TBN's Matt and Paul Crouch visit to promote 'Megiddo'

By JOHN FORTMEYER CNNW publisher

PORTLAND -- “We saved the best for last,” said Matt Crouch as he described why Portland was the last stop in his 19-day, 20-city national tour to promote his latest Christian end-times movie, Megiddo.

But Crouch and his father, Trinity Broadcasting Network founder Paul Crouch, made it clear in their Aug. 1 visit that the best is really still ahead for Christians who seek to use the modern media as a means for spreading the Gospel.

“Isn’t this where we are supposed to go -- into the ‘highways and byways?’ ’’ asked Matt Crouch as he surveyed the auditorium full of local pastors who came to the Lloyd Cinemas for a sneak preview of an abbreviated cut of the full movie that opens nationwide in 400 theaters Sept. 21.

A $20 milllion production by Crouch's Gener8Xion Entertain-ment, Megiddo is a prequel/sequel to its 1999 film, The Omega Code. The number one independent film that year, Omega Code surprised critics with its box office success despite its lack of Hollywood polish. Now, with nearly three times the budget and five times the special effects, Megiddo is set to complete the first movie's storyline.

The film stars Michael York and Michael Biehn and is based on Scripture about the antichrist in Revelation 17:8 and the battle of Armageddon, which is literally, “the mountain of Megiddo.” (Rev. 16:6).

Crouch and his new movie were among the examples cited in a recent Newsweek magazine cover story on the huge growth of the Christian entertainment industry.

“They call us a ‘niche market’ in Hollywood,” said Crouch. “I shocked the (Newsweek) reporter when I said, ‘Give us a couple more films here and you'll understand that they (Christians) really are THE market.’ ’’

Crouch said the movie industry was amazed in 1999 when a half-million people nationally went to Omega Code on its opening weekend.

Crouch said Christians need to be proactive in using all the media -- including theaters -- for the Gospel.

“The silver screen is neutral,” he said. “It’s what you show on it that makes a difference. The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof. This place belongs to God.”

Paul Crouch told how, when he was a boy, moviehouses were strictly seen by many Christians as places to shun. But that’s how unbiblical values gained a foothold in Hollywood and in the nation’s estimated 30,000 theaters, he said.

“That screen has sent many people to hell, I'm sure,” he said. “But we can put something on there that will send people to heaven. ... We’re going to take these 30,000 little screens and turn them into 30,000 little churches.”

Joining the Crouches in addressing the gathering was Matt’s wife, Laurie, whose parents, Rev. and Mrs. Cliff Orndorff, live in Camas, Wash. and are pastors locally of World Impact Church.

More information on the movie can be found on the Web at www.megiddothefilm.com.