DVD reviews
During 2006 Re:fresh books introduced an extensive new range of DVDs for adults and children including Christian biography, teaching materials, movies etc. Childrens’ titles include classics such as Treasures of the Snow and Tanglewoods’ Secret. Classic films such as John Wesley and Martin Luther are available along with biographies of well-known Christians past and present. The evangelistic DVD So, Who is this Jesus? featuring The Bill actor Russell Boulter is an excellent resource for youth discussions or seeker groups.
For details of Musicademy's DVD-based training course for worship musicians, click HERE.
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New Nooma DVD
'Name' now in stock
The 18th DVD in the popular Nooma series has now arrived at re:fresh books.
It looks at the way in which we all compare ourselves with other people and challenges us to be ourselves and live the lives God wants us to live.
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Award-winning Animated Bible Stories DVDs in stock
As used in Kingston schools.
Old Testament and New Testament sets, each comprising six programmes on three discs. Single titles also available.
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Friends and Heroes
DVD sets available
The First Series of Friends and Heroes animated action-adventure DVDs, recently shown on BBC2, is now in stock at re:fresh. Each DVD comprises two Episodes featuring at least two Bible stories in 3D animation. Suitable for ages 5-11.
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Robber of the Cruel Streets - the story of George Muller DVD
presented by Russell Boulter |
 An award-winning* documentary, presented by Actor Russell Boulter, about the 19th century pioneer, George Muller, who provided homes for 120,000 orphans and, in his lifetime, raised the modern-day equivalent of £100 million entirely by faith, without ever making an appeal for funds. The documentary charts Muller’s life from a dissolute student in Halle, Germany through his conversion and early ministry to the establishing of Muller’s Homes in Bristol and his worldwide preaching tours when he was in his 80s.
The 60-minute DVD includes dramatisation of different episodes in the life of Muller, as well as photographs and drawings.
Muller’s intention was to demonstrate that God does answer prayer. His achievement still inspires and challenges today.
*Awarded Best Feature Documentary at the Saboath International Film Festival in Milan.
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God's Outlaw - the story of William Tyndale VIDEO
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 The story of William Tyndale and the translation of the Bible into English is an essential part of our Christian heritage.
God’s Outlaw is a 95-minute colour film of the inspirational story of William Tyndale, who paid the ultimate price for bringing us the Bible in English. Forbidden by the Catholic church to carry out his translation work in England, he fled to the Continent and moved from City to City to evade capture until betrayed by a friend, brought back to England, strangled and publicly burnt.
At his execution he prayed “Lord open the King of England’s eyes.” Within two years Henry VIII had decreed that every church in England should display a Bible in English. It is said that 90% of Tyndale’s work found its way into the Authorised (King James) Version of the Bible. This has carried through into more recent versions, based on the AV, including the Revised Standard Version and the English Standard Version.
An inspirational film that should be seen by anybody who does not know the background to our English Bible … and those who do as well!
 Zinzendorf is arguably the founder of modern missions. His influence through the 18th Century Moravian movement can be traced in the conversion of John Wesley, the pioneering missionary work of William Carey and even the modern 24/7 prayer movement.
This documentary, which includes dramatisations and interviews with modern Moravians, theologians and church historians, comprises four 25-minute programmes. These trace the early life of Zonzendorf and his involvement in the Moravian Renewal of 1727; the missionary work of the Moravians from Greenland to South Africa; the spread of the Moravian work to the American Colonies, where it still thrives; and the later years of the Count.
The DVD is suitable for individual use by anybody interested in modern missions or church history, or the separate sessions could be used in a mission study group or similar. The final programme may prove less helpful in this latter context as it deals with some of the controversy and excesses of early Moravian teaching and practice.
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The Touch of the Master’s hand DVD
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 This 20 minute DVD tells the much-loved Myra Brooks Welch story of a violin. Carefully made by a craftsman but abused and unappreciated by it’s owner, it gets broken and is soon forgotten. At an auction it is about to be sold for 3 dollars when an old man stands up, takes the violin from the auctioneer and plays a beautiful melody with skill and feeling. After he has finished playing, the auctioneer takes the violin respectfully and holds it up carefully as he asks for a bid. It is sold for 3000 dollars.
This story shows that life is valuable and that anyone can make a new start. A great opener for discussions in Youth Ministry. The menus are in Spanish, but the language options include English and Spanish with English Subtitles.
Review by Elisabeth Buitendijk
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Zamzam, a Missionary Odyssey DVD
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 A remarkable, true World War II story about a passenger liner carrying 144 missionaries that was sunk by a Nazi warship off the coast of South Africa. Miraculously all the missionaries survived.
The 30-minute documentary, in colour and black & white, includes pictures by a Life Magazine photographer, who happened to be on the ship, and interviews with some of the survivors.
This could make an interesting discussion-starter for a small group thinking about miracles, or a missionary study group.
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The Second Chance by Steve Taylor, Starring Michael W Smith.
ISBN:0234101129 |
 Ethan Jenkins (played by Michael W. Smith) and Jake Sanders (introducing Jeff Obafemi Carr) are both passionate pastors who worship the same God from the same book - but that's where the similarity ends. White and well-to-do Ethan is comfortable in his music ministry at the suburban mega-church, The Rock. Jake is a street- smart African-American who ministers to the gang members, teen mothers, and drug addicts of the urban Second Chance. These two worlds are strongly contrasted when Ethan is suddenly forced to join Jake in the Second Chance church. There he discovers a whole new world and a new dimension to church ministry.
