California pastor Jack Hibbs says the new Christian movie The Forge has the power to change the culture, and he's buying out local theaters to ensure as many people as possible can see it. The senior and founding pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and the founder of Real Life ministry told his 1.3 million social media followers Tuesday that he plans to buy out theaters in "cities like Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, Stockton, Portland, and Seattle" to offer free screenings to inner-city youth and young men.
The film follows the journey of a wayward young man who, under the mentorship of a wise elder, learns profound lessons about faith and life. It opened in the Top 5 last weekend.
Filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick say they want to spark a discipleship movement in the church.
"I think it can change the church in one weekend. I think it can change men in one weekend. I think it can change our culture and our inner city in one weekend," Hibbs said. "God's going to do something."
Hibbs, who has 1 million followers on Facebook and 384,000 on Instagram, said the filmmakers "handed every church in America the ability to reach their men and young boys."
"Can we make this a national effort, grassroots? We don't need a stadium. We don't need the media," he said. "We've got one another, and we've got these crazy devices [smartphones], and we can get the word out. I am passionate about this. I'm losing sleep over this because I'm so excited. My heart's about ready to pop out of my chest on this one.
"I want to reach the inner city kid that has no direction with this film. Go see The Forge. Don't wait until it comes out on Amazon or Netflix. Go see it now."
This film, he said, "is evangelistic and discipleship-making at the exact same time."
"The Kendrick Brothers have given us a living, breathing Bible track," Hibbs said of the film.
"It's [a] 100 percent biblically based [movie], without any goofiness, to lead somebody to Christ and to disciple them. And if I might add a third thing, to start men's groups on mentoring."
Photo Credit: ©Instagram/Jack Hibbs
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.