Woodlawn Movie Review and Supplemental Materials

Image Credit via Family Christian Bloggers

Family Christian Stores sent me to the pre-screening of the Woodlawn movie with the option to post my honest review.

I love faith based movies. The Kendrick Brothers films, Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof and Courageous are among my all time favorites, and now so is War Room.  I was excited about the opportunity to preview yet another faith based film called Woodlawn, scheduled to air in October. Woodlawn is not a Kendrick Brothers film but an Erwin Brothers film. Last year, I enjoyed Mom’s Night Out, also by the Erwin brothers, so I look forward to their new Woodlawn movie.

Woodlawn 

Woodlawn is based on a true story, set in Birmingham, Alabama during a period of lasting racial tensions stretching into the early 1970s.

In 1973, the government mandated desegregation in the school systems across the United States. Football player Tony Nathan joins other African-American teenagers at Woodlawn Highschool. Coach Tandy Geralds must find a way to solve new challenges and unite a football team.

A minister who is new to the community feels led to speak to the high school football team. Coach Geralds half-heartedly agrees to let him speak to the players. The meeting resulted in changed lives. Black and White players prayed together and almost the entire football team gave their lives to Christ – right there at Woodlawn High School. Their individual decisions and the collective decision of the team to follow Biblical principles spilled over into the community and created the true-story legend on which this film is based.

 As I watched the film, I realized that the news headlines then are much like the news headlines we see today – public school students praying on school grounds and racial tensions fading and renewing in a seemingly endless cycle. The movie is set in the early 1970s but its content and its message is as relevant today as it was back then.

In fact, the message of this movie was relevant then, relevant today, and will be relevant as far as the future stretches.

Watch the trailer here.

Get the movie here.

This item is available here.

If you prefer to read the book first, get it here.

This item is available here.

There is also a devotional that goes along with the Woodlawn Movie.  Get it here!

This item is available here.

Image Credit via Family Christian Bloggers

On May 20, 2016, the movie, Woodlawn, became available on the PureFlix Digital Streaming platform. For a limited time, you can stream it instantly.

PureFlix Entertainment releases pure, safe, faith-driven movies. Families looking for faith based films find PureFlix films refreshing and inspirational. I was blessed enough to be invited to the pre-screening of the movie Woodlawn. I can personally testify to the fact that Woodlawn is an inspirational film that everyone should see and it’s based on a true story.

We can learn a lot from Woodlawn.

Life Lessons from the Woodlawn Movie

Inspired by a true story, “Woodlawn” is set in 1970’s Birmingham and follows a newly desegregated high school football team, whose members are forced to get along after years of hostility. Through the preaching of a sports minister (played by Sean Astin), the team experiences a revival. Beyond just getting along, years of prejudice are erased and the teammates become brothers.

 Watch the official trailer.

PureFlix would love for you to read three articles which inspire life lessons from the Woodlawn movie.

Lessons on Loving Your Enemy

One of the great lines in the Pure Flix film, “Woodlawn” is “This is what happens when God shows up.” The line takes place near the end of this true story that shows us that, with Christ’s help, we can follow the call to love our enemies. Set in 1970’s Birmingham, “Woodlawn” follows a newly desegregated high school football team, whose members are forced to get along after years of hostility. Through the preaching of a sports minister (played by Sean Astin), the team experiences a revival. Beyond just getting along, years of prejudice are erased and the teammates become brothers. Here are some takeaways from “Woodlawn” that we can practice in our lives as we, too, strive to love our enemies. [Read more of Lessons on Loving Your Enemy from Woodlawn here.]

4 Critical Christian Values Taught in Sports

With 114.4 million viewers, the 2015 Super Bowl was the most watched program on TV ever. The 2014 and 2016 Super Bowl were close behind.

What is the great appeal of sports in our society? Beyond its entertainment value, many parents and doctors agree that playing sports builds character and teaches life lessons. An NPR article says “that 76 percent of adults who have children in high school or middle school today say they encourage their children to play sports.”

Paul uses athletic analogies in his letters to Corinth and Timothy. He does this, as a way of relating to the people who loved the Olympic games. However, his analogies also indicate that we can pick up some Christian values by engaging in a little bit of sports. [Read more of 4 Christian values Taught In Sports here.]

 How to Talk to Your Teen Son About Manhood

In the movie, “Woodlawn”, the main character is an African-American high school football player, challenged to live his purpose in Christ. Based on a true story and set in 1973 during the days of desegregation, “Woodlawn” is an inspiring showcase of what it means to be a man of Christ in a secular world.

Though the challenges of today are different than the challenges of 1973, men are still called to practice Christlike virtue. Because the values of the world are different than the virtues of Christ, parents should make a special effort to talk to their son(s) about what it means to be a man of God. While each situation and person is unique, here are some especially relevant topics to discuss with your son. [Read more of How To Talk To Your Teenage Son About Manhood here.]

Get your Woodlawn movie DVD here!