MOVIE THEATER BECOMES MOMENTARY HOUSE OF PRAYER

 

     I want to share an update on 150 tickets we purchased to give away for the movie, THE SOUND OF FREEDOM. I printed 150 tickets to give away through church partners.  When I arrived at the theater Tuesday night August 1st, I had 37 tickets that had not been claimed.  As people arrived without a ticket, I offered them one and they all were given out and greatly appreciated.  Once the movie started, we tallied tickets and 123 had been redeemed.  I joined the crowd to finish watching the movie and prayed often for God to touch lives.  As the movie was ending, some began to leave the theater as credits rolled.  I moved to the lobby to hand out info cards for Thareso Place in Lufkin, a new home for girls who have survived being sex trafficked.  As I was giving these away, Mike, the theater owner came out from the lower level shaking his head and saying." You have to see this!"  He grabbed my arm and led me back into the lower level.  He said, "Look at how many people are still in here!,  as a special message was being offered after the credits.  I asked Mike if he would mind if I addressed the crowd after the special message ended.  He said, "You can do anything you like."  As the message ended, I eased down the isle and asked the crowd for a few minutes of their time.  I asked them to consider doing something with the information they had just received from the movie and the special message at the end.  I told them I would be in the lobby to hand out info cards for Thareso Place.  A lady in the crowd said, "Mike, Why don't you lead us in prayer?"  I turned back to the crowd and said, "I learned a long time ago that when someone askes to pray that God is at work.  I invited anyone that would like to pray to join me in a corner of the theater.  I also offered an opportunity for anyone needing or wanting to leave that option.  No one moved so I said let's pray.  When I said this, people moved across the isle to grab hands, others reached out to those in front or behind them, while others lifted their hands.  As we began to pray, groups who were standing outside the theater heard what was going on and reentered the theater to join the prayer time.  When the amen was said, people said amen and began to slowly leave the theater while having conversations.  I passed out 88 info cards as people left.  Numerous people expressed appreciation for the tickets, the prayer, the encouragement and the information.  I had several conversations and one quality visit with a young man about spiritual matters.  When I finally was heading out of the theater, a teenage girl who works in the concession area at the theater tapped me on the shoulder and asked for an information card and thanked me for the information.  The theater owners were thrilled with what had transpired through the evening and said, "We have not experienced anything like this since THE PASSION OF CHRIST!. The following morning, I received a text from Thareso Place saying they received a commitment for a monthly donation from a Center address! They thanked us for sharing their ministry!  I told them we would be praying this would be the first fruits of God's Provision from our investment in the Kingdom! If you have seen the movie, THE SOUND OF FREEDOM, and wonder as we di, “What do I do with this information? , How do I get involved?, here is a way to get involved. Checkout Tharseo Place at www.tharseoplace.org