At their 2023 year-end meeting, the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church showcased an upcoming movie "The Hopeful." The flick is produced by Hope Studios, the cinematic branch of Hope Channel International (HCI), meaning that General Conference leadership voted for its approval. The film has also been endorsed by the North American Division as a way to conduct cinematic / digital evangelism.
The film was praised by HCI Chairman Billy Biaggi, who is also a General Conference Vice President. Biaggi lauded the film at the International Christian Film Festival saying, “The video is highly professional, and the music excellent.”
The actress playing Ellen White is Tommie-Amber Pirie, and has starred in other films. Some of them: Link, Link, Link, Link, directed Link
The movie is coming to theaters on April 17.
Things to Consider
Movies and theatrics go against the counsel we have been given. Can the Lord bless that which He has already condemned?
Entertainment and evangelism is a bad mix.
The actress playing Ellen White has played other characters that are totally incompatible with what Ellen stood for.
It is true that some may see their folly and repent, and the Lord may pardon them. May this be the case with those who act in the movie.
Speaking of Ellen White, she said this:
UCR 3/15/1904 “You may be sure that pure and undefiled religion is not a sensational religion. God has not laid upon any one the burden of encouraging an appetite for encouraging speculative doctrines and theories. My brethren, keep these things out of your teaching. Do not allow them to enter into your experience. Let not your life-work be marred by them.”
4T 73 “Satan employs various means by which to accomplish his purposes; and if, under the guise of popular religion, he can lead off vacillating and unwary ones from the path of truth, he has accomplished much in dividing the strength of the people of God.… Those of excitable temperaments, the weak and yielding, flock to its standard; but when the wave recedes, they are found stranded on the beach..… The enemy of souls is sure to have enough dishes of pleasing fables to suit the appetites of all.”
CT 433 “Human opinions and sensational preaching amount to very little. Those who are imbued with the word of God will teach it in the same simple way that Christ taught it.”
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“The true Christian will not desire to enter any place of amusement or engage in any diversion upon which he cannot ask the blessing of God. He will not be found at the theater, the billiard hall, or the bowling saloon. He will not unite with the gay waltzers or indulge in any other bewitching pleasure that will banish Christ from the mind” (Review, February 28, 1882).
