The REAL Story Behind the Jesus Camp Film
by Aimee Herd : Oct 5, 2006 : Christian Newswire
"This is the reason I let the filming of Jesus Camp take place:
statistics say, 70 percent of our children, who are raised in
Christian, Bible-believing churches, are leaving the church
when they become teenagers and young adults, and never
stepping foot inside a church again. That's a crisis, and we've
got to do something to change this picture."
EDITOR'S NOTE:
From the beginning, BCN has taken the stance that we do not
endorse movies or films, but on occasion, we will provide
information about certain ones that relate to our audience.
Since the uproar over this film is so great, we contacted the
person the film is mostly about, Becky Fischer, for an interview.
Below is my personal summary of "Jesus Camp," along with
some explanations from Becky. The full interview can be heard
by clicking on the link below. - Aimee Herd, BCN.
The documentary Jesus Camp is now being talked about on
just about every form of media available. Reviews have been
mixed. Some are moved by it and inspired, some are horrified
and alarmed, still others who viewed the film were disturbed by
a negative tone in places, toward the camp, and even
Evangelical Christian ideology in general. The documentary
follows three Christian children attending a summer Bible camp.
Cameras are rolling as pre-teen boys and girls display a
passion for God's Word, weep in intercession, repent of their
sins and those of the nation, and lay hands on a life-size cut-
out of President Bush as they pray for him. Some of the
children in the film are praying in tongues with intense emotion,
others are forcefully declaring Scriptures with hands raised.
Certainly, one who has never witnessed these kinds of activities
in church, let alone by children, would wonder, maybe even be
shocked at what they see. But for Pastor Becky Fischer, who
has spent much of her life working with, and ministering to
children, this is normal "Spirit-filled" life. Pastor Fischer still has
trouble seeing the "political" slant of Jesus Camp. When
praying for the President, she says they were just doing what
the Bible commands all Christians; to "pray for all who are in
authority . . ." Yes, adds Fischer, "even if the President was
Saddam Hussein," Christians are still told to pray.
Much of the controversy stems from the intensity and
seriousness of the children who are concerned with world
events and practices, such as abortion, and see themselves as
"soldiers" in a war. Pointing to places in the film, where the kids
attending the camp don war-paint, and talk of dying for their
faith as martyrs, Mike Papantonio, radio host for Air America,
sounds a warning of possible brainwashing by the likes of
Becky Fischer, and other fervent Charismatic preachers. But
has Mr. Papantonio, forgotten those familiar verses of the age-
old hymn, which certainly seems to have been readily accepted
by thousands in the past; "Onward Christian soldiers, marching
as to war . . ?"
Yes, Becky does point out to the children, the passion and
dedication-to-belief that is found within youths of the same age,
in Islam . . . even of those willing to be "martyrs" for their faith.
But Becky is making a point. The opposite of such devotion is
apathy. "This is the reason I let the filming of Jesus Camp take
place," she explains, "statistics say, 70 percent of our children,
who are raised in Christian, Bible-believing churches, are
leaving the church when they become teenagers and young
adults, and never stepping foot inside a church again. That's a
crisis, and we've got to do something to change this picture."
According to Fischer, when footage was first completed, she
was told the film itself was still without direction, so she informed
film makers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady that she would pray
for God's direction for the project. "I prayed for them," says
Becky "I asked God to give them the direction they needed for
the film." Nine months later, she realized the documentary
about the kids had taken a different turn. Objections were
voiced, from Fischer, as well as many of the parents. "It was a
shock," remarked Becky. "I did go through a very emotional
time wondering ‘did I get tricked?'" So, Ewing and Grady went
back and re-edited, even changing the music score, which had
a somewhat eerie feel to it, and was felt to have added to the
negativity. The result was the final version of Jesus Camp.
And Becky stands by the film, knowing the controversy it has
stirred, enduring even death threats and angry phone calls in
the night. Why? Becky explains, "I know what this film looks like.
And I have two choices. I could distance myself from this, or I
can continue to support this film. I look at this and think, ‘this is
still salvageable, there is more good in this film, than there is
bad.' Everyone is focusing on the political angle and that's
what's getting attention. My message is so much bigger to the
Body of Christ. But if it wasn't for the political controversy, no
one would've ever heard my name."
