A new 10-part video series from Olive Tree Media captures life-changing stories about encounters with Jesus, and features Australian Karl Faase exploring a growing openness of people to rethink the Christian faith as they encounter Jesus.
Faase explores both biblical and contemporary stories of individuals who have had transformative experiences with Jesus. It brings to life some of the amazing encounters recorded in the Gospels, coupled with modern-day stories showing Jesus still meets people in direct and personal ways.
These accounts range from Gospel figures such as Nicodemus, Levi, the woman with the issue of blood and the thief on the cross, to men and women today whose lives have been irrevocably changed.
Key contributors to the series include Pete Greg, Justin Brierley, Michael Bird, Lynn Cohick and Sheridan Voysey, making up a diverse group of voices ranging from theologians and pastors to cultural commentators and those who have had their own divine encounters.
Faase kindly answered some questions from The Other Cheek.
1) what was the most surprising interview you had and why?
The most surprising was Aaron McKitrich. We first arranged to interview Aaron’s wife Taiha who came to faith out of the New Age and occult. She was married to Aaron who had become a Christian a few years before and was leading a new church for bikers in Vancouver Island in Canada. He, with other “brothers” from his biker ministry, were doing a mission ride down the west coast of the US so we met him in San Francisco for the interview. The surprise was that I really didn’t know that much of his story.
Turns out that Aaron had no faith background in his family, was the lead singer of a death metal band and if he had any religious affiliation at the time, it would have been a satanist. His story was one of starting to interact with Christians, considering faith and then in his room alone he challenged God to ”do something”, and God did. It’s a wonderful interview as is the interview with his wife Taiha.
2) you spoke to people keen to speak of Jesus – what lessons do they have for ordinary maybe shy Christians?
One of our expert guests was Justin Brierley. The expert guests commented on the content of the episodes rather than telling their personal story. Justin has written a book called “The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God”. This is the result of Justin watching western society and interviewing dozens of writers, thinkers and academics. The premise of the book is part of the underpinning of the series Encounter.
In 2010 the new atheists reigned supreme in the culture, they seemed like an unstoppable force. Yet within a few years they disappeared, and they have left a void, a spiritual vacuum and this is an opportunity for the gospel. We live at a time in western culture where there is the chance to help people explore Christian faith with new eyes.
3) was there a story that moved you maybe to tears?
Our most moving story was with Carrinne Henderson who is being supported by Courtney Delks (nee Moses). Courtney was named at the best basketballer in Indiana in 2009 – 2010, this is a huge honour and a big deal in the US. We were talking with Courtney about the work she does post basketball with her husband in the barn on their farm. This is a mixture of training up and coming basketballers as well as strength and fitness training for many in the community including CEOs.
One of those she helps is Carrinne Henderson. Carrinne came to the barn for the interview. Carrine was a promising college level sportsperson in a few sports. She was a remarkably talented women. She loved bikes and at the age of 19 brought herself a Harley. Riding her Harley home one afternoon an impaired driver pulled out in front of her and it almost cost her life. Few thought she would survive or have any reasonable future. In fact, her parents were told by a medical professional to put Carrinne in a nursing home, but her mum and dad would not give up.
Carrinne has significant physical challenges. She is working towards being able to stand, sit up and walk but she is not there yet. Carrinne comes to Courtney’s barn every week for therapy, strength training and personal support. Carrinne is an inspiration. She had a sense of humour, hope for the future and a resilient faith that defines the tragic circumstances of her life.
Our whole team were deeply moved by Carrinne’s faith and Courtney’s support; it’s a lovely story.
4) who would you like to go back and do a whole series with?
In country Galway, West Ireland, we interviewed Paul Kingsnorth. Paul studied at Oxford University, was an environmentalist and atheist. In his late thirties he started to explore spirituality. He started in Buddhism, then moved to Wicca and finally and very reluctantly to be baptised as a Christian.
Paul’s personal story is engaging but his reflections on the place of Christianity in English society are insightful. Paul told us that the English are equality concerned that Christian faith would be dismissed as that it would be taken seriously. His friends were unconcerned when he was into Buddhism, just the same when he was into Wicca, but when he said he’d become a Christian, they were seriously worried; they thought he had lost it. He felt they considered doing an intervention in his life.
What is it about Western societies that you can choose whatever spirituality that you like, just not Christianity? How is it that Christianity is clearly the faith that built the foundational values of a country like England, but it ends up in a place where it is respected but not practised? How did Western nations get here, and what is the way forward? There is plenty to explore on this topic and Paul has many insights in this area of thought.
Encounter is now available to stream online and for purchase on DVD.
Image: Karl Fasse interviews Ken and Wachuka Kamau. Image Credit: Olive Tree Media
The trailer can be viewed here and the first episode of the series can be viewed here for free.