The new inspirational drama JUST ONE LIFE is teaming up with GriefShare, giving churches a way to use the film to open up conversations about grief, loss and faith. Church screening licenses are now available nationwide, along with a collection of free resources for pastors, ministry leaders and small groups.
With the holiday season approaching, the film's team says it wants to help churches reach people who might be finding this time of year particularly difficult after losing someone close to them.
The partnership brings together the film's themes of second chances and finding hope with the work GriefShare already does through its network of churches. It's not just about arranging a screening and sending people home afterwards, either. Churches can get a six-part JUST ONE LIFE discussion guide, designed for churchwide series and small groups, as well as two additional resources developed by GriefShare.
Willie Mellina, who plays Sam in the film, says the idea is to give people something to think about beyond the movie itself, asking what God might want to do in their lives through the questions it raises.
For anyone who hasn't come across JUST ONE LIFE yet, the film follows Renee, a gifted violinist who moves across the country after spending years caring for her mother. She's looking for a fresh start, but isn't expecting to fall for Sam, an astronomy professor whose outlook on life starts to change the way she sees things.
It's a story about love, purpose and second chances, with Samantha Cutaran and Willie Mellina in the lead roles. The cast also includes Kieu Chinh, Kevin Sizemore, Jessie Bell and Andrew Hunter. Sun Ho Donovan wrote and directed the film, marking her feature directorial debut.
JUST ONE LIFE opened in select theaters on October 2 and is coming soon to digital platforms. The new church screening option gives it another way to reach audiences, particularly congregations looking for something that can lead into a wider discussion about loss and supporting people through difficult periods.
Grief isn't always an easy subject to bring up in church, particularly when people are expected to be cheerful around Christmas, so having a film and some discussion material to get that conversation started could be very useful for congregations.
Churches interested in hosting a screening can find details and the free resources at the JUST ONE LIFE church screening page.
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