The Crossing

Not many teens can relate to the death of a close friend or family member. When you’re young it’s easy to think you’re invincible or that, at least, death is far away. But with what high-schooler Jason Reynolds (Kevin Downes, “The Moment After”) has been going through, he is faced with the reality that nothing is permanent. His best friend Matt (played by David A.R. White of “Mercy Streets”) dies one day after battling leukemia. But just before his death he leaves a cryptic note for Jason: “don’t forget my Friend’s love”.

The pieces of the puzzle fall together for Jason as he is taken on a strange journey. First he visits a place where each sin every person ever commits is recorded for use in the courtroom (tallied by computer and printed on dot-matrix printers, no less). In a courtroom he visits next the eternal fate of each person is decided upon: life with God in heaven or eternal separation? (Effectively dispelling the notion that good works are enough to get you to heaven.) This scene, and the scene following where Jesus is crucified, make the message of the gospel come alive and clear. “The Crossing” is the strongest evangelistic film I’ve yet to see from Bill Muir (also the producer of “Shattered” and “Invisible Enemies”).

At the conclusion of the film we find that Jason has a clearer picture than ever before on what “the most important thing in life” is (a school presentation he was preparing for, now an opportunity for him to share his new faith in Jesus). “The Crossing” deals specifically with mankind’s sin (The Computer Room scene), the consequences of that sin (The Court Room scene), God’s solution (The Crucifixion scene), and salvation through faith (in a scene where Jason must use the cross to go over a vast chasm separating him from God).

The producer says of this film: “As Jason comes to grips with the realities of life and the consequences of sin, viewers are challenged to answer for themselves the question of life’s ultimate priority. An excellent program for outreach events, for evangelistic invitations in your youth group or in homes, or to inspire believers to share their faith. Every youth director needs this film in their ministry tool box. Honored as the best evangelistic film of the decade, it clearly convicts teenagers of their need for Christ. It also motivates them to share their faith with others, and reminds us all of Christ’s deep love. Since its premiere at DCLA ’94, “The Crossing” has impacted tens of thousands of teenagers through salvation or rededication to Christ. Whether shown at a camp, large event, retreat, lock in or within a teenager’s living room, “The Crossing” will bring the power of God’s forgiveness into the heart of all who see it.” Agreed. “The Crossing” is also available in Spanish and Portuguese from Youth For Christ.