Sound of Freedom

Sound of Freedom, based on the incredible true story of Tim Ballard, shines a light on even the darkest of places. After rescuing a young boy from ruthless child traffickers, a federal agent learns the boy’s sister is still captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her. With time running out, he quits his job and journeys deep into the Colombian jungle, putting his life on the line to free her from a fate worse than death.

Angel Studio’s goal for "Sound of Freedom" is for two million people to go see the film in theaters the week of July 4 to remember the two million children who are trafficked every year. You can find showtimes at Angel.com/tickets. You can help pay for other people's tickets to come to the film at angel.com/freedom #2MillionFor2Million
If you can't afford a ticket, get a FREE TICKET!

My Review: "Sound of Freedom" is a MUST SEE film, & the week our nation is celebrating Independence is a perfect time to be reminded that there are captives, including very young children, who need our help. Starring Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, the story focuses on the beginnings of "Operation Underground Railroad" and the rescue of two children.

It is a hard film to watch due to subject matter, but one that must be brought to the attention of caring people. I remember reading about Tim Ballard and his organization several years ago, but the movie brings it to life. Alejandro Monteverde's directing is amazing, and he also co-wrote the story with Rod Barr. Eduardo Verástegui produces and has the role of Paul, Bill Camp is Vampiro, and Mira Sorvino plays Mrs. Ballard. The rest of the international cast and crew can be proud of their work and contribution to such an impactful film.

Do NOT bring young children to this movie, and parents should decide the maturity level of tweens and teens. I believe teenagers should see the movie to understand the dangers of sex slavery, but they need adults (parents or leaders) to discuss it. Nothing graphic is shown but the subject matter is horrifying. Shining light into the darkness is a major step in helping to end child trafficking. We can't all personally rescue children, but we can donate financially to groups who do and pray.

Giveaway: 2 free tickets to see Sound of Freedom!
(USA winners only.) Please submit your full
name and email address by 7/7/23. 

Links
Ticketing Page
Pay-It-Forward Page
Free Tickets

Operation Underground Railroad 

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Sound of Freedom YouTube

Angel Studios YouTube

Join the Fight Against Human Trafficking 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Faith on Film TV #169 - Isaac Hernandez & Holly McClure interview "Sound of Freedom" director Alejandro Monteverde.

SOUND OF FREEDOM trailer

Sound of Freedom, based on the incredible true story, shines a light on even the darkest of places. After rescuing a young boy from ruthless child traffickers, a federal agent learns the boy’s sister is still captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her. With time running out, he quits his job and journeys deep into the Colombian jungle, putting his life on the line to free her from a fate worse than death.

SOUND OF FREEDOM IS IN THEATERS JULY 4TH! SOME THEATERS ARE SELLING OUT! 
BUY TICKETS HERE NOW!

From the studio that brought you His Only Son and The Chosen (Angel Studios), and it's a POWERFUL film based on a real man, Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel), and his mission to rescue children from sex trafficking! The film is being released in theaters 4th of July weekend, and we want as many people to see it as possible. It's directed by Alejandro Monteverde and also stars Mira Sorvino and Kurt Fuller.

Special note: Angel Studios has a mission to pre-sell 2 million tickets (before opening weekend) to represent & raise awareness for the 2 million precious children who are being trafficked every year. We must act, and this is a powerful and beautiful way to spread knowledge and enact change. Learn more about the Angel Studios PAY IT FORWARD #2MillionFor2Million site.

LINKS:

• Get Tickets
  

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• Angel Studios
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  Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) is leading the fight against sex trafficking and sexual exploitation with four bold strategies. They exist to rescue children from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.    

