Testimonial Website “I Am Second” Offers Radical Perspectives on God’s Grace
Let’s face it: we all love the story of the underdog. That lonely, worn out, down-on-their-luck man or woman who rises to the heights of greatness and success despite all surrounding adversity. We’ve love reading about them, revisiting them at movie theatres, and sharing their tales of glory with family and friends. The Rocky Balboas and Rick & Dick Hoyts of the world inspire us to physical and even spiritual ideas of grandeur (never heard of the Hoyts? See their amazing story here: http://www.teamhoyt.com/)
This same longing desire to behold extraordinary tales of excellence manifests itself in Christian circles and church communities as well. Personal accounts and chronicles of men’s and women’s toilsome life struggles and exhausting spiritual battles often leave us in wonderment and awe of God’s amazing grace. Whether it’s an award-winning singer at the peak of their fame finding contentment in the saving arms of Christ or a pornography-addicted husband abandoning their lusts to re-embrace God and their family, we simply can’t get enough.
I Am Second is a Christian movement ministry branch of Plano, Texas-based e3 Partners global missions organization; the kind of movement where “significance in life is a shared value among people of all kinds. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders. Your next-door neighbor. People just like you. Their authentic stories here on iamsecond.com provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living.”
The group made Texas newspaper headlines back in 2008 when mysterious highway billboards featuring the simple phrase “I Am Second” popped up all over the Dallas area. Plastered on each billboard, next to the phrase, was a photograph of a famous man or woman, a largely recognizable face. From local Dallas Cowboy linebacker Greg Ellis to NASCAR champion driver Darrel Waltrip, it seemed everyone was in on it. But what was “it”?
e3 Partners Ministry Vice President Nathan Sheets told the Dallas Morning News, “We are training people to take advantage of advertising that will help them live lives of intention. I Am Second is a mindset to live out authentic, transparent lives.”
Since its emergence in 2008, I Am Second has already filmed, edited, and composed countless personal, real, and honest testimonial videos with some of American cultures most recognizable names: Republican politician and non-ordained Southern Baptist minister Mike Huckabee, former Korn rock band superstar Brian Welch, former American Idol contestant Jason Castro, former Washington Redskins NFL Coach Joe Gibbs, and countless others. The stylized structure of the group’s official website and editing, composition, and lighting techniques of their video interviews are far superior to that of any backyard church ministry. The site has more the feel of a professional documentary organization than the efforts of a church-sponsored Christian ministry. The site has already garnered well over 160,000 hits in various countries around the globe.
But I Am Second also features men and women just like you and me: sex addicts, druggies, anorexics, Iraqi War soldiers, and dozens more. Their stories of personal redemption through the saving grace of Jesus Christ and His work in their lives will blow the doors off of traditional mediocrity and conservatism within church communities and broadcast loud and clear that we are all second to the God who redeemed us.
I Am Second reminds us that it is neither a watered-down, ill forgotten Gospel we treasure nor a powerless, feeble Savior that we serve. Rather, it is a vast and diverse world in which we live, where people lead broken lives and many suffer under the weight of sinful temptations and struggles of all kinds. What captures our attention for that single, fleeting moment in the vast expanse of eternity are the grace and God-filled stories of hope, the shocking tales of redeemed prodigals, and the bewildering personal accounts of real, raw, transparent people in need of a loving Savior.
You can visit the I Am Second official website at: www.iamsecond.com.