"Here's what I see," continues Becky, "this film has nothing to
do with politics. This film has nothing to do with any chasm
between Evangelicals and Charismatics. But this film has
everything to do with; this is the generation that prophets have
been speaking over for 25 years. This is all about this
generation of children. I hate this controversy, but I'm using it
as a platform to get this message out to the Christian
community that God sees our children as partners in this ‘last-
days' move of God."
by Aimee Herd : Oct 5, 2006 : Christian Newswire
"This is the reason I let the filming of Jesus Camp take place:
statistics say, 70 percent of our children, who are raised in
Christian, Bible-believing churches, are leaving the church
when they become teenagers and young adults, and never
stepping foot inside a church again. That's a crisis, and we've
got to do something to change this picture."
EDITOR'S NOTE:
From the beginning, BCN has taken the stance that we do not
endorse movies or films, but on occasion, we will provide
information about certain ones that relate to our audience.
Since the uproar over this film is so great, we contacted the
person the film is mostly about, Becky Fischer, for an interview.
Below is my personal summary of "Jesus Camp," along with
some explanations from Becky. The full interview can be heard
by clicking on the link below. - Aimee Herd, BCN.
The documentary Jesus Camp is now being talked about on
just about every form of media available. Reviews have been
mixed. Some are moved by it and inspired, some are horrified
and alarmed, still others who viewed the film were disturbed by
a negative tone in places, toward the camp, and even
Evangelical Christian ideology in general. The documentary
follows three Christian children attending a summer Bible camp.
Cameras are rolling as pre-teen boys and girls display a
passion for God's Word, weep in intercession, repent of their
sins and those of the nation, and lay hands on a life-size cut-
out of President Bush as they pray for him. Some of the
children in the film are praying in tongues with intense emotion,
others are forcefully declaring Scriptures with hands raised.
Certainly, one who has never witnessed these kinds of activities
in church, let alone by children, would wonder, maybe even be
shocked at what they see. But for Pastor Becky Fischer, who
has spent much of her life working with, and ministering to
children, this is normal "Spirit-filled" life. Pastor Fischer still has
trouble seeing the "political" slant of Jesus Camp. When
praying for the President, she says they were just doing what
the Bible commands all Christians; to "pray for all who are in
authority . . ." Yes, adds Fischer, "even if the President was
Saddam Hussein," Christians are still told to pray.
Much of the controversy stems from the intensity and
seriousness of the children who are concerned with world
events and practices, such as abortion, and see themselves as
"soldiers" in a war. Pointing to places in the film, where the kids
attending the camp don war-paint, and talk of dying for their
faith as martyrs, Mike Papantonio, radio host for Air America,
sounds a warning of possible brainwashing by the likes of
Becky Fischer, and other fervent Charismatic preachers. But
has Mr. Papantonio, forgotten those familiar verses of the age-
old hymn, which certainly seems to have been readily accepted
by thousands in the past; "Onward Christian soldiers, marching
as to war . . ?"
Yes, Becky does point out to the children, the passion and
dedication-to-belief that is found within youths of the same age,
in Islam . . . even of those willing to be "martyrs" for their faith.
But Becky is making a point. The opposite of such devotion is
apathy. "This is the reason I let the filming of Jesus Camp take
place," she explains, "statistics say, 70 percent of our children,
who are raised in Christian, Bible-believing churches, are
leaving the church when they become teenagers and young
adults, and never stepping foot inside a church again. That's a
crisis, and we've got to do something to change this picture."
According to Fischer, when footage was first completed, she
was told the film itself was still without direction, so she informed
film makers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady that she would pray
for God's direction for the project. "I prayed for them," says
Becky "I asked God to give them the direction they needed for
the film." Nine months later, she realized the documentary
about the kids had taken a different turn. Objections were
voiced, from Fischer, as well as many of the parents. "It was a
shock," remarked Becky. "I did go through a very emotional
time wondering ‘did I get tricked?'" So, Ewing and Grady went
back and re-edited, even changing the music score, which had
a somewhat eerie feel to it, and was felt to have added to the
negativity. The result was the final version of Jesus Camp.
And Becky stands by the film, knowing the controversy it has
stirred, enduring even death threats and angry phone calls in
the night. Why? Becky explains, "I know what this film looks like.
And I have two choices. I could distance myself from this, or I
can continue to support this film. I look at this and think, ‘this is
still salvageable, there is more good in this film, than there is
bad.' Everyone is focusing on the political angle and that's
what's getting attention. My message is so much bigger to the
Body of Christ. But if it wasn't for the political controversy, no
one would've ever heard my name."
"Here's what I see," continues Becky, "this film has nothing to
do with politics. This film has nothing to do with any chasm
between Evangelicals and Charismatics. But this film has
everything to do with; this is the generation that prophets have
been speaking over for 25 years. This is all about this
generation of children. I hate this controversy, but I'm using it
as a platform to get this message out to the Christian
community that God sees our children as partners in this ‘last-
days' move of God."
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