By Nicole M. Robertson nrobertson@medianewsgroup.com – Oct 19, 2020

Detroit resident Daniel Jeffries as John Gesler in “It’s a Life Worth Living,” being shown Oct. 23-24, and Oct. 30-31 at Grace Gospel Fellowship church, 65 E. Huron St., Pontiac. (Photo credit: Steven Hauptman and Stephen Dysert)

An inspirational film of redemption will have its Michigan premiere this weekend in Pontiac.

“It’s a Life Worth Living,” written, directed and co-produced by Oakland County native Keith Perna and filmed in Oakland and Macomb counties, follows one man’s journey away from addiction as he discovers his faith and what is most valuable.

Filmmaker Keith Perna and script supervisor Rebekah Cook on the set of “It’s a Life Worth Living.” (Photo by Stephen Dysert)

The 105-minute feature, presented by Grace Centers of Hope and Grace Gospel Fellowship church, will be screened at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday Oct. 23-24, and Oct. 30-31 at the church, 65 E. Huron St., Pontiac.

It stars Detroit resident Daniel Jeffries as John Gesler, Shawntay Dalon as Jasmin, Nancy Lynette Parker as Eloise Gesler with a cameo appearance by R&B singer Martha Reeves, who also served on the Detroit City Council from 2005-2009.

In the movie, John struggles to find meaning in his life. His abusive upbringing leads him to selfishness and drug abuse, and as his life personal relationships spiral down, he turns in desperation to God.

“What sparked the idea for ‘It’s A Life Worth Living’ was when I thought about how when a baby is aborted, you will have no idea what that baby’s life would have looked like, and what they would have accomplished,” says Perna, who was born in Novi and raised in Highland. “That concept is woven into the story of the film. But it grew to include a much broader message than that, about how every person is created by God for a purpose.”

Perna says Jeffries “was the standout for the lead part of John” during open casting. And when it came to extras in the film, recruiter Amy Sloan reached out to Reeves, asking her to read for the part of “Wise woman on the bus.”

Martha Reeves plays the wise woman on the bus in “It’s a Life Worth Living,” being shown Oct. 23-24, and Oct. 30-31 at Grace Gospel Fellowship church, 65 E. Huron St., Pontiac. (Photo credit Steven Hauptman and Stephen Dysert)

The movie contains scenes filmed at Grace Gospel Fellowship, which is hosting the screening.

“In pre-production we were looking for a number of settings including a major one towards the end of the film and Grace Centers of Hope and Grace Gospel Fellowship agreed to let us come in there and film,” Perna says.

Kent W. Clark, senior pastor of Grace Gospel Fellowship, was happy to help.

“In the world today, there is so much turmoil, confusion and suffering, making it so easy to lose your way, leading people down a dark path away from the light and into despair,” Clark said in a press release. “Keith’s film shows us that even during the darkest times in our life, there is always someone there to help guide you as the Lord is always with us.”

“It’s a Life Worth Living” was featured in this year’s International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, Fla., where it was nominated for Best Director and Most Inspirational Film. It also was featured in the Christian Worldview Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Film and the Sanctity of Life Award.

“This film includes a much broader message about how every person is created by God for a purpose,” Perna said in a statement introducing the movie. “God wants us to know him so he can show us his plan for our lives, helping to bring him glory and honor. When I wrote ‘It’s A Life Worth Living’ and filmed it, I had no idea how relevant it would be for what our country is going through right now with the many challenges we face as Americans.”

Perna, president of production company Bright Horizon Pictures, and Grace Centers CEO Clark will introduce each Pontiac screening, which also will include musical performances and a question-and-answer panel or live testimony from a Grace Centers resident whose life has been changed by God.

Tickets are $15 with proceeds benefiting Grace Centers of Hope, a faith-based organization that helps people struggling with homelessness, addiction, poverty, abuse and spiritual emptiness.

Event organizers will follow COVID-19 safety guidelines, including temperature checks, face masks and social distancing with hand sanitization stations set up in common areas.

Keith Perna and the film crew works on “It’s a Life Worth Living.” (Photo by Steven Hauptman – © actionphotography)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit gracegospelfellowship.org/movie. For more information about programs at Grace Centers of Hope, call 855-HELP-GCH or visit gracecentersofhope.org.