Oak Park’s Resurrected Life Church International will be the site of a screening and discussion of “Shoutin’ Hallelujah: A Journey of Healing,” a documentary that explores fatherlessness, healing and reconciliation through personal stories and expert perspectives.
The public is invited to attend. The ticketed event will take place from 1:30-4 p.m. at the church, located 171 N. Cuyler Ave. The event will include community discussion
Produced by Mattimex Productions, LLC, the documentary serves as a companion to the upcoming narrative feature film, “Shoutin’ Hallelujah!”
The documentary by founder and CEO of Mattimex Productions Dr. Pauline Williams, explores the impact of fatherlessness and the possibility of healing and reconciliation.
“We want to welcome anyone whose life has been touched by this issue, whether directly or indirectly,” she said. “That includes fathers, mothers, grandparents, adult children, educators, counselors, faith leaders, mentors and anyone who cares about strengthening families and communities. Even if someone hasn’t experienced a father’s absence personally, they likely know someone who has. I want people to understand that there is hope and that healing is possible.”
She added: “I started researching the issue and learned that more than 18 million children in the United States are growing up in homes without their fathers. As people learned about the project, certain individuals, including members of my own family, approached me and shared deeply personal stories. That’s when I realized it was more than just a film to be made, it was a conversation that needed to be had within our communities.”
As a former resident of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood and a former Chicago Public Schools teacher, Williams said the screening holds personal significance because she has witnessed the effects of father absence and generational challenges within communities and as a student.
According to Williams, the concept for the documentary grew from people who approached her wanting to share their personal experiences. She said allowing participants to speak from the heart helped reveal the human impact of fatherlessness.
During the process of creating the documentary, Williams discovered that the stories of fathers seeking reconciliation revealed a much larger issue than she initially imagined. The personal accounts of pain, regret, hope and love inspired her to create a film that gives a voice to those experiences and encourages healing.
Williams chose Oak Park for the community screening because it is home to her church and her pastor, Dr. Ray Allen Berryhill, has supported and partnered with her throughout the project.
“It began as a feature film, but that is something different. It is a narrative story. What grew out of it was the documentary. He partnered with me on the entire project because I felt it was something that would be helpful to the community, not only our congregation but the community as a whole, because of the number of children who live without their fathers. He graciously allowed us to hold this screening at the church,” Williams said.
The documentary’s message of healing was influenced by the expertise of licensed therapist Dr. Lynetta Davis, who leads the counseling ministry at Resurrected Life Church International. Through her mentorship and counseling experience, Davis helped bring a deeper understanding of the emotional impact of fatherlessness.
Davis is also the founder, CEO and board chair of The Empowerment Place, one of the organization’s key community partners.
“She offered to come in as an expert to speak on the issue. She provided very practical advice to fathers who are looking to reconnect with their children. She also offered guidance for mothers with young children whose fathers are trying to reconnect with them. I thought her advice was so practical that anyone could follow it and it could truly benefit people who hear what she has to say,” Williams said.
Although the screenplay for the narrative feature film has already been written, Williams said the documentary helped her understand that stories continue to evolve throughout the filmmaking process. Hearing firsthand accounts of pain, redemption and resilience inspired her as a writer and helped ensure the screenplay reflects real-life experiences people can relate to.
“I hope [the audience] will reach out to the different organizations we provide that offer support for people who are going through similar situations. I hope they continue to understand that healing is possible and that while this affects millions of people, it does not have to define a person’s future. I think honest conversations, compassion and community support can make a difference,” Williams said.
Proceeds from the screening will help support completion of the feature film. Tickets are available for $25 and are available here.