God's Not Dead 2: The Heart of the Story (video)

Melissa Joan Hart

 

Published on Aug 21, 2015

Watch a sneak preview of the story for the upcoming movie, GOD'S NOT DEAD 2, which will be releasing April 1, 2016. For more information visit: http://godsnotdeadthemovie.com

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  • Film & Animation

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  • Standard YouTube License

Newsboys Premier Exclusive Music Video For Their Single "Guilty"- NEWSBOYS CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Newsboys Premier Exclusive Music Video For Their Single "Guilty"

3/4/2016 NEWSBOYS  charisma magazine

If you were to draw up a blueprint for a successful music career, the final plans couldn't help but resemble Newsboys' trajectory. They've defined Christian music for more than two decades, only to blow up expectations as they've recreated themselves again and again. Impossible to pin down, these musical shapeshifters move fluidly between rock and pop, worship and dance, to the delight of their legion of fans. Their live shows exhibit a kind of energy that, if it could be bottled, would power entire cities.

While the recognition for all their hard work is nice, the band isn't in it for the accolades. Instead, lead vocalist Michael Tait, guitarist Jody Davis, keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein and drummer Duncan Phillips do what they do out of love: love for God, love for their fans and love for the simple act of making music. Love is an emotion they believe we need more of in this increasingly dark world. They're so passionate about the idea that they titled their new album Love Riot.

"When I speak from stage, I often talk about love," says Tait of the album's inspiration. "Darkness has been so prevalent in our culture. Let's have a love riot—it's time."

For inspiration for their latest musical endeavor, they looked around at the good that's already being done, people who are shining examples of love both in their own backyard and around the world. The album celebrates those selfless acts, while also aiming to inspire the Church to refocus on this cornerstone of our faith.

"What makes Christianity different than every other faith is that it's built on love," Phillips reminds. "We were shown the greatest love from our Savior, but the Church hasn't always done a great job of loving people."

Love Riot hopes to change that.

The album is highlighted by the first single, "Guilty," the theme song of Pure Flix's upcoming motion picture "God's Not Dead 2."

"As a band, our primary goal is to communicate a powerful message through music," says Newsboys' Michael Tait. "With 'Guilty,' we wanted to deliver an anthem that carries an important message for today. 'Guilty' is a song for all Christians, as we seek to honor God each day in every way, no matter the cost. We pray it will help encourage and empower Believers—in our country and around the world—to live boldly for Him." 

In addition to the song, Newsboys are set to return to the big screen with a special appearance in "God's Not Dead 2," the sequel to the 2014 hit Pure Flix film in which the band made their onscreen debut. "God's Not Dead 2" hits theatres around the country beginning April 1, 2016, and stars Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe, David A.R. White, Sadie Robertson, Robin Givens and Fred Thompson, among others. The music video featured here includes a first look at footage from the film where key characters wrestle with their faith, and seek out answers to their questions about who God is.

From the brand new album "Love Riot." In stores everywhere now!

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

NEW from CHARISMA: Do you want to encounter the Holy Spirit and hear God speak to you? Increase your faith, discover freedom, and draw near to God! Click Here

Watch The God's Not Dead 2 Trailer - PURE FLIX ENTERTAINMENT

Those are the first three words in Ephesians 6:14 (NLT). And they are at the heart of the powerful call to action in GOD’S NOT DEAD 2. Can’t wait to see it in theaters April 1, 2016? Then check out the brand-new trailer!

The Battle Is Just Beginning ... From the college classroom to the public square, the name of Jesus is welcomed less and less with each passing day. If Christians don’t take a stand today, will we even have a choice tomorrow? GOD’S NOT DEAD 2 features an all-star cast, including Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe, David A.R. White, Hayley Orrantia, Sadie Robertson, and a special appearance by Newsboys. Where Will You Stand?

Everyone involved with GOD’S NOT DEAD 2 is deeply saddened by the death of Fred Thompson, the former U.S. Senator, who plays the role of a pastor in GOD’S NOT DEAD 2. Please join us in praying for his family.

© 2015 Pure Flix Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent to martinlighthouse@gmail.com as a registered user of God's Not Dead 2 and Pure Flix Entertainment.

