STARRING THE CHOSEN‘S YOSHI BARRIGAS & CATHERINE LIDSTONE,FAMILY FILM TO GIVE NEW SPIN ON THE EASTER STORY
Reel Big Studios, Pinnacle Peak Pictures (God’s Not Dead) and Fathom Events present the new inspirational drama Forty-Seven Days with Jesus starring The Chosen’s Yoshi Barrigas and Catherine Lidstone. The film will be distributed through Fathom Events and Pinnacle Peak Pictures and will be shown in more than 800 theaters across the country for three nights only: March 11, 12 and 14, getting audiences in the Easter spirit before the holiday weekend.
Forty-Seven Days with Jesus tells the heartwarming Easter tale centered on the Burdon family, led by Joseph (Yoshi Barrigas) and Juliana (Catherine Lidstone). When the Burdons attend a reunion at Poppa and Nonna’s ranch, they realize just how disconnected their family has become. Facing marital hiccups, teenaged angst and Poppa’s health hurdles, the adults decide to share Poppa’s enchanting ‘Forty-Seven Days’ story with the kids, transporting us back in time to see the miracles of Jesus’ final 47 days on Earth. When an unexpected business opportunity places Joseph at a crossroads, his commitment to his family is tested. Can the Burdons pull together in the face of uncertainty? With Poppa’s tale as their guide, they embark on a journey towards unity and rediscover the true essence of walking in faith.
Featuring an unforgettable original soundtrack, Forty-Seven Days with Jesus contains a powerful portrayal of Jesus’ life that reminds us all of The Gospel’s enduring impact.
Alongside Barrigas and Lidstone, Forty-Seven Days with Jesus also stars Cameron Arnett (Overcomer) and Joshua Triplett (Grey’s Anatomy). The film is directed by Emilio Palame and David M. Gutel who also wrote the film with the Executive Producer Rolland Jacks. Palame is producing alongside Donald Nguyen and Kristen Brancaccio for Reel Big Studios in conjunction with Vero Entertainment. Words and music written by Jacks, arrangements and orchestration by Palame (Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide), vocal arrangements/production by Grammy Award-winner Darlene Koldenhoven (Sister Act 1 & 2) and underscore composed by Palame, Guy Moon and Michael O’Neill.
“This movie radiates hope. It’s about a modern-day family that is very relatable: they’re dealing with health challenges, they’re putting work first and they’re just so disconnected from one another,” shares Producer Kristen Brancaccio. “Forty-Seven Days with Jesus is a gentle, non-judgmental reminder to step back and reevaluate what really matters. Whether you’re someone who is seated in a pew every Sunday or knows absolutely nothing about the Easter story but wants to leave the theater feeling inspired—this movie has something for everyone.”
Tickets for the Forty-Seven Days with Jesus are available now for purchase HERE and can also be purchased via participating theater box offices. A complete list of theater locations (subject to change) can be found at Fathom Events.
For more information on Forty-Seven Days with Jesus, please visit FortySevenDaysFilm.com.
On Saturday, July 15, 2023, Rev. Jesse Jackson named Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III, as the new President and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Rev. Jackson officially announced his retirement on Friday, June 15. The official announcement of the leadership shift will take place on Sunday, July 16, 2023at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s national convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn. Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to speak.
In addition to this new role at the helm of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, is the senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church, a megachurch in Dallas, Texas, with more than 13,000 members. While Dr. Haynes recently announced Pastor David McGruder as the Executive Pastor of Friendship-West, Dr. Haynes will remain the senior pastor.
“Rev. Jesse Jackson has made the world a better place, breaking down barriers, opening previously locked doors of opportunity, fighting for justice and refusing to take “no” for an answer on behalf of those who have no voice,” said Dr. Haynes. “Rainbow PUSH has been the organizational vehicle that he has driven in the movement for justice. I am honored and humbled that he has “tapped” me to serve as his successor as the President and CEO of this great organization. Rev. Jackson has been a mentor and I have been greatly influenced and inspired by this game-changing social justice general, international ambassador for human rights, and prophetic genius. Sadly, justice and human rights are under attack in the nation and around the world. The work of Rainbow PUSH is as necessary as ever and I am committed to standing on the shoulders of Rev. Jackson and continuing the fight for freedom, peace, equity, justice and human rights.”
Dr. Haynes is best known as a social justice pastor and advocate for marginalized communities. Known nationally as “the drum major for justice,” he has modeled his ministry like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., focused on the intersections of faith and justice. Dr. Haynes works diligently to stand up for justice and to create positive change nationally. From leading protests and demonstrations, to registering thousands of voters, to providing food and other needed resources, to decreasing crime, to serving as a voting super center, Dr. Haynes and Friendship-West Baptist Church have always been in the forefront of creating positive and lasting social change.
