
Watching this film will give you a bit of evangelical history from the 1970’s. It is the true story of a hippie street preacher, Lonnie Frisbee, who joins forces with Pastor Chuck Smith to revive his small congregation called Calvary Chapel. The movement they set off led to an explosion of baptisms and enthusiastic conversions among young people who had been (in the words of Lonnie) “looking for peace and love in the wrong places.” It was also the genesis of much of the contemporary Christian rock music used in some churches today. One of the converts is Greg Laurie, who goes on to become a well-known evangelical church leader in his own right.
From what I have read, the film is fairly true to actual events, and it does not gloss over conflicts. Some members left Pastor Chuck’s church when he began ministering to “hippies” and eventually Lonnie and Chuck disagree and go their separate ways. The acting is well done. However, the theology is all wrong from a Lutheran perspective — based on decision theology and feelings, with a charismatic flavor.
VERDICT: 3 STARS. Watch it for the history, not the theology.
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