When a teenager shoots a gun in the air in his school corridor, then kills himself, people react differently. Parents mourn, relatives grieve, some kids are shocked, but quickly disassociate themselves, but one kid, decided he let his friend down, and is going to make his life count.
I have a heart for young people. Teenagers have had so many battles of recent times. Addictions, Depression, Suicide, abuse, and it all stems from a generation who haven’t been loved. A generation who have no hope for the future. 'ver 80% of teenagers leave church after school has finished. I will do everything I can to see this generation of youth hear the good news of Jesus, and walk into their destiny.
Recently I saw a movie that I believe every teenager and parent needs to see! “To Save a Life.” I relate personally to this movie because my school life has a similar story line to the main character.
Cutting a long story short, I committed my life to Christ at the age of 15, and wanted to reach my school for Christ. There was a horrible shooting at my school. Where a 14 yr old kid shot 2 teachers and a student in an act of drug induced madness. No-one died, but it shook our school to the core.
Those of us that were Christians began to pray, we began to meet in the library, we invited in bands and pastors to speak into the life of our school. Because we sowed into the spiritual life of our school we saw a great harvest of Souls.
In the same way, the movie depicts the dramas and the tribulations at a U.S. high school, and the change that happens when one life is impacted by Christ, and the ripple effect that flows through an entire community.
The first thing that impressed me about the movie is the production quality. Sometimes we cringe when we see B grade “faith based” films, but I had very little cringe factor in watching this movie, acting was great too, and music choice outstanding (music including Switchfoot, Superchic and Needtobreathe etc). I had so many tears during this movie, I was so drawn on to the story, and rarely does a movie grab me with such conviction.
It tackles issues our youth face head –on. Bullying, I had flashbacks for what I saw at my school, and the fears I have for my kids as they progress through school. Popularity, this curse has been alienating the underdog forever, and this movie paints a stark contrast between the “haves” and the “have nots.” It also tackles the issue of hypocrisy in the church. 'ne of the biggest criticisms from the unchurched is that we are talking the talk but not walking the walk. So great to see a movie that gets down and dirty with the real problems teens face. 'ne of the more sensitive issues it tackles is abortion, painting a genuine struggle, and the need for support for all involved, once again, my heart broke for those characters in this movie, who I felt like I was there with them in their struggle.
We live in a changed world, one that is driven by online worlds, which for some are more of a reality than life itself. The young guy who suicided, tried to reach out for help on the net, but no-one took him seriously. In one of the ironies of this film, our hero Jake sets up a website to reach out, and thousands upon thousands are impacted.
Well done to the producers and team who put this together, I will be screening this at my church for youth and parents, and will lobby to get this in every school in our country. It’s a message we all need to get the heart of. Our youth need to be loved, to be listened to, to have something walk with them though their stuff. The church needs to wake up and sow seeds into this next generation, and the harvest we reap will change the world.
Matt Prater is Pastor at New Hope Brisbane, a dynamic outreach focussed church in Brisbane. He also hosts the weekly interview style program “History makers,” heard on over 55 radio stations internationally.
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