By Baptist Press
“Value of a Soul,” the My Hope evangelistic outreach film that will mark Billy Graham’s 97th birthday, features Purple Heart recipient and retired Army Maj. Scotty Smiley, who lost his vision in a car bomb explosion in Iraq.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BP) — The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) will release Oct. 15 a new film in its global “My Hope” outreach and is encouraging pastors to use the free resource in conjunction with Graham’s 97th birthday celebration Nov. 7.
“Value of a Soul” showcases the testimonies of three born-again believers, including a former hard-core underground rapper, a Purple Heart recipient and a twice-divorced mother who suffered an abortion years ago at age 16.
The new film and accompanying resources are suited for use by pastors and laypeople alike, My Hope vice president Steve Rhoades said in a press release.
“Our focus is on encouraging and equipping the local church to simply share Jesus,” Rhoades said. “We want to help local congregations by providing high-quality free resources — like “Value of a Soul” — anyone can use to reach out with a message of hope in their communities.”
The “Value of a Soul” trailer may be viewed at MyHopeWithBillyGraham.org/Value-Of-A-Soul-Trailer, and the full 30-minute film will be available for free online viewing and download Oct. 15, BGEA said. Advance orders of a single complimentary DVD are being taken online, along with requests for free prayer cards. Additional copies of the DVD and related discipleship resources will be available for nominal fees and shipping costs.
Value of a Soul focuses on Jesus’ question on the worth of a person’s soul in Mark 8:36-37 and features San Antonio burger restaurant owner Mark Outing, who was known as Magic Mark in the rap group P.K.O.; retired U.S. Army Maj. Scotty Smiley, who lost his vision in a car bomb explosion in Iraq; and motorcycle shop owner Laura Klock, who lost a child to abortion.
“All three stories, and [Franklin Graham’s] message in the film, address the underlying truth that each person — each soul — has value,” Rhoades said. “We hope churches and individuals will begin praying and planning now for how God can use this film to reach out to neighbors, family and friends with a message of hope this November and beyond.”
Value of a Soul is the latest in a series of My Hope films, including “Heaven,” released in 2014, and “The Cross” and “Defining Moments,” both released in 2013.
The My Hope outreach encourages churches, individuals, businesses and community venues to host My Hope viewing parties including DVD viewings and invitations to accept Christ. Since its international launch in 2002, the My Hope evangelistic outreach has been implemented in 60 countries in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Including the 2013 debut in the U.S. of “My Hope America,” more than 350,000 churches and 4 million individuals have participated in the evangelistic outreach, BGEA said. Decisions to receive Christ have surpassed 10 million, BGEA said, including 160,000 in the U.S.
Value of a Soul will be released in Canada this fall, and a new My Hope UK film is in production to be released to churches and groups in the United Kingdom, BGEA said.
