Mansfield was Chosen

Premiere

The location of the world premiere of the faith-based movie Chosen (2021) was not California’s Hollywood last Saturday evening (11/13/2021), but Mansfield, Ohio. Crossroad Church on Park Avenue West hosted the event. The movie’s producer, several cast members and a large crowd were present for the first showing of Chosen. The crowd was very well dressed, there was even a sprinkling of formal evening gowns and tuxedos.

Producer

Jason Campbell, president of JCFilms, which produced the film, made some introductory remarks at the premier. Camp bell indicated that Chosen was one of 40 faith-based and family films his company has made. His desire in making these films “to change the culture for good.” He also indicated that another film was in the works and to be soon completed called Duplicate Divinity, which is also being filmed in Mansfield.

Production

Chosen was shot in Mansfield and even included several members of Crossroad’s staff, who were part of the cast, including the Lead Pastor Dave Vance and the Worship Arts Pastor Ernesto Alcantara. The movie stars Dean Cain, Kevin Sorbo, Heather Habura, and Eddie McClintock and will be released Fall of 2021. The film deals with adoption and foster care, which is a growing concern in America.

Plot

The movie is a multi-plot movie which follows the lives of several children, families and situations all involving either adoption of fostering of children. It is simultaneously entertaining, inspiring, and educational. One moment you are laughing and the next you become tearful. It is heartwarming and heart wrenching. Family is a theme and boy, does our society need to hear that today! Unfortunately, many kids are passed from home to home in the foster care system, some never really find their forever family.

Purpose

Chosen should empower and motivate people of faith, especially, increasing awareness, advocacy, and involvement of the plight of children in need of adoption and/or fostering. In Ohio nearly 16,000 children are being cared for in foster care every day. And that number is expected to increase as the number of foster parents declines. There has also been an increase in teen suicides.

Chosen highlights the beauty and potential of adoption and foster parenting, but it also shows challenges that many adoptive and foster parents face. The movie depicts how communities and people of faith can come together to help overcome these many challenges. In the movie Child Protective Services (CPS) is positively portrayed, which is far from reality, but it does show how CPS should operate ideally. There are a great many problems within the foster care system today – child trafficking, abuse, and exploitation. However, God-empowered Christians and churches can take back some of the spiritual ground that has been lost. Matthew 25:35 challenges us all, “For I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in;”

The JCFilm’s website states that more than making a film for entertainment, the company’s goal is to leave a lasting effect on the lives of those involved in adoption and foster parenting in Ohio and around the world. Campbell is quoted as saying, "We don't just want to make a film. We want to make a film that will change and benefit the lives of children… This is more than just a film; it is a movement to empower people of faith to get involved.”  Campbell has called the movie “a blueprint for what churches and communities can do to help” improve adoption and fostering of children.

“Realistically, not everyone can be a foster or adoptive parent, we get that. But everyone can give a helping hand,” Campbell remarked. “Thus, we are creating Ohio Helping Hands to follow the blueprints echoed in the film to help people find ways to support foster and adoptive families. Simply put, Ohio Helping Hands will provide parents and children in foster care or adoption situations with programs that promote safety, permanency, and community.”

Promotion

Watch for Chosen to come to a theater near you later this fall and buy a ticket to the movie, and/or buy the DVD. Visit the website, https://OhioHelpingHands.org, and see what the Lord would have you do.