NASHVILLE (BP) – The producers of “Jesus Revolution,” a film depicting the well-known “Jesus Motion” of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, would like to see the movie spark an identical non secular revival in America at present.

Opening subsequent February, the movie tells the story of the non secular awakening within the nation that passed off greater than 50 years in the past. Many historians classify the motion as the best non secular awakening in American historical past.

“I feel God simply confirmed up in our nation in a singular manner at a singular time, stated Jon Erwin (‘I Can Solely Think about’, ‘American Underdog’), the movie’s co-director and producer. “It was a rediscovering of the essence of Christianity. It was simply equivalent to easy motion.”

The motion efficiently united disparate Christians, together with some older and extra conventional and a few youthful, extra charismatic “hippie” believers.

It largely started in California, when a pastor named Chuck Smith beginning opened the doorways of his church (Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa) to the youthful technology of “Jesus Freak” Christians who had freshly deserted the partying methods of their friends.

A lot of the bridge between Smith and the youthful technology was constructed by his friendship with a hippie preacher named Lonnie Frisbee. Regardless of their variations, the 2 grew an in depth bond and labored collectively because the motion unfold from California throughout the entire nation.

Within the movie, Smith is portrayed by iconic actor Kelsey Grammer (“Cheers,” “Frasier”), whereas Frisbee is performed Jonathan Roumie, who performs Jesus within the wildly in style streaming collection “The Chosen.”

The movie’s trailer, launched final month, has already amassed greater than 3 million views on YouTube.

Erwin informed Baptist Press the thought for the film got here whereas he and his brother had been making “Woodlawn,” a soccer film additionally set within the early ‘70s.

Whereas researching that film, Jon got here throughout the well-known 1971 challenge of Time journal with a colourful front-page picture of Jesus which dubbed the non secular revival occurring within the nation “The Jesus Revolution.”

Since discovering the article, Erwin stated he has been obsessive about the motion over the last seven years of his filmmaking profession.

“That journal article was simply this ray of hope in a darkish time,” Erwin stated.

“It’s this unbelievable article about this revival that was sweeping America and the non secular awakening occurring amongst younger individuals with a spontaneous outburst of affection, hope and pleasure in a time that was similar to proper now.”

One of many features of the motion Erwin was most enamored with was the variety of individuals concerned with it, significantly the connection between the older technology of Christians with youthful individuals going by their very own non secular journey.

“There may be some kind of magic in hanging out with individuals which might be nothing such as you, and these individuals simply targeted on celebrating what they agreed on, which was Jesus,” Erwin stated.

The Southern Baptist Conference and lots of particular person Southern Baptists had been additionally affected by the Jesus Motion. A type of people is Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California.

The movie exhibits Laurie, portrayed by actor Joel Courtney, as a youngster experiencing the Jesus Revolution firsthand.

Laurie would decide for Christ as a part of the motion and be baptized at Pirate’s Cove, a resort in Southern California the place Harvest nonetheless holds some baptisms at present.

Along with discovering the love of Christ as a part of the motion, Laurie would additionally expertise the love of his now spouse Cathe. The 2’s love story is a predominant a part of the film’s storyline.

Erwin stated Laurie’s longstanding marriage and ministry are proof of the Jesus Motion’s lasting impression.

“Greg and I’ve been engaged on this challenge collectively for a very long time, and he is likely one of the biggest pastors and buddies that I do know,” Erwin stated. “Their story portrayed within the film is totally correct. They meet within the Jesus Motion, fell in love and had been each baptized at Pirate’s Cove.

“I believed it was vital to see the motion by the eyes of a youngster that was looking for his manner on the planet, cope with his hurts and obtained caught up on this motion the place he discovered the love of his life. You’re seeing an enormous chunk of the film from the surface in by the eyes of a non-believer.

“Their story is only one instance of how a lot of the church as we all know it at present got here from this motion. I used to be shocked to grasp higher how a lot of the management of the church at present got here from this motion, and even all of up to date Christian music was birthed from this motion.”

Erwin stated he hopes the film will each encourage non-Christians to come back to Christ and Christians to a subsequent step in serving Jesus.

“I hope when individuals see this film who could also be sitting on the sidelines, that they understand God can use them too and they could be a a part of this story,” Erwin stated.

“The primary tangible factor we’ve seen occur and would like to proceed to see occur is individuals simply eager to get baptized. I’ve by no means had such a robust day filming because the day we filmed the baptisms at Pirate’s Cove, and we had individuals on set making precise selections for Christ and being baptized. I’d like to see extra baptisms in America subsequent yr.

“God can change individuals if we simply kind relationships and select to like one another. I hope that by telling this story, I hope individuals have the identical thought that I’ve that possibly this might occur once more in our time.”