Dear Friends,
Greetings and Happy New Year from Sacred Groves!
The day we've been awaiting for nearly a year is fast drawing close--the DVD release of Sacred Groves' first feature-length film, Unveiling Grace.
If you've been on our mailing list for a while, you know that this has been in the works for quite some time...since not too long after the whole "Sacred Groves" ministry idea began to take shape. Our goal was simple--to use personal stories as a way of helping people who are struggling with their questions and doubts about Mormonism, and to serve as signposts to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
We have been contacted by several Latter-day Saints and former Latter-day Saints to tell us that these stories have been instrumental in their struggle to break free from religious bondage. For some, one story or another will resonate in particular. "It was good to see that I wasn't the only one!"
Others have timidly contacted us with penetrating questions brought up by these personal stories. It is difficult for many of them to ask such questions freely in their religious environment. To give voice to these questions can have serious repercussions. We are grateful that God has put us in a position to be a "safe place" where those questions can be addressed.
Perhaps the main question that underscores all the others is, "Is there life outside of the Mormon Church? If I set out on this path, will I find anything out there that is better than what I have now?"
Unveiling Grace is the story of eight people who walked that very same pathway. Some of the things that they have to say might surprise you. They're not bitter or angry over their lives as Mormons. But they have discovered something that far surpasses anything they ever knew during their lives as Latter-day Saints. For them, the veil has been lifted, and they encountered the life-changing power of Jesus' abundant gift of grace!
To that end, for as long as we are able to do so, we will give away the DVD to any Mormon who contacts us and asks us for one. So if you are a Mormon (or in the process of becoming one), this offer is for you. Visit the web page to fill out your information, and we'll get a copy of this DVD to you once it's ready. There are no strings attached--you won't be on any list, and we won't contact you any further, unless you tell us you want to be contacted. (But please, Mormons only!)
If you are NOT Mormon--if, for example, you are a Christian wanting to gain an appreciation for the struggle of many Mormons...or better yet, you are looking for a tool to share the Gospel of Jesus with Mormons you know, then we're asking for nothing more than our base cost. The amount we ask ($4 each, or $3 each in quantities of 10 or more) only offsets our basic material and distribution costs.
And...until the DVDs are ready for release next month, we are lowering the asking cost on pre-orders-- $3 a copy, or $2.50 in quantities of 10 or more. You can pre-order your copy (or copies!) now from the web page. Once the DVDs show up on our doorstep, we'll start shipping them out.
Upon release of the DVD, we will also post the entire film online right here on this website, so anyone can see it anywhere, at no cost at all. (And frankly, we don't care how people hear the good news of Jesus...only that they hear it!)
And friends, this film contains good news--really good news. Not because we are skilled in designing anything or putting it together, but for the simple reason that God's Word is powerful, and this is the story of how God's word changed lives in powerful ways.
So if you are in need of some good news, we pray that this film will clearly share with you Jesus' love, and His invitation to you to be in a life-changing relationship with Him!
If your life has already been changed by His Good News--if His grace has already been unveiled to you--then we pray that this film will be an encouragement, and that you would find it useful in sharing that Good News with people you know that still need it!
This project has been a joy for us to be a part of, and we've been deeply impressed by these stories that have been entrusted to us. So we are now anxious to share them with you, and our prayer is that Jesus Christ will change many lives through His word...and we would be thrilled if He chooses to use our humble efforts in the process!
In Jesus, and for His glory!
-- Sacred Groves (A Ministry of Main Street Church)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, April 16, 2010
A Week with Adam's Road in Winter Garden, Florida
I figure it's about time to post a an update on what is going on with Sacred Groves. If you've been following the website at all, you'll see that, among other things, we have posted a fair amount of video material related to Adam's Road, a band of Christian musicians who all come from an LDS background, and most of whom were LDS missionaries in the not-too-distant past (and some of whom encountered the true, living Jesus Christ while on their mission!)
Over the past few months, we've posted, on the SacredGrovesOnline.org website, a series of short video clips (and a longer feature that is a compilation of those clips, called "The Adam's Road Testimonies") that share the story of how these young men encountered Jesus. Very compelling stuff, I think, and we've had some good feedback, as well. We also have posted the entirety of their uncut interviews--more than three hours of material in total, for those who might wish to watch the whole thing. (I especially recommend it if you're at home, sick, or stuck with a long layover in an airport with wi-fi. You can even download them to watch on the flight you're waiting for! Whatever your situation, it'll be a good use of your time.)
