Welcome to Eternal Grace, a spiritual community being planted to support those making a journey towards grace. Eternal Grace ministers to those recovering from rigid religion, to artists, and to youth through events for disadvantaged children. We will be outreaching to grade schools and high schools with our film on humanitarian and heroic athlete Roberto Clemente.
Eternal Grace was founded by multi-medium artist Richard Rossi and his wife Sherrie as a fresh, accepting alternative for those who have tired of the religious right's agenda-based hijacking of Christianity. It is difficult to find a support system that can offer spiritual well-being and an outlet for one's art. Richard is a man who is able to maintain his spiritual connection while working comfortably and successfully in the secular worlds of literature, film, television, and entertainment. Eternal Grace is a community producing films and art of broad appeal that can inspire and educate, sharing strength, experience, hope, and faith in a way that attracts others without proselytizing. Eternal Grace's first project, "Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story." was a small independent film produced on a very modest budget, which found it's way to the shelves of Blockbuster Video.
Art is tribal. The Impressionist painters met for lunch and painted each other. Gifted artists have been drawn to the spirtual support and nurturing of Eternal Grace. Here's a case study of the fruitfulness of EG's Hollywood house church network. In one of our groups, a dozen artists met in North Hollywood in mutual support and connection with each other and with God, the Creator and Master Artist. Within a short period, a flurry of art emerged from those connected to this house church. Gifted directors like Mark Freiburger, Tim Chey, Drew Cinclair, and Richard Rossi produced a half dozen films between them that got international distribution. Singer-songwriters like Mary Makarios, Laura Anderson, Robert Amberry, Aimee Blacher, Sheri Pedigo, Josh Rossi and his band The Aeons, and Richard Rossi wrote new songs, and music CDs were recorded and released. Actor Craig Zucchero landed a part in the Clint Eastwood film "J. Edgar." Sherrie Rossi wrote, directed, and produced a short puppet film on public safety to save lives.
STICK MAN
Stick Man, Richard's long-awaited coming-of-age novel about a young man's spiritual journey from fundamentalism to freedom, is now available on Amazon.com The novel shares in story-form the lessons Richard learned. From his background as a graduate of Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, Richard went through a healing process to recover from the damage done by his time under the toxic teachings of the Religious Right. Stick Man is a love story about a boy growing up in Pittsburgh. The novel incorporates the steps of deconversion from fundamentalist indoctrination and is getting rave reviews from believers and unbelievers alike. Stick Man is a healing story for those who have been through spiritual abuse and are making a similar journey towards embracing a concept of God as a loving Father, rather than as a punitive judge. "Stick Man" (both the novel and soundtrack) by Richard Rossi are now available at http://www.amazon.com
FILMS
Richard Rossi's Academy Award considered film "Saving Sister Aimee," his documentary "Quest For Truth: An Expose of Exorcism and Faith Healing," musical concert film "Live At Graffiti's," and his feature "Sister Aimee" are all available at Amazon.com as well as Mark Freiburger's "Dog Days of Summer," and Tim Chey's "The Genius Club".
CLEMENTE PROJECT
Our current film project, "Baseball's Last Hero: The Roberto Clemente Story," is more ambitious and it's design is intended to be shoulder to shoulder with contemporary independent features in release today. It is also an homage to the city Richard Rossi will always call home and a revered boyhood hero. The film is intended to not only tell the story of Roberto Clemente's athletic and personal achievements; it is our hope we can inspire people to reach higher and give more of themselves. With the decline of baseball as a first choice activity for children, the Clemente story can be a vehicle to bring them back to the sandlots of not only Pittsburgh, but the entire country as well. Filming just wrapped. Scenes were shot in Pittsburgh and in Los Angeles. Though we are people of faith, we must stress this is in no way a religious film. It is one of inspiration (a la Rocky) and education. Our faith based activities are who we are and how we live and work together as a team of artists.
