I just watched the documentary “Americans with No Address”. This is not my first knowledge or activity with the homeless. My former church had a wonderful outreach to the homeless community including a weekly worship service and hot meal, a food pantry, and assistance to reach other necessary services available in our area. At my current church we serve underserved families in our community some are homeless, others are on the verge of homelessness, we meet as many needs as we can.

About Americans with No Address

First let me start off by saying thanks to Robert Craig Films for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

The Americans With No Address team is on a mission to raise awareness and offer solutions to homelessness in America. Through a comprehensive five-production approach, including the documentary “Americans With No Address” and the feature film “No Address,” which will be coming to theaters nationwide on February 28th, they aim to break the cycle of homelessness. These two films are part of a broader effort to build empathy and compassion for those experiencing homelessness. In addition to these powerful films, they have the novelization of the award-winning screenplay, a soundtrack, and an interactive study guide that guides people who want to be part of the solution in their own community.

The Documentary came about first to ensure the accuracy of the “No Address” feature film; our production team toured the country for several weeks, visiting and filming interviews in 20 major cities across 18 states facing various rates of homelessness and interviewed over 175 people. Those interviews inspired the documentary “Americans With No Address,” which captures the essence of what is causing the homeless crisis and portrays what solutions have been implemented and proven to show positive changes.

“Americans With No Address” information sheet.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts on Americans With No Address

“Americans With No Address” is eye-opening and the statistics they shared are mind-boggling. I couldn’t take notes fast enough to catch the statistics. Here is one that stood out, “This year 1/3 of Americans will have a friend or family member experience homelessness.” If that stat doesn’t make you catch your breath, I don’t know what would.

Three-fourths of America’s homeless deal with mental health issues. If they didn’t have them before they ended up on the streets, they developed them because they were there-anxiety, PTSD etc. Add to that large amount the fact that more than 75% are addicted to drugs, alcohol or both makes this problem not just a financial one but a healthcare one as well.

According to the documentary, the most successful transition programs in the country deal with the whole person physical, mental, and spiritual. These programs meet physical needs for shelter, food, and clothing while also supplying mental and physical healthcare and addiction treatment while also caring for the spiritual needs of community, purpose, and Salvation. These holistic programs meet people where they are and help them become who God created them to be. These are not government funded because the government won’t fund spiritual training.

The government’s method of dealing with homelessness is called Housing First. It’s goal is to get people off the street and into apartments, motels etc but it doesn’t include any treatment, training, or accountability so there is little to no healing and restoration for these people.

What Can We Do?

Watch the documentary, it is streaming on Prime. It provides solution-based suggestions, and I
highly suggest everyone visit www.AmericansWithNoAddress.com. Please connect with one of the homeless organizations in your community to share your time as a volunteer or make a financial donation.

Most importantly, people experiencing homelessness often feel invisible—even just one interaction, like saying hello, can change someone’s trajectory of life; please begin to see the human side of homelessness.

The Giveaway

Enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card. US entries only. Winner will be chosen and submitted to the sponsor who will email the winner their prize. The giveaway ends at 12:00am on 1/30/25.

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Since we have been longtime fans, we were familiar with the big picture of the Smallbone’s story. In UNSUNG HERO, we learned a lot more about the struggles this family faced, why they left Australia, how hard life in America was when they arrived in Nashville, and how they persevered and clung to God through it all.

About UNSUNG HERO

When David Smallbone’s successful music company collapses, he moves his family from Australia to the United States in search of a brighter future. With nothing more than their six children, their suitcases, and their love of music, David (for KING + COUNTRY’s Joel Smallbone) and his pregnant wife Helen (Daisy Betts) set out to rebuild their lives from the ground up. Based on a remarkable true story, a mum’s faith stands against all odds; and inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

We both enjoyed the movie very much. It feels honest. You get invested in the well-developed characters. The story of a tightknit family going through hard times yet staying together while relying on God and the church community that surrounds them is an important message in this day of disposable marriages.

I have seen every movie that Joel Smallbone has been in and this is his best acting ever. It’s got to be hard to play your own father. When you take on a character, you learn things about that person, real or fictional. As an actor it can be very difficult to play some you know so well because you might learn things about them you later wished you’d never known.

