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'All Saints': Affirm Films' New Drama Inspired By True Story Explores Refugees' Quandaries, God's Will

'All Saints': Affirm Films' New Drama Inspired By True Story Explores Refugees' Quandaries, God's Will

By Julie Brown Patton 22 Sep, 2016 14:42 EDT

Production has begun for a new drama entitled "All Saints." The film was inspired by the true story of a salesman-turned-pastor Michael Spurlock (played by actor John Corbett), the tiny church he was ordered to shut down and a group of refugees from Southeast Asia. Together, they risked everything to plant seeds for a future that might just save them all.

The drama is from AFFIRM Films, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, and Provident Films. It stars Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee John Corbett ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding," "Northern Exposure") and Cara Buono ("Stranger Things," "Mad Men").

Filming continues through mid-October on location in Nashville and Smyrna, Tenn. The real All Saints church and land serves as a backdrop for the production.

In the story, the pastor's first assignment is to actually close down All Saints, a dilapidated country church with a dozen devoted members, and a mortgage way beyond what a small group could pay. But when church members hesitantly begin to welcome refugees who are Burma-former farmers scrabbling for a fresh start in America, he feels called to an improbable new mission.

Toiling alongside the refugees, congregants attempt to turn their fertile land into a working farm to pay the church's bills and feed its people.

Jeopardizing his family's future by ignoring his superiors, the pastor must choose between completing his assignment of closing the church and selling the property or listening to a still, small voice challenging the people of All Saints to risk it all and provide much-needed hope to their new community.

Rich Peluso, head of AFFIRM Films, said teams have been working alongside director Steve Gomer and writer Steve Armour for five years to bring to life their vision for this important and timely story.

"It's a joy to see the amazing cast and crew come together to pour their hearts and craft into presenting the journey of Michael and Aimee Spurlock. These ordinary people did extraordinary things as they cut through to the heart of what God called them to do in putting their faith in action and reaching out to the refugee Karen community in Nashville," he said.

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'All Saints': Affirm Films' New Drama Inspired By True Story Explores Refugees' Quandaries, God's Will

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.