www.Josh.org/Undaunted

DALLAS – Oct. 31, 2012 – Supporters are literally racing to help promote the inspiring faith film UNDAUNTED: THE EARLY LIFE OF JOSH McDOWELL, which launched on DVD this month. NASCAR team MacDonald Motorsports; author and film producer Jeff Elliott; and film distributor EchoLight Studios team with Josh McDowell Ministry to highlight the film at Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at the Texas Motor Speedway with on-car promotion, DVD giveaways and special appearances by McDowell with drivers and race fans.

“The opportunity to reach NASCAR’s vast audience with UNDAUNTED’s message of hope and the power of forgiveness is truly awesome,” said McDowell, a world-renown Christian apologist, author and humanitarian. “I know this story of finding faith and God’s love through the most challenging circumstances will resonate and spread word of the film to many who need to hear about it.”

UNDAUNTED: THE EARLY LIFE OF JOSH McDOWELL is an award-winning, “pull no punches” docudrama. A dysfunctional family life, an alcoholic and violent father, and a sexually abusive worker on the family farm contributed to deep scars in McDowell’s life, causing him to deny God’s existence. UNDAUNTED unfolds the dramatic spiritual transformation that occurs when Josh faces his past head-on and puts everything in God’s hands. Produced by Moonlit Pictures, UNDAUNTED is distributed by EchoLight Studios.

The NASCAR opportunity for UNDAUNTED weaves a fascinating story in itself. Many members of the MacDonald Motorsports team have long supported Motor Racing Outreach (MRO), which offers chapel services for NASCAR drivers and teams. Inspired by theUNDAUNTED story, MacDonald Motorsports truly stepped up by making the car available through a sponsorship package to gain awareness for the film, and Josh’s story of God’s love.

Enter Jeff Elliott, a retired Illinois firefighter telling an overcoming faith story of his own. Elliott wrote a book and has now connected to SOUL SURFER producer Dutch Hoffstetter to make HOOVEY, a film about his son miraculously recovering from brain tumor surgery and eventually achieving his dream to play college basketball. Working with EchoLight Studios, which has green lit HOOVEY based on the true story, Elliott learned of UNDAUNTED and the NASCAR opportunity. He immediately felt compelled to help underwrite the cost of the sponsorship.

“A story like Josh’s—of faith winning out over adversity—just touched my heart because in my family we needed that same faith as our son faced brain surgery,” Elliott said. “I’m proud to be a part of bringing Josh and UNDAUNTED to ‘NASCAR nation.’”
With the sponsorship, McDowell gains a rare opportunity to encourage NASCAR teams at the Motor Racing Outreach services this Saturday before the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge, part of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. And in addition to other exposure, McDowell will also lead Sunday’s MRO services before NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500, and be on hand for the race, meeting drivers, teams and fans and encouraging them with his story.

“Being able to take advantage of this NASCAR opportunity—people coming together to inspire and uplift—is exactly the kind of story EchoLight Studios was created to share,” EchoLight Chief Global Strategist Christopher Morrow said. “What a privilege it is to partner in bringing the vital message of UNDAUNTED to NASCAR’s millions of fans.”
UNDAUNTED is available now through such leading online and retail providers as ChristianCinema.com, Amazon.com, CBD, Family Christian Stores and Walmart among many others.

About Josh McDowellSince 1961, Josh McDowell has crisscrossed the world sharing the Good News about Jesus with the Josh McDowell Ministry under the umbrella of Cru (the U.S. division of Campus Crusade for Christ International). He has spoken to more than 25 million people, through 26,000 talks, in 125 countries. Josh has written or co-written more than 138 books including New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, named by Christianity Today as among the most influential Christian books of the past 60 years. In addition, Josh’s humanitarian relief efforts have sent more than $46 million worth of aid to help children in the former Soviet Union. Learn more at Josh.org.

About MacDonald MotorsportsMacDonald Motorsports owner Randy MacDonald has been around NASCAR circles since 1985, when he began his own racing career with the loving support of his father “Doc” and his mother, Pat MacDonald. As a NASCAR driver, Randy was successful in making it all the way to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The MacDonald family became NASCAR team owners in 1986 and have fielded cars in all three of NASCAR’s elite series following faith-based principles.

About EchoLight StudiosEchoLight Studios is the first vertically integrated Christian movie studio to offer production financing, marketing and distribution across all releasing platforms. Based in Dallas, EchoLight produces and distributes high-quality faith and family-friendly entertainment through a full film distribution platform servicing theatrical, home video, digital/VOD and broadcast in both U.S. domestic and international markets.

