Transcript
Leader Guide
LETTERS TO GOD
in Theaters April 9, 2010
“Do you think the kids at school will make fun of me? What should I do if they do? Wait, I know. I’ll do what Jesus would do.” Tyler, Letters To God Wouldn’t you be thrilled if your young friends would come to the same conclusion when facing difficulty?
Letters To God interl’ínc Youth Leader Guide The Movie And Your Ministry
As a youth leader, you are no stranger to using various teaching methods – everything from playing a game to playing a song can be used to drive home a point. Letters To God can be one of those “teaching methods” you employ. Going to a movie is a very common experience with young people. If you listen to conversations among kids, you’ll catch many references to movie scenes. So, using a movie to make a point is a natural thing. But, young people are not conditioned to do the “thinking between the lines” that is sometimes necessary to extract the message from a movie. Therefore, you will want to set up this experience as a different kind of movie-going adventure. Movies can teach. They can motivate. They can bring issues to the fore that otherwise might not be dealt with. We hope that you are able to make the most of Letters To God in your ministry.
In Advance Of Seeing The Movie
Too often we have a “ready, fire, aim” mentality when dealing with opportunities like Letters To God. The demands of youth ministry do call for much flexibility, creativity, and “just in time”
Letters To God is a poignant film that shows how a boy’s faith while handling adversity affects everyone he encounters. A heartfelt tale of inspiration, hope, and redemption, Letters to God is the story of what happens when one boy’s walk of faith crosses paths with one man’s search for meaning—the resulting transformational journey together touches the lives of everyone around them. Tyler Doherty is an extraordinary eight-year-old boy. Surrounded by a loving family and community, and armed with the courage of his faith, he faces his daily battle against cancer with bravery and grace. To Tyler, God is a friend, a teacher and the ultimate pen pal — Tyler’s prayers take the form of letters, which he composes and mails on a daily basis. The letters find their way into the hands of Brady McDaniels, a beleaguered postman standing at a crossroads in his life. At first, he is confused and conflicted over what to do with the letters. But the decision he ultimately makes becomes a testament to the quiet power of one boy’s shining spirit and unshakeable faith. Inspired by a true story, Letters To God is an intimate, moving, and often funny story about the galvanizing effect a child’s belief can have on his family, friends and community. This guide will help you integrate the movie into three solid, Biblically-based discussions that will reinforce your young friends’ faith in God and their understanding of His transforming power. This movie is also a superb occasion for your students to expose their friends to faith. Seeing this movie could be the first step that many teenagers will take toward Jesus. delivery of awesome programming. The nature of teenagers means that we have to adapt, make do, and generally roll with the punches. That kind of off-the-cuff ability works well much of the time – but sometimes an opportunity comes along that is too good to let slide. Occasionally we are given a chance to create a ton of ministry effectiveness ONLY if we plan, prepare, promote, and perform with the best of our ability. Letters To God is just such an opportunity. You may want to be careful about how you promote Letters To God. Because the story involves a young boy, some of your teenaged friends might think it’s a movie for “kids” – not for sophisticated (and older) teenagers. And, just so you know, this is not an “action-packed” adventure film – it is a touching and moving story that will pull at your heartstrings (and tear ducts!) So, don’t “oversell” it to your rowdy guys. Do a little build-up to generate enthusiasm about seeing Letters To God. Use any or all of these ideas to create some anticipation for the film. Show the Trailer – The movie’s trailer is included on the Music Video Loop DVD. Be sure to show it several times in the weeks before you attend a screening of the film. Send a “Handwritten” Letter to the Group – Use a pencil to write a letter to
the whole group, and mail it two weeks before your film screening. Use your best elementary-kid printing style, and let the kids know how cool this experience will be. Hold the First Bible Study Session – The first session, dealing with the issue of prayer, is a good way to continue your introduction of the film. Plan to have that meeting a week to ten days before you go to the movie.
Going To See The Movie
Make taking your youth group to see the film a special occasion. Here are a few ideas: Bandanas – Have a few kids wear red bandanas on their heads in solidarity with Tyler’s character in the film. Uniform – Get a US Postal Service uniform to wear to the film. If you’re a guy, grow a three-day beard. Letters – Bring along some pads of paper, pencils, and envelopes with you to the film screening. Hand them out to the kids and encourage them to write a letter to God when the final credits are rolling.
you’re there you can debrief the movie with your kids. Use these questions to generate discussion: • Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why? • Did you anticipate the ending to be the way it was? What were your thoughts about the ending? • Have you been close to anyone who has battled cancer? What was your experience with that situation? • What would you say is the main point that this film makes? The Bible verse quoted at the end of the movie is 2 Corinthians 3:3 – “You are a letter… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.” Put that idea into your own words. Make sure you inform the group about the two special Bible studies coming up that deal with issues raised in the film. You probably want to have flyers or cards to hand out that have information about your two upcoming meetings.
After Seeing The Movie
When you exit the theater, head to a restaurant or dessert place, and when interlinc-online.com • 800.725.3300
