Walk His Trail Movie Message Series

Though the slaying of five missionaries along the Amazon occurred decades ago, the truths and examples continue to roll down through time. God has much to teach us through what our human side sees primarily as tragedy. The Walk His Trail Movie Message Series combines the best of contemporary skills to instruct our visually-minded generation with ancient truth through an event more than a half century ago. The format provides flexibility for use before small groups as well as whole congregations. [Walk His Trail is] done well with high creativity.   Wallace Henley, assistant pastor Second Baptist Church, Houston

A Heritage Born of Sacrifice and Reconciliation 50,000 U.S. Pastors to Receive EthnoGraphic Media’s Teaching/Preaching Resource

The Walk His Trail Movie Message Series from EthnoGraphic Media (EGM) will be given away free of charge to 50,000 U.S. pastors. This three-part series offers an innovative way to teach and preach about deep sacrifice, true reconciliation and a lasting heritage.

The Walk His Trail Movie Message Series was inspired by the true story of five American missionaries speared to death in the Amazon jungle in 1956. EGM captured the fullness of this transformative story in their three films, Beyond the Gates of Splendor, End of the Spear and The Grandfathers. The spirit of these films and this program is best revealed in the words of Mincaye, one of the tribal killers: “We acted badly, badly, until they brought us God’s carvings. Now we walk His trail.”   “While the story may be more than a half century old, it continues to positively impact individuals, families and communities,” explains EGM’s president, Bill Oechsler. “Our hope is that the Walk His Trail Movie Message Series will align with ministerial programs, cut across cultures and generations and reach out beyond the church to those in the surrounding communities,” Oechsler continues. “It’s a way of helping their congregations experience this true and incredibly inspirational story in a new way and, perhaps, for the first time. But the real impact of this program will be realized in the teaching and preaching experiences at the local church level.”   Designed specifically for pastors as a teaching/preaching resource, the Walk His Trail program contains three parts that can stand alone or work as a complete “movie message” series. Creative and archival assets from the making of the feature film and two documentaries help illustrate and dramatize essential biblically based themes and messages. Steve Saint, son of one of the martyred missionaries, serves as a first-person storyteller throughout the series. Recalls Saint, “Over the years, many have sympathized with our loss, but they could never have imagined our gain.” Of course, pastors have the option of disabling Steve’s narrative to lead the message themselves.   The Walk His Trail Movie Message Series is a one-of-a-kind program with the ability to draw large, diverse audiences into the church, connecting on a heart-level around the messages of sacrifice, reconciliation and heritage. Beginning in late May 2012, 50,000 U.S. pastors will begin receiving the complete DVD program. Pastors may request a free copy for their own churches at www.egmfilms.org.   EthnoGraphic Media is an educational non-profit organization that explores the critical issues of our time. As a community of artists and filmmakers, EGM uses media to tell true stories of hope and compassion in the midst of suffering and strife. EGM believes that gaining a deeper understanding of the human condition inspires positive action. Other film projects include Little Town of Bethlehem, The Grandfathers, End of the Spear and Beyond the Gates of Splendor.