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DVD Examines Young Evangelists of the Future

by Kam Williams

Jesus Camp DVD Review

Today is the age of the specialty summer camp, whether it be dedicated to weight loss, budding astronauts, musical prodigies, academic excellence, individual sports, acting, horseback riding, marine biology, skateboarding, gymnastics, dance, computers, arts and crafts or Jesus. Speaking of Jesus, given the explosion of the Evangelical Movement across America, it should comes as no surprise to find a program devoted to developing Christian ministers of the future.

Called Kid's on Fire, this summer camp is located on Devil's Lake, North Dakota, where it is run by portly Pastor Becky Fischer, a burly momma bear given to sermonizing about the evils of warlock Harry Potter when not encouraging her tykes to feel the spirit, speak in tongues or hug a life-sized cardboard photo of President Bush. With an admirable impartiality, filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady allow the camera to make Fischer look like a manipulative monster in her earnest endeavor to indoctrinate her army of church urchins with a highly-politicized brand of Christianity.

However, as was the case with the directors' prior documentary, The Boys of Baraka, one still can't help but empathize with the plight of these pre-teens being prematurely pushed not only into the pulpit, but into the cinematic limelight. How will they feel a few years down the road when, as post-pubescent adolescents, they wake up to realize that they've been allowed to look like Bible-thumping kooks as they quote scriptures and try to convert strangers they meet in the street?

Ethical issues of exploitation, child abuse and bad parenting aside, Jesus Camp remains an alternately spellbinding and scary peek into the faith-based, boot camp industry. Also features a chilling appearance by recently-disgraced televangelist Ted Haggard, whose long-time gay lover was motivated by this movie to out the happily-married hypocrite.

Excellent (3.5 stars)
PG-13 for mature subject matter.
Running time: 84 minutes
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Deleted scenes and a commentary by the directors.