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Entertainment, Faith

Angel Studios Announces October 27 Theatrical Release Date for AFTER DEATH

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Feature Length Film Explores Stories of Near Death Experiences as Told By Survivors, Scientists, Medical Professionals, and New York Times Best-Selling Authors

Provo, UT—(September 15, 2023 ) – Studios, the studio behind the summer blockbuster SOUND OF FREEDOM, is announcing their next theatrical release, the feature-length film AFTER DEATH.  AFTER DEATH will premiere in theaters nationwide on October 27, 2023.

“The Angel Guild found AFTER DEATH to be a  compelling cinematic experience,” said Jared Geesey, CDO of Angel Studios. “Life’s biggest question deserves the biggest screen.”

“I’ve found that there are a lot of people in this world who are hurting and searching,” said Stephen Gray, Director of AFTER DEATH. “I have a deep personal connection to the stories we’ve included in our film, which is why I’ve dedicated the past 6+ years of my life exploring these questions so that it might become a beacon of hope for others. For skeptics, this film opens the door to begin to ask haunting questions.”

AFTER DEATH is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration into the enigmatic question that has fascinated humanity for centuries: “What happens when we die?”  Through personal accounts, philosophical discussions, and scientific research, the film takes viewers on a profound journey of discovery. 

AFTER DEATH features New York Times bestselling authors, doctors, scientists, and survivors, including Don Piper (90 Minutes in Heaven), Dr. Mary Neal (To Heaven and Back), John Burke (Imagine Heaven), Dr. Jeffrey Long (Evidence for the Afterlife), and Dr. Raymond Moody (Life After Life). 

AFTER DEATH, a Sypher Studios Production, was written and directed by Stephen Gray (DISCOVERING HEAVEN), co-directed by Chris Radtke (AMONG THIEVES), and produced by Jens Jacob (I’M NOT CRAZY I’M SICK, WAR UNFOLDING) and Jason Pamer (NICK: THE NICK VUJICIC STORY, THE HEART OF MAN). 



Business, Entertainment

Angel Studios’ ‘Sound of Freedom’ Projecting $85 Million 2nd Weekend Cumulative Box Office

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Inspiring, True-Life Thriller Starring Jim Caviezel Projecting $27 Million 2nd Weekend, an Increase of 37% Over 1st Weekend

PROVO, Utah — /Christian Newswire/ — Angel Studios, a platform and studio empowering filmmakers to crowdfund, create, and distribute films and TV series globally, backed by thousands of Angel investors, is announcing its July cumulative-to-date and second weekend results for its Jim Caviezel-driven film SOUND OF FREEDOM. Angel Studios is projecting over $85 million total cumulative box office revenue through Sunday, with a strong $27 million box office draw in the second weekend of the film’s domestic release.

“While the entire summer movie box office lineup is underperforming, our small independent film continues to grow week over week. Driven by millions of fans and supporters, SOUND of FREEDOM has become a national, and soon international, movement for change,” said Jared Geesey, SVP of Global Distribution at Angel Studios.

“There have only been 10 wide-release movies in box office history that have had a second weekend increase greater than 35% over their opening weekend. All of them achieved this milestone during Christmas. Angel Studios is the only studio to accomplish this feat during the summer blockbuster season with ‘SOUND OF FREEDOM’,” added Brandon Purdie, Head of Theatrical Distribution for Angel Studios.

SOUND OF FREEDOM: Box Office Results

  • Theater count: 3,265
  • Weekend Box Office Projection: $26,938,888
  • Total Cum Box Office Projection: $85,498,581

SOUND OF FREEDOM: Audience Scores

  • CinemaScore: A+
  • Rotten Tomatoes: 72/100

SOUND OF FREEDOM is based upon the true story of former government agent Tim Ballard who quit his job to rescue a little girl from sex traffickers in the Colombian jungle. In the process, Tim ended up saving 123 people, 55 of which were children, from one mission alone.