Our intent is to screen the film in schools throughout metro areas giving children a first hand look. 2004 Olympian high-jumper Jamie Nieto is playing the role of Roberto and will share his journey to the Olympics (and now working Hollywood actor) in visits to schools. Hopefully disadvantaged children will see that no matter where you are or where you are from, the arts are an attainable goal. The film and its participants will espouse the virtues of perseverence and selflessness. "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." We are currently operating on personal donations of funding and talent. For an update on the Clemente movie, click HERE: http://www.facebook.com/clementemovie
COMEDY
"HUMOR IN THE HEART DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE" (Proverbs 17:22)
Sit back and enjoy fifteen fun minutes of our founder's stand-up comedy performance on the subject of "Recovering from Religion", Click the link below to laugh, and feel free to forward to friends:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxnSfqcH1D8
Eternal Grace is dedicated to helping people discover the eternal grace and unconditional love of God and to share and manifest this grace and love in our lives, relationships with others, and art. Come as you are...no matter who you are, where you've been, or what you've done. Eternal Grace is for people from imperfect families with imperfect pasts, a movement where imperfect people are perfectly welcome. We shower each other with the embrace of grace. We've experienced unmerited grace in such a deep way, we want to share it authentically with others. Come experience and celebrate the overflowing love of God - a love that can heal all wounds, save all souls, and change the world.
We exist to share God's grace with the world. It's that simple. We gather for worship, fellowship, the sharing of spiritual gifts, and outreach through art. God's eternal grace is what saves us. God's gifts are grace-gifts, given because He is head over heels in love with us. The only requirement for participation is a desire to receive God's grace, and give grace to ourselves and to each other.
The Bible uses organic metaphors to describe the relationship between God and His people. A vine and its branches. A farmer sowing seed in good ground. We are a living organism. Our worship and fellowship are Spirit-led. We are natural as we experience the supernatural together.
IWe provide spiritual and emotional support to actors, artists, writers and others who are sensitive souls, who are often recovering from religion and journeying towards a healthy relationship with God and others.
We are a network supporting each other on a spiritual journey. Our mission is to help everyone grow in grace, so we encourage all participants to not judge or criticize those who are not on the same level. The bible says "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
WHO ARE WE?
We want to make a difference, to experience the presence and power of God in a personal way, and share that experience with others. The approaching footsteps of God's eternal grace and unconditional love for the whole world grow louder and louder in our spiritual ears.
Our spiritual journeys have taken us through different groups, cross-pollinating various teachings, ideas, and experiences. Through it all, we've come to understand that the goal is love, that they will know we are His disciples by our love. Love fulfills the law. Love covers a multitude of sins and love never fails.
Many of us have a creative career, a calling to express ourselves. We highly value and encourage artistic gifts and expression. We're pioneers. We're believers in God, the One the bible describes as unconditional love, and we have a passionate hunger for a true spiritual connection beyond religion.
WHAT IS OUR MISSION?
Our mission is to get out there with our artistic gifts and shine our lights (Matthew 5:14). Jesus was an artist who created parables, artful stories that were metaphors to explain true spirituality. In the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25, Jesus taught we are given our gifts to share with the world, not to bury in the sand. We express the good news in the context of art and beauty. We believe the creative potential in human beings is an expression of the image of God.
The Religious Right and televangelists have turned off many people. Old ways of evangelizing no longer connect with most people. In fact, they have done more societal damage by creating converts that are often elitist, self-righteous, war-mongering, and downright hateful. We want to share who the real Jesus is. The key scripture for this mission is John 12:32 Jesus said, "When I am lifted up I will draw all men unto Myself."
The Religious Jesus brings shame. The Real Jesus brings grace. The Religious Jesus brings condemnation. The Real Jesus brings compassion. The Religious Jesus hurts people. The Real Jesus heals people. The Religious Jesus points the finger at victims of tragedy. The Real Jesus lends a hand. The Religious Jesus uses people to build the church. The Real Jesus uses the church to build people.
How do we know when we're hitting the target? When we have a chance in private or public to talk about the Real Jesus, and to correct some of the damage done by the Religious Jesus. Every time we have an opportunity to share His love and healing power with another person. To listen to them, to love them, to put our hand on their shoulder and pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon them in a tangible way. We help in practical ways when we can, meeting the real needs with compassion, understanding, and grace. Every person is created in God's image. This image is like a rose inside them that is sometimes marred by the thorns of sins they've committed, or the sins that have been committed against them. We ask God for eternal grace to reach past the thorns and find the rose within others, to help them see themselves as God sees them, valued and lovable. That frees them to be the person God wants them to be. They are transformed. They begin to love themselves again as God does, and this enables them to love others.
Email us at eternalgracechurch@yahoo.com
ETERNAL GRACE is a nonprofit 501C3 organization that exists to share God's grace with the world through community and the arts.
FEEL THE EMBRACE OF GOD'S GRACE