'Miraculous,' Real-Life Story Behind 'Unsung Hero' of How God Brought Family From Rags to Riches
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- Imagine leaving your country with no money and very few possessions only to reach a foreign land and realize the job prospects you were expecting had evaporated. That's the very situation the Smallbone family encountered when they left their native Australia and arrived in America. The large family had not much more than love, yet somehow survived - and thrived.
Today, audiences know the Smallbones for as famous singers. Joel and Luke Smallbone (for KING & COUNTRY) and Rebecca St. James have become faith-based household names. But what some might not know is the harrowing journey the family experienced - a story set to be told on the big screen in "Unsung Hero," a feature film releasing April 26 in theaters nationwide.
Joel Smallbone told CBN News during a recent interview at the National Religious Broadcaster's Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, that the idea for the film came from his brother and bandmate, Luke. "He had been sharing, as part of ... a child sponsorship pitch, our family story," he said. "And people come and say, 'Hey, you know, it's such a moving, miraculous story. You should write a book about it.'" While they opted not to write a book, the idea for a feature film was born.
"We spent two years on the screenplay," Smallbone, who portrays his father, David, in the movie, said. "I was actually probably more keen to play that than I was to be involved on the other side of the camera, the directing, the co-directing." Smallbone did step in to co-direct the movie, having the unique perspective of both playing his dad and helping craft the massive, real-life story into a movie-sized bite.
"We wanted it to be an honor project, but not a glory project," Smallbone said. "And there's a big difference. We're not trying to glorify them. We're trying to honor the hardship, and, from dad's perspective... the humbling, the pride, and everything in between." Ultimately, Smallbone said playing his father was "liberating" and gave him empathy for his dad - a compassion he'll have for the rest of his life.
"Unsung Hero," Smallbone said, provides more than a rags to riches story; instead, it shows how "hardship, and loss, and sacrifice" can help us understand our ascent in faith.
Gonna watch it today,with my wife, we can't wait. Love supporting Christian Movies and movies that promote Christian values. Thank you for making this.
Love this band! To anyone who hasn't heard of them or their music, check them out!! What a beautiful tribute to the family... God is so good ❤
You did an incredible job. We saw it last night. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thanks. Shared.
Loved the movie at so many levels. Thank you! 💙💚💛💜
Love these guys and their band so excited for the movie release tomorrow
Love their music and hope the movie comes out on dvd in the future, as I can't get to a theater.
Watching the movie I didn’t see it as rags to riches. I liked when Rebecca said “to keep your soul”. We live in a fallen angel run world system that wants people’s souls. Why God says to get out of Babylon and to come into His Kingdom. I knew nothing about the movie or this family before the movie. I didn’t watch any trailers. I don’t really watch TV anymore. So watching the movie it just unfolded and the family pictures at the end. So I get back to the car and googled Rebecca St. James and I showed the picture to my husband and said here she is. I am 69 and I usually listen to Terry MacAlmon worship. I had heard of King and Country but didn’t know their names. So glad they made the movie. I teared up several times watching the movie. A lot of great life lessons in that movie Unsung Hero. A movie I will watch several times. Life lessons on so many levels.
Happy for you bro! There is a lot I could say about my life & real story of my family I wrote about in my book.That said, no help from the church community despite supporting so many of them. As soon as I’ve something to empower me to give more them, they either don’t respond or have no time for you. If I was Kanye West or Justin B… it & I say I believe in Jesus, every platform seek you but if you’re really serious about God & been a nobody they don’t care about you.
Anyhow bro, may God bless you.
He still has his accent. 🙂
Yeeyeeu
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Woe to you who are rich for you have received your reward.
That’s a common misconception. It’s those who worship money and power, and succeed through selfish ambition who get their rewards here on earth, not those who happen to become rich.