“Multiplied”, a groundbreaking film directed by Chris Worthington, offers a new perspective on the state of Christianity around the world and the power of evangelism in a time when reports of Christianity’s decline and persecution are commonplace.
The film, which will be released in theaters via Fathom Events on May 20 and 21, follows 24-year-old filmmaker and Every Nation founder Will Bow as he travels through Brazil, Ghana and Nigeria, documenting the dynamic expressions and multiforms of Christianity throughout the world.
“I watched Billy Graham so much after I got saved that I felt like I knew him,” Worthington told The Christian Post. “So when he passed away, the power of his life and his legacy really hit me. And then I thought, “Well, without him, what does the future of evangelism look like?” »
The subsequent death of Reinhard Bonnke, a giant of African evangelism, prompted Worthington to explore the future of evangelism, leading him to Daniel Kolenda, Bonnke’s successor, and the concept of “multiplication” as a new era of evangelization.
“God does not change, but he has a timetable. And I think we’ve reached a new date on God’s calendar,” Worthington said.
Watch the exclusive “The Heart of “Multiplied”” music video below
This exploration took Worthington and his team on a journey to capture the essence of Christian gatherings across diverse cultures and contexts.
From the massive three-stadium event in Brazil to the harrowing experiences in Nigeria, where their lives were put in danger, the film showcases the growth and challenges of Christianity in very different parts of the world.
While Christianity is popular in Brazil — “everyone wants to be on a massive stage and preach to 80,000 people” — Worthington said, his experience in Nigeria was much different.
“In Nigeria, it’s the exact opposite…we went from flying on a private jet to being shot in Nigeria. My life flashed before my eyes. I didn’t realize all the persecution there. It was insane,” he said. sharing.
“A week before we arrived in Nigeria, we were informed that a terrorist organization had killed a pastor and his entire family, and we were holding an evangelical event there with 500,000 people,” he said. “On the way we got stuck in a dust storm so we couldn’t fly and had to go down a very dangerous highway. We met a guy… who pulled out a silver Glock. I won’t forget him never. He knew who we were; he pointed at us, right at my head. I saw the evil in his eyes, and in that moment I thought, “I guess this That’s where it ends.”
Despite the dangers and challenges encountered during filming, Worthington said he and his team were driven by a deeper purpose.
“The more you are attacked, the more things that try to go wrong, things that are obviously spiritual warfare, the better off you are. So keep moving forward, because you are going to change the world this way,” he said.
Worthington said his goal with “Multiplied” is to have a profound impact on viewers, particularly those who are skeptical of the vitality of Christianity in an increasingly secularized culture.
“Christianity is booming, especially in Africa,” he stressed. “I saw it for myself and filmed the whole thing. It’s about showing the reality that it’s no longer just a few famous evangelists, but an entire generation preaching the Gospel. It’s about you and me; it’s about the normal person. I think that’s what Jesus wanted all along.
The film also features exclusive theater performances from renowned artists like Alexander Pappas and Kim Walker-Smith and insights from Korn’s Brian “Head” Welch and Scott McNamara.
The director reflected on the transformative power of documentary filmmaking in evangelism, highlighting the potential to reach audiences in new and impactful ways.
“Cinema is a huge tool for evangelism. The new crusade field is the living room,” Worthington said, citing the success of films and shows like “The Chosen” and “Jesus Revolution” that have touched hearts and minds across America.
“I think a Christian film renaissance is happening right now, and I think that’s how God wants to reach America because you’re going to reach America with your phone, with your Smart TV,” he said. he declared.
The filmmaker explained how his personal faith journey, marked by a radical encounter with Jesus at a Hillsong United concert in 2013, profoundly influenced his approach to filmmaking.
“I didn’t think Jesus was real; maybe as real as Santa Claus was,” he said. “I was taken to a Hillsong concert…and they started singing these worship songs, and for the first time in my life I felt like I was at home in a packed arena of 20,000 people. And I thought, “Why am I not depressed anymore?” » All that depression was gone. And I thought, “Wait a second, they’re singing about this man named Jesus.” I started putting two and two together. I was instantly delivered.
This transformation from skepticism to a fervent belief in the power of Jesus fueled his passion for creating films that point people to Christ.
“All these films that I make, it’s just an attempt to point people to Jesus Christ. If that’s not the case, it’s all in vain,” he said.
“It doesn’t make any sense if it doesn’t point people to Christ, otherwise it will be burned with the chaff, because fire comes to everything, to every ministry,” he said. “The fire is going to come, and it’s either just going to be burned or it’s going to resist the fire. And the ministries that will withstand the fire are those that have pure motives and are actually doing it to point people not to themselves, but to Jesus Christ. And that’s why I make all my films, to point people to Jesus Christ.
Leah M. Klett is a journalist at The Christian Post. She can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com
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