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TechnoratiWith a budget five times larger than Sherwood Pictures’ last movie, “Facing the Giants,” “Fireproof” debuted over the Sept. 26-28 weekend at No. 4 with $6.5 million in ticket sales, marking the year’s second highest grossing opening weekend return of any film released on 1,000 screens or less.
The ministry’s latest movie not only made the Weekend Box Office Top 10 for three consecutive weeks, but it also spawned a best-selling book that started as a plot device in the film until audiences repeatedly requested copies for themselves.
Both the film and book have drawn the support of churchgoers and conservatives as well as several national groups, including Focus on the Family, Outreach, FamilyLife, The Marriage CoMission, America's Family Coaches, AMFM, Marriage Alive Communications, and MarriageToday. Influential figures such as marriage expert Gary Smalley and Bubba Cathy of Chick-fil-A have also worked to spread word of the movie.
The “Fireproof” DVD will hit stores Jan. 27, 2009 and is currently available for pre-purchase at Family Christian Store, LifeWay Christian Store, and some other Christian stores. The Special Collector's Edition DVD will have dubbing in both Spanish and Portuguese, as well as captions in those languages as well as French, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Arabic, and English, making it a potential international ministry tool.
3. music-star-killed-by-car.htm>Daughter of Christian Music Star Killed by Car
Earlier this year, Maria Sue Chapman, the youngest child of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman and one of three adopted from China, was accidentally and fatally struck by a sport utility vehicle in the driveway of the family's Williamson County home in Tennessee. The driver, 17-year-old Will Franklin Chapman, was returning home and did not see his five-year-old sister running toward him to greet him.
The tragedy pulled on the heartstrings of believers across denominations, many of whom were familiar with the popular Christian music star whose songs have become a staple in contemporary worship services and on Christian radio stations nationwide.
The accident also led Chapman to consider the idea of not returning to the stage.
Although Chapman had stopped touring and declined interviews after the May 21 tragedy, he decided later to continue with his U.S. concerts, wanting to go forward and take the opportunity to share his faith, according to manager Jim Houser.
Beginning with Lifest in Oshkosh, Wisc., on July 11, Chapman hit the road again and later teamed up with fellow award-winning artist Michael W. Smith for a historic joint tour that hit 19 cities in October and early November.
Amid the grieving, Chapman used the stage to share about his family's path toward recovery following Maria’s death and also appeared with his family in several televised interviews including “Good Morning America” and “Larry King Live.”
Since Maria’s death, Shaohannah's Hope, the pro-adoption ministry founded by the Chapmans, raised over $760,000 in donations through a special fund created in loving remembrance of her. Following Maria’s death, the Chapmans had requested that donations be given to Shaohannah's Hope in lieu of flowers. Continue »
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