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TechnoratiAnd, more recently, a poll by Gallup’s 2008 Values and Beliefs survey earlier this year found that an alarming 70 percent of Americans now believe that divorce is “morally acceptable.” The latest figure – the highest on record – represents an 11 percent increase from just 7 years ago and a 3 percent increase from 2 years ago.
The acceptability of divorce among Americans was ranked higher than all of the other 16 ethical issues surveyed – including the death penalty, gambling, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, abortion and medical research on animals.
Knowing this, pro-family groups have been rallying behind “Fireproof,” especially in mobilizing people to watch the film on the opening weekend.
“Opening Weekend is the key to any movie's success,” the film’s promoters stated in the “Fireproof” website, FireproofTheMovie.com. “If a movie does well on Opening Weekend, it plays longer in the theaters where it opens and expands into other cities.”
And all around the country, “Fireproof” supporters are helping ensure a high-impact opening weekend. “Action Squads” have been forming to purchase show times in communities where the movie is opening. In towns where it's not scheduled to open, the Action Squads are purchasing enough tickets in advance to bring it there to open.
In the Gulf Coast area of Mississippi, for example, Hilton and Rebecca Glass are working with churches and businesses in four counties to come together to purchase 5,000 tickets, film promoters reported late last month.
“Their goal is that every firefighter, police officer, and emergency responder in those counties will be able to see ‘Fireproof’ on opening weekend with their spouse or date,” they added.
Meanwhile, in Chattanooga, Tenn., Action Squads all over the city are buying out show times for the opening weekend and St. John United Methodist Church, which is starting a sermon series about relationships on Sept. 7, is selling their Action Squad Show Time tickets to church members at a reduced rate and providing couples with as many tickets as they are willing to use as an outreach tool with their unchurched friends. St. John’s is also planning to offer childcare at the church so that the parents can have a date night at the movies.
In an interview with MovieGuide last month, Alex Kendrick, who produced "Fireproof" while his brother directed it, said over 50 marriage ministries are supporting the movie.
“Even the Catholic Church is promoting this movie as a great movie to strengthen marriages, because they're really pro-marriage,” he said.
Alex further expressed how thrilled he and his brother have been at the grass-roots response from all across the nation.
“We're just praying God uses it,” he added.
“We would love it if the divorce rate went down as a result of all that's going on. We found out that every percentage point it goes down, it impacts a million children. That's just huge for the future of our country, that we strengthen those foundational relationships in the home,” he concluded.
On the Web:
More information about “Fireproof” at FireproofTheMovie.com.
Marriage Resources at FireproofMyMarriage.com.
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