Pete Shilaimon, executive producer of the movie, Risen, recently opened up about his family’s flight from Iraq and how they left the country with little more than the clothes on their backs and the crosses they wore around their necks.

According to RomeReports.com, Shilaimon immigrated to the United States in the 1970s along the same route that thousands are using today.

“We let go of everything we had, whether it was a little money or our house. We took nothing but the cross that we wore on our necks. That was it. Prayer, that’s what got us through,” he said.

At one point in his life, he began to question the Chaldean Catholic faith his parents fought so hard to keep. This is why the similar struggles of Clavius, the main character in Risen, resonated so powerfully with him.

“I feel like I’ve been Clavius on that rock, having those one-on-ones with Christ and asking those questions, you know? I had a sister that died, my father passed away and there were so many ‘come to Jesus’ moments where you just look up and ask those questions.”

Making the movie, which he claims was a tribute to his parents, brought him closer to his faith and says he doesn’t struggle as with as much doubt as he once did.

It’s an experience shared by many others who have contacted him through Facebook to relate how the film impacted their lives in a positive way, either by imparting hope, helping them to find themselves and/or solidifying their beliefs.

“I knew that it would speak to people. I knew that the people that were maybe questioning their faith would get revitalized again. And I think people that maybe were kind of on the fence might, you know, take another look and see if they could find it again; see if they could find their faith again; see if they could see the light.”

It’s a light that was seen by thousands of viewers around the world and by the executive producer himself!

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