The new Michael Apted film Amazing Grace has captured the imagination of millions -- including some members of Congress.
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., for one, gives the movie a standing ovation -- and is calling on all Americans to see it.
"It is a fabulous film," Brownback said at a news conference Thursday. "It is a modern-day story. It is a story of commitment and grit and active faith in the public square."
Amazing Grace tells the dramatic story of William Wilberforce, a Christian member of the British Parliament in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He fought for more than 20 years to ban the slave trade, with the help of John Newton, who penned the song, "Amazing Grace."
"Wilberforce has been a model for me for many years as I've studied his life and what he did -- and bringing, in a positive way, his active faith into the public square and the fight for human dignity," Brownback said.
Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., a newcomer to Washington, called the film an “inspiration” to fight as long as it takes for what is right.
"It may take years, it may even take decades,” Lamborn said. “This story is a real inspiration, because we have those kinds of issues today that really need to be turned around."
Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., a pro-family stalwart in Congress, saw Amazing Grace and recommended the film to other members of Congress at a bipartisan prayer breakfast on Thursday morning.
"It would be shame for us to complain about all the other junk that's on television and in the movie theaters and not go to see this film," Akin said.
Erik Lokkesmoe, Amazing Grace project manager for the film's producer, Bristol Bay Productions, said the film has bipartisan appeal.
"What we've seen on Capitol Hill, and in state capitals, is that both parties -- Republicans and Democrats -- as well as conservatives and liberals in each of those parties, love Wilberforce," Lokkesmoe told CitizenLink.
The film's producers have created an education campaign called "The Amazing Change" to talk about the modern-day version of slavery -- the burgeoning issue of human trafficking. Nearly 800,000 women and children are victims of sex-trafficking each.
Last Sunday, 5,800 churches around the U.S. sang the song "Amazing Grace," talked about modern-day slavery, and prayed for an end to modern-day slavery.
"We've seen 75,000 people sign petitions to end modern-day slavery," Lokkesmoe said. "We've seen people give money to organizations working to end slavery."
The producers plan to present the petitions to members of Congress the third week of March. They will be welcome, Brownback said.
"We've got to be active in banning this trade," the senator said. "It is expanding in some regions of the world."
(Paid for by Focus on the Family Action)
