Success That Lasts: Alex Kendrick on Dying to Self, Filmmaking for God, and “God ideas, not just good ideas”

What defines success? Awards? Headlines? Box office totals? Early in his career, filmmaker Alex Kendrick admits those markers felt compelling. Over time, Scripture reframed his aim. As he shared on The Women in My World podcast with host Shari Rigby, Jesus warns that applause from people can be the only reward we receive if that’s what we pursue. Kendrick didn’t want that. “I want the Lord’s presence on the projects we work on,” he said. “I want to hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’” The shift was not instant; like most artists, he felt the pull of validation. But the deeper he stepped into storytelling—films, books, speaking—the more he prayed, “Lord, don’t let me do this just to be seen by men. I want Your blessing.” That prayer now guides everything from the stories the Kendrick Brothers choose to the way they run their sets.

Kendrick’s path to film is a study in surrendered timing. He and his brothers, Stephen and Shannon, grew up with long stretches without a television, which made moviegoing rare and formative. The dream to make films arrived early, but when his twenties came, every door stayed shut. Frustrated, he went to seminary, became a youth pastor, and poured himself into ministry. Only when he finally told God to take the desire if it wasn’t from Him did the door open. With his pastor’s blessing, he made a small $20,000 feature for their community. Flywheel was not the “cool” story he once imagined; it centered on lordship—the very lesson God was teaching him. Dedicated fully to the Lord, the film that shouldn’t have worked… worked. The local theater kept extending its run; DVDs sold faster than they could make them—ultimately 1.3 million—and people’s lives changed. Then came Facing the Giants (picked up nationwide by Sony), followed by Fireproof, Courageous, War Room, and Overcomer. The pattern was clear: when the message is prayed through and the motive is God’s glory, fruit shows up in ways no one can manufacture.

That conviction shapes how the team selects stories. They wait—sometimes for months—until a theme becomes unmistakable in prayer and in Scripture: fatherhood in Courageous, prayer in War Room, identity in Christ in Overcomer, lordship in Flywheel, faith over fear in Facing the Giants. The filter is simple and costly: seek “God ideas, not just good ideas.” From there, they cultivate a family culture in production—boot camp, shared meals, daily prayer—honoring every person from lead actor to PA. Excellence matters, but presence matters more. It is why cast and crew often cry on wrap day; they have experienced a different kind of filmmaking.

That legacy continues in their latest film, The Forge—starring Cameron Arnett, Priscilla Shirer, Aspen Kennedy, and Karen Abercrombie. The story follows Isaiah Wright, a year out of high school and adrift without direction, until a successful businessman and his prayerful single mother challenge him to chart a new course. Through mentorship and discipleship, Isaiah begins to see that God’s purpose for his life is far greater than anything he could imagine. The movie extends the world of War Room, showing how spiritual formation and godly mentorship forge young lives in the fires of faith. For the Kendricks, The Forge is both a story and a model: discipleship in motion—one generation passing the torch to the next.

The impact stories from their films are legion. Men launching accountability groups after Flywheel. High school and NFL teams adopting the “death crawl” from Facing the Giants. Marriages restored after Fireproof—including a man who, convicted after seeing the film with his mistress, confessed, repented, and later renewed his vows. Construction workers in Michigan expanding closets because families were creating “war rooms” for prayer after War Room. Cross-country coaches screening Overcomer for their teams to reset mindset and identity before races. With Lifemark, audiences encountered a true story of adoption, forgiveness, and redemption—proof that every life has value. And now with The Forge, young people are discovering the beauty of mentorship, biblical manhood, and calling. The films keep ministering while the team sleeps, and the Kendricks are content never to know the full tally this side of heaven.

The philosophy is lofty; the practice is gritty. Filmmaking is demanding. It requires early mornings, rewrites, and the humility to keep God first when career calculus suggests otherwise. That is a tension creatives face daily: which roles to accept, how to hold convictions in an industry that rewards compromise, how to put Christ first when the next job might hinge on fitting in. Kendrick’s counsel centers on Jesus’ words to the rich young ruler: take up your cross. Be willing to die to the version of success that centers oneself. Obey God whether the spotlight lands or passes by. That’s not passivity; it is courage anchored in a different King.

The Kendrick approach also shapes the way they lead on set. The team prays first, hires with an eye to character as well as craft, and fosters unity through rhythms that honor every department. Ideas are pursued through open doors rather than forced ones. They ask God for creative moments audiences have not seen before—the “death crawl” in Facing the Giants, the “love dare” in Fireproof, the father’s recorded voice coaching his daughter in Overcomer. And they dedicate every film to the Lord, trusting Him with the outcome. The culture has ripple effects: actors and crew routinely carry those practices to other productions. (A fun footnote Kendrick shared on the podcast: Shari quietly directed a couple of scenes in both Overcomer and Lifemark—a testament to the trust and collaboration the team fosters.)

