Controversial Documentary Examines Children's Church Camp
by Allie Martin
October 4, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A new movie that looks at evangelical Christians in the Midwest is generating controversy in the secular media.Jesus Camp
is a documentary that follows Christian children attending a charismatic summer camp. The movie focuses on camp founder Pastor Becky Fischer, who runs the "Kids on Fire" Bible camp in Devils Lake, North Dakota, about 70 miles south of the Canadian border. Fischer, who works with Kids in Ministry International, reminds children throughout the movie that they are in a spiritual war. Because of that, Fischer has been accused of "brainwashing" children.Co-director Heidi Ewing says the movie reflects the current culture war and how some churches are preparing and educating young people. She describes the film as a "journey of exploration" that examines "faith through the eyes of children." She also explains how events during filming influenced the final product.
"While we were shooting, ... two Supreme Court Justices ... were replaced," Ewing recalls. "So the abortion issue, which is always front and center, became even more front and center in the lives of our children and the families we were shooting, and so there's sort of a more political feel to the film."
Ewing explains that the movie was not meant to portray believers in a negative light, but to convey that Christian activists often believe that politics and faith go together.
"They're educated, attractive, wonderful people with very intelligent children, who are very mature for their age," she shares. "And I think that, yes, we did want to break some stereotypes. You might disagree with someone's views, but they're your friend ... they would help you."
The co-director acknowledges there is currently division in America based on those perceptions. "We definitely tried to work against those stereotypes. That was important to us," she shares.
The 84-minute documentary, which has been panned by Pastor Ted Haggard with the National Association of Evangelicals, is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some discussions of mature subject matter. Since its release, Fischer claims to have received numerous hate messages via e-mail.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