What I like best about this film is that the people are real, believable characters who have to deal with real situations, not Christian stereotypes or idealistic saints. To me it opened a whole new vision of how Christians can be. In short they are not perfect; like everybody else they have problems and weaknesses, they make mistakes and have to admit that. It is a beautiful story about faith and redemption, without giving the feeling that you are being lectured. And it challenges everybody to rethink their lifestyle and the idea that just giving money is enough.
And as far as Michael W Smith is concerned - yes, he can act! For both Christians and non-Christians I can certainly recommend this film.
Review by Elisabeth Buitendijk
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DVD Nooma £9.50 each
Episodes 1-13 now available |
 Finding small group resources that are useful, applicable and biblical is often a tough task. Nooma however may change all that. Rob Bell, teaching pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in California has compiled this small group resource which fills all three of those vital categories. It is relevant, user friendly and, most importantly, Biblical.
Each nooma episode is a 10-12 minute video presentation, Rob Bell delivers his message by talking to the camera, interweaved with stunning and thought-provoking visual illustrations. Each episode tackles a specific issue, that each of us faces on our walk with Christ, love, grace, jealousy, lifestyle, knowing God, etc. Each is presented in Rob Bell’s unique style that demands a response from the viewer.
Episode 1: Rain
Bell takes us through the story of when he and his son were caught in a rain storm and his 3 year old is crying out in fear. But he reassures his son with the words ‘don’t worry buddy, Dad knows the way home’. Bell uses this to show us that whatever storms we may have to weather in life we can cry out to God and he will always respond with love and the reassurance that He 'knows the way home’.
The production value on these films is obvious, no tacky fake background, no grainy pictures. This is a top quality resource, accompanied by a full colour discussion booklet with each episode to help provoke the questions that group participants are bound to ask.
Who can use it?
Small groups will not be disappointed if you are looking for a new way of getting deep conversation going. Nooma provides an excellent way of presenting sometimes difficult messages in a clear and accessible way.
Equally youth groups of the 16 age range should find Nooma really relevant and accessible. It can be a great resource for youth leaders who have little time for prep.
Episode Listing:
Rain - God’s Devotion/Leading through hardship
Flame - Love/Relationships
Trees - Living between the first and second creation
Sunday - Church .v. Everyday Life: Trials of living in God’s Family
Noise - The Voice of God; hearing him in the silence
Kickball - Possessions/Satisfaction- Learning not to covet
Luggage - Letting go of anger/bad feelings towards others
Dust - Realising our own potential in the power of God
Bullhorn - Loving everyone equally by not condemning them
Lump - Romans 8: Nothing can separate us from the love of God (even when our sins catch up with us.)
Rhythm - Relationship with God, every day
Matthew - Coping with Loss and Grief.
Click HERE for other DVDs suitable for small group use
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DVD So who is this Jesus? presented by Russell Boulter £8.99 |
 This is an excellent DVD for use with teenagers or seeker groups. It comprises three 17-minute sessions which run consecutively but can be played individually. Set in Israel, it begins with an Old Testament background, from Abraham to the baptism of Jesus; the second episode looks at the birth of Jesus and key elements in his life leading up to the claim “I am the way, the truth and the life” while the third episode looks especially at the Garden of Gethsemane, the trial of Jesus, his death and resurrection.
There are also additional features including a 19-minute testimony by Brian Russ, jailed for attempted murder, 21 questions about the Christian faith, and historical information on Christian Social reformers.
The language, format and choice of Russell Boulter (The Bill) as the Narrator make this an easy DVD to watch. It moves quickly and yet provides a solid foundation for the message, including the significance of animal sacrifices, the meaning of new birth and the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is filmed against appropriate backgrounds including a Nazareth carpenter’s shop, a marketplace, the shores of the Sea of Galilee etc. with short vignettes to add interest.
 Imagine having your favourite worship leaders from your favourite worship albums come to your home and do a worship set of your favourite songs, just for you or for your home group, complete with lyrics. Now you can have that experience with Integrity’s innovative new series. Each dvd contains 14 songs with stunning background visuals and optional lyrics on the screen. And where you might expect the songs to be cover versions done by a single band, these are the original versions performed by the original artists. An unbeatable resource for personal or small group worship!
Home DVD 1:
1. Above All—Lenny LeBlanc
2. All Creation Worships You—Tony Melendez
3. All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name—Steven Newby
4. Come Now Is The Time To Worship—Brian Doerksen
5. God Of Wonders - Paul Baloche
6. He Has Made Me Glad—Integrity Worship Singers
7. How Great Thou Art—Steven Newby
8. I Can Only Imagine—MercyMe
9. Open The Eyes Of My Heart—Paul Baloche
10. Shout To The Lord—Darlene Zschech
11. Trading My Sorrows—Darrell Evans
12. Victory Chant—Steven Newby
13. We All Bow Down—The Women Of Faith Worship Team
14. We Speak To Nations—The Women Of Faith Worship Team
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