This movie is not about For King + Country the band, it is the story of the Smallbone family and the beginnings of their sister, Rebecca St James’ award-winning music career.

The movie is rated PG and I don’t think kids under the age of 12 would be very interested but you mom and dad should get your tickets now! The movie hits theaters April 26!!!

The Giveaway

Enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card, US residents only. This giveaway closes at 12:00am on 5-3-24. The winner will be chosen and verified and their information will be sent to the sponsor for fulfillment.

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I am a HUGE Christmas movie fan. There are always 10-15 of my favorites on my DVR year round. Since this year’s new Christmas movies started airing in October, I have fallen behind as usual and there are currently 24 brand new, not yet watched, Christmas movies on my DVR. One of the reasons this number is so large, other than my very busy October, is for the last 3 years, we have added the Christmas movies from Great American Family to our must-watch list.

If you haven’t watched Great American Family yet, why not? If you are looking for wholesome, God-honoring movies, Great American Family is the place to be. I know what Great American Family stands for and I don’t have to fear that they will sneak in relationships and concepts that we don’t allow in our home.

About A Christmas for the Ages

Prompted by their youngest granddaughter, four generations celebrate family and what Christmas was like in the 40s, 60s, 90s, and present day.

The movie stars Natasha Bure, Anna Ferguson, Kate Craven, and Cheryl Ladd.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

I already had this movie scheduled to record this Sunday night and even though we’ve seen it, I’m still going to record it so I can watch it again and again. A Christmas for the Ages isn’t your typical Christmas Rom-Com, it’s a movie about family, traditions, and love.

In all honesty, watching the opening scene I was nervous. The acting seemed stilted and the dialog seemed odd. Thankfully all that improved greatly as the movie went on. I really wish they had gone back and re-shot the opening scene because I feel some people might stop watching in the first few awkward minutes and miss a great story.

This movie centers around 4 generations of one family and how time changes who they are and what roles they play in the family. This is something we can all relate to, change is inevitable and we want to transition from one season to the next with grace, but that isn’t always easy.

If you love a heartfelt Christmas movie, watch A Christmas for the Ages on Great American Family.

The Giveaway

One US based winner will receive a 3 month subscription to Great American Flix. The winner cannot have won a Pure Flix subscription in the last 6 months. The giveaway ends at 12:00am ET on December 6, 2023. The winner will be verified and their email will be forwarded to the sponsor for fulfillment.

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About Journey to Bethlehem

A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown.

This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told—the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus.

A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it. See JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM in theaters beginning November 10.

The Cast:

• Mary-Fiona Palomo
• Joseph-Milo Manheim
• Herod-Antonio Banderas
• Antipater-Joel Smallbone
• Gabriel-Lecrae
• Melchior-Omid Djalili
• Gaspar-Rizwan Manji
• Bathazar-Geno Sergers
• Deborah-Moriah
• Rebekah-Stephanie Gil

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

I want to start by telling you there is artistic license taken with this movie. The biggest being that, we all know the Wise Men didn’t arrive to see Jesus until He was about 2 years old. In this movie they follow the star to His birth. I’ll be honest, this bugged me. The other biggie was that Antipater (Herod’s son) came to see the baby, to arrest them but what he witnessed changed him. He told them to leave Bethlehem. Again, this is not at all what the Bible says happened.

There are comedic elements woven into this holy story. The wise men bring most of the comedy, which works pretty well. It seemed very odd for Gabriel to bring some comedy, that didn’t sit right with Ron at all.

The music in this film is amazing!! You can listen to it now on Spotify. I loved every second of music, the performances were wonderful! I can’t wait to watch it again so I can experience the music and dancing again.

The casting and acting were top notch. Fiona and Milo were wonderful as Mary and Joseph. The bond between Mary and her sisters was very authentic. The characters of Herod and Antipater had such an interesting relationship, it drew you in and made you feel for the position Antipater was in. The Wise Men were a hoot and added levity to a pretty serious story.

If you love musicals and Christmas, get your tickets now to see JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM in theaters beginning November 10th.

