Mickey Starling
Madison County is best known for its natural beauty, small-town charm, and abundance of antique shops, but our community has occasionally been put in a brighter light when filmmakers choose to shoot movies in our pretty hamlet.
In 1990, producers used Blue Springs to film The Spring, in which Buck Christmas and other locals rush to Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth. The film depicts the discovery of the fabled well and the conflicts that arise with some shady characters who try to profit from it. Unfortunately, watching the locals is the best part of this otherwise lackluster production.
A better quality film made it to the Madison County Courthouse in 2016 when “Prayer Never Fails” was produced. This religious film starred Nick Lashaway, Lorenzo Lamas, Corbin Bernsen, and Clifton Davis. The film tells the story of a high school coach who confronts the principal about taking funds from the athletic program. The principal soon fires him for praying with a sick student. The conflict escalates and eventually ends up in court. Other important issues such as abuse and addiction are also addressed, and the power of prayer is emphasized in the difficult circumstances the characters face.
Prayer Never Fails received impressive reviews from sites like movieguide.org for its strong content and ability to tackle difficult topics in a believable way. Real struggles of faith are not hidden, but shown as part of the path to salvation. Prayer Never Fails is available for free on numerous popular streaming services, including Amazon Prime, iTunes, and many others.