'Fireproof' star likens film ministry's success to biblical story

Actress Erin Bethea used the story of one of the Bible's most famous miracles as an illustration when speaking to a local audience about a Georgia church's production of "Fireproof."

Bethea, female star of the Christian movie, said Sherwood Baptist's venture into the movie-making business has grown almost beyond imagination, much like the biblical story of Jesus feeding the masses with two fish and five loaves of bread. "Fireproof," the most successful independent movie of 2008 with $33.5 million in ticket sales, was the Albany church's third film, said Bethea, who was the guest speaker at the Sunday evening worship service at First Baptist Church of Plant City.

The church acted on faith when it started Sherwood Pictures, its movie-making ministry, she said.

Sherwood uses mostly volunteers to produce inspiring but low-budget films, she said, likening it to the New Testament story of Jesus feeding thousands of hungry worshippers with a boy's meager lunch. "When you give the loaves and fish [to God], my do they multiply," said Bethea, whose father, Michael Catt, is Sherwood Baptist's senior pastor.

Bethea, 27, said the 3,000-member church got into the movie-making business to help spread Christianity worldwide. Its first movie, "Flywheel," was made for $20,000 and while it wasn't much of a hit had a strong message of using morality in business dealings, she said. "Flywheel," was followed by "Facing the Giants," a story of a Christian football coach who used his faith on and off the field, which was made for $100,000 and brought in $10 million.

"Fireproof," with a budget of $500,000, was Sherwood Pictures' most expensive production to date and the biggest commercial success.

"It's not just a movie but a movement of God," is how First Baptist's senior pastor, the Rev. Michael Lewis, described "Fireproof" when he introduced Bethea.

Bethea started her guest appearance with a story time for children, whom she called up front to teach them the centuries-old biblical favorite of the feeding of the hungry masses.

Then she talked about "Fireproof," which is a story of a couple's very modern day problems that threaten to tear apart their seven-year marriage. Bethea plays opposite former child star Kirk Cameron, who portrays her firefighter husband. In "Fireproof," both partners feel neglected and unappreciated by the other. Temptations include money, Internet pornography and sex outside the martial bed.

With the help of a 40-day relationship-strengthening program, "The Love Dare," the on-screen couple stay true to their wedding vows.

The movie helped make the Bible "come alive," and surprised the secular world with its success, she said.

"We shook Hollywood a bit but I think Hollywood needed shaking up," she said.

Beathea said she fell in love with theater as a 10th-grader and earned her degree in theatrics from the University of Mobile, a 2,000-student Christian school. She said she decided early on to not compromise her religious beliefs as she pursed acting.

She has worked for Disney World for about five years, interrupted only by a three-month stint for "Fireproof." She also helps hosts "On Mission Extra," a TV show produced by the North American Mission Board that recently won an Emmy.

Bethea said she now is using the lessons of "Fireproof" in her own life. She is getting married in about a month, and she and her husband-to-be are using the "The Love Dare," to prepare for their lives together.