I can only imagine.
For Christian music fans, the phrase has - for nearly two decades - brought to mind a song written to inspire eternal hope.
In 2001, the band Mercy Me released its so-named single, which gained enough popularity to cross into mainstream radio and become the top-selling Christian hit of all time.
In March 2018, Lionsgate released a film based on Mercy Me singer Bart Millard's life leading up to his writing the song.
I Can Only Imagine, starring J. Michael Finley as Millard and Dennis Quaid as his abusive father, cost only $7 million to produce. Yet, its earnings top $85 million to date. The film ranked third at the box office its opening weekend, falling behind Black Panther and Tomb Raider.
On July 13, United Methodist Church of Sun City Center will host free screenings of I Can Only Imagine at 3 and 6 p.m.
The movie definitely adds power to the song. For years, I've sung along to I Can Only Imagine at church or listening to the radio. I know every word.
"I can only imagine when all I will do is forever, forever worship you," inspires daydreams of heaven and lasting peace.
I've teared up more than once listening to Millard belt out, "Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for your Jesus or in awe of you be still?"
Knowing that Millard's father's passing inspired the lyrics, I better understand the authentic emotion in the singer's voice. The movie chronicles Millard's difficult relationship with his father, depicting a brutal man's journey to salvation. Parts are hard to watch and not suitable for young children.
Millard spent nights as a child pretending to be asleep to avoid beatings. At age 10, he came home from church camp to find his mother gone and father fuming with rage.
As a teenager, Millard pursued a football career but an injury turned him to music. A lifelong Christian, he and fellow musicians formed Mercy Me in the late 1990s. The group released its first album, Word of God Speak, in 1999.
I Can Only Imagine (the song) broke boundaries by making the Billboard top 100 and receiving airplay from major radio stations nationwide. It's interesting to see how the experience of performing it impacted Millard. In the film, he watches with surprise as audiences connected personally to his words.
Finley, a Broadway actor, shines as Millard, surpassing the quality of acting audiences expect from faith-based cinema. The entire film is a stand-out among movies daring enough to mention Jesus.
I can only imagine how this song and film will continue to resonate with people through the generations.
I can only imagine the impact filmmakers and artists willing to share their faith will have in the future. I can only imagine a time when the 'Christian' label no longer triggers eye rolls in the entertainment industry.
United Methodist Church of Sun City Center is located at 1210 W Del Webb Blvd. Both July 13 screenings will include popcorn. For more information, visit sccumc.com.
Contact Sarah Whitman at sarahrothwhitman@gmail.com.
