The Torchlighters video series is a series of animated DVD’s dedicated to “Highlighting the honor, integrity and life-changing experiences of those well-known and little-known Christian men, women and children who in response to God’s call, dedicated their lives to a life of whole-hearted commitment and passionate service to Jesus.” It is a production of Christian History Institute along with International Films and Voice of the Martyrs.
The series recently expanded to six videos with the addition of The Richard Wurmbrand Story. This follows The Jim Elliot Story, The William Tyndale Story, The John Bunyan Story, The Eric Liddell Story and The Gladys Aylward Story (each of which I have reviewed in the past). If you have seen any of the previous productions, you will know what to expect here. In 30 minutes, it tells the story of Richard Wurmbrand, though it does so through the perspective of his son Mihai. It is targeted at children from ages 8-12. It focuses on Wurmbrand’s stubborn refusal to forsake his Christian convictions in the face of Communism and equally on his ongoing Christian witness to both guards and prisoners behind the walls of prisons. I watched it with an assortment of children within the targeted age range and they seemed to enjoy it thoroughly, cheering when Wurmbrand defied his torturers by standing strong for Christ.
While the animated video is enjoyable, I found the hour-long documentary even better. Prepared, I believe, specifically for this project, it provides a more detailed overview of Wurmbrand’s life. It features interviews with Mihai Wurmbrand and plentiful video testimony from Richard and his wife Sabina. It is, obviously, targeted to the parents of the children who will enjoy the animated feature.
This really is a good series of videos and they are well worth including in a personal library or, perhaps even better, in a church library. You can learn more about it by visiting the Torchlighters Web Site.
Here is the trailer:
Comments (8) »
1. bchallies
March 1, 2009
5:19 PM
Nancy Pearcey and her family were in Sweden the year Wurmbrand was released from prison. He came to the church they attended. She remembers tears running down his face as he sat and watched the children in the Sunday School classes, enjoying the ordinary fruits of freedom…What he had been through!
2. Michael Duenes
March 1, 2009
6:52 PM
I just finished “Tortured for Christ” last week. What power and wisdom God brought forth through this man and the others who suffered with him. I hope this will help more people come to know this man.
3. Jeri
March 1, 2009
7:20 PM
Thanks Tim, we have enjoyed this series, having first learned about it here, of course! I’ll be sure to add this one to the collection. That’s a nice bit of history about Wurmbrand, Mrs. Challlies.
4. Jennifer in OR
March 1, 2009
7:49 PM
Thanks for highlighting this, I’ll be looking for it! I loved the comment from bchallies, how amazing to hear firsthand from someone.
5. Elisabeth
March 1, 2009
9:08 PM
Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand were regular guest speakers at my church when I was growing up. They were the most humble, generous, Christ-centered couple you would ever want to meet. I’m so glad their story is being shared like this.
6. Dan Odom
March 2, 2009
5:26 AM
Thanks Tim for the post.
Regarding the Torchlighters series, we ordered them for our church’s library and they have been a wonderful blessing to all who have seen them. Thanks for highlighting them.
7. C E Pavel
March 2, 2009
10:41 AM
I’m glad to hear about RW on your website.
Richard Wurmbrand was born 100 years ago. This is one reason -in 2009-for a part of Christian Romanian communities, all over the globe, to remember about him and his precious wife. A media initiative to point out this you can find here http://www.richard-wurmbrand.ro/
Also I posted a part from last interview with Sabina Wurmbrand on my blog, http://blog.punctul.com/cinematik/
Unfortunately both resources are in Romanian languages but are working to be translated in English language too.
Emanuel Pavel – Vancouver, Canada
8. Stefan
March 2, 2009
1:34 PM
Is this year his 100th birthday!?
Providentially, I started reading his Christ on the Jewish Road a few weeks ago—not knowing who he was, or how God used him to have such an impact on 20th-century Christian witness. His book in turn has had a huge impact on me—it’s only just now all sinking in, and it’s one of those books that will probably stick in my mind for the rest of my life.