 |
About Us - Our Mission |
The Belcro Media Ministry is increasingly witnessing our
society being worn down by the destructive elements in our
modern world. Just as the ocean's wave beat against
the firm rocks on the shore eroding the surface of the rocky
cliffs to smooth stones, the bombardment of moral values
erodes the sharp division between right and wrong.
Nowhere is this bombardment more prevalent than in the media
our families are subjected to daily.Mariners have
historically used lighthouses to warn other travelers of
dangerous terrain. The Belcro Media Ministry strives
to be a lighthouse to warn against spiritual dangers.
Although we do not endorse boycotting any specific movies or
books, we hope to shine a light on what entertainment is
uplifting and to provide this content as well.
60 Years of Moderate Church Attendance
Church attendance in America has been quite
stable for the last 60 years (see graph below) When
the Gallup Poll started in 1939, 41% of adults said they
attended church weekly. In 1999, the last year for
which statistics are available, 43% of Americans said they
had attended church in the past week. |
|
Donations
FAQ
Message from the Overseer |
Rising Movie Attendance
Despite reports from the motion picture industry of
declining movie attendance, the growth of new theatres has
mushroomed. Particularly in the 1990's, multiplexes
have been built at a frenzied pace. In 1990, there
were 23,689 screens nationwide; by 2000 there were 37,396.
That is an increase of 13,707 screens
̶ no other decade has seen an
increase this large.Prior to
1985, feature motion pictures had one major source of
revenue: the movie theatre. Today, much of the world
is undergoing a mass communications revolution; hence, new
movie markets (home video, cable, Netflix and pay-per-view)
have been growing so rapidly that they are no longer just
ancillary markets but have become basic sources of revenue
in themselves.
Industry statistics reveal that the
past ten years have marked an overall increase of at least
30% in many of these "ancillary markets"
̶ over 200% in the case of
home video. In 2001, over 70% of the population
reported renting or attending movies regularly.
The Quality of Movies Today
In order for Hollywood to protect its bottom
line, the major studios stick with what has worked for them
in the past. That's why we see so many sequels and
remakes of old movies instead of fresh ideas.
Recently, independent moviemakers have begun to take risks
with their productions, but in an effort to be "artistic",
"compelling", "highly acclaimed", "daring", and
"controversial" many of these films espouse storylines,
language and situations that can be eroding to Christian
values.
How Can Churches Compete
So, why do more people view movies weekly than
go to church? Of course, it is for the entertainment
value. Many churches have revised their services in
order to be more entertaining. They offer comedic
ministers; rock music instead of traditional hymns; and even
give away homes, cars and other valuables in order to keep
parishioners in the pews. That's not to say these
church leaders don't have the best of intentions for trying
to increase their attendance, but perhaps the best way to
save souls is to go where the people are instead of trying
to bring them to you. That's what we mean when we say
that we believe that the pulpit of the 21st Century is the
theatre.
What the Belcro Media Ministry is Doing
This ministry is currently working on several
projects which we believe will help fill the moral void that
is currently engulfing the entertainment industry. All
of the books and screenplays being worked on by the ministry
espouse Christian values in an entertaining manner without
being "in your face" in their delivery. Some of our
projects are already in the marketplace, while others need
your donations to make them available to the general public.
No man is an island. It is not possible for this
ministry to single-handedly change the quality of the books
and films being produced to day. Much of what we, and
our children are exposed to on a daily basis is filled with
gratuitous sex, senseless violence, and teaches poor moral
principles. However, occasionally, a book or movie is
produced that reflects the values advocated by this
ministry. We strive to recognize such work and
encourage all who visit this site to patronize these films
and purchase these books.
How You Can Help
Show your support by becoming a member of the
Belcro Media Ministry. Although
donations are always
welcome, you need not make a contribution to show your
support ̶ simply fill out
the membership form on the How Can I
Help page and refer your friends and family to this
website. |