Movie Review: The Encounter – A story on pain, doubt, and faith

The desire to trust God may come easy for some persons, however, some persons go through a lot of struggles which makes trusting God to become a challenge. The Encounter is a movie that centers on five strangers who come together in an eatery after a temporary road block in a bush path. 

These five strangers –Nick, Hank, Catherine, Melissa and Kayla have issues that bother them greatly. When they noticed that they could not go further, they decided to take cover in a restaurant –Last Chance Dinner- as the weather was becoming stormy.

It was already raining when they took a shield inside the restaurant. The restaurateur, named Jesus (acted by Bruce Marchiano), is an omniscient being who knows everything about the five strangers. More so, he is fully aware that Officer Deville (acted by Kass Connors) who informed them of the road block apparently was not comfortable with them visiting the restaurant.

The Encounter; produced by David A.R. White, Michael Scott, and Russell Wolfe; shows how some persons pass through a lot of pain. While some persons confide in Jesus, others blame Him for their woes. Nick (acted by Steve ‘Sting’ Borden) was unconcerned about what Jesus in The Encounter had to say to him. Understandably, he was hurt by the death of his father and some experiences he had while growing up. He felt that God should have ‘’helped’’ him but God allowed him pass through those painful experiences.

More so, Nick feels he doesn’t need Jesus because he has done a lot of things for himself without Jesus’ help. He equally owns a chain of restaurants and many other profitable ventures. When Jesus asked him why he hates him so much, Nick replied;

‘’You think I have given you enough thoughts to hate you? I hate federal regulators. I hate taxes. I hate sitting in the coach. You don’t want hate. You want exactly what I have been giving you all these times – Indifference! I don’t want you, I don’t need you. I am not like these losers!’’

When Jesus asked him if he didn’t want anything else in his life, Nick replied; ‘’I am living the American dream. Eleven years in the NFL, nine pro bowls, two super bowl rings, a smart record nobody else is close to touching yet, a restaurant chain that I will take public in a couple of years from now; hundreds of millions of dollars; I get everything I want.’’

Listening to Nick roll out his achievements, Melissa quoted a passage from the Bible that says - what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. In response to her statement, Jesus affirmed that it is not Nick’s riches that keep him away from Him. It is his pride.

Meanwhile, Melissa (acted by Jaci Velasquez) accepts Jesus and promises to take care of Kayla who has been worse hit among the five of them. She is being entangled with her mom and her step-dad. With the reoccurring issues in their home, Kayla (acted by Madison Gibney) attempted to kill herself. However, Jesus saved her.

In The Encounter, Kayla constantly questions Jesus why he allows evil to happen to his children. Does he glory in their pain? Jesus made her to understand that he does not create problem for his children. Nevertheless, he will always be there to save them when they call on him. More so, he takes glory in the praises his sheep give to him once he delivers them from danger.

Hank and Catherine is a couple who are on the verge of a divorce. Hank (acted by Jamie Nieto) wishes to continue the marriage but Catherine (acted by Danah Davis) does not care anymore. Jesus said to him, ‘’ask anything in my name and I will give it to you.’’ Thereafter, Hank asked God to save his marriage and He did.

In addition, Jesus said to the visitors at his restaurant, ‘’come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.’’ Hank, Catherine, Melissa, and Kayla all accepted Jesus except Nick. Nick proved too stubborn to tame. He never listened to Jesus. Rather, he left the Last Chance Dinner together with Officer Deville under the stormy weather. He later met his end as he was involved in a fatal accident.

The Encounter which has a viewing time of 1 hour 30 minutes was released in 2011. It was directed by David A. R. White. If you have any doubt about God’s love for you, then this movie is a must watch.