Donna Danna (20 Jan 2006)
"End Of The Spear: Missions Buffeted By U.S. Culture War"


End Of The Spear: Missions Buffeted By U.S. Culture War

The film’s lead producer, Mart Green, producer/writer Bill Ewing and director Jim Hanon issued a three-paragraph statement to Baptist Press concerning Allen, whose career credits include one of the lead roles in “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman”:

“We are the filmmakers of End of the Spear. We cast Chad Allen because he had the best audition of anyone else by far. We know that the character in the film and the actor are not the same. If as a film company we could only work with people who were completely sanctified, then the film would never have been made. We do not agree with Chad over homosexuality. End of the Spear is not about Chad Allen, but rather it's about remarkable people who lived their faith against all odds, and dared to reach out at the cost of their lives.

“The discussion over sin and working with sinners has been in the body of Christ from the beginning. We are glad that our lives are not being compared with Nate Saint. We don't believe we would stack up.

“The story is greater than the storytellers and it would be an enormous disservice if great stories of faith like this one were reduced to the human shortcomings of the filmmakers. We invite you to experience End of the Spear and then judge for yourself the message you are left with.”
 
The producers have said they were not aware of Chad Allen’s homosexuality when they gave him the role of Steve Saint in the film but decided to stick with him once they were told of his sexual practices.

 
FULL STORY at
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=22478
 
Controversy Swirls Over 'Gay' Playing Missionary In Movie
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48422
 
Saint Defends Casting of Homosexual Actor in Christian Missionary's Story
 
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/192006b.asp