Last Week He Wrote This. This Week He’s Being Baptized.

Last week, Koby Sampson sent over a testimonial for Wretch Like Me.

This morning, I found out he’s being baptized on Sunday. Praise the Lord!

It’s hard to put into words what that actually means. Not for a film. Not for a project. Not for my ego. But for what this whole journey has been about from the very beginning.

Because if there has been one quiet belief underneath Wretch Like Me the entire time, it’s this:

There are simply places the Church doesn’t go.

There are conversations that don’t naturally happen. There are people who may never step into a church, but are still searching, still hurting, still open. And storytelling, especially in spaces like horror, has the ability to meet people there.

Not by pretending. Not by forcing anything.

But by being honest about darkness… and believing that the light is real.

That’s always been the heart behind this film. That it represents an untapped mission field. A space that hasn’t been engaged in an honest way. Not watered down. Not disguised. Just real.

And now, before the film is even made…

Jesus is already moving through it.

That’s the part that stops me.

Because this isn’t theory anymore.

It’s not just an idea in a pitch deck.

It’s not something we hope might happen someday.

It’s happening.

Koby’s story isn’t about a movie reaching someone in a theater. It’s about a person in a dark place being invited into community, cared for by others, and through the Word, being drawn by Christ Himself.

And somehow, along the way, this project was part of that story.

Not the center of it.

Just a piece of it.

That’s all it was ever meant to be.

He wrote this just last week:

“Wretch Like Me came into my life at a deeply important time. Last year, I was at one of the lowest points I had ever experienced and found myself visiting Christ Greenfield in desperate need of community, purpose, and spiritual renewal. During that season, Pastor Michael Heiden invited me to coffee. When I shared that I was a writer and filmmaker, he immediately told me about Todd Freeman and Red Braille and encouraged me to reach out.

What I found surprised me.

People often talk about how technology has made filmmaking more accessible, but the reality is that meaningful opportunities in film still tend to exist only in places like Los Angeles or New York. For someone trying to build a creative life somewhere else, it can feel discouraging and isolating.

Then I walked into Red Braille.

Inside a small space in Gilbert was a fully functioning independent studio built with excellence, vision, and purpose. Todd showed me recent projects for Christ Greenfield, along with the proof of concept for Wretch Like Me, and I was blown away. Not just by the quality of the work, but by the heart behind it. There was something incredibly meaningful about seeing a church willing to step into storytelling in such a bold and unexpected way.

Soon after, I was helping with sound on Christ Greenfield’s Advent projects and creating alongside people again. More importantly, I found myself becoming connected to a community and mission that genuinely cared about reaching people.

That’s why Wretch Like Me gives me hope.

Not just because it’s a compelling film, but because it represents Christians using art and storytelling to engage the world honestly, creatively, and without fear. It’s the kind of project that can open doors to conversations that otherwise might never happen.

I truly can’t wait to see it come to life.”

Reading that now, knowing what’s happening this Sunday, it’s overwhelming in the best way. Because it proves something that couldn’t be proven any other way:

This is God’s work.

No strategy could produce that.

No creative vision could force that.

No film could save anyone.

But Jesus can.

And He is.

Already.

Which is why this isn’t some sort of plea for financing.

It’s not a pitch.

It’s not even really about the future of the film.

It’s simply praise for what God has already done.

If it’s His will for Wretch Like Me to be made, then yes, I believe it will reach people. I believe it will step into places most stories don’t go. I believe it will open doors and start conversations that might not happen otherwise.

Do I pray for that?

Absolutely.

But it won’t happen unless it’s supposed to.

That part has become clearer than ever.

My job isn’t to force it forward.

My job is to follow.

To take the next step.

Then the next.

Then the next.

Even when it’s unknown.

Even when it’s uncertain.

Even when it doesn’t make sense on paper.

Trusting Him every single step of the way.

And right now, it feels like He’s making one thing very clear:

Keep going.

Because if this is what He’s already doing before the film even exists…

there’s no telling what He might do with it if it does.

All glory to Him.

And Koby, we’re celebrating with you. Sunday is going to be incredible. ❤️

If you'd like to read other testimonials or learn more about the film you can check it out at:

https://www.wretchlikemefilm.com/filmoverview