For interviews, contact:  Michael Conrad  Michael@Lovell-Fairchild.com 214-616-0320

For more information about:

UNDAUNTED EchoLight.com/undaunted

EchoLight Studios EchoLight.com

MacDonald Motorsports MMS81.com
For film clips and trailer, visit:  http://www.ChristianCinema.com/undaunted       http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/undaunted

And visit Lovell-Fairchild.com/pressroom for:

• UNDAUNTED Press Release
• UNDAUNTED Backgrounder
• UNDAUNTED Bios
• UNDAUNTED FAQs
• UNDAUNTED Endorsements

–30–

Download this file (doc)

www.Josh.org/Undaunted

CONTACT:
Scott Lonski 972-537-0843
Scott.Lonski@echolight.com

“UNDAUNTED” AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS CROWN AWARDS

‘Undaunted: The Early Life of Josh McDowell’ receives two Crown Awards at the International Christian Visual Media Conference

FLOWER MOUND, TX – July 20, 2012 – Josh McDowell Ministry was honored by the International Christian Visual Media Conference this past week in Orlando, FL with two of its celebrated Crown Awards. “Undaunted: The Early Life of Josh McDowell” won in two categories, one of which was for “Best Evangelistic Film.”

The Crown Awards which recognize excellence in production and content of films and videos that reflect Christian values in a secular world represent an international endorsement of this project and the message it sends to a hurting world.

Josh McDowell had this to say about the award; “We’re honored and humbled with this recognition by the International Christian Visual Media Conference.  It is reflective of what we see God doing with this film around the world in the lives of the hurting and lost.  While people everywhere struggle with similar scars, it is our Heavenly Father who can take the broken pieces and create something beautiful, filled with hope and purpose.”

The film, which is a docudrama, focuses on the early years of Josh McDowell’s life growing up in a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic father and a sexually abusive caregiver. McDowell’s tragic childhood is the foundation that sets him on a path that would turn him from agnostic to evangelist as he searches for truth as a college student.

“We are so excited about this project for several reasons,” says Bobby Downes, President of EchoLight studios.  “Not only has Josh McDowell produced a film of the highest quality, this film represents a ministry tool that will heal the hurting and lead the unsaved to Christ for the next century and beyond, so the recognition by ICVM is just further evidence that God is going to do amazing things with this project.”

Undaunted: The Early Life of Josh McDowell is slated for release in October of 2012 and is being distributed by EchoLight Studios.

About Josh McDowell Ministry

For over 50 years, the Josh McDowell Ministry, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, has focused on serving and equipping churches, pastors, families and people everywhere in raising generations of purpose-driven Christians who know what they believe, why it is true, and how to live out their Christian faith.

About EchoLight

EchoLight Studios is a world-class, 21^st century studio producing and distributing high-quality faith and family-friendly entertainment.

Press Release Author: Josh McDowell Ministry

Industry: Non Profit

Press Release Summary: PLANO, TX: Argentina Shocked and Encouraged by Josh McDowell.

PLANO, TX, July 17, 2012- The Bare Facts Latin America Tour 2012 Effectively Shed Light on Sex, Love, and Relationships

Overview

Reaching across cultures, Josh McDowell successfully opened the eyes of eager participants in Argentina on material from The Bare Facts: 39 Questions Your Parents Hope You Never Ask About Sex. Giving a Biblical vision of God’s design for sex, discussing ground-level application of imparting this truth to youth, and answering questions without limitations, this tour is literally changing the direction of a sexualized culture. McDowell visited 6 cities in Argentina from May 22^nd to June 2^nd, speaking to audiences numbering 3,350 and 2,800 in various settings. The participants’ responses were overwhelmingly positive:

Javier Santini, representative of the Catholic Church Compañía de Jesús in Córdoba, Argentina states:  “I have two small children and this seminar opened my eyes.  I never imagined that these things were taking place.  Thank you for touching a taboo subject in the religious community. The world is changing all around us without asking our permission, and we need to be trained to respond anywhere and everywhere. My most sincere thanks for what Josh shared, and I extend my commitment to share this information with as many families as possible.  To care for and to shepherd is not just a slogan; it is a cause worthy of our attention.

In addition, Andrea, a teacher and director of a ministry to children, said, “It is indescribable how much light has shed on hidden realities that our children suffer from.  I always suspected some of these things but had never had the benefit of information and guidance that the seminar gives. The information is concerning, but at the same time, I now have training and encouragement to know that there is hope.”

