When Rusty Martin Jr. was born, his parents, Rusty Sr. and
Kim, were awestruck by the miracle God had given them.
Since doctors had told them having a child was unlikely they
said they have treasured their son during his 16 years on earth.
“We’ve just been very blessed to raise him,” Rusty Sr. said.
Junior’s big screen debut comes Sept. 30 when “Courageous,”
the latest offering from Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., opens in 900
theaters across America.
The film highlights the importance of fathers, and shows how
five different men, four of whom work together on the police force, struggle to
become better fathers.
Junior plays Dylan Mitchell, the son of Adam Mitchell,
played by Alex Kendrick, who also helped write the script. The role was a
stretch for Junior, who calls his father his best friend.
Contributed photo Once Adam Mitchell, right, played by Alex Kendrick, begins to step up in his role as a father, he begins running with his son Dylan Mitchell, left, played by Garner resident Rusty Martin Jr. |
Rusty Sr. also has a part in the film. He plays a
businessman who challenges one of the characters with a moral dilemma.
The Martins are members of Turner Memorial Baptist Church in
Garner. The screenings of the film across the state have raised interest in the
father and son.
The family was in Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 26 for the red-carpet
premiere.
Junior is a sophomore at Wake Christian Academy, and his
father owns a precious metals business. Kim is a hearing instruments
specialist. The parents have flexible work schedules to coordinate with Rusty
Jr.’s filming schedule. Rusty Sr. said he generally only takes roles filmed in
the area or short-term gigs so he can be home with his family. Rusty Jr. is
thankful to have Christian parents who have helped his faith.
While Rusty Jr. is taking all honors classes, he said his
favorites tend to be science and history.
In the midst of juggling a budding acting career, Rusty Jr.
tries to stay active in his church’s youth group.
“I call acting a passion,” Rusty Jr. said.
He’s not sure about college yet but is considering the Air
Force Academy in Colorado. He’s waiting to see what God’s will is for his life.
Getting started
When Rusty Jr. was in third grade, no one had tried out for
the main role for the school play, so he auditioned.
That was just the beginning. It wasn’t long before he’d
found a talent agency and was filming his first commercial.
One of the activities he likes is Boy Scouts. He is working
his way toward Eagle Scout.
“I’ve been working at it for such a long time now,” he said.
He was 14 when he was cast in “Courageous.”
While Rusty Sr. followed his son into acting, he was the
first one cast in “Courageous.” They sent audition tapes in and also auditioned
via the Internet.
Of the films in which they’ve been involved, “Courageous”
was the most family friendly. They would routinely work for a week or two and
give breaks for actors and crew to have time for family.
Both actors said they want people to be changed by “Courageous.”
While Rusty Jr. said his relationship was “rock solid” with
his dad before the movie, he said the film’s subject challenged him to be a
better son. Rusty Sr. echoed the sentiment about being a better father.
Rusty Sr. indicated his family life was not the happiest. He
said he was fortunate that when he was in his 30s he met some men who modeled
manhood and displayed what a godly home should look like.
He married Kim when he was 33. When Rusty Jr. was born, “I
determined he was going to be a priority.”
While the family has seen several screenings of the movie,
in the next few weeks they’ll be seeing it again with family and churches.
Contributed photo One of the activities Rusty Martin Sr. and his son Rusty Jr. like to do together is go to the shooting range. The two will be on screen in “Courageous,” a film by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., which opens Sept. 30. |
“I get emotional every time I see it,” Rusty Sr. said. “It
just really tugs at the heart. It makes you want to stand tall and makes you
want to do better as a father.”
Father and son would love to work together again, and Rusty
Sr. said he would love to play father-son on screen.
In the meantime, Rusty Sr. might be seen in a new production
called “Snitched,” developed by Cross Shadow Productions.
See Snitchedthemovie.com. It was filmed in Apex. Father and
son also recently worked on Destiny Road, a film for Brazil but filmed in North
Carolina.
Word-of-mouth
As the film nears its debut, more people are contacting the
Martins about speaking at their church or appearing at the movie theater to
answer questions.
Both Rusty Jr. and Sr. said this picture has raised the bar
for Christian films.
“This is a film that Christians can be proud of,” Rusty Sr.
said. “A guy who goes to see it on Friday night, on Sunday afternoon he can
grab his neighbor and take that guy to the theater and be proud of this
product.”
Some churches are buying tickets for members and for guests
to go the opening weekend. Some have private screenings scheduled opening
weekend.
