Film About PCA Pastor Earns Critical Recognition
By Megan Fowler

A documentary about PCA pastor Mike Higgins won several awards at the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase in July. The film was invited to screen in competition at the 25th annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival in November 2016.

“Profiling Race: Mike Higgins” earned the awards for Best Editing and Best Cinematography at the St. Louis film festival. It also earned the Best Director award for directors John Pa and Matt Seilback.

The 35-minute film tells the story of Higgins’ upbringing in North St. Louis, his military service, call to ministry, and eventual return to St. Louis to work as dean of students for Covenant Theological Seminary and pastor of South City Church (PCA) in St. Louis.

Higgins has been involved in faith-based racial justice initiatives in St. Louis and was arrested for peacefully protesting in 2015.

The documentary was created by Grain, a St. Louis-based creative firm that helps its clients create beauty and uproot ugliness. Pa, who is also managing partner at Grain, hoped that sharing Higgins’ story would “at least start a conversation about these prejudices we have in our heads, minds, and hearts.”

While the critical recognition for the film is flattering, Pa said the film was created to foster understanding, not win accolades.

“We want to use our skill set and abilities to fight things that are not good in the world,” said Pa.
View the documentary at profilingrace.com.

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