For more information, go to https://angel.com/freedom

Books, Business

Goodwill Media Services: Empowering Authors with the Freedom to Become Micro-Publishers

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Goodwill Media Services Corp, a leading micro-publishing platform, is helping to revolutionize the publishing industry by empowering authors to take full control of their own publishing journey through what they are calling micro-publishing. With traditional publishing routes becoming increasingly challenging and time-consuming, Goodwill Media Services offers authors a faster, more efficient way to turn their writing hopes into reality.

In today’s competitive publishing landscape, the odds of getting published through traditional channels are stacked against aspiring authors leaving them with limited opportunities to showcase their work. Goodwill Media Services understands the frustrations faced by these individuals and believes that every author deserves a chance to share their message with the world.

“We help writers who are tired of the traditional publishing route, where being a successful author may take years to materialize. Let’s face the brutal truth: it’s a tough road,” said Carl Dobrowolski, President of Goodwill Media Services. “What does this do to their vision, their countless hours of refining their book? The opportunity to make a profound impact? There’s an alternative: Goodwill Media Services. We empower authors to become micro-publishers, ensuring their book is sold in months not years. Their message deserves to be in the market now.”

By offering authors the tools, mindset, and support they need to navigate the self-publishing process, Goodwill Media Services enables them to bring their books to market efficiently and effectively. Authors no longer must rely on publishers’ acceptance and lengthy approval processes. With Goodwill Media Services, authors publish their work on their own terms, making their message available to readers sooner.

“We believe that every author has a unique story to tell, and it is our mission to help them share it with the world,” added Dobrowolski. “Countless individuals have turned to us and transformed their lives and careers by having their book published under their name. They like the path we offered them — one of freedom and success.”

Goodwill Media Services offers a range of comprehensive publishing services, a wide selection of publishing and coaching packages for every budget, including editing, cover design, formatting, marketing, and distribution. With a focus on empowering authors and ensuring their success, the platform aims to reshape the publishing industry and create new avenues for aspiring writers.

For more information about Goodwill Media Services, please visit www.goodwillmediaservices.com.

Business, Ministry

Gloo Launches New AI & the Church Initiative

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The initiative includes a $25 million investment fund to accelerate responsible AI innovation in the faith ecosystem

BOULDER, Colo.- Christian Newswire/ — Gloo, the leading technology platform dedicated to connecting the faith ecosystem and releasing its collective might, announced a new effort, the “AI & the Church Initiative” to empower the Church to responsibly navigate and engage the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). The AI & the Church Initiative includes multiple components including collaborative funding, events, resource hubs, content, and participation in a cross-industry working group for the responsible use of AI in ministry.

“We believe there is a moral imperative to responsibly use technology to advance human flourishing. AI is a powerful technology that should better support, not replace, relationships,” said Scott Beck CEO and co-founder of Gloo.

The initiative includes a $25 million AI investment fund to invest in efforts at the forefront of responsible AI research and development within the faith ecosystem. Gloo will partner with other aligned investors and organizations who are also seeking to advance the responsible use of AI.

An additional component of the Gloo commitment to AI is a first-of-its-kind hackathon, an event rallying developers from across the U.S. who will come together and rapidly advance AI-based technology to serve the faith ecosystem. Slated for this fall in Boulder, Colorado, the event promises to advance groundbreaking technologies leveraging the Gloo platform, where winning creators will receive awards and acceleration from a $1 million funding pool.

Gloo will launch this month the AI & the Church Hub, which will provide a single place where leaders can access the most current AI news, events, insights, and recommended technologies from top thought leaders. The hub will be a centralized, trusted place where church leaders can stay informed on all things AI & the Church. Ministry leaders can sign up to be notified once it goes live.

Partners across technology, content, research, ministry and funding are joining the initiative to ensure that the entire Church is served well in the conversation. “Understanding what AI means for ministry is vitally important to Christian leaders and their communities. We are honored to continue Barna’s partnership with Gloo for this significant effort. They’ve purposely created an initiative in which anyone and everyone in Christian ministry can participate,” said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna.