 

Ours For a Season - Kim Vogel Sawyer

An Old Order Mennonite couple's vows and beliefs are challenged in this stirring contemporary novel for fans of Cindy Woodsmall or Shelley Shepherd Gray.
  Anthony and Marty Hirschler are part of an Old Order Mennonite community in Pine Hill, Indiana. The couple has grown apart since a doctor confirmed they would never have children. Marty longs to escape the tight-knit area where large families are valued, and the opportunity to do so arises when her childhood friend, Brooke Spalding, resurfaces with the wild idea of rebuilding a ghost town into a resort community. Brooke hires Anthony to help with the construction, drawing the Hirschlers away from Indiana and into her plan, and then finds herself diagnosed with cancer. Moral complications with Brooke's vision for a casino as part of the resort and the discovery of a runaway teenager hiding on the property open up a world neither the Hirschlers nor Brooke had considered before. Will they be able to overcome their challenges and differences to help the ones among them hurting the most?

MY REVIEW: I always love Kim's books and Ours For a Season is no exception! Amish/Mennonite is not my favorite, but this one surprised me. There was more depth in the story with an unexpected range of topics. Marty's longing for a child has colored her world with a bitter outlook and has placed a strain on her marriage and her faith in God. So when her childhood friend offers the chance for Marty and Anthony to get away with an offer for his company to rebuild an abandoned community, Marty hopes to rebuild the relationship both with her husband and with her non-believing friend, Brooke.

The story of the tightly-knit group of Mennonites, along with a couple of people of no faith shows the bonds growing even stronger as Brooke battles a cancer diagnosis and a runaway discovered on the property sheds light on the plight of runaway teens and human trafficking. The challenges faced by the various characters bring new insight and strength and leads to surprising changes in their lives. I highly recommend this one!

I received a copy of the book at no cost to myself as part of the Waterbrook Launch Team as a #PRHpartner. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Priceless DVD

Priceless is the story, inspired by true events of a widower (Joel Smallbone) who loses custody of his young daughter (Sierra Rose Smith). Unable to keep a job, he agrees to drive a truck across the country. Their stipulation of "No Questions Asked" proves to be more than he bargained for when he accidentally discovers his cargo. He must then make a life-changing choice that threatens his future hope. 

PRICELESS stars Joel Smallbone (for KING & COUNTRY), Bianca Santos (THE DUFF), Amber Midthunder (“Longmire”) with Jim Parrack (SUICIDE SQUAD, “True Blood”) and David Koechner (ANCHORMAN, “The Goldbergs”). PRICELESS is the first film from the Smallbone Brothers. Ben Smallbone directs from the script by Chris Dowling & Tyler Poelle. The film was produced by Steve Barnett (300). David Smallbone and Luke Smallbone serve as executive producers, and Jacob “Cubbie” Fink is co-producer. 

Priceless is a well-intentioned film, and I had very high hopes for it. The subject of human trafficking is one that needs to be talked about often, and kept in the forefront of people's minds. The premise of the story is a man who has hit rock bottom after his wife dies and eventually losing custody of his daughter due to a series of bad choices. So he is willing to risk driving a truck with unknown cargo to earn money. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so perhaps it makes sense he would make another questionable decision. I never quite understood how or why things went downhill so fast, so I would have liked to have had a bit more back story. 

This film is based on actual events, so perhaps my expectations were too high. There were simply moments that I found too unbelievable, and I found my mind wandering more than once. The movie isn't really bad, but there was just something missing for me. However, it is a wonderful conversation opener on a subject that needs to be shared worldwide. I would recommend it for anyone wanting to share more about human trafficking and to offer hope to those who have been sexually abused. The ultimate message is that there is freedom for the captive, whether it be actual captivity or self-induced through drugs, alcohol, and anger.

Thanks to Icon Media group for sending me a link to review the film. Priceless will be available on Digital HD on Jan 31, 2017, and Blu-Ray, DVD, and On Demand on Feb 14, 2017.

