What difference can church media make? Can a DVD change the world? Maybe. The obvious explanation for such a difference or change involves a scenario in which the media itself conveys a message so powerful that it yields something akin to the Third Great Awakening. While that might be the dream of every Christian filmmaker, one group of Christian filmmakers developed a different dream: to leverage their creative gifts into tangible help for those in need. After a couple months of conversations, that dream took shape as the Quench Project.
Producer Gary Molander of Floodgate Productions is prominently involved with the project, which he describes as “a collective effort among Christian filmmakers to save lives by building clean water wells in Africa. These filmmakers have each donated one or more of their finest media pieces to the formation of a compilation DVD.” But what sets the DVD apart is that “100 percent of all sales will be donated to Living Water International, a non-profit organization that has been building clean water wells for 17 years (www.water.cc),” Molander says.
The DVD is loaded with media resources designed for use by local churches but will cost just $60. In total, the DVD includes 11 popular mini-movies, 26 still images, 22 motion backgrounds, one Vibe video, one Christmas series video trailer, and a promotional video for Living Water International
Despite Molander’s leadership in the Quench Project, he credits Jesse Lewis of WorshipFilms with the initial idea. Lewis and other church media producers (including Molander and his partners at Floodgate) have spent time networking and building relationships with one another over the last year or two, so Lewis took note of our May/June Producer Spotlight on Floodgate Productions.
“In that article, Gary mentioned his heart for being involved in third-world relief efforts,” Lewis says. “I immediately contacted him because that is also a significant part of what we want to see accomplished through WorshipFilms.
“Noting that there were others in our network that had similar interests, we began to wonder what God might be up to,” Lewis continues. “The idea for the Quench Project was birthed in that brief conversation and Gary has run with it, spearheading the effort to move it from idea to reality.” That reality encompasses 13 church media producers banding together and forgoing royalties on some of their resources in order in impact lives on the other side of the world.
Lee Rothenflue of eleven72 is another producer who took a big role in the development and direction of the project, and he’s clear about why the group has come together:
“With the Quench Project we hope to accomplish several things. First and foremost, with the sale of this DVD we hope to donate thousands of dollars to an amazing organization that is offering life-giving water to the one billion people around the world who currently do not have access to clean drinking water. Second, we want to follow God’s leading by having the missional mind he set forth for us in Matthew 28:18-20. And finally, we’d love to make the Church aware of this problem and potentially stir their hearts in assisting people all over the world through organizations like Living Water International.”
With these purposes in mind, Molander and others began talking to Christian filmmakers to gauge who else was interested in joining the cause. “We discussed the fact that they would make no money on this project,” Molander says. “As a matter of fact, we understood that we might lose money. No one seemed to care.”
That no one seemed to care about the personal financial downside of the Quench Project might appear insignificant, but Molander disagrees. “When people hear the word ‘filmmaker’ they also hear the word ‘rich.’ That may be true in Hollywood but it is certainly not true in the Christian media world,” he says. “Many Christian filmmakers create films during their ‘off’ time, working their day jobs to pay the bills. Others are full-time filmmakers but must take on outside client work to support their families. So for these filmmakers to donate their best media to this global cause, well, it’s simply sacrificial and amazing.”
Other entities who donated resources to the Quench Project include Crystal Clear Disk and Tape—who provided all the DVD packaging, replicating, and printing free of charge—and WorshipHouse Media—who will distribute the DVD internationally without additional charge.
The Quench Project DVD represents more than a lot of great media resources at a great price or a rare collaboration by 13 “competitors” in the church media industry. Instead, the DVD represents a creative and concerned effort to impact the world through media. The best part about the project is that the work of the 13 producers is done—their resources are donated and the DVDs produced. Now the opportunity to get involved, purchase and promote the DVD, and help those in need lies with local churches.
“How cool would it be if pastors stood up in their churches next weekend and said, ‘This week, we helped build a well in Africa’?” Molander wonders. “That statement not only speaks to Christians, but it also communicates a message of global responsibility to unchurched people—a message that may contradict their preconceived notions of the North American Church.” Thanks to the Quench Project, the ability to change lives and perceptions comes down to the simple purchase of a DVD.
You can purchase the DVD by going to the Quench Project website: www.thequenchproject.org. There you can also catch up on the latest Quench Project news, find links to the filmmakers involved, and learn more about the incredible people at Living Water International.
The Producers of the Quench Project:
Worship Films—“How Good”
eleven72— “This Year” and “Jesus Is”
Igniter Media—“The March of the Unqualified”
eight20eight—“That’s My Money”
Beamer Films—“Evangelism: Here I Am Lord. Send Me”
The Work of the People—“Shine Your Light” and “LWI Promo Video”
Restoration Videos—“This Hand”
FortyOne Twenty—“It is Finished,” motions, and stills.
Visual Reality—“Alex”
Organic Videos—Motions and stills.
Highway Videos—“Sin” Vibe video
Midnight Oil—“Follow the Star” Christmas Series video trailer
Floodgate Productions—“The Gift of Worship” and stills