As a civil rights leader and activist, Dr. Haynes has had a longstanding relationship with Rev. Jackson.
Dr. Haynes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and English, a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as a Doctorate in Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation where he was afforded the opportunity to study at Christ Church, Oxford University in England. Currently, Dr. Haynes is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana where he is studying African American preaching and sacred rhetoric. Dr. Haynes is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Paul Quinn College as well as various other boards dedicated to the advancement of Dallas for all residents, particularly those in underserved and minority communities. He also serves in the academic arena, teaching college courses and workshops at Paul Quinn College, Texas Christian University, McCormick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and other institutions of higher learning.
Dr. Haynes has received numerous awards and honors for his ministry and activism. In 2011, Dr. Haynes had the prestigious honor of being the featured speaker at The Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Prayer Breakfast. In 2012, Ebony Magazine named him to its Power 100 list of most influential African Americans. He was also inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, Dr. Haynes was honored to give remarks at the memorial service of one of the most respected world leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries, President Nelson Mandela. In 2016, Dr. Haynes was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. In 2020, Dr. Haynes was a featured speaker during the Democratic National Convention’s faith event, “Our Values, Our Voices, Our Votes.” The prestigious April 4th Foundation awarded Dr. Haynes the I am a Man Award in 2020 and he joined the ranks of past honorees that include Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Diane Nash, Congressman John Lewis, and Harry Belafonté. In 2022, Dr. Haynes was awarded by President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award in Community Service.
A life-long learner, Dr. Haynes is committed to education and has led Friendship-West to donate over $1 million dollars to historically Black colleges and universities. In addition, Friendship-West has donated over $2 million in scholarship aid to students who are members of the church and the greater Dallas community. Dr. Haynes is the namesake of the Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III Global Preparatory School, located on the campus of Paul Quinn College, which serves students grades 6-12 who seek to enter the International Baccalaureate program.
As a reflection of his commitment to community transformation and social consciousness, Dr. Haynes serves in various leadership capacities in organizations that champion social change and education. In 2003, he founded the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference along with Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. and Dr. Iva E. Carruthers and currently serves as co-chairman of the board. Dr. Haynes is on the board of the Conference of National Black Churches, the National Action Network, and the IC3 Church Growth and Development Conference. He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Paul Quinn College, an HBCU in Dallas, Texas where he has also served as an adjunct professor.
On yesterday, Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ J. Drew Sheard issued a statement celebrating the establishment of a monument honoring Emmett Till. The Till family was served by Roberts Temple COGIC as many in the nation saw for the first time the horrors of lynching in America. As noted on a site dedicated to the preservation of historic Roberts Temple COGIC, the Church of God in Christ has significant ties to civil rights history in America. Besides Roberts Temple hosting the visitation and funeral of Emmett Till, Malcolm X was funeralized at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ in Harlem, New York and most famously, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” from the pulpit of COGIC headquarters, Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee.
Chicago landmark at Robert’s Temple COGIC Photo Credit: Robert’s Temple (Facebook) taken by Jacek Boczarski
Current presiding bishop Sheard is the eighth in succession and stands on the shoulders of gospel giants who have helmed one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world. At the time of Emmett Till’s heinous murder, the Church of God in Christ was still under the leadership of its founder, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason.
At a fraught time in the U.S. over matters concerning race and history, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation creating a national monument honoring Emmett Till, a Black teenager who was abducted, tortured and killed in 1955, and his mother.
The Presiding Bishop had this to say about the monument and what it means to America and the Church of God in Christ:
“On July 25, 2023, what would be Mr. Emmett Till’s 82nd birthday, I am delighted that our nation, under President Joe Biden’s leadership, will honor Mr. Till and his mother, Mrs. Mamie Till-Mobley, with a national monument established across three locations in Illinois and Mississippi, in an effort to protect the actual places that tell Till’s agonizing story.The monument will serve as a reminder of the atrocities that occurred in August 1955, when two white men abducted, tortured, and killed Till, a 14-year old Black boy, accused of offending a white woman. The monument also allows for reflection of the valiant activism demonstrated by his mother, determined to keep the story of her son’s senseless murder alive.
For today’s generation, the monument is a critical symbol of the tribulation endured by African Americans during the harrowing, culture shifting years of the Civil Rights era in America.As the funeral of Mr. Emmett Till was held at Robert’s Temple Church Of God In Christ in Chicago, Illinois, the Church Of God In Christ, Inc. is incredibly humbled to have been a haven for Mrs. Mamie Till-Mobley and her family, as they courageously displayed the injustice inflicted upon the young Emmett Till.This brave family has been a part of the Church Of God In Christ for many generations”.
