Faithspotting "Rising Hope"
Kenny and Mike are joined by director Theo Avgerinos and cast / contributor Rev. Dr. Jason Coker for a discussion of Rising Hope, a documentary film about the struggles and hope exerpienced by the residents of several towns in the Mississippi Delta. The film examines the rich history, decline, struggles that depleated the area of it's wealth and many of its residents, but not the hope of those who are determined and build a new narrative for the region and people. The film does not shy away from many of the causes of the regions decline including systematic racism and well as the effects of the NAFTA trade agreement.
Faith Issues:
Faith and hope are interwoven throughout the film and history of the region. In depicting the deternimation, courage and faith of residents the film can inspire others facing difficulties to not be defined by what is lacking but by what is present and the possibilities that grow out of determination, community and working together. Rising Hope echos the teaching in Hebrews 11 that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Pastor, President, Advocat
Rev. Dr. K. Jason Coker grew up in the grinding poverty of the Mississippi Delta as a third-generation native. His lived experience in poverty grounds his work as the President of Together for Hope, where he has fought persistent rural poverty in the United States for the last decade. After completing his M.A. from Yale University and his Ph.D. from Drew University, he lived in Connecticut for nearly 20 years, where he connected the resources in the Northeast to the needs of his home region. Determined to make more of an impact, he returned to his home state.
filmmaker
Theo Avgerinos is an Santa Fe-based, Greek-American film director. He has directed three independent feature films. His feature debut, Fifty Pills premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and stars Lou Taylor Pucci, Kristen Bell, Jane Lynch, Eddie Kay Thomas, and Michael Pena. His second feature, Americons, had a limited national release in AMC theaters.
The origins of Rising Hope can be found in Theo’s student documentary short from 2000, featuring Herron Wilson of Indianola, Mississippi and the non-profit mission work in his community.