You can download coloring sheets, discussion guides, and more here.

The Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card. This giveaway is open to US based readers only. This giveaway ends at 12:00am ET on 11/14/23. The winner will be verified and submitted to the sponsor who will then be responsible for providing the prize to the winner.

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Birthright Outlaw takes place in 1890 in the Arizona Territory. The story centers around Jeremiah (Lucas Black) and Martha Jacobs (Sarah Drew) and their teenage daughter, Hope (Olivia Sanabia). They live in Last Chance, Arizona where Jeremiah serves as the small town’s pastor. This tight-knit, respectable family face the unimaginable trial of their daughter being kidnapped.

After the kidnapping, Martha shares some secrets she has been keeping from her husband. These secrets point to the life she lived before she met and married Jeremiah. These revelations cause Jeremiah to question everything he ever believed about their relationship. Nevertheless, they must focus on their daughter. With little help from the local sheriff, Jeremiah and Martha set off to try to find and rescue Hope. As they trek through the desert, more of Martha’s story is revealed.

I will not reveal any spoilers of what happens but I will say that this movie is well written and very well acted. It focuses on themes of redemption, God’s unconditional love, leaving a legacy, and new beginnings. It is a faith filled western that makes you wonder what you would do if you were in Jeremiah’s shoes.

Watch Birthright Outlaw exclusively on Pure Flix starting October 13th!

It is a western so there is a large amount of shooting. People are shot, some die. It is all handled well and I feel this movie is acceptable for anyone over age 12 due to the violence.

Birthright Outlaw Great American Pure Flix Giveaway

I am giving away a 3 month trial streaming membership to Great American Pure Flix. This giveaway is open to US residents only who have not won a trial subscription in the last 6 months. The giveaway ends 12:00am 10-21-23. The winner will be notified by the giveaway sponsor.

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“Divine Influencer” is such a timely movie as the world of social media expands at a rapid pace. The
message of this film is a reflection on how easy it is to live for the likes, the shares and the comments
instead of living our lives for God or to serve others.

About Divine Influencer

Olivia, a 29 year old social media influencer, is the social media face of a store. She is all about the likes, shares, and going viral. She accidentally posts a video of her bashing the store owner and a product they carry which causes her to lose her job. She realizes she has no money, no more perks of being an influencer, and no purpose in life. Her parents then throw her another curveball by cutting her off financially (one they should have thrown a few years earlier in my opinion) and Olivia is suddenly, broke and homeless and oh so very lost.

The rest of the film is about Olivia learning who she is and what God created her for. Olivia is not perfect, she makes many mistakes along her way. God’s grace is sufficient and she grows and changes throughout the film.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

We thoroughly enjoyed “Divine Influencer”. The script was well thought out. The acting was top notch. The characters had good chemistry. You could feel the emotions portrayed on the screen.

This isn’t a cheesy Christian movie. Olivia has to work through her issues, they don’t magically disappear. She works hard, initially for the wrong reasons, but it is the first real work she’s ever done. I love a movie when I can watch a character grown, learn, and become more of who God called them to be. That is what “Divine Influencer” is all about. “Divine Influencer” is a movie about humility, the power of prayer and trusting God to show us the direction for our lives.

You can stream “Divine Influencer” on Pure Flix beginning September 15th. Don’t have Pure Flix yet? Enter my giveaway to win a 3 month trial subscription!

Giveaway

You can only watch “Divine Influencer” on Pure Flix. If you don’t have a streaming subscription yet, enter to win a 3 month trial subscription! The giveaway ends at 12:00am on Saturday, September 23, 2023 it is open to US residents only who have not won a trial subscription in the last 6 months.

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As Ron and I watched this film, we were drawn in. The Hiding Place script was written and performed on a stage as a play and directed both for theater and for film. That is a very unique way to do things. The set was simple but very effective. The acting was superb. The story is a difficult one to tell and some of it parallels the times we are living in now, which makes it more relevant.

The Hiding Place Synopsis

In the Netherlands, Corrie Ten Boom and her family risk everything to hide Jewish refugees by the hundreds and ultimately face the consequences when they are discovered.

