RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — When Nik and Ruth Ripken moved with their three sons to Africa, they had no idea how much obedience to Christ would cost.
Years later, producer Craig Martin sensed that the Ripkens’ experiences would be vital viewing for the church in America.
The assassination of four Somali Christian friends and the death of their son Timothy rocked the foundations of the Ripkens’ faith. Their spiritual crisis launched a search for answers. They needed to know: Is Jesus worth it? Is love more powerful than hate? Can faith in Jesus survive – let alone thrive – in hostile places?
For 15 years Nik and Ruth crisscrossed the globe to interview more than 700 persecuted Christians in 70-plus countries.
“The Insanity of God” is their story. The book and film document the International Mission Board couple’s odyssey through suffering toward resurrected faith. Dramatized reenactments in the 90-minute film bring to life some of the testimonies the couple heard from persecuted Christians in Russia, East Asia and the Middle East.
In anticipation of two simulcasts and the DVD release of the film in November, IMB writer Eliza Thomas spoke with Martin, the son of missionaries in Asia, about adapting the Ripkens’ story for the screen.
Q: Can you tell me about discovering the Ripkens’ story?
Martin: Years ago I heard Nik speak and I remember thinking, “This guy’s experience is amazing.” He’s so powerful as a speaker. While Nik was writing the book, we were talking about how to get churches interested in the story. I told him that if he wanted to connect with younger people, then the book really needed to be made into a movie.
Q: Is that the only reason you felt the book needed to be made into a movie?
Martin: A book is a very personal event, but a film can be a social event. That’s important because when you’re viewing something with a group of people, everybody is going to take away something different. Then they’ll talk about what they saw. Film is a discussion starter. It makes the stories more accessible to more people.
Q: How were Nik and Ruth involved in the production of the film? Did they have strong ideas about the way they wanted their story told?
Martin: They let us run with it, but a couple of scenes required them to be present. When we filmed in Africa, they went with us. We wanted them to go to the gravesite where their son Timothy is buried. In those locations they gave a lot of input about the story.
They were only on set for one reenactment. When we shot the story of Dmitri, the Russian pastor imprisoned and tortured for his faith, they were with us. We filmed that scene at the West Virginia State Penitentiary with actors from Pittsburgh, many from Russian descent. The prison is historic; it was built before the Civil War.
Q: You filmed in an actual penitentiary?
Martin: I can’t believe prisoners actually lived in those conditions. The cells were so small that when you stand up, you can reach out and touch both walls. Ultimately, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled that those cells constituted cruel and unusual punishment.
When we were filming there, Nik actually got up and preached a short sermon. He didn’t miss an opportunity to share his faith with the crew and actors.
Q: How did you decide which scenes from the book needed to be dramatized?
Martin: When I was reading the book, I visualized the scenes I thought were the most important to see. Some we just couldn’t include. One story we filmed but had to cut was the scene where Nik’s Somali coworker, Omar Aziz, walks all the way from Mogadishu to attend Timothy’s funeral. When he arrives at the door, he says, “I’ve come to bury our son.” I loved that scene, but it didn’t work in the film.
Simulcasts of The Insanity of God for churches to show the film to their members and in their communities are scheduled for Nov. 9 and 13. The DVD for The Insanity of God is slated for release Nov. 16 via online retailers.
For additional resources, including the Ripkens’ follow-up book “The Insanity of Obedience,” along with a study guide and leader kit for use by individuals, small groups and churches, click here.
The Insanity of God film was produced by the International Mission Board and Cooke Pictures and distributed by LifeWay Films.