Jesus Revolution Movie Sequel? And Asbury Revival

 Revival And The Jesus Revolution Movie Review - Having Not Seen It-YET 

By: Michael D Tobin

Feb 27, 2023 

I was a couple city's away from being able to see this movie, but, kudos to pastor Gregg Laurie in this ground-breaking Christian/Faith-based movie! And it is historical. I have been keeping up with this movie reading, watching and listening to various characters having to do with the making of this movie for over a year. It has all the ingredients for the movie to be all-around top quality, in acting, audio and visual. And to this date, I have not seen anything about how great a beginning, this movie is, for a continued set of sequels, in order to paint a complete picture of the rest of the first 12 who pastor Chuck Smith licensed, and their respective roles, in the formation of what is, now.

According to CBN News, 'Jesus Revolution' Astounds Entertainment Industry, Places Third at Box Office 02-27-2023, "...As CBN News reported, the film tells the true story behind the Jesus Movement of the 1970s, including how Pastor Chuck Smith welcomed hippies looking for truth at his church. It gave birth to one of the greatest spiritual awakenings in American history. ..."

  I need to mention that the 'Jesus Revolution', is still being waged. And at 59 years old next month, I will have been a part since I was 10, in 1974. Were it not for Jesus, I am absolutely sure that I would not be here where I'm at, today. Things will have turned out very bad. 

  And speaking on revival and movements, I can also go ahead and mention some very profound things from over the decades relating to many ministry events I have been a part of, because of the heart of the late pastor, Chuck Smith, and one of the 1st 10 who came out of that movement, Ps Mike MacIntosh in San Diego, and another pastor, Ps Wallace Heflin Jr on the East Coast, two opposite sides of the 'same coin', if you will, of the Jesus Movement.

  But that is another very long story.

I wrote the following and shared on my only social media site, FB, on Feb 2 shortly before the Asbury revival happened in Kansas:

"This movie at a time the Calvary Chapel light is barely a flicker and those original to the beginning, are now, of similar closed mindset as those who originally were closed to them, earlier on. Who is the sequel going to focus on? I came into the Jesus freak movement through Pastor Mike MacIntosh North Park Theater's Calvary Chapel San Diego the 5th year of the Jesus "movement" when I was 10 yrs old after my Aunt and Uncle and my Mom heard about it. My prayer is for Hollywood to not distract K. Grammer from his ability to continue with sequels and the Lord will continue provision for all involved."

No doubt, it is the most profound faith-based movie production since, "The Cross And The Switchblade". It may even be the first major faith production to use top grade audio/video equipment. No more sitting through B-quality productions (you know the old action movies with the worst acting, like Jean Claude Van Dam, Chuck Norris and others, and it was like watching a 15 year old movie, with background music that jumped from too loud to too low and voices sounded like coming from a cave or a tin can?) yet it was brand new.

Previously, Christian movies have been known for out dated sub-quality production. Like The Cross And The Switchblade was a 1970 release, using 1960-quality production that the 1960 production of "Westside Story" was used. And the 1970's era of modern-day-fulfilment of end-time-prophecy rapture and anti-Christ movies, were also sub-par in quality. Also, previously, visual and audio quality was reached by using the most expensive up-to-date movie film, cameras and mostly analogue sound systems. Today it is all digital and no reason to worry about 'the best' being too expensive or outdated. Now it is only a matter of having all you need, and knowing how to use it.

Even as recent as 2014, the Left Behind book series' movie production with actor, Nicholas Cage, had appeared to the day's viewer, to be of the then, "Hallmark Channel-quality" of cinematography. But only 9 years later in 2023, we have everything at our tips for top-grade production and a handful of A-grade Hollywood actors and actresses, who are able and willing to be part of faith-based productions.

In regard to the 2023 Asbury University revival (one of many of that campus' long history of revivals), I also, as soon as I heard after the revival began on the 8th of February, 3 days after it had begun, I immediately thought of the timing between the Asbury Revival and the release of The Jesus Revolution on February 24, that what a beautiful thing to occur with such impeccable timing. I believe the Lord reminded me that this is the perfect time for our lights, as followers of Jesus, to go back from dim, that I had mentioned early in this, to bright, once again and ultimately remain bright. That is a really tall order. But NOTHING is impossible, with God!

Now, the Logos publication states in this article, "The Bible and the Asbury Revival: Guidance from Gamaliel"

"On February 8, 2023, students from Asbury University gathered at chapel as they would any other Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., but it was not an ordinary Wednesday. Those in attendance lingered in the chapel, and there has been a lingering ever since.

Craig Keener of Asbury Theological Seminary described the revival as being marked by worship and prayer, with the occasional sermon.1 Hughes Memorial Auditorium has been a continuous house of prayer and worship since February 8. ..." 

  I recommend following the Logos link above, for a great lesson on revival. 

  And here is a trailer for the Jesus Revolution:  The film's cast includes Kelsey Grammer who portrays Chuck Smith. Grammer, 67, is a Christian. He's well known for the character of Frasier Crane whom he played for 20 years in the television series Frasier and Cheers.

Jesus Revolution is a Kingdom Story film in collaboration with Lionsgate. Filmmaker Jon Erwin of I Can Only Imagine and American Underdog directed the film. 

Other members of the cast include The Chosen's Jonathan Roumie, Joel Courtney, Anna Grace Barlow, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. ('Jesus Revolution' Astounds Entertainment Industry, Places Third at Box Office 02-27-2023 )

See the Jesus Revolution movie website here: https://jesusrevolution.movie/