Sharing Good News (Late Night Moments on a Hollywood Film Set)

“The Lord... is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
 
The air was chilly and we grabbed winter coats to ward off the cold between takes. It was 2 am in the French quarter of New Orleans, and hundreds lined the street shooting the Jack Reacher film “Never Go Back” featuring Tom Cruise. My husband Sam and I were among the crowd of background actors bringing this film to life...

The casting call brought in a broad sweep of humanity—old, young, classy, punk. Didn’t matter where we came from or who we were—the playing ground was level as we merged into the crowd “attending” the historic Krewe of Boo parade. Next to me stood a young man dressed in black Goth with multiple body piercings. You have a lot of free time to talk between takes, so I smiled and struck up a conversation with him.
 
A film set is not the place to “evangelize” but my heart was seeking God-given opportunities to shine light. To make a difference in someone’s life. To share the hope I had found in Christ Jesus so many years ago. As we talked, I realized this young man’s heart was open. Not to the “four spiritual laws,” but to my story of a life-changing God-encounter.
 
I shared with him how my God-moment literally prompted a 180-degree turn in my life. I went from a lost and downward-spiraling college student to a young woman with something to live for.
 
As the cameras began rolling again, I encouraged him that there would come a point in his life when he would remember our conversation on that cold night in the French Quarter of New Orleans—and know. He would know that God is real. Know that God has a purpose for his life.
 
And his life would be forever changed as he encountered and embraced the presence of the living God.
 
I may never see the outcome of that conversation, but I am thankful that I was listening and aware of this young man’s spiritual need and his openness to listen to my story. There was no time for a prayer, but I have since prayed for him and I trust that God will take my heartfelt words from that late-night film shoot and use them to draw this young man to Himself.
 
There are opportunities all around us to share love, to share life. I pray we would all be very open and aware of what the Holy Spirit is doing around us. Let’s work with God to bring hope to a hurting world.
 
“Then Jesus said, ‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’” Mark 4:9 NIV