But next week, for one night only, the real ‘machine gun preacher’, Sam Childers, will be in Deniliquin.
He will be the guest speaker at Ignite Life Church Deniliquin next Tuesday, March 25, sharing the life story that was captured in the ‘Machine Gun Preacher’ motion picture.
The film was based on Childers’ autobiographical book ‘Another Man's War’.
The movie and book propelled Mr Childers to an overnight brand that has seen him speak to audiences of tens of thousands all around the world, as well as many television and film productions he's been asked to be involved in.
Mr Childers lived a life of drugs and violence which involved, at one point, being an armed guard for drug dealers.
After almost being killed in a wild brawl, he decided to turn his life around - to embrace a life of faith in God as he fought to free enslaved children in South Sudan and Northern Uganda that all started back in 1998.
Since then, Mr Childers has built one of the largest orphanages in Southern Sudan, which has fed and housed more than 1000 children.
With the orphanage finished, he began to lead armed missions to rescue children from the Lord’s Resistance Army, which led to villagers calling him ‘The Machine Gun Preacher’.
Fast-forward to today, Mr Childers’ team makes around 10,000 meals every day for feeding programs in East Africa and houses 380 orphan children, most of which are victims of some atrocity.
He's also managed and had drilled dozens of water wells, providing many villages with fresh water close by, and built many schools.
With many ongoing major projects in South Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia, Childers has a very busy schedule.
Keith Walters from Ignite Life Church encouraged people to come along and hear his amazing tales in person.
“Sam Childers was a guy with no hope and no future, so a story like his will be inspiring and encouraging to people,” he said.
“That's what we need in our community.
“People can get motivated by listening to him.”
Mr Walters said Ignite Life Church invited Mr Childers to speak at the church when he was last in the region. They were surprised and delighted when he accepted.
The event is open to everyone.
Attendance is free, although Ignite Life Church will take up a free will offering for the work Childers does in South Sudan and Northern Uganda at some time after he has spoken.
“We'd like to think we could help him save some more children,” Mr Walters said.
The talk will be held at the Ignite Life Church at 249 Finley Rd, Deniliquin next Tuesday, March 25, from 7pm.
For more information, phone Mr Walters at 0447 432 135.
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