Filmmaker Stephen Kendrick is on a mission to inspire Christians and churches to “champion life” more fervently and to prioritize discipleship over politics when it comes to issues of life and abortion.
Kendrick, who recently announced “Lifemark,” a movie about adoption that will release in select theaters nationwide Sept. 9 with Fathom Events, said believers need to think beyond merely overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized abortion across the nation.
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“We really want discipleship to take preeminence over just overturning Roe v. Wade or helping a girl not choose abortion,” Kendrick told CBN’s Faithwire. “Bigger than helping a girl in a crisis pregnancy to get through that moment is, if you’re not helping her come to know Christ and grow in her relationship with him, she may be in the same situation a year later because those root issues that led her into that decision have not been dealt with.”
He continued, “When we think about what Jesus calls us to as believers, He calls us to the greatest mission: to make disciples of all nations.”
Kendrick said it’s essential to help these young women get to know Christ and grow in relationship with Him. Helping people discover Jesus and then apply God’s Word to their lives will lead to lasting change, he argued.
Watch Kendrick speak on these issues:
Kendrick’s contention that engaging only in political battles isn’t going to solve the real issues that plague the soul is a biblical reality. Plus, Christians must confront the reality that Roe v. Wade’s potential expulsion, while a powerful victory for the pro-life movement, won’t do away with abortion in America.
As previously reported, abortion rights will return to the states. While some locations will ban or restrict abortions, others will became destinations where the procedure will be more fervently performed.
Kendrick said Christians must dig deeper into the real root causes of these moral conundrums to help change hearts and minds.
“The church has to get beyond political debating,” he said. “We got to get beyond just short-term thinking of, ‘We got to overturn a law.’ Let’s change the hearts and the minds of our nation, and let’s do that by introducing them back to what God’s truth says because it does set us free.”
Kendrick is hoping “Lifemark” helps motivate audiences to think deeper about these issues and, in particular, about adoption. As CBN’s Faithwire previously reported, Stephen Kendrick and his brother, Alex, partnered with actor Kirk Cameron to create the powerful adoption film.
“Lifemark” is about a teenager whose “world is turned upside down when his birthmother unexpectedly reaches out to him, longing to meet the 18-year-old son she’s only held once.” The film shows the powerful journey that follows.
The film comes as society boisterously debates the life issue and as the Supreme Court is poised to potentially overturn Roe v. Wade.
“The church has an amazing opportunity in our generation to not only support women in crisis pregnancies, but we need to practice what James says — that pure religion is to also: take care of the widows and the orphans,” Kendrick said. “I think the church has an amazing opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus and our generation by reaching out and supporting adoption.”
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