Movie Review: The Machine Gun Preacher

Written on the 19 May 2012 by Rachel Quilty, Personal Brand Strategist @ Jump theQ

Review of The Machine Gun Preacher by Rachel Quilty

I am so impressed with this movie. I don’t know who to lead with...

Sam Childers – the remarkable man known as the Machine Gun Preacher who begs you to help him save the children of East Africa,
Gerard Bulter –  who plays a superb role as Sam Childers in the Machine Gun Preacher  - This is his best role yet . This role is challenging and Gerard takes a risk and nails it.
Marc Foster - the Director who also brought us the chilling realities of everyday life for children in Sudan and other confronting issues within The Kite Runner and Monster’s Ball.

Watch the Trailer
•

Synopsis of the Movie: Based on the book written by Sam Childers about his incredible life "Another Man's War".

o True story of Sam Childers – former drug-dealing criminal
o Sam Childers – founder of the Angels of East Africa rescue organisation
o Childers makes decision to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war
o Sam breaks ground for an orphanage where it’s most needed in middle territory controlled by Lord’s Resistance Army – renegade militia forces children become  soldiers before they reach their teens
o Sam determined save many as possible – leads armed missions into enemy territory to retrieve kidnapped children
o Rescued over 1000 orphans from starvation, disease, enslavement

About Sam Childers:

I recently saw Sam Childers interviewed at the Metro Church on the Gold Coast. And again in a Channel 7 Sunrise interview.

This guy wears his heart on his sleeve. He is truly dedicated to rescuing these children from death, disfiguration, a child soldiers fate or sex slavery.

Each day Sam's organisation attempts to feed over 3500 children. Each day he runs out of food. He is desperate for your help and isn't too proud to ask.

Donate to the Cause - from as little as $5 - http://www.machinegunpreacher.org/donate/

o Sam slid deeper into life of violence and crime until became a Shotgunner (armed guard for drug dealers)
o During this stage of life met Lynn, stripper who would later become his wife
o After some signifcant incidents he became increasingly concerned he was going to be killed because of drugs

Sam began distance himself from former life, he started working in construction. But God had a bigger plan for his life...

o 1998 – Sam arrived Yei, Southern Sudan. In midst of Second Sudanese War. Sam urged by Pastor in America joined mission group to repair huts damaged in conflict.
o During assignment found body of a child torn apart by landmine – made a pledge to God would help people of Sudan. Returned to Sudan several months later run a mobile clinic
o Sam recieves a message from God  to build an orphanage for the children inn village of Nimule on the Ugandan border
o The locals thought he was mad. Lord’s Resistance Army, brutal rebel militia kidnapped 30 000 children, murdered hundreds of thousands of villagers was laying waste to the area.
o Returned to USA sold construction business and sent money to Africa
o Orphanage began take shape – cleared brush, built huts that would house children. 

Today, Sam still rescues children, and his charity Angels of East Africa now has orphanages in Ethopia, Uganda and Sudan

Even today when in Africa, Sam sleeps with a Bible on one side and AK47on the other.

I suggest you go to your local Video/DVD store and grab a copy of this movie or buy the book "Another Man's War". I love movies and I watch a lot of them. 

I love to learn the learn and discover the moral to each story. But this movie and Sam Childers changed my life.

The moral or the lesson of this story is simple - no matter how bad or broken you are, God has a plan for your life, your past makes you uniquely suited for the role. And if you, like Sam agree to the mission that God has install for you, you will discover that you too can change child's life and then change a nation.