For over 30 years, the Mount Zion Film Productions has proven its relevance as it is presently the biggest Christian movie group in Nigeria with top Christian movies coming from the group every year.
These movies go beyond the regular acting as it also impacts and brings viewers to the knowledge of Christ.
For our readers who are Non-Nigerian, the Mount Zion Film Productions is the foremost Nigerian Christian movie group founded in 1985 by Evangelist Mike Bamiloye and his wife Gloria Bamiloye. Since the inception of the drama ministry, Mike Bamiloye and his wife Gloria have released over 80 movies with several stage performances in different parts of the country.
Their children, Joshua Mike Bamiloye, Damilola Mike Bamiloye, and Darasimi Mike Bamiloye are also part of the ministry serving in different capacities as actors, movie producers, and sound engineers.
Mount Zion Film Productions has over 50 members who are full-time actors and has expanded over the years.
Now let’s talk about Mount Zion’s 2020 movie titled ‘The Train’. This movie produced by Damilola Mike Bamiloye is the life story of his father and founder of Mount Zion Drama Ministry, Mike Bamiloye.
‘The Train’ started with the scene showing the death of Abayomi’s (Mike Bamiloye) mother when he was four years of age which left his elder sister no choice but to take him to a family friend to live with as she couldn’t cater for him as a kid. This was where he grew a little before the demise of his guardian which made his sister come to take him elsewhere. It was at this point he came across the gospel of Jesus Christ and developed an interest in making movies.
Along the line, he gained entry into the higher institution and built on his passion in the drama ministry after which he formed a group but faced the same challenges every Christian creative encounter, one of which is funding.
Abayomi (Mike Bamiloye) at this point trusted God in all regardless of the unfavorable situations, he seemed God in all undertakings even when it came to choosing his life partner.
He was referred to as a fool when he decided to make Christian drama a full-time job even by the church elders but this didn’t take away his passion for saving souls through acting.
In a very competitive industry where secular movies have taken over and are the order of the day, Mount Zion Film Productions through Mike and Gloria Bamiloye changed the narrative and helped promote Christian drama ministry in Nigeria. Their impact is well felt and has helped in building several drama groups in Nigeria.
‘The Train’ movie can be likened to what Christian rap/hip hop artists face overtime. They don’t get enough support from the churches, family members turn their backs against them, they get no funding, less support from the media but regardless of all unfavorable situations, learn from Mike Bamiloye’s life story that God has called who you into the ministry surely has a plan for you.
It might not look like it presently, things might be tough, you might be laughed at but be ensured that God didn’t bring you this far to leave you.
‘The Train’ movie released on May 3rd, 2020 on YouTube has amassed over 1.4 million views since its release.