The seminar included 10 hours of intensive training, presentations, and Q&A time. Each seminar closed with Undaunted, the docudrama on McDowell’s early life with an alcoholic father, sexual abuse, severe dysfunction, and hopelessness. While heart wrenching to watch, it’s raw account and honest confrontation of these taboo topics disarms the hearts of its audience to wrestle with the goodness and redemptive plan of God. Participants also received a Bare Facts certificate and a copy of the book in Spanish. Supplemental training DVD’s are currently being edited and will be made available as soon as possible.

With over 50 years in ministry, Josh continues to find that nothing sabotages faith commitments and spiritual growth of children, teens and college students more than sexual experimentation. Josh produced The Bare Facts campaign in response to pleas for tools on the issues of sex, love and relationships from youth and culture leaders in Latin America, Asia and even Middle Eastern nations. As part of a 45-city speaking tour in 15 countries throughout 2012, McDowell is currently touring Latin America with his Bare Facts campaign.

Well known as an articulate speaker, Josh has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. Since 1960, Josh has written or co-authored 120 books.

For more information, visit www.laverdaddesnuda.org and The Bare Facts.

Contact Details:

Media should contact Josh McDowell Ministry at media@josh.org.

Press Release Author: Josh McDowell Ministry

Industry: Non Profit

Press Release Summary: PLANO, TX: Latest Resource With “Mature Content” Warning.

PLANO, TX, May 24, 2012— Josh McDowell launched provocative but tasteful resources to raise awareness about the threat of online pornography

Overview

Josh McDowell, a leading advocate for children and the preservation of the Christian family, has launched Just1ClickAway.org, a new series of provocative but tastefully produced resources that raise awareness about the growing threat of online pornography. Released just in time for summer vacation when students’ media consumption significantly increases, the Just1ClickAway.org website, video and articles from McDowell and his network of participating organizations offer solutions for families and individuals of all ages and stages. Josh placed a warning label on the video because of its mature content.

McDowell said, “The greatest threat to the cause of Christ is pervasive sexuality and pornography. Today we have, by and large, lost control of the controls because an intrusive immorality is just one click away from our children. With just one keystroke on a smartphone, iPad, or laptop, a child can open up some of the worst pornography and sexually graphic content you can imagine. There’s never been such access in history. ”

Just1ClickAway.org contains the latest resources in The Bare Facts, McDowell’s biblically based, medically sound and culturally relevant campaign that provides youth and those who influence them with an understanding of love, sexuality and relationships.

Pornography is an equal opportunity intruder in the newly released Just1ClickAway.org video: a young boy on his laptop in the privacy of his bedroom, a father clutching a TV remote in the family room, and a teenage girl on her PDA in the kitchen. Dramatically portrayed as male and female tempters (wearing clothes), pornography aggressively preys on and attacks its victim, virtually in plain view of unsuspecting family members.

The video shares disturbing statistics about the destructive impact of pornography on the Christian family, including:

• More than one-billion pornographic websites are one click away.
• The average age of first-time views of pornography is 9 years old.
• 80 percent of 15-17 year olds have been exposed to hardcore porn.
• The adult pornography industry reports that 20-30 percent of their traffic comes from children.
• Half of all Christian families report that pornography is a problem.
• 68 percent of divorces happen when one partners finds a pornographic lover online.
• And, 30 percent of pastors have viewed pornography in the last 30 days, among others.

With over 50 years in ministry, Josh continues to find that nothing sabotages faith commitments and spiritual growth of children, teens and college students more than sexual experimentation. Josh produced The Bare Facts campaign in response to pleas for tools on the issues of sex, love and relationships from youth and culture leaders in Latin America, Asia and even Middle Eastern nations. As part of a 45-city speaking tour in 15 countries throughout 2012, McDowell is currently touring Latin America with his Bare Facts campaign.

Well known as an articulate speaker, Josh has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. Since 1960, Josh has written or co-authored 120 books.

For information, visit www.Just1ClickAway.org.

Contact Details:

Media interested in interviews with Josh McDowell about Just1ClickAway.org should contact I Am PR Services, 972-567-7660 or contact@iampronline.com.

Press Release Author: Josh McDowell Ministry for Wesleyan Information Network

Industry: Non Profit

Press Release Summary: DALLAS, TEXAS: Josh McDowell’s Legacy Collection at OKWU.

DALLAS, TX, February 17, 2012 — Josh McDowell’s Legacy Collection at OKWU

Overview

The complete published works of Christian apologist and activist Josh McDowell, entitled the Josh McDowell Legacy Collection, will be added to the Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Drake Library on February 24, the same day on which McDowell will speak at OKWU’s chapel.

