My wife Erna and I received an invitation to attend a private viewing of The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson’s new film (due for first release on Ash Wednesday, February 25). The purpose of the viewing was to establish how Christian organizations could use the film as an evangelistic tool to bring many people into the Kingdom.

Twenty of us jammed the boardroom of the head office of Mel Gibson’s Icon productions. There was definitely an air of excitement and anticipation as we waited for the movie to start.

The movie gripped our attention for two hours. We were carried back more than 2,000 years to witness the last hours of Jesus, starting with Jesus’ prayers in the Garden. My wife and I watched for scriptural accuracy and, of course, the professionalism of the film. The last thing we wanted to see was another hokey Christian movie.

We were not disappointed as the various characters of the drama were revealed. It seemed to us they were very carefully chosen-maybe because the way they played the parts seemed to fit our preconceived notions.

The movie moved along very well and the flashbacks at key points helped to emphasize the issues.

For example, we have heard the word, "scourge" many times, but never did we visualize the extent that the Romans went to punish their prisoners. No part of Jesus’ body remained untouched by the stinging whips wielded by two brutal Romans who were enjoying the task.

The scenes of Jesus dragging the cross through the twisting streets of Jerusalem were unbelievably gruesome and the crucifixion itself continued the inhumane treatment of Christ. It was hard to take, especially when we felt the punishment was over and it only continued with no mercy at all. Surely no one deserves to die that way. Yet Christ did it for all of us.

We waited anxiously for the final scene. The Resurrection. We were thrilled to see the stone rolling, the linen cloth mysteriously exhaling and suddenly the resurrected Jesus standing there, whole and alive!

The lights came on in the room and there was silence for several moments. No one wanted to talk and no one did.

After a short break we began our discussion with Paul Lauer, the marketing director for the movie and moments later we were talking to Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus, and Mel Gibson himself via speaker phone. He answered our questions candidly and forthrightly and we were all impressed with his low-key approach and his passion for making this movie.

His total personal cost will exceed 50 million dollars. No major studio was willing to stick it’s neck out to help in the financing or distribution. The subject matter is just too explosive. "This movie changes lives," Mel said. Many people are not pleased with that.

But Mel did find a distributor and the film will open as scheduled in more than 2,000 theatres in the U.S., as well as 130 in Canada. Of course many viewers will be Christians, but again, as Mel said, "we are losing sight of the basic story, even those who are in the church."

There will certainly be many unbelievers who will view the film and many of these will have questions about Christ. We must be prepared.

Many organizations are involved in the broader campaign to promote the film, including the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Outreach Canada, Alpha, Focus on the Family, Youth for Christ and Campus Crusade for Christ, which has experience with the most successful Jesus film seen by more than four billion people.

Erna and I are committed to promoting this film because we know it will change lives-it is not just cheap Hollywood drivel. It is surely the Word of God presented in a very deliberate and creative manner. We can be proud to be associated with a movie of this magnitude.

Herb Buller, founder and past-owner of Kitchen Craft Cabinets, lives with his wife Erna in Winnipeg.