Grace Presbyterian Church hosts the viewing of a film suitable for even kindergarteners.
By JEAN JOHNSON
Published February 28, 2004
SPRING HILL - This Lenten season is being dominated by the debate over Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, which depicts the last 12 hours of the earthly life of Jesus.
But because of the movie's graphic realism and R-rating, many parents aren't taking their children to see it.
There are other movies sthat present the life, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ to children in a less shocking manner.
Valerie Moore, director of Christian education at Grace Presbyterian Church, is offering alternatives to her students. Last week, as a pre-Lenten event, Moore invited children and their parents and friends to see The Story of Jesus for Children.
The 62-minute movie takes the viewer on a journey with Jesus from his birth in Bethlehem to his death in Golgotha. Jesus is seen carrying the cross and being whipped and scorned, but the story is told from a child's point of view.
Except for Jesus, the main characters are children. They follow him, listening to his teachings, and watch him heal the sick, blind and lame.
Moore said the video is targeted for kindergarteners through adults.
"Kids talking to kids is always a good thing. They tend to pay more attention," she said. Moore's 7-year-old son, Matthew, was in the audience. He had seen the video once before at church and has viewed it at home at least twice.
"He talks about it all the time. We talk about Jesus and God all the time at home and what happened to Jesus. That's our lifestyle, that's part of what we do. He knows what it is to say prayers and knows Jesus answers prayers," said Moore, who moved here from Pennsylvania.
Christine Doyle and her husband, Larry, viewed the video to "see what it was all about and how it was presented, someone else's interpretation of what I had read in Scriptures and what I believed to be the truth regarding the apostles and the writers of the Bible."
Doyle said it was well done and asked and answered many of the questions that adults may have but don't ask. This was the second time the Doyles had viewed the movie. Both said they were glad they did because they discovered things they had missed the first time around.
The mother of seven grown children said she would recommend the showing to parents and children.
"It does have worthwhile information for both," she said. "More churches should offer these kinds of information to children."
Doyle agreed that presenting the video from a child's view was important because "children learn from their peers and it becomes more important to them."
Wilma Felton brought her 10-year-old granddaughter, Shalia Hannah, and Shalia's friend Olivia to see the movie. She said Shalia really liked it and asked for a copy so she can watch it whenever she wants.
"She said it was done in a language she could understand and that lots of movies are geared toward older people and children see different things than adults do," Felton said. "I'm raising this grandchild and trying to keep her centered in the church and teach her to respect herself. We need more movies like this and the parents need to keep the children closer to the church."
Moore, the Christian education director, brought three of her four children to the viewing. She currently has 25 to 30 students in her classes.
Christian videos are shown quite regularly, said Moore.
"There is a tremendous amount of material out there," she said. "You have to know the source, view it beforehand and know what the Christian beliefs are. We don't want to show anything that goes against anything we have and misinterpret the Bible. Some things misinform or add or leave out."
The recent viewing attracted about 10 children and teens and an equal number of adults.
"I would have liked to have seen more. If you expect, you're disappointed sometimes," said Moore. "I'm not sure why there were so few kids. Sometimes they're so busy with different activities, and it's difficult because of family time and a lifestyle with two parents who work all week, and the weekends are very busy."
