Movie premiere in The Woodlands offers message of faith during hard times

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The timing couldn't be better.

As weary first responders and emergency workers recover from the hard work of Hurricane Harvey, Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands is set to premiere "We are Stronger," a movie that raises awareness about PTSD in the military and emergency services world, and delivers an uplifting message about finding God during difficult times.

"It bridges the gap between the civilian world and the military world," said Executive Producer Carla McDougal of Reflective Life Ministries. "Or the civilian world and the emergency responders' world.

"This movie shows the need for community to work together. That's why one of our tag lines is 'Together We are Stronger.' It's about building that bridge to a greater purpose. It also addresses the question "Where is God in the face of trauma?"

The Sept. 8 event at Faith Bible Church is the hometown premiere in Montgomery County – which is quite fitting, considering many of the cast and crew are local to the area.

John Sherrill, a pastor at Declaration Church in Spring, wrote the movie's theme song, which is performed by Shay Domann of Tomball.

Magnolia businessman Ulises Larramendi is the lead actor, playing the role of Vic, a veteran battling PTSD as he struggles to recover from his injuries, save his marriage and find his way back into the civilian world.

"If even just one person can see themselves in my character, or in my character's wife … well, sometimes just seeing their story being told can bring a lot of healing," Larramendi said.

The film won't leave people hanging at the end, as there's also a call to action.

"Whether you're that guy going through it, or you’re a family member or friend of someone going through it, you will think 'what now? How do I get help?'" Larramendi said. "At the end of the film is information about organizations from across the country that have come together under our Stronger Alliance. They have different approaches to healing, but are all Christ-based."

Larramendi prepared himself for the role of Vic by spending time with The Mighty Oaks Foundation. He has appeared in other films produced by Reflective Life Ministries, and was recently a Faces of The Woodlands profile on Woodlands Online.

"We are Stronger" has already received rave reviews in Houston, Huntsville and Dallas.

After its debut in Montgomery County, the movie is scheduled for showings across the country – including Colorado, Florida, Virginia and Georgia.

McDougal said the movie has been three years in the making and was 100 percent funded by donations, which includes partnering with Spirit of Texas Bank.

She said it took a lot of prayer to bring it to fruition.

"None of our creative team grew up in a military family, and none of us are first responders or have spouses who are first responders," McDougal said. "We just sat back and wondered why we felt called to create this movie, so we began praying about it."

"Sometimes God calls the most unlikely people forward to accomplish a purpose."

Want to go?

• What: "We are Stronger" Hometown Premiere
• When: 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 8
• Where: Faith Bible Church, 5505 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands
• Tickets: Available at www.strongermovie.com.

Note: A limited number of complementary tickets are available for Hurricane Harvey victims and first responders. For more information, send a message through the Stronger Movie website.