A film about second chances, based on real life stories revealed in a Christian recovery program, hits theaters this weekend.
“Home Run” is the story of Cory Brand, a professional baseball player who, after getting a DUI and being suspended from his team, is sent back to his hometown - by his agent in an attempt to save his career - to coach a youth baseball team and participate in the town’s only recovery program.
That recovery program is Celebrate Recovery, a national and international Bible-based program that is offered at several churches in Northwest Arkansas. The main character of the film abuses alcohol, but that is just a symptom of his problem, said Rodney Holmstron, congregational leader of Celebrate Recovery at Fellowship Bible Church of Northwest Arkansas in Rogers. Holmstrom has seen the fim about a dozen times at screenings for various groups, he said.
Cory’s dad was verbally abusive and instead of Corey dealing with that pain, he stuffed it down inside. He ran from his problems, used alcohol as a coping mechanism and got in trouble, Holmstrom said.
“He’s a little boy inside a grown man’s body. He learned (though the program) he needed to face his past in order to become the man God wants him to be,” Holmstrom said.
Celebrate Recovery deals with “a wide variety of hurts, hang ups and harmful behaviors,” according to the program’s website.
When people hear the word “recovery,” Holmstrom said, they automatically think drugs and alcohol. “The program is so much more than that,” he said. It helps people with issues such as fear, anxiety, grief or codependency, but also helps people just deal with life.
The program and the film shine a light into the darkness, Holmstrom said. “We don’t have to stay in our junk. God did not intend for us to live in a dark cave. We don’t have to walk the journey alone.”
The film offers a message of hope, Holmstrom said. “It shows people that change is possible and freedom is possible, through Jesus Christ.”
Religion, Pages 6 on 04/20/2013