Documentary Film Revealing the Heart of the Religious "Culture Wars," Lord, Save Us From Your Followers to Be Released in Theaters Nationwide, September 25, 2009

LOS ANGELES-(Business Wire)-September 16, 2009 - In the wake of civil discourse on the hot button social issues devolving to “bumper sticker slogans,” film maker Dan Merchant faces the American religious culture dilemma head on with the upcoming theatrical release of his film, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers: Why Is the Gospel of Love Dividing America?, releasing nationwide on September 25, 2009. www.lordsaveusthemovie.com

In the tradition of documentaries like Super Size Me, Bowling for Columbine and What the Bleep Do We Know?, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers employs the language of pop culture through a provocative, amusing and redemptive film. Through a captivating use of man-on-the-street encounters with "Bumper-sticker Man," a "Culture Wars" game show, a moving "Confession Booth" at a gay pride event (where Merchant himself actually does the confessing) Lord, Save Us From Your Followers delves into the current hot button issues with candor, humor and balance bringing everyone into the conversation.

The film features segments and news clips with Bono, Bill Maher, Bill O'Reilly, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, George Clooney & Rick Warren. In an effort to jump start the conversation, Merchant interviewed cultural lightning rods like Senatorial candidate Al Franken and former Senator Rick Santorum, "liberal evangelical" Tony Campolo, best-selling author William Paul Young (The Shack), conservative talk show host Michael Reagan, religious TV host Matthew Crouch and many more. The project also features such notable figures as James Dobson, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

Has this country lost the art of the conversation? If so, can a passionate filmmaker dress up as a human “bumper sticker” and reconcile the nation with a movie? Writer/director Dan Merchant had to do something…and in his words, "desperate times call for desperate measures."

“Everyone has a dog in this fight,” says Merchant. “Everyone has an opinion on God, on why we're here & what we’re to do. The surprise is that we all are secretly yearning for the yelling to stop and for the conversation to begin.”

Merchant, in his 'bumper sticker suit,' interviewed unsuspecting people from Times Square to Los Angeles and numerous cities in between, running into the same reaction – non-believers who don't have a problem with Jesus, but vehemently dislike many who claim Him.

Through the film, Merchant has been able to remarkably bridge the "great divide" through his film. The film has also had a broad run throughout the worldwide festival circuit, shown at festivals nationwide and chosen as a participant and award winner by many festivals across the country.

THUNDERSTRUCK FILMS and BENT PYRAMID PRODUCTIONS present a Lighting Strikes Entertainment production, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers: Why Is the Gospel of Love Dividing America? The director, writer and producer is Dan Merchant, the executive producer is Jeff Martin, Tim Abare and Norman A. Miles are co-executive producers and the director of photography and editor is James Standridge. Also producing is Jon Manning, and the associate producer is Matt Miadich.

About the author/director, DAN MERCHANT:

Merchant is an award-winning writer/director who began his career selling sketch comedy to the Seattle late night institution Almost Live!, before settling in at CBS affiliate KOIN-TV in Portland, Oregon where he won an IRIS award for We're Makin' Movies, and three Northwest Region Emmys for writing/producing The Dr. Wilderness Show and the original Bill Nye the Science Guy pilot. He became the Executive Producer/Writer of VH1's critically acclaimed "rock and roll Twilight Zone" anthology series, Strange Frequency. Thomas Nelson publishers released the companion book to Lord, Save Us From Your Followers in March 2008. Outreach magazine nominated the book for a 2008 Resource of the Year Award in the Culture category. A follow-up book entitled Loving Kindness Actually Works is also underway. Dan regularly speaks to diverse audiences in support of Lord, Save Us From Your Followers and numerous cultural topics.