Leaders need disruptive thinking. With the ever changing culture and new challenges, leaders now more than ever need to rethink how they do things. T.D. Jakes’ International Leadership Summit, in Orlando from May 4-6, equips leaders, visionaries and entrepreneurs with the latest resources and expertise to help leaders navigate these volatile times.
Media registration is now open. Media may request credentials for the International Leadership Summit and Good Soil by filling out this form.
The International Leadership Summit continues to be one of the most transformative leadership conferences as a standard-bearer for ecclesial learning and professional development. Previous speakers at the conference include Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry, Stedman Graham, Craig Groeschel, Cynthia Marshall and Miles McPherson. This year, Jakes is joined by Paul Adefarasin, Tudor Bismark, Nona Jones, Janice Bryant Howroyd and other leaders of business, entertainment, faith and other arenas.
Preceding the annual gathering, on May 3, as part of its 2023 national tour is Good Soil, a one-day intensive business accelerator program offered by TDJ Enterprises aimed to impact, scale and grow underrepresented businesses. More information can be found here.
TIM ROSS AND EMBASSY CITY CHURCH NAME TIM RIVERS AS NEW LEAD PASTOR
Tim and Juliette Ross Have Been Called to Serve Churches Globally as Christian Advisors to Strengthen Ministries, Marriages and Mentorship
Pastors Tim and Juliette Ross, founders of Embassy City Church, a multi-ethnic, multi-generational church in Texas, announced today that they have named Tim Rivers as the new lead pastor. Tim and Juliette Ross, who have led Embassy City Church since inception seven years ago, have been called to serve churches around the world as Christian advisors to strengthen ministries, marriages, and mentorship. They will remain members of Embassy City Church.
Tim Rivers, most recently serving as Teaching Pastor at HighRidge Church in Fort Worth, Texas, has been a frequent voice at Embassy City Church. Over the past year, he has been a guest preacher at Embassy City many times. He has also been personally mentored and advised by Tim Ross for more than three years, which makes him a natural choice to succeed Ross.
“God chose Tim and when God chooses your successor, it makes the transition easy. When God speaks, we move and when we move, He responds.”
Tim Ross
Tim and Juliette Ross planted Embassy City Church in 2015 as a sister church to Gateway Church, one of the largest megachurches in the country with more than 35,000 members. Under the leadership of the Rosses, Embassy City Church has experienced exponential growth, increasing to more than 3,000 members and engaging thousands more who watch online weekly. The Rosses also led the charge to ensure that the church was debt-free before the transition of leadership, paying off the $2.2 million bank note for the church in just six months.
Tim and Juliette Ross will continue to run their for-profit entities, including Upset the World, LLC., “The Basement with Tim Ross,” a podcast which has more than 75,000 subscribers and growing, their conferences, marriage ministry, empowerment sessions, and books. For many years, Tim Ross has been called upon by some of the largest churches in the world to advise, create, and execute effective solutions. Now, as full-time global Christian advisors, Tim and Juliette Ross will be able to serve congregations and faith-based entities on a larger scale and will partner with key influential ministries to help them through speaking, staff development, and direct pastoral consulting to create a safe haven and provide support for pastors and church leaders. The Rosses are already in partnership to work with Embassy City Church; Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Shoreline City Church in Dallas, Texas; Seeds of Greatness Church in Wilmington, Delaware, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.
Tim and Janese Rivers are thrilled to have been called to leadership of Embassy City Church, especially with the Rosses staying on as members and advisors. Tim Rivers preached his first sermon at the age of 13 and went into full-time ministry at age 18. He received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Texas at Arlington, his master’s degree in theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree with a focus on church revitalization from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“I am honored for what Tim and Juliette Ross have built from the ground up. Embassy City is a place where people meet Jesus in a real, authentic way through engaging worship and relevant Bible teaching.”
Tim Rivers, newly installed lead pastor of Embassy City Church.
Rivers looks forward to continuing the “Kingdom Culture” footprint laid by Ross of teaching kids, youth, young adults and adults to be ambassadors for the kingdom of God. He plans for Embassy City to remain a pillar in the faith community in Dallas/Fort Worth and beyond as they continue to grow in discipleship, leadership and community. Under his leadership, Embassy City Church will permeate every area of life including the marketplace and will develop, equip and deploy its residents (members) for their purpose.
United Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Program is offering a new Focus Group entitled, “A Generational Approach for Today’s Urban Ministry in the Next Normal.” This Focus Group is designed for current and emerging senior leaders of local congregations. It will examine implications of “Next Normal” core elements for congregational ministry; ministry paradigm shifting, connecting and leading hybrid multi-generational congregations; plus much more.
The principles of urban ministry, new ministry methodologies and leadership during the Next Normal will also be covered. This group will prepare church and ministry leaders for a new way of thinking and ministering in the “Next Normal.” Applications are currently being accepted. For more information contact: Dr. Johnson, here.