Kim handles the Garner area, and she said there has been a
positive response to ticket sales.
She mentioned one church bought more than 100 tickets for
first responders. At the movie the church will invite them to its services that
following Sunday to meet a couple of local actors from the film.
“Courageous” opens in theaters Sept. 30.
Ways churches can help
Seeing “Courageous” is just the beginning of how churches
can use the movie as a ministry tool.
Churches can buy tickets for opening weekend
(courageousthemovie.com) and can find resources at another website,
The following are ways churches can support and use the
movie for ministry:
Buy all the tickets for a showing. Churches can rent out a
theater so their congregation can see the movie together.
Towns where “Courageous” is not playing can also get in the
action and bring the movie in by pledging to purchase 1,000 tickets. (For more
information go to CourageousMovie.com and click “Take Action.”)
Have church at the movies. Instead of a traditional Sunday
morning service, churches can call their theater to set up a morning showing
and provide childcare back at the church nursery for families who attend.
Give tickets to chaplains, law enforcement officers and
first responders.
Invite unchurched friends, coworkers or family to see the
movie.
Put up posters and flyers to promote the movie on church
campuses or in the community.
Embed the movie trailer on church websites. (To find the
trailer, go to the movie’s website and click on “Click Here to Watch the
Trailer.” Then copy the code beneath the video.)
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Plan a sermon or series on fatherhood either leading to or
following the movie’s release.
Use “Courageous” material to start a men’s ministry or to
study in an existing one. (Resources, including small group guides, can be
found at CourageousResources.com)
Reaching out to men with an event like a breakfast or
special service honoring fathers.
Books:
- The Resolution for Men by Stephen Kendrick and Alex
Kendrick, with Randy Alcorn
-
The Resolution for Women
by Priscilla Shirer, with Alex and Stephen Kendrick
- Courageous Living – Dare to Take a Stand by
Michael Catt
- Rite of Passage – A Father’s Blessing by Jim
McBride
- Courageous – The Novel by Randy Alcorn
-
Stepping Up: A Call to Courageous Manhood by Dennis Rainey
Other resources
DaySpring has produced greeting cards as well as a framed
print of “The Resolution” that is available. Check dayspring.com/courageous for
priced materials relating to the movie.
Other family-friendly sites
- Focus on the Family – focusonthefamily.com
- All Pro Dad – allprodad.com
- Tony Dungy, former Indianapolis Colt head coach, has created
a website promoting how to be an All Pro Dad.
- Tony Dungy, former Indianapolis Colt head coach, has created
- iMOM.com
- Lauren Dungy has a similar site to her husband’s promoting
motherhood.
- Lauren Dungy has a similar site to her husband’s promoting
Events
Men at the Cross conference
Website: menatthecross.org
Date: Nov. 5; Time: 8 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Location: First Baptist Church, Shallotte
Speakers include Joe White, Rick Rigsby, Ted Cunningham, and
Joe Brown.
There is also a track for teen guys ages 13-18. White and Adam
Donyes will lead the teens.
The featured artist is Christopher Julian.
Other conferences are in development for Raleigh and
Winston-Salem.
Iron Sharpens Iron
Website: ironsharpensiron.net
Date/location: Nov. 5 at The Park Church in Charlotte
Four resource CDs are available featuring interviews and
message clips from national leaders.
Each CD has seven tracks and each track is five to eight
minutes long. Visit Ironsharpensiron.net/fatherfactor for more information.
Greensboro church ‘Fireproof’
Southside Baptist Church in Greensboro formed an action
squad when “Fireproof” came to theaters. In place of their regular Sunday
evening service on opening weekend of “Fireproof,” the church bought all the
seats at their local theater.
Members were encouraged to buy tickets not only for
themselves, but also for unchurched friends, with whom they could then enjoy
dinner and discussion after the movie.
In the following weeks, Pastor Patrick Fuller preached a
sermon series on marriage, and Sunday school classes focused on “Fireproof”
were offered.
Three years later, 75 new families that were part of that
outreach are members of the church.
The church held a special “Courageous” Father’s Day service
in June in an effort to purchase tickets opening weekend (Sept. 30-Oct. 2).
Triangle initiative
An Action Squad coordinated by a Triangle radio station is
recruiting people to buy tickets for first responders and their spouses.
The same squad helped 500 first responders see “Fireproof,”
another film from Sherwood, when it debuted.