Christian Mission Films From Paper Mate pens to Bible characters
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work and really be spent to get it done. Work with Jesus, putting forth our highest efforts. Jesus got everybody into the prayer meeting. Acts 1:14 tells us that all were there. Oh that trouble some little word “ all” that got into the text somehow. Some people are embarrassed that it ever got there. If it only hadn’t said “ all” then we could still avoid the prayer meet ings and pass for pretty good Chris tians around the church. But Jesus has us on the hook. He says, “ I want every member in the prayer meeting. That’s my meeting and if you are going to fill any church, that is my way of doing it.” If I would point to any one spot where a whole new life and min istry opened up for me it was in the “Upper Room” of my life. It was something like getting into the room of a mansion with doors lead ing to other rooms of the riches and resources that Christ, the risen Lord, has for us by the Holy Spirit. One reason we have anemic little Christians in our churches is be cause we enroll members and say nothing about the prayer meeting. We don’t even expect them to show up there. That’s wrong. God’s plan is that every member shall be an Upper Room Christian — a Prayer Meeting Christian. There is no membership in the New Testament Church but a P r a y e r M e e t i n g membership. You may not be able to pray much. You may not be able to pray more than a sentence, or you may have to pick up a hymn book and prime your pump to get started. But be at prayer meeting. You want to please Jesus, so be there. You can’t lay down this magazine and say “ I love Jesus” and avoid the prayer meeting because that is His building and His construction and pattern of successful Christian liv ing. Let’s have a dedication of our selves to go forward as never before as Upper Room Christians, by the grace of God. END. The King's Business/J anuary 1958
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Story conference: David Burrey and Bemiller brothers— Richard, Ted, Robert.
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T o tall, bony Bob Bemiller, a commercial artist with 23 years of experience in Hollywood movie studios, the possibility of ani mated Bible characters presented a c h a l l e n g i n g medium for teaching the Word of God. “ It could be a sacred thing,” he dreamed, staring at his drawing board, “ used for the glory of God.” In conference with his brothers, Ted and Richard, Bob found them enthusiastic about the idea and willing to supply some capital for producing films of Bible scenes that would put life into real people long dead. The Bemillers swept out a back yard garage and built a studio with second hand equipment which became the home of Chris tian Mission Films. Their first production was The Creation ■— four years in the making from 1946 to 1950. “ But,” say the brothers, “ each day was a worthwhile time dedicated to the Lord.” Everywhere the Bemillers showed their Creation, pastors hailed it as a milestone in Bible teaching methods. Editors of “Who’s Who In California” l i s t ed Bob alongside other We s t Coast innovators. In 1951 Christian Mission Films moved into larger quarters. To finance their baby project Bob entered the field of television animation and drew ads for Paper Mate Pen, Sealy Mattress, Welchade and other accounts. Richard studied business manage ment at Woodbury College and was ordained to the ministry after graduating from The Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Ted earned a degree in cinematography at the Univ. of Southern Calif. In 1953 CMF produced The High Room, the story of a boy called “ Cotton,” created by Rev. Paul Edwards of the Southern California Baptist Convention. It was released a year later by Cathedral Films of Burbank. Since then the Bemiller brothers have produced nine, 12% minute, 16mm color films illustrating the lives of Old Testament characters. Their goal: to depict the entire Bible story on film. li
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