The Lodestar

In an age where church closures and dwindling congregations have sadly become familiar stories, the film All Saints offers a powerful reminder of what can happen when faith is lived out through bold, compassionate action.

Based on the true story of Michael Spurlock, a salesman-turned-pastor, All Saints is not just another feel-good drama but a testimony to the quiet yet radical ways God can work through ordinary people. Michael’s first pastoral assignment was to shepherd a small, ageing congregation in rural Tennessee with an unenviable task: to close the church and sell the property. Developers eagerly eyed the land, the congregation resigned to the inevitable, and Michael and his family anticipated a quick move to a more established church.

But God had other plans

The turning point in the story comes with the arrival of Karen (pronounced kuh-REN) refugees from Burma — displaced farmers seeking a new beginning in America. What began as a hesitant welcome grew into a life-changing partnership. Recognizing their skills and desperate need for stability, Michael felt an unmistakable stirring in his spirit: turning the church’s fertile land into a working farm, providing food for the refugees and income to keep the church open.

It was a risky, improbable idea. It defied his superiors’ instructions, jeopardized his family’s future, and seemed logistically impossible. But as the film gently portrays, sometimes the most incredible acts of faith require us to step into uncertainty and trust God’s provision.

A Story for Our Time

All Saints resonates deeply in today’s world, where churches, particularly in the post-Christian West, often struggle to remain relevant and compassionate amid changing communities and shrinking resources. The story reminds us that the church is not merely a building or a weekly gathering—it is a living, breathing community called to respond to the needs of its neighbours.

What makes this film especially moving is its portrayal of small, everyday acts of courage: choosing to see strangers as siblings, risking personal comfort for the collective good, and listening for God’s still, small voice amidst the noise of worldly expectations.

Faith Beyond the Pews

At its heart, All Saints is a story of faith expressed through deeds. James 2:17 says, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Michael Spurlock and the congregation of All Saints Church took this to heart. Rather than retreating in the face of adversity, they rolled up their sleeves, planted seeds, and trusted that God would bring the harvest — literally and spiritually.

The film encourages us to ask: “What resources has God placed in our hands? Who are the strangers at our doorstep? And what bold acts of compassion is God calling us to today?”

A Worthwhile Watch

With thoughtful performances, particularly from John Corbett as Michael, and a compassionate portrayal of the Karen refugee community, All Saints is inspiring and grounded. It avoids overly sentimental clichés and instead celebrates the beauty of ordinary people choosing to love their neighbours in tangible, transformative ways.

Recommendation

For churches, small groups, and Christian families, All Saints offers a compelling story and a conversation starter about mission, hospitality, and the unexpected ways God can use even the most unlikely circumstances for his glory.

All Saints is well worth watching if you are looking for a film that will encourage your faith and challenge your heart. Like the congregation in the film, we might discover that sometimes, when you dare to sow seeds in faith, God brings forth a harvest far greater than we imagined.

(Available on YouTube Movies to buy or rent).