City of Peace, the company behind the upcoming Ray Liotta-Ashley Judd film THE IDENTICAL, is launching a groundbreaking new series of television specials this August focused on helping viewers discover and live out their identity in Christ. The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) encourages people of faith to watch this new television series.
A co-production of Gray Media, in:ciite Media and City of Peace Films, THE IDENTITY SERIES will air Aug. 1-Sept. 5 on some of the most popular secular and Christian television networks in the country, including ABC Family, CMT, Lifetime, Discovery Channel, TBN, Daystar, The Word Network, INSP and TCT.
Each half-hour episode will feature a prominent Christian leader speaking before an audience about a key aspect of what it means to follow God’s call on your life. Among those appearing in the series are best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado; Lifechurch.tv founder Craig Groeschel; Australian pastor and activist Christine Caine; Bishop George Bloomer of the Bethel Family Worship Center in Durham, N.C.; and the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
Also featured are Jamal Bryant, pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore; Mike Breaux, pastor of Canyon Ridge Christian Church in Las Vegas; Miles McPherson, pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego; author Lisa Harper; author Holly Wagner; Bil Cornelius, pastor of Bay Area Fellowship in Corpus Christi, Texas; Raleigh Washington, president of Promise Keepers; David Nasser, pastor of Christ City Church in Birmingham, Ala.; and best-selling author Lee Strobel.
“Once we understand our identity, it’s natural for us to want to talk with others about what God has done in our life,” Strobel explained. “I call this ‘the unexpected adventure,’ because you never know what opportunity might come up to have a spiritual conversation that could change someone’s life and eternity. I hope my segment encourages and equips people for these kinds of interactions.”
The television series was created to support the nationwide release of the film THE IDENTICAL, coming to theaters Sept. 5. Though the film is not overt in its Christian messaging, City of Peace hopes the content-focused series draws the audience into the themes presented in the film.
“THE IDENTICAL is not religious; it’s where people are living right now,” said Yochanan Marcellino, president and CEO of City of Peace Films. “It was always imagined to be a movie both for the masses and for Christians.”
Each episode of THE IDENTITY SERIES will feature content – much of it exclusive – from THE IDENTICAL. The film, about the son (newcomer Blake Rayne) of a preacher (played by Liotta) who feels a calling to pursue a music career, not follow in his father’s pastoral footsteps, touches on some of the very themes explored in THE IDENTITY SERIES.
“Our IDENTITY SERIES brings relevancy to the modern churchgoer,” Marcellino explained, “by elevating the movie’s core truth, that Jesus Christ alone can answer the question we all ask ourselves: Who am I and what am I here for?”
One of the truly groundbreaking aspects of the series is that churches have the opportunity to gain access to streaming versions of all 13 episodes to broadcast during services. All they need to do is commit to purchasing group tickets for THE IDENTICAL. More information on group tickets for the film, and details about the series itself, including broadcast schedules, can be found at www.theidentityseries.com
Chris Thomason, president and CEO of in:ciite media, said the time is right for THE IDENTITY series in the church – and society at large.
“The subject of our ‘identity’ is widespread in culture from ‘identity theft to ‘social media and online profiles,’ he said. “We are all inundated with this theme of ‘who we are.’ As we created the concept for this series, it was obvious that some of the most well-known and respected Christian leaders and pastors are speaking directly to this relevant subject in our lives.
“We believe it is unprecedented to gather the caliber and breadth of leaders who are participating in this broadcast series in one place around this one theme,” Thomason added. “We at in:ciite are honored to be a part of this remarkable opportunity in association with THE IDENTICAL film to connect this content and speakers to an awesome film that will resonate with audiences of all types.”
About City of Peace Films
City of Peace Media and City of Peace Films includes, but is not limited to, the following list of creative services: major physical and digital distribution, record production, artist management, artist development, music publishing, song development, art direction, graphic design, website development, music video production, film production and film development. City of Peace Media also consults in the following strategic areas: marketing plan development, public relations planning, radio promotion, publicity, advertising, touring and name branding.
The primary focus of City of Peace Media and City of Peace Films is to provide a framework where music, films and video with “redeeming value” can be developed, produced and distributed worldwide, bringing a message of hope, love and encouragement to this generation.
About Gray Media
Gray Media is a full-service marketing, PR, and media-buying agency that specializes in reaching the faith and family audience. Placing TV programs in over 200 countries worldwide, Gray Media represents some of the largest and most popular TV ministries in the world – including T.D. Jakes, Bill Winston, and Samuel Rodriguez.
