R E A C H

In 2020 I released a documentary called REACH. This film was quite the ride. It's funny how God brings people together. I connected with The Good Story through friends from Pennsylvania. Oddly enough this happened AFTER I moved away from Pennsylvania to the west coast. Therefore the only time I have spent in person with Kelly and Ryan (who run The Good Story and live in Virginia) is our week in Eastern Europe. The time of preparation for this trip, and all of the post production on this film have been done over zoom, phone calls, and screen-shares and it wasn't due to the pandemic but to distance. So it was only fitting that a partnership that was formed from across the country, made a film about partnership as we partnered with another organization (Roma Networks) from across the globe.

This originally started out as a film about the Roma people group and about partnership. Beyond that I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. I had some ideas, as did The Good Story and Roma Networks. Some became part of this film, some didn't. In the end what we discovered and what we found is a film that at its core is about not only revolutionizing the way the church does ministry and missions around the earth, but also about reaching across to other cultures whether they are across the globe or across the street. The beauty of documentary is that you tell a story by discovering it as you go. As director of REACH I can't help but relate what I discovered in this film to all the on-goings of 2020, especially the attention that has been given to areas of social and racial injustice. When a marginalized people group is experiencing oppression, heartache, or difficulties, it is easy for us to be quick to come up with our own solutions. Especially in the church it is easy for us to fall into the trap that we have the solution to all of the world's problems, that we need to march in and save the day, that we know what is best for others, when really what we need to do is listen. Really what we need to do is learn. Really what we need to do is see people as equal and come alongside of them in support and to serve them. Whether it's a Roma community in Serbia or the black neighborhood in your city nobody goes to because they are too 'afraid of getting shot,' we need to start listening, learning, and trusting. Trusting that all people, despite their circumstances, are not only made in the image of God, but are also capable of bringing solutions to the table themselves. These solutions may have a different perspective than ours, and they may even make us uncomfortable, but that is exactly why we need to listen. They understand things about their culture, their community and their neighborhood, that we may not. This is why we need to build relationships and trust to work together to find ways to improve our communities, our churches, our streets, our governments, our livelihoods and our faith.

It's time to lay down our white American savior complex and give money and dash solutions and become like Jesus (brown Jesus). To think like Jesus, to love people like Jesus, to view people like Jesus, to associate with people like Jesus, to respect people like Jesus and to believe in other people like Jesus. What if 2020 wasn't the disaster it seems to be on the surface but rather a wake up call to change? Changing our mindset, changing our ideas, and changing history in the process. Let's find ways to stop the division. Let's reach.

Directed/Edited by Chris Brands

Produced by Kelly Portnoy

For more information on The Good Story visit: thegoodstory.com/reach

For more information on Roma Networks visit: romanetworks.org/

A Note on Rama’s Legacy

December 18, 2020

A little over a year ago I had the honor of spending a few days with Rama and filming his inspiring life and story for this film. Rama was one of the most gentle and humble human being that I’ve met on this earth. He was not wealthy in earthly possessions, but he was wealthy in relationships and calling. He was an irreplaceable blessing to his community, his church, and his family and his friends. A couple weeks ago we learned that Rama passed away from Covid-19 at the age of 46. I am still in shock. Just over a year ago I was sitting in his house eating dinner. The attention could have easily been all on him, he was why we were there. But instead he went around and asked all of us where we were on our journey with God. It is hard to fathom just like that he is gone from this earth.

In September, The Good Story and I released our documentary, REACH, which prominently features Rama’s daily life and ministry. How could we know a few months later this film would become a memorial to his legacy. The Good Story has pulled Rama's testimony for you to watch (link in my profile - scroll to the 2nd video at the bottom). I encourage you to watch it and let his story wash over your heart and be challenged to live a faith boldly for the Lord as he did.

And please, I urge you to take this pandemic seriously. Wear a mask, stay home, and stay safe.