It’s World War II. Darkness has fallen over Europe, and the boots of the Third Reich echo through the streets. But on a quiet city corner in the Netherlands, some choose to resist. Corrie Ten Boom and her family risk everything to hide Jewish refugees by the hundreds, and they ultimately face the consequences when they are discovered.

The Hiding Place is their story—a story of faith, hope, love, and forgiveness in the face of un-thinkable evil.
This powerful cinematic presentation was adapted for the stage by A. S. Peterson, directed for the stage by Matt Logan, and filmed for cinema audiences in Nashville, Tennessee.

Unfortunately I’m not able to embed the movie trailer, but you can click this link to see it. https://youtu.be/rRjdKfnF18o

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

Everyone ages 12+ should go see this film. You can experience the incredible true story of Corrie Ten Boom in this beautiful new global cinema event, coming to theaters on August 3 & 5 only! Find a theater near you and get tickets here. You’ll be moved by the cinematic experience of this unique theatrical show, which highlights the strength of the Jewish & Christian faiths even during great suffering.

The Giveaway

One blessed US reader will receive a $10 Amazon gift card! The giveaway ends at 12:00am on 8-11-23.

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About Eleanor’s Bench

Eleanor Thomas’s success as a Washington DC juvenile court judge is challenged when her inner-city past comes to court and demands more than judgment, prompting her to return to her impoverished neighborhood of youth. Will her renewed sense of purpose reinvigorate her faith? Eleanor’s Bench is full of important lessons about following God’s calling, practicing self control, learning from your past and discovering that we are enough and deserving of God’s love. Eleanor’s Bench is a 6 episode mini series streaming on Pure Flix.

• Karen Abercrombie, Eleanor (HEAVEN SENT, WAR ROOM, AN ANGELIC CHRISTMAS, DISCARDED THINGS)
• Cameron Arnett, Reginald (Saved by Grace, RUNNING THE BASES, Vindication, DISCARDED THINGS)
• Demond Wilson, Isaac (Sanford and Son)
• T.C. Stallings, Apollo (WAR ROOM, NO VACANCY, Vindication, MY BROTHER’S KEEPER, GOD’S COMPASS)
• Lori Schultze, Pat
• Wesley Williams, Elijah
• Rebecca Rogers, Heather (LIFEMARK)
• Kamillah Matthews, Jewels
• Durrel Nelson, Eddie (director and producer of AN UNLIKELY ANGEL, TEXAS REIN)
• Caleb J. Avery, Drayvon
• Scotty Curlee, Attorney Banks (WAR ROOM, OVERCOMER, EXTRAORDINARY)

Episode 3

I was asked to tell you specifically about episode 3. That is hard if you haven’t seen the first two episodes and I don’t want to share any spoilers. Episode 2 ends on a cliffhanger. How this cliffhanger is resolved will literally change the trajectory of the story. Thankfully the cliffhanger is resolved right at the beginning of episode 3. The theme of this episode is how to live with defeat and failure, something we all have to do in our lives.

Eleanor is working through regret of a promise she made and didn’t keep. As she sees how badly things turned out without her help, Eleanor is feeling like a failure of a friend. She tries to take it upon herself to make everything right again, but that is just not possible, even for a rich judge. As she grapples with her humanness, she goes to God for direction and guidance as she embarks on a life changing plan to do what she feels is right.

Giveaway

You can only watch Eleanor’s Bench on Pure Flix. If you don’t have a streaming subscription yet, enter to win a 3 month trial subscription! The giveaway ends at 12:00am on Friday, July 21, 2023 it is open to US residents only who have not won a trial subscription in the last 6 months.

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I want to start off with a word of caution, unlike most Pure Flix films, I don’t feel God’s Country Song is appropriate for kids under the age of 13. There is significant alcohol use/abuse, and some violence. Use your own discretion.

With that being said, God’s Country Song is a redemption story based on Mark 8:36 “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Noah is a broken man pursuing his dreams at all costs. On a journey of redemption and forgiveness, he rediscovers what truly matters in life: faith and family.

