"Nothing is Bigger Than the Church…" - Rick Warren

Continuing on with the next credited affinity partners for October Baby, we have Heartbeat International and Hope for Orphans.

Heartbeat International "currently serves 1,800 affiliated pregnancy help locations, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies on all six inhabited continents."  (http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/hbi-about-us/our-story)

They were founded in 1971 in response or anticipation of the Roe v Wade ruling legalizing abortion in the US.  I would presume there are many women who were blessed by this ministry and are no longer engaged with them, but there are undoubtedly many women who were blessed and continue to be engaged with Heartbeat International.  

Consider engaging these 1,800 affiliates worldwide and their constituents with the message of your film.  There are opportunities for theatrical mobilization... and consider this opportunity…  How about offering a password protected viewing of your film on a platform like Vimeo to each person in the engaged multitude, allowing them to not only view the film but also share it with someone who needs to see your message?  Your film can be a great ministry tool.  Think of ways you can be a blessing to your partners through your film.  In some instances, your film can be the best way to communicate to people who are hurting and are at a crossroads.  Don't underestimate its power.

From their website…  "In every place throughout the world, children without families are the most vulnerable. Hope for Orphans was founded by Paul and Robin Pennington in 2001 with the purpose of galvanizing the Church to serve and protect these children.

Hope for Orphans (a part of Family Life) was a key founder in the creation of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, and have partnered with Focus on the Family and Show Hope to develop the Cry of the Orphan awareness campaign. We have a resource library containing books and DVD curricula to help churches begin their own ministries to orphans, and have encouraged churches across the world to partner with their local foster care systems, and other key organizations. This effort has brought Hope for Orphans to serve and connect with churches throughout North America, Europe, Central America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East."  (http://www.hopefororphans.org/#/home/ and http://www.hopefororphans.org/#/resources-gps-orphancare/)

On their video link, you will see and hear Rick Warren make the statement, "I could take you to ten million villages in the world that don't have a clinic, don't have a post office, don't have a grocery store, don't have a business,... but they have a church…  We have the largest, widest distribution, we have the most volunteer manpower…  Nothing is bigger than the church."

Take some time and ruminate on that last statement…  And think of it in terms of your film.  Until next time.

The Next October Baby Affiliate Partner…  Care Net

Back to the credits we go where we see the next affiliate group partner, Care Net. 

From their website, "Care Net supports more than 1100 affiliate pregnancy centers across North America.   Our affiliate pregnancy centers are faith-based organizations with deep roots in their communities. Each center empowers women and men facing unplanned pregnancies with practical help, emotional support, and information about their pregnancy options."  (https://www.care-net.org)

This is a great partner as their 1,100 affiliates around the US can get the word out and support your local market initiatives (think theatrical mobilization).  

An idea here would be to show a portion of your film to the entire organization, (including individuals who staff the affiliate offices) so they catch the vision (and leaving them wanting to see the entire film) and can spread the word to their world.  Encourage the individuals to act as an extension of your social media effort for the film.  If you are planning a theatrical distribution, the people in the 1,100 affiliate centers around the US can act as ambassadors, inviting people in their sphere of influence to their local theater.  

Ask who they know in their local markets…  They may have contacts with local media that will benefit the film. 

Determine the "super ambassadors", those people who want to go above and beyond what you are desiring in a local market contact and think of ways to bless them as they give of 

their time to the effort.  Establish a set of guidelines of what you generally expect of a local market ambassador and what you might expect of the super ambassadors and again, how you might bless them to thank them for their effort.

Care Net is also a good example of an affiliate partner that may not move with you to your next film as their interest in supporting your film is probably only based on your film's subject matter.  Different subject matter in your next film = New affiliate partners needed.