Lifetime Is Taking You to Church With First Faith-Based Film Slate (Exclusive)

Lifetime: Television for (Christian) Women.

The female-focused cable channel has a new Saturday-night movies slate “centered on women facing unfathomable circumstances who use their faith to lead them through,” according to Lifetime. The four films on tap will star Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), Alexa PenaVega (Spy Kids), Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) and Paula Patton (Precious), respectively.

Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story (July 19) is based on the true story of the devastating 2018 fire that ripped through Paradise, California; it stars Metz in the title role of hero nurse Jolly.

The following week (July 26) is PenaVega’s turn in Before Your Father Finds Us, the story of a woman who “must draw on her faith to hide her and her teen daughter from her violent ex-husband.” It’s a very Lifetime scenario.

On August 2, Graham’s adaptation of Terri Blackstock’s Christian suspense book Terri Blackstock’s If I Run premieres. Graham executive produces and stars as Casey Cox, a woman on the run after her best friend is murdered — and she is being framed for it. Casey “must turn to her faith to guide her through the obstacles before her,” Lifetime says.

The next week (August 9) marks the world broadcast debut of Finding Faith, an acquired title following Faith Mitchell (Patton) whose “life is shattered by an unexpected tragedy and must rebuild her life through a journey of rediscovery, hope and purpose,” the logline reads.
 
“We are always listening to our audience, and we know there has always been a desire for stories that reflect strength, resilience, and faith,” Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive vice president and head of programming, A&E, Lifetime and LMN, told The Hollywood Reporter. “With these four new films, we’re thrilled to step into the faith-based space in a way that feels authentic, powerful, and deeply emotional. These are stories of healing, hope, and perseverance — and we believe they will resonate with anyone who’s ever faced adversity and looked for light in the darkness.”

Faith-based programming has been all the rage since Angel Studios’ Sound of Freedom became an unexpected box office hit. Since then, everyone from Netflix (Testament: The Story of Moses) to Amazon Prime Video (House of David) and Martin Scorsese (The Saints) has entered the space.

Read more about each of the movies below; the descriptions are all directly from Lifetime.

Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story
Starring Emmy-nominated actress Chrissy Metz as Nichole Jolly, a nurse at the town’s hospital, who begins her day as usual, only to face an unimaginable crisis when a wildfire rapidly engulfs the town. Torn between her duty to protect her patients and her desperate need to find her husband Nick, (Colin Moss) and children, Nichole discovers an unyielding strength within herself to save not only her family but countless residents from the encroaching flames. The film is a tribute to the indomitable human spirit and the unsung heroes who emerge in the face of tragedy.
 
Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story is produced by Lighthouse Pictures and Wishing Floor Films in association with FilmAfrika and Motion Entertainment, a WPP Media Company. Jameson Parker, Catherine Kretz and Gemma Martini executive produce for Lighthouse Pictures. Danielle von Zerneck executive produces for Wishing Floor Films. Richard Foster and Chet Fenster serve as executive producers for Motion Entertainment, a WPP Media company. Rudi Van As, Nicola Unsworth and Schalk Berger produced for FilmAfrika. The film is directed by Jozua Malherbe from a script by Kelly Fullerton. As part of the film’s rollout, the Rebuild Paradise Foundation will be highlighted and A+E Global Media has made a donation in support of the fire victims who are still rebuilding their lives.

Before Your Father Finds Us
Sophia (Alexa PenaVega) and baby daughter, Emily, are forced to go into witness protection after she has to testify against her ex-husband Mason (Tahmoh Penikett) for his crimes. After years of living a seemingly normal life with new friends and relationships, Sophia learns that Mason has escaped from his maximum security prison. Knowing his strength and connections, Sophia is forced to reveal the truth to her now teenage daughter about who her father really is — and having to leave everything behind. Escaping to an old remote cabin in the woods together, Sophia and Emily must do everything it takes to survive Mason and his ruthless intent to make the family whole again. 

Before Your Father Finds Us is produced by Navid Soofi for PF Maple Productions Inc in association with Studio TF1 America for Lifetime. Tim Johnson, Meghan Hooper White, Amelia Burstyn and Gary Auerbach serve as executive producers. The movie is written by Julie Auerbach and Jason Bourque who also serves as director. 

Terri Blackstock’s If I Run
Adapted from best-selling author Terri Blackstock’s book, If I Run follows Casey Cox (Graham), a woman on the run after discovering her best friend Brent has been murdered — and she is being framed for it. Not knowing who to trust, Casey flees, using her intelligence and resourcefulness to stay hidden and the signs of divine guidance to help her in her journey. Meanwhile, Dylan Roberts (Evan Roderick, Spinning Out, Arrow, BH90210), a war-weary veteran and private investigator with PTSD, is hired to track her down. As Dylan digs deeper into the case, he begins to suspect that Casey might actually be innocent and that the real story is far more complex — and dangerous — than it first appeared. James Tupper (Big Little Lies) also stars.

Terri Blackstock’s If I Run is produced by Lighthouse Pictures, in Association with Fezziwig Studios. Dan Angel, Barbara Fisher, Jane Charles and Kat Graham serve as executive producers. Jameson Parker and Gemma Martini serve as executive producers for Lighthouse Pictures. Michael M. Scott directs from a script written by Alison Lea Bingeman and Kelly Fullterton.

Finding Faith
Struck by a sudden death of her husband, Faith (Paula Patton) spirals out of control and loses her trust in God. But with the unwavering support of her family, pastor and close friends, Faith starts to find her way out of the darkness and into the light, rebuilding her life one step at a time. Finding Faith also stars Loretta Devine, Stephen Bishop, Nadine Velazquez, Demetrius Grosse, and Keith David.

LazRael Lison wrote, directed and produced the movie. Tatiana Chekhova of Summer House Pictures also produced in collaboration with Charles F. Porter of Black Bench Productions. Paula Patton of Third Eye Productions produces with Marlon D. Haynes as executive produce.