Stephen and Alex Kendrick began their path to becoming influential Christian filmmakers as children when they filmed scenes played out in their backyard. As adults, the men entered youth ministry before embarking on their first film project, “Flywheel.”
The initial project was planned as a community outreach that would show in a local theater. The outcome far exceeded the brothers’ expectations, however, and the DVD has sold 1.2 million copies to date. After “Flywheel” came “Facing the Giants,” “Fireproof,” “Courageous,” “War Room,” and “Overcomer.”
As a practice, the pair have made a film about every two to three years, spending time praying as they prepare for the next one. Their creative process has often been that God inspires Alex with film scenes, and at the same time, Stephen studies Scriptures that relate. The writing of the film then unfolds, with collaboration and review from others. Stephen expands,
“God puts us in synch in different ways. Ultimately, we want God’s fingerprints on everything. We seek to please Him and to tell stories that are relatable. We realized that telling stories – especially if it connects with the audience – is a wonderful form of ministry.”
For “Overcomer,” the brothers explore what it means to have one’s identity rooted in Jesus Christ. They were particularly inspired by Ephesians 1 and 2, in which the Apostle Paul concludes,
“In him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
The brothers say their passion remains the Great Commission, and inspiring the Church through their films, all while offering accompanying materials to live according to our calling in Christ.
“It’s been super fulfilling – and harder than I thought,” Stephen says. “In the end, if we can help people and encourage them with relatable stories, that is success for us.”
Stephen and Alex Kendrick write, produce and direct inspiring, Christian-based films. Their latest film, “Overcomer,” was released in 2019.
Finding your calling with the Kendrick Brothers