The author of More Than a Carpenter will receive an honorary doctorate from OKWU that day.

Drake Library, in Bartlesville, OK, will be the only one in the United States to contain McDowell’s works in its entirety. McDowell has written or co-written more than 77 books. Along with his interest in ministry and apologetics, he has a particular passion for youth ministry. He has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries.

Many of his books and speaking engagements specifically target teens and pre-teens, encouraging them to come to Christ and remain pure, and for parents (particularly fathers) to build a supportive relationship that will encourage their children.

Source: http://www.wesleyan.org/doc/news/article/1897

Contact Details:

Media should contact Josh McDowell Ministry at media@josh.org.

MEET DREW, the swimmer. Drew joined her first swim team in third grade and never looked back. She won nearly every event she entered-freestyle, butterfly, breast­stroke, and relays. In high school she won titles at state and junior national competi­tions. Two years into a brilliant college career, she qualified for the Olympic team. Next summer Drew will compete in her first Olympics.

Meet Pete, the Christian. Pete is a talented individual, especially in theater. He loves to sing, act, and perform. In high school he won the lead in several plays and musicals. He was also a featured performer in his church’s drama ministry. Everyone who knows Pete expects to see him on Broadway or in the movies someday. He was offered a full scholarship to a prestigious acting school in New York, but he turned it down to attend missionary training school. In six months he will be traveling to the Philippines on an evangelistic drama team.

Two students, two totally different goals. For Drew, personal achievement is the focus of life. Everything centers on excelling and winning. Pete is different. He also has special skills, high goals, and notable achievements. But unlike Drew, Pete’s ac­complishments don’t define Pete. He isn’t Pete the actor or Pete the musician; he is Pete the Christian who acts and sings. To Pete, serving Christ is more important than his personal goals. He sees his gifts and talents as instruments for serving Christ, and his choices confirm his beliefs.

No matter what skills and talents you possess, God’s first call on your life is to use those skills and talents to “produce fruit that will last. ” In the Bible, fruit refers both to your inner character qualities and to the impact of those qualities on the watching world. Pete’s first goal is to be the person Christ wants him to be so his life will bring others to Christ. He knows that fame and fortune won’t last forever, but people who trust Christ through the witness of his character and message will.

So does that mean that a Christian can’t be an Olympic athlete or a Broadway actor? Absolutely not. Just don’t let your identity be defined by these pursuits. If you have trusted Christ, you are a Christian first, last, and always. Anything else you do and anything else you achieve is temporary at best. Be filled with the living Christ. Be focused on his purposes for your life. Then go do your best at anything and every­thing he has gifted you to be.

REFLECT: Have you let your talents-rather than your faith in Christ define your life? How might God want to reshape your priorities and goals?

PRAY: God, I put you first. Help me focus first on your purposes for my life.

I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. John 15:12

“NICE OUTFIT, Karen. What did your mother do with the other half of your grand­mother’s old curtains? Did your brother get an outfit too?”

That verbal slam echoed so loudly through the hallway that Emily couldn’t help but overhear. Emily knew it was hard for people to be friendly to Karen, who was quiet, reserved-and brilliant. She lived in the library and wouldn’t know a gym if she wandered into one and fell on the floor. And her style of dress was, well, slightly behind the times. Guys wouldn’t be caught dead with Karen. Girls who talked to her risked becoming a social outcast like her, so no one did. Karen even sat alone when she attended her church youth group.

But Karen’s situation was getting to Emily. Just last Sunday her youth pastor had taught on 1 John 4:20: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen?” Emily couldn’t ask for a more obvious op­portunity to do what Jesus wanted her to do. And so-as her fellow students watched and snickered-Emily approached Karen in the cafeteria and asked her to join her for lunch. For the first time since fifth grade, Karen had a friend.

Emily remained Karen’s friend through high school, even though it cost her many other friends. When they graduated, Karen was named valedictorian of their senior class. As she began her speech, she did her best to thank her parents and her teachers for their support. Then she choked and began to cry. Recognizing that her friend was losing it, Emily stepped onto the stage to stand by her side.

Holding her friend’s hand, Karen continued through her tears. “Most of all, I want to thank Emily. When I was at my lowest point-alone, rejected, and ready to give up on life-she showed me what it means to be a friend and what it means to love unconditionally. If it weren’t for Emily, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

Loving others as Christ loves you is costly. Think about the price Jesus paid to love us. He left the glory and splendor of heaven. He came to earth and was ridiculed, rejected, beaten, spit upon, and crucified. Loving us wasn’t comfortable or conve­nient for him. It cost him everything.

