Resources

Faith Against the Odds DVD

by Mark Finley

In this seven-part series, Pastor Mark Finley takes a unique look at the Waldenses—little-known heroes of faith whose lives illuminated the darkest days of the Middle Ages. Their story is one of the most inspiring in history.

These programs will strengthen your faith through reenactments and on-location devotionals. You will learn of a people who remained true to their faith—against the odds. Find out how each of us can rediscover the essence of the gospel that turned the world upside down.

TOPICS

1. A Message Unchained
   Visit the depths of the Mamertine Prison and the great monuments of ancient Rome with Pastor Finley as he explores one of the great mysteries of history. How did individuals with the least amount of political power or social status—those stuck in the dungeons or fleeing to the catacombs—prove stronger than all the might and power of the Caesars? The answer shows us how the world can be rebuilt through grace.
   
   
2. Two Kinds of Power
   Peter Waldo and Innocent III were two men who desperately wanted to reform the church. But while one created a movement that enlightened much of Europe with the gospel, the other carried the blood of thousands on his hands. Their two different pursuits of power present us with critical choices today. This program demonstrates the importance of what we have to share.
   
   
3. Which Picture of Jesus?
   For centuries, the Shroud of Turin has provoked debate about what Jesus really looked like. Back in the Middle Ages, one group of people claimed to know. The Waldenses, as they were called, offered up a picture of who Jesus was as a person—a picture they had put together from a document most people did not have access to—a document the church kept locked away. This program reveals the secret behind their unforgettable picture of Jesus.
   
   
4. A Dance With Death
   During the Middle Ages, many believers found themselves bound to a grim dance with death by a system of penance. They tried to outmaneuver the Grim Reaper by engaging in fasts and pilgrimages that could decrease their time in purgatory. However, another group during those Dark Ages discovered a much better way to escape human mortality. Discover how the hope they found can enlighten the journey for each one of us.
   
   
5. A Mediator We Can't Manipulate
   In 1686, the green mountains of Italy witnessed one of history's most tragic acts of religious persecution. It was the last wail of the Dark Ages—when King Louis XIV ordered the slaughter of the Waldenses. The story of what really motivated him creates a fascinating picture of the mediators in our lives and why we manipulate them.
   
   
6. Beyond Our Fathers
   Geoffrey Varaille was a brilliant young priest who realized that to really follow his father, he had to move beyond his father's allegiance. His story shows us exactly what it was that enabled the Waldenses to keep advancing their faith—against the odds.
   
   
7. Looking Through
   The Waldenses managed to hold onto their faith with the basic truths of the gospel while enduring centuries of persecution. How did they do it? How did they endure as a people and become known as the legendary "Israel of the Alps?" How did they manifest such good cheer in the midst of hardship? Pastor Finley shows how their secret can help us persevere through the difficulties in our own lives.

DVD Format: NTSC
Running Time: Approximately 210 minutes