When we sat these guys down in front of the video camera in the Main Street Church sanctuary back in September of 2009, we weren't really prepared for what we were going to get. We did this at the encouragement of a Utah pastor who told us that we really needed to get these guys' stories on tape. So...we did. But as we sat there, captivated by their moving testimonies and their penetrating insights into the reality of God's marvelous grace, it dawned on us that we really "had something" here. Of course, much to our chagrin, we "had something" using a cantankerous, eight-year-old camera, and an inadequate lighting setup. While this might have been okay for some informal Internet video clips, it really wasn't the sort of quality that would serve for creating a feature-length testimonial documentary that only now did we realize was just screaming to be made from these stories.
So a couple weeks ago, armed with a donated high-definition camera and some new, proper lighting equipment, I flew out to Florida, where the Adam's Road band members call home. Specifically, the place they call home is the historic Edgewater Hotel, which is managed and operated (and occupied) by the band members and their families, in the Orlando suburb of Winter Garden. (Highly recommended, by the way, if you're looking for a great, affordable place to stay in the Orlando area. Check it out at www.HistoricEdgewater.com.)
I was received there with the gracious hospitality that would do any true Southerner proud, and was made to feel very much at home. Over the course of four days, I re-interviewed all five band members with our improved equipment and setup, as well as several others that are closely associated with them, either by relation or ministry. In between I got a chance to spend some very encouraging, enjoyable time with the guys and their families, and really came to appreciate even more their sold-out heart for ministry, and their unabashed dedication to sharing the good news of Jesus with Mormons, and anyone else who they encounter. That is their true passion. Their musicianship, excellent as it is, is simply the vehicle for that passion.
All in all, I came away with about 25 hours of footage, representing some 12 hours of interviews and several hours of "b-roll" on miniDV cassettes--quite a bit more than the four hours that we had initially gathered back in September of last year.
And again, it's powerful stuff, I gotta admit. My job was easy, really--set up the camera, sit them down, and let them go to town and share their stories. We will eventually get these interviews posted on Sacred Groves Online, both in easily-digestible topical video clips, as well as in their entirety (for those who are interested in seeing the whole thing...a lot of material, to be sure, but worth watching!)
However, the objective is the production of a feature-length DVD that presents the true Gospel of the living Jesus, as told through the story of these lives that were changed by an encounter with Him. It's a story that I am anxious to share with seeking Latter-day Saints...and anyone else, for that matter, who is earnestly desiring something real and something true, who wants to know Jesus in a deep and authentic way.
It is our (ambitious) goal to have this project completed by the end of summer. I say "ambitious" because I've done video projects like this before, and not once have I ever managed to hit my self-imposed deadline. But there are some "deadlines" looming that aren't entirely self-imposed, that further motivate me to get this project done, not the least of which is to have it available for the Adam's Road band when they begin their tour of Utah in the late summer.
So if you're a Mormon who is looking for "something more" I urge you to stay tuned to SacredGrovesOnline.org, and watch for new postings over the next few weeks and months. We'll be glad to talk with you about any questions or concerns you may have...just contact us! And when the DVD is done we'll be delighted to send you a copy of the finished product for you to watch and share, free of charge, no strings attached.
If you know Jesus, then I beg you to pray for us, please! This is a daunting and overwhelming task that is set before us. But I am confident that God will provide both the strength, stamina, and resources that we need to complete the project according to His timetable, for His purposes.
If you haven't already, I invite you to to become a fan of Sacred Groves on Facebook, and this will allow us to keep you better posted about new video clips, and progress on the DVD project.
To Jesus be all the glory!
Scott, for Main Street Church & Sacred Groves Online
Over the past few months, we've posted, on the SacredGrovesOnline.org website, a series of short video clips (and a longer feature that is a compilation of those clips, called "The Adam's Road Testimonies") that share the story of how these young men encountered Jesus. Very compelling stuff, I think, and we've had some good feedback, as well. We also have posted the entirety of their uncut interviews--more than three hours of material in total, for those who might wish to watch the whole thing. (I especially recommend it if you're at home, sick, or stuck with a long layover in an airport with wi-fi. You can even download them to watch on the flight you're waiting for! Whatever your situation, it'll be a good use of your time.)
When we sat these guys down in front of the video camera in the Main Street Church sanctuary back in September of 2009, we weren't really prepared for what we were going to get. We did this at the encouragement of a Utah pastor who told us that we really needed to get these guys' stories on tape. So...we did. But as we sat there, captivated by their moving testimonies and their penetrating insights into the reality of God's marvelous grace, it dawned on us that we really "had something" here. Of course, much to our chagrin, we "had something" using a cantankerous, eight-year-old camera, and an inadequate lighting setup. While this might have been okay for some informal Internet video clips, it really wasn't the sort of quality that would serve for creating a feature-length testimonial documentary that only now did we realize was just screaming to be made from these stories.
