Priscilla Shirer is a best-selling author, motivational speaker, actress, Christian media personality, and evangelist. But most importantly, she is a wife and mother praying for Godly influences in her children’s lives.
She recently sat down with The Washington Times’ Higher Ground to discuss her new movie “The Forge,” her new book, “I Surrender All,’ and how both of these projects have renewed her passion for discipleship and the incredible impact it can have on people’s lives.
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“In our mega-macro world where it seems like the message is that bigger is better, maybe we’ve lost a little bit of the concentration on the impact that one-on-one discipleship can actually have,” Ms. Shirer said. “This movie [‘The Forge’] brings that back to the forefront, and that when one person makes a decision that they’re going to invest in the life of, particularly in this case, a younger person, the ripple effect of that is absolutely astounding.”
“The Forge,” which is currently in theaters, tells the story of Isaiah Wright, a 19-year-old who is a year out of high school with no plans for his future. He’s at odds with his single mother who has challenged him to grow up and chart a better course. Thanks to the unexpected guidance from his new mentor, Isaiah is forced to deal with his past, sacrifice his selfishness and discover how God might have a greater purpose for his life.
“I’m a mother of three sons. In fact, they’re the exact same age as the young man that’s the main character in this film. That’s what drew me to it,” Ms. Shirer explained. “What I pray for as a mom is that there will be other people outside of me who will have incredible influence on my son’s lives… Sometimes the young people stop listening to their parents, but they will listen to another adult that may be saying the exact same thing, but in a different way that they’re able to receive it.”
The film is the brain child of the Kendrick brothers, who are known for inspiring viewers with films that impact their spiritual lives and strengthen their families and personal relationships. Past hits include “War Room,” “Fireproof,” and “Facing the Giants,” and “The Forge” is sure to join the ranks of powerful films that encourage believers to pursue stronger, more fruitful lives.
“In our culture, so many people say they believe in God, but their walk with God is very lukewarm and half-hearted,” Stephen Kendrick said in an interview last year. “Discipleship means it’s time to get on fire and all in, and this movie will push you, encourage you, inspire you to be all in for Christ.”
His words are reminiscent of Ms. Shirer’s new book, “I Surrender All,” which is meant to challenge people of faith “to move beyond being a believer to becoming His disciple.”
“There are many people who are believers that are not disciples,” she said. “Salvation is free, but discipleship is costly because you are literally surrendering every aspect of your life and saying, ‘Lord, do with that what you will.’ That’s what discipleship is all about.”
And the powerful thing about discipleship is that a single person can make an incredible impact — especially when young people are encouraged to go out and pursue excellence for the glory of God.
“We’re supposed to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. I mean, think about that. It’s not like we’re supposed to be the salt in the shaker. We’re supposed to be the salt of the earth. We’re supposed to spread out into every area of industry and every skill set,” Ms. Shirer noted. “What I loved about the movie is that there are men represented who are not in vocational ministry. They are like businessmen. They are working in different sectors of the marketplace, but they don’t count themselves out of discipleship because they’re not pastors… So I hope that it will remind people that every life, life, including theirs can be incredibly impactful in huge ways.”
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Marissa Mayer is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her work has been featured in Christian Post, The Daily Signal, and Intellectual Takeout. Mayer has a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Arizona State University.
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