Jesus calls us to love others in the same way. So what are you willing to “spend” to love others? Will you give up your convenience, popularity, time, energy, or money? Will you step outside your comfortable world to get into the lives of people like Karen?

REFLECT: Will you love the people that the world doesn’t love? What will it cost you? Are you willing to pay that price?

PRAY: Ask God today whom he would like to begin loving through you.

Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

A MAJOR SPORTS-drink company once ran an ad campaign encouraging people to “be like Mike,” as in NBA basketball legend Michael Jordan. The phrase, “I want to be like Mike” was everywhere. Kids said it. Adults sang it.

Why do ad campaigns work? Every button-push of the TV remote or flip of a magazine page bombards you with pressure to be like Mike or Garth or Cindy or Gwyneth or another big star. Splash on this cologne, dial that long-distance number, slip into these boxers, and-shazzamf-you will be a celebrity. And since everybody dreams of being gorgeous or rich or famous or talented, you might take the bait and buy the product. And if you do, you probably don’t stop to wonder if the celebrity actually uses the product he or she endorses.

Unless you know someone personally, you will never know what he or she is really like-and, as a result, you will never really be like that person. If you want to be like Mike, you have to get to know the real Mike, not the Mike you spy in TV ads.

You have to spend time with him and get thrashed in a game of one-an-one against him. You have to know Mike to be like Mike.

Just like that, you have to know Jesus Christ personally to have any hope of be­coming like him. If you want to be like Christ in character, you have to get to know the real Jesus Christ to the point that his character impacts your life. He said it best:

“Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Philippians 2:5 tells us, “Your atti­tude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.” Unless you are growing in an inti­mate relationship with the living Christ, you can’t identify his attitude. You can’t adopt his attitude. And you can’t bear the fruit of Christlike character.

So how can you get to know Jesus Christ up dose and personal? You can always listen to what other people say about him, but is that enough? Not really, because you are only hearing about how they know him. Just listening to your pastor or youth leaders tell you about Christ is not enough. You have to go farther. You have to go one-an-one with Jesus.

Other people can’t get dose to God for you. They can’t read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Word of God for you. They can’t invest time for you in daily, personal, private interaction with Christ. They can’t pray and pour out your heart for you or listen as Jesus pours out his heart to you.

It’s your choice-and challenge-to get to know him. And when you do, you will become like him.

REFLECT: What are you going to do in the upcoming year to keep getting to know God personally?

PRAY: Thank Jesus for his invitation to know him and bear fruit.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. John 15:4

HERE WE GO again, Jared thought with disgust. He had become way too skilled at packing up his room for a move. His family had never stayed in one place for more than three years, and this time they hadn’t even come close to that record. Jared had hoped this time they would stay put. But then he heard the words he dreaded: “I’ve been transferred again.”

“You’ll love Madera!” his mom had said. Madera! This suburb of Fresno in the steamy central valley of California didn’t sound exciting in the least. Jared had heard summers were so hot you could actually fry an egg on the sidewalk! But realizing he had no choice, he continued to pack his room.

Moving once or twice in a lifetime is hard enough. It’s even harder when your moves uproot you every two or three years. Even though Jared struggled year after year with painful relocations, he learned a crucial lesson. Here’s an excerpt from his journal, written shortly after arriving in Madera.

Here I am again, Lord-a new place, surrounded by strange things and unknown peo­ple. I miss my friends and my life back home. I wonder if this new place will ever be my home. I wonder if I will ever be able to really settle in here.

At least I have you, Lord. At least I know that wherever I go, you are still with me. You have made your home in me. You have settled in, and you’re not going to be transferred and leave me alone. And I have made my home in you. Wherever I go, we will be together. Thank you, Jesus, for that promise.

Jared had discovered an amazing truth you need to know too. When Christ was raised from the dead, he returned to his home in heaven to be with his Father. But the Spirit of the living Christ now makes his home in you, and he wants you to make your home in him. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus invites us: “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.”

You might move from place to place. Your friendships might change from year to year. All sorts of upheavals might make your life tomorrow look radically differ­ent from your life today. But one fact is sure: Jesus will never leave you. He is totally at home in you, and he invites you to be at home in him.

REFLECT: What difference does it make to you that Jesus will never leave you, no matter what changes today brings?

PRAY: Take some time today to thank the living Christ for being your dearest and most abiding friend.