JESUS CAMP (TV)
Summary
This televised documentary film examines the lives of children raised in the modern-day Evangelical Christian church in America. The program begins as the "Ring of Fire" radio show host Mike Papantonio discusses the "culture war" going on in America and his dislike of right-wing religious extremists whose views, he feels, are incongruous with true Christian teachings. At the Children's Prayer Conference in Lee's Summit, Missouri, Pentecostal youth minister Becky Fischer addresses a large group of kids and assures them that they can change the "sickness" of the world with their faith, then urging them all to pray aloud in tongues. Fischer notes the usefulness of children in spreading Christianity, adding that "our enemies," particularly Muslims, indoctrinate their young people in negative ways. Young Levi explains that he was saved at age five and plans to attend Fischer's upcoming summer camp program, and he attends a homeschooling lesson with his mother and siblings in which they discuss global warming and creationism, which they conclude is the "only possible answer." The film notes that 43% of Evangelicals are born again before age thirteen and 75% of homeschooled children are Evangelicals, and Levi's mother comments on her disapproval of the removal of prayer from public schools, though Papantonio expresses his frustration that intelligent design is being taught in schools alongside evolution.
Another young church attendee, Rachael, goes bowling with some friends and approaches a stranger to tell her about God's plans for her, feeling that she was divinely inspired to do so. She declares that she does not mind being teased by other kids for her devout ways, confident that God's opinion matters more. Elsewhere, Tory enjoys some Christian heavy metal music, adding that she tries to stay God-focused rather than "dancing for the flesh." She and her siblings, also homeschooled, recite a modified version of the Pledge of Allegiance, and her mother states that she considers her children to be "on loan from God." The children then head to Devil's Lake, North Dakota to attend Fischer's "Kids On Fire" summer camp, started in 2001, and the kids gather in the auditorium to sing and hear Fischer's sermon, in which she comments on temptation and sin. She adds that they should not "make heroes out of warlocks," including Harry Potter, and many of the children are moved to tears as she reminds them not to be "phony" about their faith and urges them to symbolically wash their hands together. The campers stay up late during a thunderstorm, though one counselor points out that their ghost stories do not necessarily "honor God."
Fischer explains that the campers are a "sight and sound generation," demonstrating how she uses various props and visuals in her sermons. The kids chat over breakfast, and Rachael comments on her love of the camp, adding that God dislikes low-key "dead churches" and prefers to be "invited in" by singing and exuberant worship. Levi prepares to give a sermon of his own, explaining that he feels that God is writing the words through him, and another counselor invites the children up to smash mugs representing the faithless aspects of American culture and government. Tory is emotionally overwhelmed by the experience, and Fischer urges the campers to "make war" for their faith. Levi explores some nearby caves with friends and comments on his discomfort around non-Christian individuals and ideals. A camp official brings a cardboard cut-out of President Bush onto the stage and encourages the children to give him their blessings, and Christian leader Lou Engle addresses the children and explains that God wrote the "novel" of their lives at the moment of their conception and leads them in a prayer against abortion, hoping that America will soon elect "righteous judges." Papantonio comments on Bush's nomination of the notably conservative Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court as a replacement for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate. At the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, a Christian rock band performs and Pastor Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals and adviser to Bush, preaches about the Bible's teachings and then meets Levi, encouraging him to take advantage of his "cute kid thing" as a young preacher. He notes that Evangelicals can "determine the election" if they vote as a group, and Rachael, Levi, Tory and the other children take a road trip to Washington D.C. with Engle and gather on the Supreme Court steps, wearing "LIFE" stickers over their mouths as a protest against abortion rights. Rachael muses that there is an element of fun in being "trained to be warriors" for God, and Fischer speculates that liberals will be unnerved by the kids' strong belief and determination to spread the word. Papantonio questions Fischer on air about creating "children soldiers" with her extreme beliefs, and they debate the importance of the separation of church and state. Alito is confirmed as an Associate Justice, and Fischer declares that she loves her country but finds the world to be "sick," and as such feels compelled to dedicate her life to educating children. Rachael and Levi are then seen on the street in D.C., offering Christian tracts and messages to passersby.
Details
- NETWORK: A&E
- DATE: November 30, 1999 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:24:30
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 104474
- GENRE: Documentary
- SUBJECT HEADING: Documentary; Religion; Evangelism
- SERIES RUN: A&E - TV, 2007
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Nancy Dubuc … Executive Producer
- Molly Thompson … Executive Producer
- Ryan Harrington … Managing Producer
- Jacquelyn Shulman … Associate Producer
- Jannat Gargi … Imaging Producer
- Laura Bell … Imaging Producer
- Heidi Ewing … Director
- Rachel Grady … Director
- Force Theory … Music by
- J.J. McGeehan … Music by
- Mike Papantonio … Interviewee
- Becky Fischer … Interviewee
- Levi O'Brien … Interviewee
- Rachael Elhardt … Interviewee
- Tory Binger … Interviewee
- Lou Engle … Interviewee
- Ted Haggard … Interviewee
- Samuel Alito
- George W. Bush
- Sandra Day O'Connor