Some of the participating partners include David Kinnaman (Barna Group), Bobby Gruenewald and Nona Jones (YouVersion), Rob Hoskins (OneHope), Ed Stetzer (Talbot School of Theology at Biola University), Kenny Jahng (AIforChurchLeaders.com), Carey Nieuwhof, Bishop Claude Alexander (The Park Church), Tim Dalrymple and Nicole Martin (Christianity Today), Ben Elmore (Servant.io), Scott Evans (Outreach Media Group), as well as many collaborative initiatives such as AI and Faith, and others (expanded list available at gloo.us/ai).

Gloo will become part of a working group of organizations coming together to align and define standards for the appropriate use of artificial intelligence in the faith ecosystem. “As church leaders, it’s important for us to approach every new technology innovation thoughtfully and intentionally. This won’t be figured out by any one organization—it will take a concerted effort across the faith community,” said Bobby Gruenewald, CEO of YouVersion.

“Our ultimate goal is to connect and release the collective might of the Church. The AI & the Church Initiative is all about helping leaders do that,” said Steele Billings, Head of Gloo Exchange and AI Initiatives at Gloo. “We know leaders are asking how or if AI can benefit them in their ministry and in serving their communities. And most importantly, how can it help people have deeper relationships with God and one another? Whether it’s collaborative funding, new technologies, gatherings, or equipping resources, Gloo is committed to empowering church leaders to responsibly leverage AI to help fulfill their missions.”

Gloo welcomes faith leaders who are eager to help the Church drive a global conversation around the responsible use of AI. Find ways to get involved and read Gloo’s full statement at gloo.us/ai.

Ministry

Child Evangelism Fellowship Aims to Reach 100 Million Children with the Gospel

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ST. LOUIS /Christian Newswire/ — Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), one of the world’s leading child evangelism organizations, is reemphasizing its commitment to the Great Commission with a new slate of ambitious goals. CEF has been called by God to make it their highest priority to present the Gospel so children may be discipled in God’s Word. Their commitment is to:

  • Reach approximately 26.5 million children in 2023.
     
  • Minister to 100 million children each year globally with the Gospel in the near future.
     
  • Increase the number of Good News Clubs®, which already serve children in about 3,500 American public schools.
     
  • Train hundreds of thousands of adults worldwide to reach more children for Christ.

“These goals might seem bold or improbable. But we are already sharing Christ with nearly 20 million children every year,” says Moises Esteves, executive vice president of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEFonline.com). “What may seem impossible to man is attainable with God, for Whom nothing is impossible.”

Child Evangelism Fellowship, which was founded in 1937, has been rapidly establishing Good News Clubs® in countries around the world for decades. Clubs are thriving in Belize, Ukraine, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sri Lanka and many other nations.

Last year, through CEF’s combined ministries, more than 19.5 million children worldwide heard the Good News. In 2022, more than 439,000 teachers were trained around the world.

CEF’s powerful in-person ministries include:

  • Good News Club®
     
  • 5-Day Club
     
  • Military Children’s Ministry
     
  • Christmas Party Club
     
  • Camp Good News
     
  • SPAN
     
  • Christian Youth in Action

Each club includes a clear presentation of the Gospel and an opportunity for children to trust Jesus as their Savior. All the clubs have strong discipleship training to build moral character and strengthen spiritual growth. Each week, an exciting Bible lesson is presented using colorful materials from CEF. All children are encouraged to attend a local church.

Last year, more than 6 million children reached by CEF made professions of faith.

