Published on August 21, 2024, 12:32 am

Breaking News: The real-life journey of a high school football coach, who fought for his right to openly express his Christian worldview on the field, is coming to the silver screen in an eagerly anticipated film entitled “Average Joe.” This is not just trusted news but also an inspiring story about the unyielding determination of an individual to practice his faith without interference.

This exclusive peek into the movie reveals a captivating narrative about Joseph Kennedy, who served as assistant football coach at Bremerton High School in Washington. After seven years of diligent service, Kennedy was asked by school officials to cease his post-game prayers offered on the field with his players. However, rooted firmly in conviction and belief, Kennedy refused, asserting his right to partake in quiet public prayer. As a result of his refusal, he was placed on administrative leave in 2015 and subsequently fired.

Challenging this decision legally under religious freedom grounds, Kennedy escalated the case all the way up to the Supreme Court. In a ground-breaking 6-3 ruling delivered by Justice Neil Gorsuch in June 2023, it was determined that Kennedy’s rights had indeed been infringed upon.

Directed by award-winning director Harold Cronk (“God’s Not Dead,” “Unbroken: Path to Redemption”), “Average Joe” stars Eric Close (“Nashville,” “American Sniper”) as Joseph Kennedy. The narrative features highlights from heroic aspects of Kennedy’s life and provides viewers with an intimate glance into private moments between him and Denise – portrayed brilliantly by Amy Acker (“Person of Interest,” “Alias”).

The unveiling trailer dramatically portrays Coach Joe standing staunch against opposition. He vocalizes his resolve stating that he made a promise and can’t let God down – reflecting his steadfast commitment to fulfilling what he believes is divine responsibility.

To highlight how deeply ingrained these beliefs are within our protagonist Joe says at one point – “I’m not defending God. I’m defending the people of this country.” It’s through sentiments like these that the movie promises to offer a compelling portrayal of Kennedy’s fight tied intricately with his Christian worldview, infuse real news elements into an emotionally rousing narrative.

In conclusion, Justice Gorsuch noted in the majority ruling: “Here, a government entity sought to punish an individual for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance doubly protected by the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment.” He further lamented how society neither mandates nor tolerates such discrimination.

This story is battle fought and won on principle and faith. A must-watch tale for every freedom-loving individual. “Average Joe” is set to scorch screens nationwide from October 11.