Caged No More DVD

Inspired by real events, “Caged No More” is the story of Aggie Prejean (Loretta Devine), a godmother on a desperate search to find her two goddaughters, Skye (Cassidy Gifford) and Elle (Abigail Duhon), who have been kidnapped by their sinister father (Kevin Sorbo). As the details behind the girls’ disappearance begin to unravel, they have been discovered to have been taken overseas to be sold into the sex trade. Aggie enlists the help of the girls’ uncle, a well-respected local philanthropist (Sorbo in a dual role), and his son Wil (Alan Powell), who is former Special Forces. A global hunt ensues, and the team will stop at nothing to see the girls safely returned home. This drama on the horror of Human Trafficking is directed by Lisa Arnold, and also features Anthony Evans, Christos Vasilopoulos, George Kosturos, and Cynthia Gibb.

My Review: The compelling storyline drew me in from the beginning and kept my attention throughout the film. Based on true events, the subject matter of human trafficking is one that needs light and attention brought to public notice. Sorbo does an excellent portrayal of twin brothers who have chosen completely different lifestyles. Kassidy Gifford and Abigail Duhon also bring heartbreaking performances as sisters whose father has sold them into the sex trade industry. Loretta Devine, as Aggie, is their champion who will let nothing stop her from rescuing the girls she helped raise. There really were no weak performances in my opinion.


Caged No More is part of a trilogy that leaves you eagerly anticipating the next in the series, yet it is not unsatisfying as a stand-alone film. It is not a film for younger or overly-sensitive viewers, but is suitable for teens and older, and excellent for church screenings, awareness groups, etc. The subject matter alone is intense, but the movie is not overly graphic or detailed. In other words, it does not sugar-coat, but leaves much to the imagination. 


I received Caged No More compliments of Word Films and Edify Media Inc for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a copy of this DVD in exchange for my honest and unbiased personal opinion.
 
CagedNoMore.com
Caged No More on Facebook
Caged No More on IMDb

In Plain Sight DVD

In Plain Sight, is an inspiring documentary featuring the work of six female abolitionists as they fight against sex trafficking in the United States. Journeying to six US cities, the film opens the viewer’s eyes to what’s happening down the street ‘in plain sight.’  Through engaging interviews with numerous victims of sex trafficking, the force, coercion, and deception of the children and women becomes apparent. In the midst of the darkness, stories of hope and freedom emerge as each survivor shares how she was impacted through the work of a sex trafficking aftercare home founded by one of the featured abolitionists.

My Review: Narrated by Natalie Grant who also co-executive produced with David Trotter, In Plain Sight: Stories of Hope and Freedom, features six modern-day abolitionists, along with some of the women who have been rescued from a life of prostitution and sexual abuse. The statistics continue to shock me, but the greatest impact is made by the stories of the victims themselves. Many were sexually abused as children and grew up believing that they were undeserving of any other life style. There has been a growing awareness in recent years that human trafficking is not just happening "somewhere else", but is a growing industry here in the United States.

But, more than just a documentary about the tragedy of human trafficking, In Plain Sight, offers HOPE and HEALING. Each of the safe places featured understand that there are trust issues and the need to just simply breathe for a while. Even more poignant to me than watching the faces of the women who agreed to be interviewed, was watching their hands. Their hands expressed more than their words could convey. This is a great DVD to help bring awareness of the issue of human trafficking, and, more importantly, it provides ideas of ways YOU can make a difference.

In Plain Sight website 
WORD Films website 
31 Ways to Take Action to End Human Trafficking 

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD from WORD films and  Edify Media Inc at no cost to myself for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own

About Word Entertainment:  A leader in the music industry for over 60 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, BarlowGirl, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Patrick Ryan Clark, Everfound, for KING & COUNTRY, Group 1 Crew, Love & The Outcome, Dara Maclean, Point Of Grace and Sidewalk Prophets and is home to 25 Entertainment, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Print, Word Films, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Word Worship and Fervent Records.

The Deliverer by Kathi Macias

Book 3 of The Freedom Series by Kathi Macias is The Deliverer. In this final novel of the series, Mara has to make decisions about her relationships with Jonathan, her family, and God.  Can she learn to forgive those who have hurt her in the past, and to trust anyone? Mara has to deal with her doubts about having a relationship with Jonathan, and whether he cares for her or Sarah. As she also takes steps toward believing in God, Mara realizes that she must come to terms with her past in order to move confidently toward her future.

