Minister Believes New Film Can Help Church Address Abuse

by Jenni Parker
October 22, 2004

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(AgapePress) - Since its limited release a few weeks ago, a new film based on a novel by Bishop T.D. Jakes has quietly been resonating among movie audiences around the U.S. -- perhaps striking a particularly poignant chord with the many viewers who have been affected -- or who know someone that has been affected -- by the tragedy of abuse.

The movie Woman Thou Art Loosed begins its wide release in theaters across the nation this weekend. The film is based on the best-selling novel and stage play of the same name, written by 30-year ministry veteran Thomas D. Jakes, the versatile author, broadcaster and evangelist who pastors The Potter's House church in Dallas, Texas. His moving tale of family dysfunction and despair is the dramatic story of one woman's victimization, isolation, and ultimately, her inspiration through the hope of the gospel.

Jakes first gave the title, Woman Thou Art Loosed, to a non-fiction book of biblical teaching, aimed at helping abused girls, single mothers, battered wives, and other insecure women in crisis find hope, healing, and wholeness. That volume, subtitled "Healing the Wounds of the Past" (Treasure House, 1994) became a runaway hit with hurting women around the nation -- and with those who minister to them -- as they devoured the Christian author's sensitively-written, compassionate wisdom.

A number of teaching materials followed Jakes' bestseller, including a Woman Thou Art Loosed workbook, devotional, and Bible edition, an insightful "sequel" to the earlier book called The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord (Berkley Publishing, 2000), and several tapes and videos based on the bishop's teaching. Still, he found people continually sought more resources on overcoming abuse. So, in the interest of reaching an even wider and more diverse audience, Jakes turned the Christian principles of his ministry to emotionally and physically battered women into a compelling novel, a stage play, and now a motion picture.

Jakes says Jesus Christ built his Church "squarely at the intersection where tragedy meets triumph, and where pain turns the corner to hope." He believes those who see this new film will be reminded that God's power can infiltrate the worst circumstances and flood even the darkest situations with light.

The Movie

Actress Kimberly Elise as "Michelle"

Woman Thou Art Loosed features award-winning actress Kimberley Elise (Beloved, John Q, Manchurian Candidate) alongside Jakes, who portrays himself. Elise plays Michelle, the protagonist, as a young adult who, at the beginning of the film, is seen sitting in a jail cell talking with the bishop as he seeks to probe the painful events that brought her there. Michelle, who grew up calling her grandma Mama, her mother, Cassey (actress Loretta Devine), by her first name, and her mother's boyfriends "Uncle," is in prison for a crime born out of the trauma of her childhood sexual abuse at the hands of one of these "uncles."

As Jakes counsels the young woman, he gradually learns the secrets of her deeply damaged life and its downhill path through low self-esteem, drug abuse, further exploitation, and other kinds of bondage. As her story unfolds, the minister offers Michelle not only deep compassion but a chance to be truly heard for the first time, and to discover the spiritual healing and freedom that can be hers through Christ.

Elise delivers a powerful and memorable performance, bring the pain of a childhood abuse victim palpably to the surface of her intense features and body language. In a recent Associated Press interview, the actress noted that the part of Michelle was not an easy one to bring to life. "It's a very dark place that I had to go to," she says, "and definitely emotionally draining and spiritually challenging. But I felt like it was worth it."

Elise commends Jakes, not only for the important story he has presented but also for the job he did acting in the film. "He came in so focused and sharp and prepared and strong that it was a joy," she told AP, adding, "and he was superb. It's not easy to portray yourself."

Jakes' hope for Woman Thou Art Loosed is that the film would turn the Church's attention to the great ministry opportunities that exist in the pain of people everywhere, in shelters and shopping malls, boardrooms and back rooms, penthouses and penitentiaries -- and even in churches. He feels the film is particularly appropriate for Christians to see and promote, and he says the movie has a mission to and through the Church since "abuse statistics don't stop or even drop at the church door." The pastor of The Potter's House warns that if Christians fail to initiate healing, hope, and compassion for abuse sufferers in their midst -- that is, if they forgo the opportunity to confront and address abuse -- they invite it to stay.

Some critics have questioned the violence and rough language found in Woman Thou Art Loosed, which necessitates its R-rating. However, Jakes defends the graphic content as necessary to the film's authenticity and relevance. He points out that the Bible contains instances of violence and obscenity, such as the rape of Tamar, the incest between Lot and his daughters, and the woman caught in adultery and dragged before Jesus. "Those are tough scenes," the pastor acknowledges.

"Christian films too often fail in the court of the world's opinion because they fall short of what the world knows to be true and audiences reject them as idealistic and preachy," Jakes says. "Whether you portray the cross as Mel Gibson did with its shockingly realistic pain, or a prison scene, or an urban jungle, without realism, the point is lost."

Jakes, who is often referred to as a "Shepherd to the Shattered," believes the messages of unflinchingly truthful movies like The Passion of the Christ and his own Woman Thou Art Loosed can help the Church become a more relevant, more effective agent of spiritual resuscitation and regeneration in the world. Through them, the minister says, "We can more broadly proclaim freedom in Christ and help people begin to experience that freedom. I'd like to see churches everywhere develop support groups for the countless women and men wounded by violence every day -- in every culture and in every community."

The Woman Thou Art Loosed movie website goes beyond providing information about the film to offer a host of resources for abuse sufferers or for those who want to know how to help abuse victims, including help-line phone numbers and other information about how those trapped in a cycle of abuse can access counseling and intervention services.

Jakes says the film has been a catalyst for the surfacing of deep pain in both victims and perpetrators of abuse, and his ministry will continue adding resources to the site to help people move from today's pain to tomorrow's promise.