Business, Ministry

Cooke Media Group Wins Eight Telly Awards for Feature Documentary and Fundraising Videos

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LOS ANGELES — Christian Newswire/ — Cooke Media Group announced its win of eight Telly Awards in the record-breaking 44th Annual Telly Awards. Honoring excellence in video and television across all screens, competing companies include major Hollywood studios Disney, Universal, Netflix, and Paramount as well as corporations such as Apple, Sony and Microsoft. Cooke Media Group’s Telly Wins represented high-caliber work in videography/cinematography, cause marketing, editing, writing, voice-over and documentary filmmaking.

“With a decade-high record number of exceptional entries submitted, winners truly represented the most innovative stories being told across all screens,” said Sabrina Dridje, executive director of the Telly Awards. She added, “As a Telly Winner, you are truly a standard bearer of excellence in our industry.”

The winning entries produced by Cooke Media Group are:

  • Silver Telly Award: Museum of the Bible–5th Anniversary
    Winner in Non-Broadcast–Videography/Cinematography: Official Listing
     
  • Silver Telly Award: The George Shinn Foundation Charity Car Auction: Benefit for Ukraine
    Winner in Non-Broadcast–Cause Marketing: Official Listing
     
  • Silver Telly Award: Voice of the Martyrs–The John Chau Story
    Winner in Non-Broadcast–Editing: Official Listing
     
  • Silver Telly Award: Nativity–The Art of Maltese Crib-Making
    Winner in Television–Editing: Official Listing
     
  • Silver Telly Award: Nativity–The Art of Maltese Crib-Making
    Winner in Television–Writing: Official Listing
     
  • Silver Telly Award: Nativity–The Art of Maltese Crib-Making
    Winner in Television–Documentary: Long Form (Above 40 minutes): Official Listing
     
  • Bronze Telly Award: Nativity–The Art of Maltese Crib-Making
    Winner in Television–Videography/Cinematography: Official Listing
     
  • Bronze Telly Award: Nativity–The Art of Maltese Crib-Making
    Winner in Television–Voiceover (Roma Downey): Official Listing  

“As a Christian company, our goal is to convey excellence in every form of messaging we produce, whether it’s a fundraising video, broadcast television, film or documentary,” shared Phil Cooke, co-founder and CEO of Cooke Media Group. Thrilled to receive the coveted Telly Awards, he added, “We were particularly excited that what our team produced for the Museum of the Bible fundraising event was recognized in competition with top studios in Hollywood and international spheres.”

The Telly Awards report 2023 as a record-breaking year with nearly 13,000 entries from across the globe and top video and television content producers. Cooke Media Group’s Telly Wins this year add up to a total of 28 Telly Awards since 2010 including productions for the Salvation Army, The Global Water Center, and TBN.

View the full list of 44th Annual Telly Award winners at www.tellyawards.com/winners.

View Cooke Media Group’s Telly Award wins at
https://www.tellyawards.com/?s=Cooke+Pictures and here: https://www.tellyawards.com/?s=Cooke+Media+Group

Ministry

Bible App for kids celebrates 100 Million Installs Worldwide

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YouVersion and OneHope Reach Kids Around the Globe

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. /Christian Newswire/ — YouVersion and OneHope created the free Bible App for Kids in 2013 to encourage children to engage with God’s Word. Since then, the app has been installed by families in every country in the world. While it took seven years to reach the first 50 million installs, the app saw another 50 million installs in the past three years alone. With this recent surge in growth, Bible App for Kids is now celebrating 100 million unique installs.

“We know that the most important influence in a child’s life is their family,” said Bobby Gruenewald, Life.Church Innovation Pastor and YouVersion Founder and CEO. “With that in mind, we’re really encouraged to see millions of families around the world choose to turn to the Bible and learn about God together.”

With the app available in 66 different languages, more than 85% of those 100 million installs are from outside the U.S. The app has been translated into some of the world’s most-spoken languages like Spanish, Chinese, and French, but it’s also available in other languages like Polish, Mongolian, and Swahili. In every experience, Bible App for Kids is designed to bring Scripture to life through interactive animations and fun activities to help children experience 41 of the major stories of the Bible.