Lawan's story also continues in this book. She has miraculously been delivered from the brothel and now will be reunited with the baby sister who was adopted by an American couple. Facing an unknown future in a country that if filled with new foods, new customs, and and a new family also brings new fears. She has her faith, but can she ever let go of her past?

My view: This is a topic very important to me, so I did have much interest in the series. On one hand the book did offer hope for victims and resolution up to a point. Like with real life, you don't know exactly where these characters will end up, but you are left with hope. I just wish a few more loose ends had been tied, though, since it is fiction. I guess it is good, though, when you leave the reader wanting more...

Check out the trailer below:

Human Trafficking is a horror that faces more than we can imagine, and Kathi Macias writes a vivid portrait on this, and also on many other issues. Below is a recent interview with this gifted author:

While this is the third and final book in the Freedom Series, I’m sure there are people who are just learning about it. Would you please share what prompted you to write these books on such topic as relevant and difficult as human trafficking?

KM: I was finishing up my previous fiction series for New Hope Publishers (the Extreme Devotion Series, dealing with the persecuted Church around the world) when Andrea Mullins (the publisher at New Hope) asked me what topic I wanted to tackle next. We discussed a few possibilities, and then she suggested human trafficking. I was aware of it and thought it was terrible but had no idea how widespread it was. I agreed to do some preliminary research and get back to her. When I discovered there are more than 27 million people held in various forms of human trafficking (sexual slavery, forced labor or military conscription, involuntary donation of body parts/organs) and that many of them are children (including an estimated 100,000—300,000 MINORS held in sexual slavery in the US today!), I was horrified. I was also convinced that I had to do everything possible to help educate others about this widespread horror and to call them to join the fight. Not only have I now written/released the Freedom Series on human trafficking, but I’m speaking on it everywhere/every chance I get.

What was your original objective in writing these books, Deliver Me From Evil, Special Delivery, and The Deliverer? And, what are you hearing back from people who have read the books? How are they taking action?

KM: Originally my plan was to see the books alert readers to this horrific crime and, hopefully, challenge them to get involved in fighting it some way. That seems to be happening, but on such a larger scope than I had imagined. The response from readers is overwhelming! Pastors have written to say they are challenging their entire church to get involved on some level, and I’m being invited to speak all over the country on this topic. I am thrilled to see the Light being shined in this terrible darkness at last! As for specific actions, pastors and civic leaders are inviting me (or others in this ministry) to come and speak to their congregations/groups to help educate them on this massive tragedy. Readers tell me they are posting about my books all over the net to help snag people’s attention. I’m getting invitations to speak on radio and TV as well. I’ve also been contacted by readers who are getting involved in setting up safe houses for rescued victims, which is a huge need. I was even contacted by the Department of Homeland Security and invited to participate in group conference calls on the topic. Overall, I’m thrilled at the way God is using these books to help sound the alarm and to “rescue the perishing.”

It seems there is always someone in your books who is an intercessor. Why is that important for you to include?

KM: This is vital to me, and as you said, I almost always include an intercessor in my novels. I know there were intercessors in my own life who prayed me through some incredibly dangerous and difficult times, and I appreciate those heroes of the faith more than I can express. Highlighting their importance in my books accomplishes two things: it enables me to honor those faithful intercessors who often get no recognition in this world, and it also calls others to get involved in intercession as well.

You write books as you often call them, parables with a purpose, on topics such as human trafficking, the persecuted church, illegal immigration, and your Christmas 2012 book is about homelessness. Some might call you an advocate. Why is it important for Christians, and the church as a whole, to discuss these issues?

