The first weekend of October I traveled to Stuart, Virginia in order to visit my dear friend, Kay Dunkley, and to speak at the re-enactment at Laurel Hill, J.E.B. Stuart’s birthplace. Laurel Hill, perched high in the mountains, is as lovely a spot as can be found in the Virginia highlands. One can easily picture young J.E.B. galloping across the hills with his auburn hair blowing in the breeze. The re-enactment was very well organized and drew a big crowd. I had the privilege of speaking on one of my favorite subjects: Frank Stringfellow. If you’ve never visited Laurel Hill, put it on your list of Civil War destinations.
 
On Monday, October 5, I left Stuart early and headed southward on the winding mountain road towards Winston-Salem. My destination was a beautiful park in Clemmons where the “One Good Man” crew was filming scenes inside a beautiful little white chapel, once the family chapel of the Reynolds Tobacco family. I finally arrived in a gray drizzle after finding the park but being steered to a dead end by my GPS. When the GPS fails, I’ve learned to be humble and ask for directions. Lots of equipment surrounded the church. In the parking lot, I ran into a young man with red hair, Matthew Shaw. Matthew is one of the twenty interns working on the movie. Although I had talked with him on the phone, I had not met him. He has worked very hard on the “One Good Man” website and is the talented writer of the posts. Matthew introduced me to Robert Cook, who with a camera atop his shoulder, seemed to be everywhere capturing the “behind the scenes” real story of the making of this movie. He and His wife are now retired and left Oklahoma in their RV to volunteer to help with this project.
 
He and Matthew interviewed me and I was able to praise God for the many ways He has answered our prayers during the filming. The greatest miracle was the way the investor funding came in just when it was needed. God always gives us what we need exactly when we need it, and not before. Therefore it takes a lot of faith to move forward as this group did, relying on Him to provide. And He provided the right weather throughout the filming. Since the scene inside the church was a funeral, the gray dreary day was absolutely perfect to set the somber mood. 

 

 

I hope you have become part of the prayer network. Are you a Gapper? If not you can still sign up! Prayer is needed for the critical areas of post production and promotion. 
 
I wandered toward the tent in front of the church and introduced myself to director Manny Edwards. His wonderful sense of humor keeps everybody uplifted and united. He graciously offered me use of a chair behind his, and even had his young son tape my name on it. I was thrilled. Now, I never realized the director actually watches what is being filmed on a monitor. So even though we were outside, I could see everything that the camera was filming. And oh my, did this group strive for perfection, which meant many retakes. There were conferences with the director of photography, the wardrobe lady, the makeup man, etc. And the extras had to go though it over and over, but everybody was a trooper.
 
Lunch was served in a picnic pavilion and producers Mike Snyder and George Escobar arrived.

 

Several of the interns, who had probably been up since 4 a.m. preparing food, dished out a delicious lunch. Mike introduced me to everyone and I had the honor of sitting across from the star Burgess Jenkins (another redhead). He played a key role in “Remember the Titans,” one of my United Methodist minister’s favorite movies. Burgess humbly told me that he had just finished starring as John Wesley in a feature film about Wesley’s life. God is working in the film industry!
 
The afternoon shooting was at a house in a lovely subdivision where I had the opportunity to talk to everyone working outside. People had come from as far away as Oregon, many volunteering and being trained alongside the professionals. Parents of cast and interns pitched in to help. Never have I met a more committed group of Christians who are determined to impact our society for Christ. This movie’s message about fatherhood is destined to capture hearts and change lives.
 
As I drove back to Stuart, the breathtaking full moon rising above the mountains filled me with awe. God’s creation is magnificent, and we will all be breathless when we see His latest handiwork-”One Good Man.”