‘The Stranger’ Celebrates More than 3,000 screenings in first year
June 4, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today marks the one-year anniversary of the world premiere of The Stranger, a compelling documentary film that looks at our current immigration system from a biblical perspective.
Since its premiere, more than 3,000 screenings of the film have taken place across 46 states plus Washington, D.C. The film, which is still available for download at www.thestrangerfilm.org, highlights the stories of three families caught in our broken immigration system.
“The Stranger is just as relevant now, if not more so,” said Linda Midgett, the filmmaker. “There is so much misinformation and misunderstanding about immigration laws in our country. I’m thrilled that we’ve had more than 3,000 screenings, but I hope more people continue to watch the film and encourage their churches and communities to do the same.”
“In the past year thousands have been able to witness the plight of our undocumented immigrant brothers and sisters through The Stranger,” said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. “As millions wait in expectancy for our immigration system to be reformed The Stranger reminds us of the urgent need for reform to pass.”
One year later our country is still dealing with an immigration system that results in families being separated. But the film has helped to change the hearts and minds of evangelicals across the country.
“The Stranger is impacting Iowa, and our first showing in our church was a success,” said Luis Gabriel Arredondo, Cultural Ministry Coordinator at the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, Iowa. “The best comment I heard was, ‘We need to let the truth be known.’ The film captured a wide range of situations that helped people get a broad understanding of this issue. This is bringing real-life stories to our community, which longs to speak for the voiceless, for the sojourner who is a stranger to many.”
“The Stranger puts a human face on the challenging discussions surrounding immigration reform, said Will Stoller-Lee, Director of the Fuller Theological Seminary in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “It introduces us to the lives of three families, trapped in the current broken immigration system. The stories of these families help show that these are not strangers at all, but people you might already know in your own neighborhood, at your school, in your church, or at your workplace. It will change the way you view immigrants in our society and transform how you think about immigration reform.”
While delving into one of the most complex issues of our time, The Stranger returns the conversation to Scripture, and to the stories of real people.
“Good movies make you care. Good movies make you see the possibilities. Good movies speak to your soul. The Stranger does all those things exceptionally well,” said Tim Moore, Senior Pastor of Walk Worthy Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. “But this movie was also about real people whose lives have been needlessly put on hold, families spent into near bankruptcy trying to do things right. I’m praying for the sequel, where these lives are filmed living their God-given potential, contributing to the country that has always been her best when opportunity to live the American dream was the hope of every immigrant.”
“While our country continues to debate the need for immigration reform, millions of men, women and children created in God’s image continue to live in the shadows,” said Dr. Barrett Duke, Vice President of Public Policy and Research for the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, who is in the film. “The Stranger has served remarkably well in telling a small portion of the story of the human toll involved in our nation’s broken immigration system. I pray that God will continue to use this film to spur us all to action for the sake of our nation and the stranger in our midst.”