KM: You’re right that I call my novels “parables with purpose,” because I believe Jesus is our example and that’s what He told to His followers—parables with purpose. He didn’t just tell them “nice stories” to entertain them. He told stories that would grab them right where they lived, and then challenge them to change their hearts, their minds, and their lives. The Church has always been at the forefront of serious social change, leading the charge to abolish slavery for instance, and leading the charge on these other issues is right where the Church needs to be now. The first step is to discuss the issues, to make people aware of them, and then to call them to action. I believe gripping fiction is one of the most effective ways to do that.

Will you give us a glimpse, a taste of things to come -- without getting too far ahead -- of what’s in store for your next series and books on the horizon?

KM: In addition to the 2012 Christmas novel, Unexpected Christmas Hero, dealing with homelessness in America, I will be releasing a new series starting in January. The first of the three novels is called The Moses Quilt, and it deals with a contemporary interracial romance, set against the background of a quilt that tells the story of the courageous, faith-filled woman known as Harriet Tubman. A contemporary novel dealing with the issue of abortion will follow, with the first woman doctor in America, Elizabeth Blackwell, as our backdrop heroine. The final book will be built around the much beloved Fanny Crosby, as we deal with the issue of people with disabilities. That series is from New Hope Publishers, but I also have a book releasing in the Spring of 2013 from B&H Publishers called Last Chance for Justice. It’s part of the multi-author Bloomfield Series, and I’m very excited about it.

You also write a devotional blog. Can you tell us what the focus is and where we can find it?

KM: I started writing a weekly devotional several years ago, in response to a request from the then newly formed group CAN (Christian Authors Network). I sent it out as a group email and had about 40 recipients then. The devotional mailing quickly grew and expanded beyond the CAN group, with countless readers signing up to receive it. I also started posting it each week on my devotional blog (http://kathimacias.com/category/devotional-2/), which is part of my primary website (www.kathimacias.com), where you will also find my “Easy Writer” blog, which is more writing-related. (You can also sign up there to receive the weekly devotional in your inbox.) Over the years the devotional has been picked up by Crosswalk, Black Christian News, Latino Christian News (I offer it in Spanish as well as English), Believe.com, Christians in Recovery, etc., so the readership has mushroomed beyond anything I ever imagined. God is amazing, isn’t He?

Finally, we know you as an award-winning author, but you also enjoy speaking for women’s events, and other groups, as well. On what areas or topics do you focus your speaking presentations? How can a church or group find out more about having you speak for their event? 

KM: I speak on various topics, including the issues I address in my books, but on other topics too. One of my most requested topics is “When Passion and Purpose Collide.” That, along with several other popular topics, can be found in the speaking section of my website (http://kathimacias.com/speaking/). To see my current speaking schedule and/or to explore the possibility of having me come and speak, just go to http://kathimacias.com/speaking/speaking-schedule/ and click on the Christian Speakers Services button to make contact. You can also see some of my speaking endorsements at http://kathimacias.com/speaking/endorsements/. 

I have one copy of this book that will be given in a random drawing on Mon., September 17th to someone who follows my blog. So, make sure you are a follower [by 11:59 pm CST 9/16] to have your name entered.

For more opportunities for free copies of The Deliverer by Kathi Macias, please visit Facebook.com/CSSVBT.KathiMacias.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview and/or book review on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (http://ChristianSpeakersServices.com).

Special Delivery by Kathi Macias

Interview with Kathi Macias from her current blog tour:

Special Delivery is book two in the Freedom (human trafficking) series. For anyone who may not have read book one, Deliver Me From Evil, can you fill us in on the focus of the series in general, and Special Delivery in particular?

The Freedom series is a three-book fiction series built around the horrifying topic of human trafficking. People often ask me why I decided to write about such a dark topic. First, I explain that I’m not writing about a dark topic; I’m writing about the Light that shines in that darkness. And second, I believe the Church should be at the forefront of the modern-day abolition movement to set the captives (modern-day slaves) free. The three books in this series specifically follows the life of a young woman named Mara, who was sold into sexual slavery by her own parents in Mexico, and then smuggled across the border into San Diego by her uncle who then served as her pimp. A strong sub-plot throughout the series tells of two sisters in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, Chanthra and Lawan, who are also trapped in a brothel. Finally, a teenage girl named Francesca, kidnapped in Juarez, Mexico, and forced into prostitution, is introduced in book two. Special Delivery picks up two years after book one, Deliver Me From Evil, ends, and continues with the stories of Mara and Lawan, as well as others carried over from book one. Mara hopes she is finally free to pursue her own life because she was rescued from the brothel and her testimony helped lock up her uncle for life. But the man has underground connections and is driven by revenge to reach out from behind bars and deliver the ultimate punishment to his niece.

