Hi friends,
Yesterday, I promised you I would be back with one our first short film ever from Dei Dox. 🙂 Before I do that I wanted to introduce myself.
That’s a picture of me, Brent Gudgel (on the left) with Dave Mahanes (Producer) and Chris Sinclair (Cinematographer). This picture was taken at the Justice Film Festival where we won “Best Feature Film” award for “Free Burma Rangers”.
It’s a movie about a family who risks their lives on the frontlines of war to serve God, and then the miraculous work God does.
We were humbled by the response from this film. Francis Chan called it “the best Christian Film I’ve ever seen.” The Gospel Coalition called it “A fascinating moving portrait of how the Gospel of Jesus Christ motivates believers… dodging bullets and bombs to be conduits of healing and hope.” Incredible! There was so much “Divine Providence” around the making of the film and it’s obviously better than we could ever have planned. God did something special and we’re grateful to be a part of it.
If you haven’t had a chance to watch it, you should check it out here on our website, or you can find it on Amazon.
Ok, now that we’re not strangers anymore I want to share something personal I should be open about…
When I first came to faith I was on fire. I could feel God in me and around me. Then, over time, as life got more full (and complicated), my faith changed. If I’m being honest, there was a point in my life where I was doing everything I was supposed to do to grow in my faith… I read Christian books, I listened to worship music, I volunteered at church… but… I felt kinda empty. I would leave on a Sunday after a great service and deep down be thinking…
“It feels like there should be more that’s possible in faith. I do believe, but as I read the Bible it feels like faith is supposed to be exciting, and well… is following God really exciting?”
Maybe you can relate.
What I didn’t realize was that God was about to take me on an incredible journey of discovery. Not discovery of myself, but discovery of Himself. It would change everything, despite having been a Christian for years.
That’s how “Deidox Films” began. We were convinced God is at work and we wanted to go out with cameras to try to tell these stories to the world. For His glory.
God’s stories, for God’s glory.
Here’s the first short film we ever made at Deidox Films, way back in 2007 if you can believe it:
We filmed for a week in New York and then edited over several months as we came up with a new style of documentary that combined cinematic scenes with themes of mature faith. It was thrilling.
God is at work. It’s beautiful when we see it.
Over the next few days I’ll send a few more links to stories that have been especially significant over the past 15 year journey… a journey with a tremendous amount of twists and turns.
Tomorrow I will send you a link to one of my favorite film projects I’ve ever worked on, the one that really raised my expectations on what it’s possible to experience with God.
Turns out following GOD IS EXCITING.
Until tomorrow,
Brent Gudgel
Executive Director, DEI DOX
For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands within his nation,
they will honor My name,
they will honor the Holy One of Jacob
and stand in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who are confused will gain understanding,
and those who grumble will accept instruction.
(Isaiah 29:23-23)