God’s Country Song Cast

• Justin Gaston as Noah Bryan (The Young and the Restless, UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, SANTA BOOTCAMP)
• Mariel Hemingway as Sara Bryan (ON SACRED GROUND, GRACE AND GRIT, MANHATTAN)
• John Laughlin as Jeremiah Bryan (THE ROCK, FOOTLOOSE, NCIS)
• Christopher Michael as Larry (7th Heaven, FOOLS RUSH IN, THE CABLE GUY)
• Justene Alpert as Leeann (The Lincoln Lawyer, THE MATCHMAKERS PLAYBOOK)
• JJ Miller as JJ Bryan (Saved by Grace)
• Featuring Coffey Anderson, Colt Young (Country Ever After)

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

This is a very well done movie. While not what I consider to be typical Pure Flix fare, we really enjoyed it. Yes, the subject matter is difficult, a but gritty but it’s an honest look at a life that tries to hide it’s hurts with alcohol. Justin Gaston’s portrayal of Noah Bryan is spot on. He is a singer/songwriter as well as an actor so all the scenes performing his music on stage were authentic and it showed.

This film is about faith, fatherhood, and forgiveness. Noah has always resented his father for not supporting his dreams of fame and fortune. Always feeling that you don’t have the love and support of your family as you chase your dreams is a heavy weight to carry. Of course, there are always two sides to every story and as Noah learns why his father feels this way, thanks to mom sharing dad’s big secret, Noah begins to understand his father’s side.

I hope you’ll watch God’s Country Song when it starts streaming on Pure Flix starting June 16th.

Giveaway

Pure Flix is your home for faith and family-friendly exclusive movies and shows where you can confidently stream with the entire family. With new high-quality original entertainment every week, you can strengthen your faith and family with Pure Flix – a streaming service that inspires, uplifts and entertains. Don’t have a Pure Flix yet? I’m giving away a 3 month trial subscription! This giveaway is limited to US winners only, and only to those who have NOT won a subscription in the last 6 months.

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Other Pure Flix films you might like:

Sun Moon

Miracle at Manchester

A Thousand Tomorrows

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About Sun Moon

Kelsey, MacKenzie Mauzy, is shocked and stuck after being left at the altar – unsure of everything she thought was God’s plan for her life. She abandons her faith and church. She is running from failure, heartbreak and humiliation. In an attempt to understand God’s purpose for her life, she goes to Taiwan to teach English. Will her leap of faith pay off?

Why Taiwan, you may ask? Missionaries to Taiwan were speaking at her church when she went to pick up the remains of her wedding decor and cake. She spoke to the missionary and he offered her a job teaching English at the Taiwan Adventist Academy.

As you can imagine, this huge life change had its share of hurdles, the language barrier being just one of them. The movie follows Kelsey, her students, and another young teacher, Horace, Justin Chien, as they learn and grow together. Sun Moon is a story about all kinds of love and how unexpected relationships can be exactly what we need in order to draw closer to God.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

We enjoyed Sun Moon. It’s a sweet movie that introduces us to some of Taiwanese culture. The majority of the movie takes place at the Taiwan Adventist Academy where the majority of students and teachers speak Mandarin. There are no subtitles so the audience is as baffled as Kelsey is about what is being said.

Thankfully, later in the movie, just before Kelsey is scheduled to return to America after her one semester contract is up, Horace takes her to explore the area and we get to see more of the beauty of the country.

Kelsey isn’t just running away from being left at the alter. She had quit her job, to focus on being a new wife. While all this is happening, her mother is critically ill and she just doesn’t know how to deal with that, so her younger sister spends a lot of her time at mom’s bedside. All of this has led Kelsey to question where God is and what is His plan.

Taking the Message of Sun Moon Farther

On the Pure Flix website there are 3 small group discussion guides with accompanying video clips that you can use after viewing the movie. The themes of the three lessons are:

• God works everything together for our good.
• Learning to trust God.
• Finding your confidence in God.

I recommend you watch Sun Moon on Pure Flix for your next movie night.

Giveaway

I am giving away a 3 month trial membership to Pure Flix. The giveaway is open to US residents who haven’t won a trial membership in the last 6 months. The giveaway ends at 12:00am EDT 5-11-23.

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