The Goal:

Everyone has the ability to changes lives.  Anyone who backs this project will do just that.  

Evangel:  To God be the Glory is going to be unlike anything television audiences have ever seen.  It is going to be positive, uplifting television that celebrates God's ability to change the lives of kids on the campus, the city in which they live and the world into which many have already gone.

Backing this project will be a statement to the world and television networks that you want to see something different. 

It will be a statement that you want to inspire and give hope to the next generation.

What people are saying:

"Amazing, I can't wait to see the whole thing."  

Alex Kendrick--Director:  Facing the Giants, Courageous, Fireproof

The Story:

It started as a promise.  A woman that everyone called “Sister” told the young men of her tiny private school, "By the time you're seniors, my son will give you a football experience."  

Her son, the two-time National Champion quarterback of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Denny Duron, not only gave them a football experience, he made them champions in life and on the field.

When the Evangel Eagles first took the field in 1989, they were not much to look at.  Wearing borrowed equipment and jerseys with the numbers sewn on by the ladies of the church, the Eagles soon began winning hearts, but not too many games.

Coached by ministers and deacons of the small church that supported Evangel, the team began to believe if they honored God, He would honor them.  This principle became reality when the school made it clear that their student body would accurately reflect the color of its home city Shreveport, La.  The decision to racially integrate a private school did not sit well with those that ran the regional private school athletic league.  The Eagles were forced to play in the public school league against larger, stronger competition.  It was a decision that would make them strong and pave their way to national recognition.

Within four years, the Eagles were state champions.  By 1999, with a student body of just 450 in the high school, they had completed a run of 60 wins and no losses.  Their 60th win in the Louisiana State 5A championship was considered to be the high school game of the century and left the Eagles as National Champions.

Now, years later and with thirteen state championships to their credit, the Eagles sit at the end of an era and the beginning of a comeback.  This project will fund the pilot episode of a reality series that follows the current team and celebrates its legacy.  

In 2012, the youngest son of Denny Duron will play his final game on the field named after his grandfather.  Dakota, like his three older brothers, plays quarterback.  As the youngest, he has watched all his brothers lead their teams to the State Championship.

Although Dakota is not defined by the accomplishments of his father or brothers, he bears the weight of a family legacy, a school, and his own desire to win.  Mostly, he would like to rid his memory of a broken hand and the insults he endured during the team's crushing semi-final loss in 2011.  “Evangel: To God Be The Glory” will follow Dakota and the Evangel Eagles in their quest to reclaim the top spot in state football; a journey by a group of dedicated young men in service of their Lord.

How your backing will be used: 

I have to imagine you might be asking, "Why does he need so much money?" As clearly as I can state them, below are my top reasons.

1)  Editing a full pilot takes 8-9 weeks, full time.  As I am not on staff with the school, and all the work that has been done thus far has been at my own expense, I cannot afford to continue on without financial support that will last for several months.  I must be able to draw a salary and pay people to assist me when necessary.

2)  It is my intention to purchase a substantial amount of professional editing and camera equipment so I can begin the process of shooting important scenes for the pilot and future episodes.  My time will be used teaching students from Evangel how to be involved in a professional television show and how to do this themselves one day.  The production of a television show will also provide the motivation for having a film and television program at the school.

3)  We want to control the Christian content of the show.  In the real world, if we pitched a show to a non-Christian network that "liked" the idea, they would say, "Great, how much can we pay you for the rights to tell the story?"  Once those rights have been sold, they can come in and make whatever show they want.  It is highly unlikely that the Christian culture of the school, pastoral leadership and the team's focus on honoring God would ever see the light of day.   A God-honoring show is the only show I've been called to make.  To protect that goal it is important to give me time to develop something that we can all be proud of, honors this great school and most importantly honors God.

I hope that is a well-reasoned explanation and alleviates any concerns potential backers may have.

It is my prayer that anyone who chooses to support this show will be greatly blessed.

Greg Nelson