The Derksen Family Blog

I know this is behind schedule, but on March 12 Mom and I flew to the week long Christian Worldview Film Festival in San Antonio, Texas. In the Sweet By and By had been chosen as an official selection so that is why we went.

The first half of the week included sessions on the technical aspects of film making and also messages challenging Christian film makers to present the gospel and to keep high Biblical standards in their film making. The last half of the week all the films that had been selected were shown, followed by an awards ceremony. (Dad and Andrew joined us for the last half of the week.)

There was a great speaker lineup, 27 people in all. Stephen Kendrick (he and his brother Alex have made many popular Christian films) gave a few great keynotes.

Phillip Telfer, the founder of C WVFF. He is a pastor, and also travels around talking about media discernment.

Ken Carpenter, is a Christian film producer/ director, and has made quite a number of films under his former production company- Franklin Springs Media, and now he is in the process of releasing a feature film.

Directors panel- from left to right: Rich Christiano (‘A Matter of Faith’, ‘Secrets of Jonathan Sperry’, etc.), George Escobar (‘Come What May’, etc.), Brett Varvel (‘The War Within’ etc,), Dallas Jenkins (‘The Resurrection of Gavin Stone’, etc.), and Ken Carpenter (‘Measure Twice Cut Once’, ‘Run the Race’, etc.)

John-Clay Burnett giving a workshop. He has worked on many films, including editing ‘Polycarp’.

With film maker George Escobar.

With Garry Nation. He is long- time stage actor, and also played the lead role, Polycarp in the film of the same name.

One of the three showings of In the Sweet By and By.

At the end of the week, after listening to speakers and watching many films, was the awards ceremony. There were different award categories for the 80 + films entered. The film ‘Champion’ made by a large church won Best Feature Film, and the Audience Choice award (the filmmakers are in the picture above).

We are thankful to God for the safety he provided on the six flights it took to get there and back, and also safety driving in the large city of San Antonio. While we did not 100% agree with all the views the speakers/ films had, It was a great opportunity to go to this festival.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

What a win-win-win situation! Andrew recently participated in a month long Read-a-thon. Not only did he read 1656 pages from 26 books (15 of which were books of the Bible), but he also raised funds for Gospel Echoes and won one of the 3 grand prize bikes! He was able to sell his old bike to his brother whose bike had been stolen. Gospel Echoes raised almost $18,000 to supply Bible study materials in prisons. At the closing pizza party, a young man shared how he had become a Christian in prison and his whole life had been turned around. The Lord used the ministry of Gospel Echoes to make this happen. That is the biggest win that this whole venture has in the long run!