“Through this Bible experience, we’re seeing children in every country fall in love with God’s Word,” said Rob Hoskins, OneHope President. “We’re passionate about equipping the global Church to engage the next generation with interactive stories from the Bible and help lay a foundation for future spiritual growth.”

Children around the world are using the Bible App for Kids to share God’s Word with their peers. In Russia, 7-year-old Arisha used the app to tell her friend Mariana about Jesus. After a few weeks of using the app together, Mariana made the decision to follow Jesus.

“She doesn’t hesitate to share her faith and tell her friends about Jesus,” said Olga, Arisha’s mother. “After we downloaded the Bible App for Kids, she has become more interested in the Bible. The Bible comes alive for her now.”

One way Bible App for Kids equips the global Church is through the Bible Adventure Curriculum and supporting resources for parents, pastors, and church leaders. These resources are produced in partnership with Life.Church, the Oklahoma-based church that created YouVersion. As a digital ministry of the church, the entire Bible Adventure Curriculum is completely free through the Life.Church Open Network.

“We love using Bible App for Kids and the matching curriculum for our children’s ministry,” said Melissa Glynn from Life Valley Community Church in San Jose, California. “Just recently, I had a mom tell me that her 5-year-old ran through the house quoting Joshua 1:9! These resources are making a difference in our children’s lives, and they’re such a blessing to our congregation.”

With a story from Bible App for Kids at the heart of each lesson, the easy-to-use curriculum is designed to help children ages two through kindergarten discover how the Bible impacts their lives. Each video lesson includes original music, memory verses with motions, and small group guides that enhances what they’re learning through the app. Each Bible Adventure lesson also has a Parent Guide to give families tools to encourage their child’s faith journey.

Visit bibleappforkids.com to learn more about the app as well as parent guides, church resources, and more.

Business, Faith

Zarita Ann Melton’s newly released “What Color Is God?” is a charming children’s story that helps them to understand more of what and who God is

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MEADVILLE, PA. — What Color Is God?” is a lighthearted but important lesson of faith. “What Color Is God?” is the creation of published author Zarita Ann Melton, a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother who has worked as a registered nurse for over twenty-five years.

Melton shares, “This book answers the question we have all wondered at times: ‘What color is God?’ The answer is clearly found in the Bible and explained in this simple story, which is told in a children’s Sunday school setting. It’s so simple it will make you wonder why we haven’t all seen it before.

Melton shares in hopes of helping upcoming generations value their own skin color, as well as the different skin colors of other people, and to honor and respect everyone’s connection to God.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Zarita Ann Melton’s new book will entertain the imagination as readers consider the thoughtful questions found within.

Consumers can purchase “What Color Is God?” at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

Books, Faith

Professional Baseball Player Turned Pastor Writes Book Focusing on Overcoming Fear

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SAN DIEGO (PRWEB) APRIL 2023— Jeremy McGarity introduces, “Faith Over Fear: How to apply faith to any fearful situation,” a Christian self-help book dedicated to helping people overcome any fear with the proper application of faith.

In the book, McGarity presents the truth of God’s word in applicable ways during moments of fear or distress. Each chapter concludes with application-focused questions, a journal prompt, and an action step so readers can allow the truth to impact them in a personal and powerful way.

“The Covid-19 pandemic inspired me to write this book,” McGarity said. “At the time, people were feeling overwhelmed and defeated. Instead of following the negative and fearful feelings, I wanted to write a book that teaches people to overcome all fears in the light of faith.”

McGarity believes people were made for more than just wrestling, striving, and struggling. Instead, he says, they’re made for hope, faith, and freedom from fear. To nurture this spirit, he encourages his readers to reflect on the teachings of his book and cultivate a positive mindset, no matter how fearful they may feel.

“My book can be relevant to any fearful situation,” McGarity said. “Whether it is situations related to the fall of the economy, new pandemics, or wars, this book will help readers learn to survive and thrive in the midst of them.”