I'm Excited About The Sequel to the Movie God's Not Dead

 7/6/2015 STEVE STRANG  charisma news

Some of the cast members from "God's Not Dead 2," including Melissa Joan Hart, third from right.

One of the most successful Christian movies of 2014 was a low-budget film about apologetics called God's Not Dead. It was made for a little over $1 million, but grossed $100 million at the box office, including DVD sales. It now has more than 7 million fans on Facebook.

I knew about the movie before it happened because it was based on the book by the same title written by my longtime friend Rice Broocks. I knew Rice was a passionate apologist for the Christian faith and skilled at explaining complex Christian concepts in a way anyone could understand. I was also aware of the many faith films being made—most of them were mediocre. So I was skeptical when Rice called wanting coverage for the movie, especially since they were having trouble getting theaters to screen the movie. But wanting to encourage any effort to bring Christ into the wider culture, we gave the movie extensive coverage right at its release launch.   

I'm not the only one who liked the movie. When we ran our article, it was shared and reshared by our readers. The first weekend, the relatively few theaters showing the film were nearly sold out. The number of theaters showing the movie doubled the second week. Clearly something was happening. The rest is history.

I tell you this because last week I visited the set for God's Not Dead 2 in Arkansas. I was the guest of Troy Duhon, who provided the funding for the first God's Not Dead movie (which an insider told me may be one of the most successful movies in history based on return on investment).

I wasn't sure what to expect for a sequel, though. Would it be the same actors in a different setting? I rewatched the first as I flew to the set and noticed all sorts of subtleties in plot and characterization that I missed the first time I saw it.

I was impressed again by how good the movie was: the acting, cinematography, the Louisiana State University location. The film even featured a huge rock concert from the Newsboys and a scene where car struck and killed one of the main characters (but not before he accepted Christ).

The basis of the plot is how a young Christian university student defended his faith (using apologetics arguments from Rice Broocks' book) in his philosophy class before a hostile atheistic professor. Yet it had interesting subplots that somehow all fit together: a leftist reporter who discovered she was dying of cancer, and a Muslim student expelled from her home when she accepted Christ (but her father, who was a strict Muslim, was shown to be emotionally torn over losing his daughter).

Another subplot was the anguish of a Christian mother with Alzheimer's. But when she spoke with her wayward selfish son, she spoke about spiritual things with clarity as if she was being led by the Holy Spirit.  

The movie had star power: Willie and Korie Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame made two short appearances as themselves that added to the plot.

Hollywood has taken notice that clean "faith-friendly movies" are more successful than R-rated films. I'm constantly being invited to screenings where the marketers are hoping Christians will pack the theaters and fill marketers' pockets with money. I walked out of one screening recently, horribly disappointed at a movie that claimed to be faith based, but was nothing more than a Catholic priest, a couple of Scriptures and a heart-warming plot. It didn't come close to communicating the gospel or even real Christians being a light in a dark world.

But God's Not Dead filled this need—a strong Christian witness in a well-written, well-acted film. Its sequel is about a high school teacher, played by Melissa Joan Hart, who is arrested for speaking about Jesus in the classroom.

The movie climaxes with a courtroom scene in Little Rock, complete with real experts playing themselves being called to testify.

I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard and saw. The stars like Melissa Joan Hart and Sadie Robertson were likable and seemed passionate about this new movie. Everyone I talked to from Director Harold Cronk down to the extras said they believed the movie would help teach a generation of Christians how to defend their faith in an increasingly hostile environment.

It was fun watching the takes and retakes and to watch and listen on the monitors at Benton High School in Benton, Arkansas, about a half-hour outside of Little Rock. They used an actual classroom and some local teens, along with members of some Christian bands and the children of a few well-known Christian leaders as students in the school.

Troy was at my side most of the day, explaining the movie business and talking about some of the exciting things that resulted from the first God's Not Dead movie. He also gave me a play by play on what I was seeing and who was who. But when he would reel off how this actor or that actress was on some well-known network TV program, I was clueless because I don't follow those programs.

Many of the actors professed to be Christians, including Hart—who I know as a spokesperson for Wal-Mart—who told me being in the movie allowed her to "come out" as a Christian in Hollywood.

