'Facing the Giants' actor brings message of faith
By Deborah Bennett

Jason McLeod, star of Facing the Giants, speaks at West Millen Baptist Church. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)

"Do everything for the glory of God," was the message Jason McLeod, star of the recently released Christian movie "Facing the Giants" brought to Jenkins County Sunday, Jan. 28. McLeod spoke at West Millen Baptist Church following a local showing of the film to a full house at the Pal Theater Friday, Jan. 26. He also spoke at Elam Baptist Church Sunday, Jan. 14.

McLeod, a junior at Georgia Southern College, said that the film came about as an "out of the box" ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church of Albany as it sought to "touch the world." With no traditional fund-raising, the $100,000 project was supported by private donations, and all actors and most of the crew volunteered their services to bring the script written by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick, associate pastors at Sherwood, to the screen.

"The $100,000 that was needed just literally came out of thin air. We definitely knew that God was all over this," McLeod said.

Funding of the project, however, was not the only evidence of divine approval. McLeod told of how those involved in the film's production experienced mended relationships, renewed faith and how an approaching storm "just split and went around the football field" as filming was taking place.

"Thinking about it now, I don't know why I was surprised. God is bigger than a storm," he said.

"Facing the Giants" tells the inspirational story of a failing high school football coach who finds that in order to succeed he must convince his team that there is more to sports than fame and glory. He then sets about the task of convincing his team of underdogs that there is nothing they cannot accomplish with a little faith.

McLeod, who plays Brock Kelly, captain of the football team, said that he never expected to get the role and simply auditioned for the movie to get to play in the football scenes.

"I played high school football, and my dream was to play college football. By the time I had finished high school, I had all the accolades that go with it, but inside I was wreck. It was all about me," McLeod said.

After reading the movie script, however, he was compelled to change.

"I heard God saying, 'Jason, this is how you are living your life.' I could relate to Brock. I was lukewarm, and had spent so much time just doing my own thing. God works in mysterious ways - to throw somebody into a little church made movie to show how you're living your life," he said.

"Just honor God in everything you do," McLeod advised.

To date, "Facing the Giants" has netted approximately $10½ million at the box office and a reported 1,000 persons have accepted Christ at the end of the movie. It is soon to be released in 56 countries in six languages and sub-titles.

"Sony (distributor) is fulfilling the great commission without even realizing it," said McLeod.