In the sovereignty of God, the challenge fell on deaf ears and very few at that. Holy Trinity knew that my Journey To Orthodoxy was to be kicked into high gear and that, by His grace, I would enter the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I have been Orthodox for four years. I have found myself on the Orthodox Circle Website seeking to find other like minded missionaries. I have been disappointed to find the predominant attitude of those claiming to be filmmakers on the site is that of "I thank thee oh God that I am not like that filmmaker over there...". As I shared my pro-life feature film project on the site I was confronted by my brothers with all the reasons why I would not be successful with such a venture. I really had not asked their opinion. I had asked for their prayers. I am an arrogant and sinful man, maybe that's why I recognized the arrogance and sinful way in which I was received as an Orthodox filmmaker. But, I am a big boy and realize that a few trite voices do not a vision thwart. In other words, all the self-anointed, self assured, arrogant, so-called filmmakers, don't matter.

It is a given that God has called us to take the gospel into all the world. Orthodoxy, particularity in America, has been slow in fulfilling that call. There are only about 500,000 Orthodox Christians in America. We are segmented into our jurisdictions, hunkered down for fear that less money will flow back to our preferred patriarchal sees. Thus does the state of evangelism on the North American continent suffer. Could that also be why Orthodox filmmakers are not making more of an impact? We too are segmented, holding tight what we consider ours? Should we not hold to the faith of our fathers which says,

"Possessing everything but owning nothing..."?

And, yet, I am encouraged. I have recently become acquainted with two Greek brothers who were raised Orthodox in the Greek jurisdiction. Again, in the sovereignty and timing of God, they find that they have journeyed back to their faith and found the spiritual well deeper than they had ever known. From the depths of the well they unexpectedly tasted the heart of the Great Commission in relation to filmmaking. I am encouraged because they get it. I am encouraged because...they are not filmmakers (yet). They are Christians. It seems I have more than once had to qualify the fact that I do not make Christian films. I am a Christian who makes films. Perhaps those of us who cling to our artistic, self-promoting arrogance, will be usurped by the likes of these Greek brothers, who have been entrusted with a pure heart and understanding as to why we are given any gift. "Adventiat Regnum Tuus", let "Thy Kingdom Come", not ours.

Master, if you will but say the word I will be healed. Master say the word. Master say the Word. God grant that those of us in the Orthodox faith who have been snatched from the mouth of the vile world of self-exhibition and self-promotion may be molded into instruments of Thy peace. Holy Trinity grant that those of us who have sought individual artistic achievement may become One with you, with the Church and with our brothers with whom we share this vision:

To reach the world through the art of film making and
to support filmmakers just as we support missionaries.

Now, in this time, let me put the trumpet to my lips and call on all existing and future Orthodox Filmmakers. I call on the Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Bishops, Priests, deacons, laymen of the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, to support with finances and prayers, your filmmaker missionaries who do reach the lost of this world through the most influential medium on the planet. But even if you do not, we will prevail for the angel of the Lord goes before us. What God has put together, no man can tear apart.

Nathan Lee Lewis-A Sinner
Executive Producer
Kingdom Films, Inc.

UPDATE: 1/16/2010 Kingdom Films has been dissolved as a corporation. Please see: www.nathanleelewis.com 

www.mosestheblack.com