In a world obsessed with metrics, Kendrick keeps pointing back to the measure that lasts. Success is not the headline; it is the hand of God on the work and the hearts He changes through it. Make the story excellent. Make the set a family. Make the motive His pleasure. Then leave the fruit to Him.

For audiences encountering Lifemark, The Forge, and the wider Kendrick catalog, that posture is not just visible—it is compelling, offering a path for creatives who want to glorify God while practicing their craft with courage, conviction, and love.

Flipping the Script: Why I Launched The Women In My World and How God Is Building a Studio, a Sisterhood, and a Movement

Instead of me asking the questions, my team turned the mic on me to talk about why I launched The Women in My World, what’s coming this season on the podcast, and how God is shaping a vision to disciple and equip Christian women in media to lead with courage, creativity, and Christlike character.

People often ask how I define success. For me, success is daily obedience—walking in the calling God has placed on my life with a joyful heart: first in relationship with Him, then my family, and then the women He’s asked me to walk alongside. When we stay in His will and work diligently unto Him, the fruit follows. It’s not about chasing the next credit; it’s about faithfulness in the small and the unseen, trusting God with the outcomes.

I never set out to start a women’s ministry—especially not in an industry known for being male-dominated and often exploitative of women. I used to joke with God, “I think you’ve got the wrong woman.” But in 2009, while I was in an acting class in Hollywood, the Lord spoke to my heart: You’re here for My women. That’s when the vision began—first as a weekly gathering in my home, where we studied identity, the attributes of God, and how to steward our gifts. Two women grew to twenty-five, then hundreds. Over time, it became clear that God was raising up a generation of Christian creatives—writers, producers, directors, actors, editors, makeup artists, casting associates—women called to tell faith-driven, character-driven stories that honor God and bless families.

Then God moved us from Los Angeles to Georgia. We thought we were downsizing our pace; God was upgrading the mission. He gave us a home with a full basement—new to this former California girl—that He asked us to dedicate for ministry. One Sunday in church, I sensed Him say so clearly: You’re going to birth many more women out of this home. We prayed through every square foot with friends and mentors, wrote Scripture on the walls, sang and cried and consecrated the space. Now we’re building it out as a working studio—a place to train, employ, and equip women across the creative pipeline, from “above the line” to “below the line,” with hands-on education, practical tools, and projects that form hearts as much as they build reels. It’s discipleship meets production—content that exists to make disciples and to model a different way of working in faith-based entertainment.

Why does influence matter? Because someone’s values always set the tone for culture. We need Christ-based influencers who love God first and people second—who will value marriage, family, and truth, and create content that reflects light instead of amplifying noise. Our world is saturated in self-focus; Jesus calls us to serve. On set, that looks like showing up early, honoring the story, caring for the crew, and keeping prayer at the center. The paradox is real: when we put others first, God has a way of elevating us in ways we could never engineer. That’s not branding; that’s the Kingdom.

If you’re wondering how this started practically: back in 2010, those living-room gatherings focused on identity in Christ. Today the mission has widened—discipleship, education, and job placement—so women can become leaders in entertainment and media, not just participants. We’re also spotlighting the many roles beyond the camera: script supervisors, line producers, casting, agents, composers, and department heads. Not everyone can (or should) spend thousands on film school. We’re building on-ramps that are accessible, excellent, and spiritually grounded.

Spiritually, God keeps teaching me two things: take off my shoes and worship first—the war’s already won—and stop striving and know that He is God. When the task gets bigger, the temptation to push harder grows. The answer has been the same: worship, then work. Practically, I keep a morning routine—time with the Lord before the phone, movement, and then the lists that help me steward my “left and right brain” days. I batch social media so I can return to deep work without constant distraction. And when fatigue or warfare shows up (and it does), I rehearse God’s faithfulness and remember that this vision is bigger than me; He will supply the people, resources, and timing.

A word to anyone who isn’t “in the industry”: you are an influencer. Your life, your words, your feed, your faithfulness—salt and light in everyday places—shape culture more than you know. Whether you’re raising kids, caregiving, running a small business, or serving in your church, you influence hearts daily. The Women in My World exists to serve you, too.

If you’d like to help us build, subscribe at TheWomenInMyWorld.org for our newsletter, share the site with a friend, and—if God leads—partner with us financially so we can develop the studio, create original content, and provide scholarships and training that place women in real roles on real sets. This is how we make faithful, excellent, faith-based entertainment —together.

I’m grateful you’re here. Let’s look up, not back, and walk this out—one faithful, creative, courageous step at a time.