The Prodigal Son Outreach Project

Another reason for creating The Prodigal Son is to create a witnessing tool through means of entertainment that could be used to reach the youth of today. This film deals with some of the real life issues that teenagers face in society and explores the fascination that many of our young men have with the gang lifestyle. This growing epidemic has caused the gang population to triple within the past years. Millions of youth have been deceived into believing that the only life worth living is that of a successful drug dealer, gang member or rap star. Each year, gang involvement claims thousands of lives, through death or imprisonment. This problem has plagued inner city families at an alarming rate, and fear has gripped the hearts of parents nationwide.

Under the mask of "telling it like it is, in the hood" Hollywood has exploited these horrific acts of genocides for profit. Many of the films produced by Hollywood and independent film makers today have helped perpetuate this vicious cycle. For this reason, God has called us to use the very means that is contributing to the detriment of His people, to combat this problem. This film not only exposes the distorted mentality of gang members, but also the harsh reality that surrounds this lifestyle, such as police brutality, prison, murder and the ultimate betrayal of a loved one. However, unlike any other urban film, The Prodigal Son will deliver a message of redemption and forgiveness, both in the film and in the streets, with The Prodigal Son Outreach Project.

We are currently discussing with Urban Ministries Inc. (UMI), the largest African American Christian Publishing and Media Company in the U.S., about the possibilities of attaching an educational component to special DVD packages, as well as DVD sales to their distribution of 40,000 Black churches. We are also networking with several large African American organizations and churches about the possibility of sponsoring this project.

To assist us in these efforts, we are seeking sponsorship and support from organizations, churches, corporations, and individuals who are willing to actively get involved with this awe-inspiring cause to reclaim our youth from the streets, by participating in one of the programs mentioned below.

The Prodigal Son film will be more than a movie, but a movement. A movement to reach out to the lost teenagers caught up in the gang lifestyle. It will be more than a film, but a fulfillment. A fulfillment of God’s word to redeem His souls. Shortly after the release of the film, we plan to implement The Prodigal Son Outreach Project, which consists of:

1. promoting a special educational gang counseling DVD of the film to youth and gang counseling centers throughout the country. This includes interviews with former notorious gang members and drug dealers, and a booklet to be used with the film to create dialogue in an open forum based on film characters.
   
   
2. launch a nationwide men mentorship program with some of the country's largest African American organizations, Churches and other humanitarian organizations.
   
   
3. launch a nationwide gun-buy-back program.
   
   
4. call on corporate sponsors for assistance with job opportunities.
   
   
5. assist qualified applicants with getting their criminal records expunged.
   
   
6. use a portion of the film's proceeds to create a college grant program and network with trade schools & colleges for enrollment.

The task at hand is not an easy one. Nonetheless, it is one that has to be made in order to prevent another generation from being lost. And with your help and prayers, we are confident in the positive outcome of this God-given assignment.