I've traveled the world, interviewed three U.S. presidents and spoken at the United Nations. But I was unprepared for how much fun this was. Even though I play the role of a CEO at the office, I think I must still be a reporter at heart, because I quickly fell back into that role as I interviewed Troy the financier, Harold the director and some of the stars.

While at the filming, I recorded numerous interviews to be used on upcoming podcasts of The Strang Report. You won't want to miss them over the next few weeks. If you haven't subscribed, click here to do so. We're excited how the number of our podcast subscribers is growing every day.

The first time around, no one knew how God's Not Dead would succeed. The promoters were starting from scratch to get an audience. This time around, they have a brand, and many people like me eager to see what is next. How many of their 7 million fans on Facebook do you think will want to see the sequel?

Leave your comments on what you thought about God's Not Dead or this trend toward faith-friendly films in Hollywood. Share this with your friends. Let's get a buzz going in anticipation of this exciting new movie that I believe will be better than the first.

Steve Strang is the founding editor and publisher of Charisma. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook stephenestrang.

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Newsboys | Your Love Never Fails 2012 - music video

Newsboys with Michael Tate

From Newsboys [Baltic Youth Festival] in Riga, Latvia 2012
1080 HD

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Michael Tate

The Winners Are In: Casting Crowns, 'Oceans' and Jamie Grace on 7UP Can Win Big at K-Love Awards

     The K-LOVE Fan Awards (K-Love)

Casting Crowns, 'Oceans' 

and Jamie Grace on 7UP Can 

Win Big at K-Love Awards

6/4/2014 CHRISTINE D. JOHNSON   CHRISTIAN LIFE NEWS

Winners were announced Sunday evening at the 2nd Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. The event was hosted by Dancing With the Stars finalist Candace Cameron Bure and award-winning artist Matthew West.

Broadcast live on the K-LOVE radio network, the fan-voted show "celebrated and promoted artists, athletes, authors and entertainers who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ."

With Casting Crowns receiving the evening's biggest honor of Artist of the Year, other winners were announced in the following categories: Male Artist of the Year: Chris Tomlin; Female Artist of the Year: Mandisa; Group/Duo of the Year: Newsboys; Song of the Year: Mandisa, "Overcomer"; Worship Song of the Year: Hillsong United, "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"; Best Live Show: TobyMac; First Christian Artist to Appear on 7UP Can: Jamie Grace; Sports Impact: Carolina Panthers Linebacker Thomas Davis; Movie Impact: God's Not Dead; and Book Impact: Max Lucado, You'll Get Through This.

This year's K-LOVE Fan Awards partnered with World Hope to aid in the revival of the people of Detroit. With every half-million votes cast, World Hope committed to unlock a newly remodeled home for a family in need in the city. With over 2 million votes tallied, four homes will be provided to Detroit-area families.

Additionally, last week World Hope released the new single, "Hope Can Change Everything" featuring Jeremy Camp, Bart Millard of MercyMe, Matt Maher, Francesca Battistelli, Jamie Grace and Dave Frey of Sidewalk Prophets on iTunes. The song shot up the iTunes Christian and Gospel Songs Chart, peaking at No. 2. Proceeds will go toward the Revival of Detroit efforts (revivalofdetroit.com). Click here to download "Hope Can Change Everything." 

The evening showcased performances and appearances from the worlds of music, sports, film and books, including MercyMe, Switchfoot, Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, New York Times best-selling author Ann Voskamp, K-LOVE NASCAR driver Michael McDowell, Michael W. Smith and Scott Stapp.

This year, fans could interact with Christian music artists at the K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend. Starting May 30, the weekend began with the official Weekend Kickoff Concert, and all weekend, fans participated in the first ever K-LOVE Fan Zone, which featured a variety of fan-focused events, including tours of Jeremy Camp's bus, celebrity basketball games and autograph sessions.

"Once again, the K-LOVE Fan Awards turned out to be far more than 'awards,' " says Mike Novak, K-LOVE president and CEO. "We heard stories of God using music, movies, the printed word and the world of sports to touch His people and change lives forever. It's an honor and very humbling to be one of the ways He reaches His people."

The 3rd Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards is slated for June 1, 2015. For more information, visit KLOVEFanAwards.com