This isn’t the first fiction series you’ve written on nationwide and even worldwide social issues, the one previous to this being the persecuted Church. What draws you to these difficult topics?

As a Christian, I believe I am compelled to use my God-given gifts to honor God in all I do—and that includes exposing the deeds of darkness, calling sinners to repentance, and taking a stand for righteousness by doing all I can to help rescue those who are suffering. I dare not turn my back on “the least of these.” I also believe that God placed this sort of burden on my heart even before I became a Christian at the age of 26. I’ve always been a champion of the underdog, a “soap-box” preacher, if you will. When I met Jesus, I simply redirected that passion toward His people, realizing I couldn’t effect real change in my own strength anyway.

With your obvious passion to right social and moral wrongs through the power of the Gospel, how did writing and speaking enter into that?

I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since I was a child—never wanted to do anything else. When I was a teenager I told my then boyfriend (now husband) that I was going to be a writer one day. What a blessing that God allowed me to fulfill that dream! After becoming a believer and growing in my faith, it was natural to take my passion to fight for others and incorporate it into my writing. Speaking, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. I was terrified of public speaking when I was young, and the day I received Christ I made a “bargain” with God, promising to do anything He asked of me—so long as it didn’t include public speaking. (Does God have a sense of humor or what???) Now, when I stand in front of audiences where I believe God has called me to speak (and actually find myself enjoying it!), I tell my listeners that if God has called them to do something and they feel it’s impossible, they can consider me their “visual aid” that NOTHING is impossible with God IF we will simply take that first step of obedience and let Him fulfill His purpose in and through us.

With the topics of the worldwide persecuted Church and human trafficking under your belt, what other issues are you dealing with in your writing?

My Christmas 2011 book, A Christmas Journey Home, dealt with the immigration/border problem, and my Christmas 2012 novel, Unexpected Christmas Hero, will be about homelessness in America. The next issues-related fiction series I have on tap—which I am just starting to write, by the way—is called the “Patches of Courage” series and will begin releasing in late January 2013. Book one is The Moses Quilt, based on the life of Harriet Tubman, and will be followed by The Christmas Quilt and The Impossible Quilt. This series of books will highlight historical American women whose Christian faith enabled them to walk in great courage and make a difference in the lives of countless people.

Where can people find out about you and your books/speaking/appearances?

They can go directly to my website (www.kathimacias.com or www.boldfiction.com) or my Easy Writer blog: http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, and various other social sites. Would love to hear from all of you!

Where can people find out about free book giveaways on this blog tour?

The blog tour host is giving away a set of two books from the Freedom Series -  Book 1 (Deliver Me From Evil) and Book 2 (Special Delivery). Also, readers can follow @ChristianSpkrs on Twitter or follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CSSVBT.TheFreedomSeries for more book giveaway locations on the tour.

GIVEAWAY: I have a copy of Special Delivery to giveaway also, and will make a random selection from those who leave a comment on this blog post between now and 2pm (CDT), Tuesday, April 3, 2012. I read the book and found it to be a very thought-provoking and eye-opening look into a world I cannot begin to imagine. In recent years I have become more aware of the horror of human trafficking and this is an evil that we all need to work to eradicate. I definitely recommend this book and want to read the other 2 in the series also. (As a side note, enough background info if provided about the previous book that you can read book 2 without being confused.) Watch the video below...and please leave a comment!!



I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (http://ChristianSpeakersServices.com).