So a couple weeks ago, armed with a donated high-definition camera and some new, proper lighting equipment, I flew out to Florida, where the Adam's Road band members call home. Specifically, the place they call home is the historic Edgewater Hotel, which is managed and operated (and occupied) by the band members and their families, in the Orlando suburb of Winter Garden. (Highly recommended, by the way, if you're looking for a great, affordable place to stay in the Orlando area. Check it out at www.HistoricEdgewater.com.)
I was received there with the gracious hospitality that would do any true Southerner proud, and was made to feel very much at home. Over the course of four days, I re-interviewed all five band members with our improved equipment and setup, as well as several others that are closely associated with them, either by relation or ministry. In between I got a chance to spend some very encouraging, enjoyable time with the guys and their families, and really came to appreciate even more their sold-out heart for ministry, and their unabashed dedication to sharing the good news of Jesus with Mormons, and anyone else who they encounter. That is their true passion. Their musicianship, excellent as it is, is simply the vehicle for that passion.
All in all, I came away with about 25 hours of footage, representing some 12 hours of interviews and several hours of "b-roll" on miniDV cassettes--quite a bit more than the four hours that we had initially gathered back in September of last year.
And again, it's powerful stuff, I gotta admit. My job was easy, really--set up the camera, sit them down, and let them go to town and share their stories. We will eventually get these interviews posted on Sacred Groves Online, both in easily-digestible topical video clips, as well as in their entirety (for those who are interested in seeing the whole thing...a lot of material, to be sure, but worth watching!)
However, the objective is the production of a feature-length DVD that presents the true Gospel of the living Jesus, as told through the story of these lives that were changed by an encounter with Him. It's a story that I am anxious to share with seeking Latter-day Saints...and anyone else, for that matter, who is earnestly desiring something real and something true, who wants to know Jesus in a deep and authentic way.
It is our (ambitious) goal to have this project completed by the end of summer. I say "ambitious" because I've done video projects like this before, and not once have I ever managed to hit my self-imposed deadline. But there are some "deadlines" looming that aren't entirely self-imposed, that further motivate me to get this project done, not the least of which is to have it available for the Adam's Road band when they begin their tour of Utah in the late summer.
So if you're a Mormon who is looking for "something more" I urge you to stay tuned to SacredGrovesOnline.org, and watch for new postings over the next few weeks and months. We'll be glad to talk with you about any questions or concerns you may have...just contact us! And when the DVD is done we'll be delighted to send you a copy of the finished product for you to watch and share, free of charge, no strings attached.
If you know Jesus, then I beg you to pray for us, please! This is a daunting and overwhelming task that is set before us. But I am confident that God will provide both the strength, stamina, and resources that we need to complete the project according to His timetable, for His purposes.
If you haven't already, I invite you to to become a fan of Sacred Groves on Facebook, and this will allow us to keep you better posted about new video clips, and progress on the DVD project.
To Jesus be all the glory!
Scott, for Main Street Church & Sacred Groves Online
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Introducing "Sacred Groves"
It's a fascinating story. An inquisitive fourteen-year-old boy named Joseph Smith is said to have wandered into a forest grove in upstate New York, and received a heavenly vision, a powerful encounter with God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Smith was confused by the seemingly conflicted denominations of organized Christianity, and so he asked the personages who appeared to him which of the different churches he should join. Smith was told that he was to join none of them, because they were all corrupt.
Smith later went on to found the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), building it upon his claim of restoring the failed church that Jesus Christ had originally established on the earth.
The "Sacred Grove" in upstate New York, where Smith is said to have received this vision, has now become a pilgrimage site of sorts for Mormons. It has also become a powerful emblem in the mind of many Latter-day Saints about Smith's personal encounter with God, and ultimately, their own desire to come face to face with Him.
The details and even the historicity of Smith's vision in the Sacred Grove have been disputed; nevertheless, we adopted the idea of "sacred groves" for our series of online video testimonies, because it is a compelling metaphor...testimonies of men and women who have sought their own encounter with Jesus Christ...and who have found new life in Him!
Many Mormons are seeking a true, genuine encounter with Jesus. They often wonder why they haven't been able to find this in their religious organization. So many are walking through their own "sacred groves," and like Joseph Smith, are questioning the status quo, and looking outside the realm of familiar religion for the answers to their questions. But this process often reveals unsettling challenges to everything they've always believed.
This website is dedicated to freely sharing the stories of those Mormons who have walked the often difficult path through their own "sacred grove" and have encountered life on the other side--life in the true, living, Jesus Christ.
Wherever you may be on your own "sacred grove" path, our hope and prayer is that these testimonies will help give you courage--and encouragement--on your journey. What we do here is not to attack anyone, but rather, point to the Source of truth, hope, and life.
If you have already passed through your "sacred grove" and encountered the living Jesus, we invite you to share your story with us, so that you may also encourage those who are walking that pathway after you.
We share these testimonies and stories--these "sacred groves"--with you, so that you may know that Jesus Christ alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
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