Since it’s release H2O has reached an untold number of people with the truth and message of Jesus. We rejoice with each and every story we hear of lives changed and restored. Hear from church leaders who have used H2O and experienced the resulting connection and life change in their groups and people they minister to. Here are some of those incredible stories…

At our fall event last week we were excited to share several awesome testimonies of how God has used the H2O series to reach people’s hearts with the gospel message. We gathered more stories than we could possibly fit into the time we had to share them… Here is one such story.

This will also be my first real personal entry to the City on a Hill blog, even though I have been creating video content for this here blog for a good long time. It is one of the joys and stresses of my internship at City on a Hill Productions. A position only a select few will ever achieve in their lifetime. A coveted position. A position often referred to by those who know as “indentured servitude”.

Why am I here, doing this? I decided to write about that particular story. (Out of a good many I could have possibly chosen.)
So I shall start in the beginning… I was born in a small run down apartment owned by my parents in the east end of Louisville in July of 1989… OK. So maybe not that far back.
I’ll start with more recent events. In 2006 I was 16 years old, and was only just beginning to feel the wind beneath my wings so to speak. Maybe I was a socially challenged homeschool student, (that’s a joke actually) but I had begun to really feel the calling of God on my life to pursue media. Then my parents decided an ordinary life with 7 kids wasn’t enough and they adopted 5 more from Western Africa. At that point I knew God was challenging my family to change our thinking in the area of family and ministry. What I wasn’t aware of was how God was changing and forming me for ministry in an area I began to have an inexplicable passion for. It happened as easy as breathing in a smoke filled room. I had to do it, even though it wasn’t always easy to follow through with. I didn’t get my desire to craft films and media with a neat little instruction package, so to speak, but I am blessed with parents who recognized my need to pursue this dream I had.

Fast forward a little. I am growing frustrated. I learned a lot through trial and error. Going to Africa I found the story, but struggled in learning how to communicate it. I do know that during this time I developed the most crucial connection I have made. Media is a mission field.
Yes I was ON the mission field, but I realized that what I was doing, bringing the mission field back to people safe in their homes through the power of visual storytelling, was a vocation in itself. I knew there was a language to learn, and I began praying that God would bring someone into my life who could help me better learn that language.
Enter City on a Hill. Stage left. It almost was that simple. I had placed this growing passion back in God’s hands a good many times, and it was during one of these spells where God proved he knew what He was doing, and that He knows how to keep secrets. I had no idea that there was a little production company growing up right beside me in my hometown. I couldn’t have dreamed that it was doing exactly what I was just feeling a desire to do, to use media to tell story and support missions, and to do that excellently. I am also pretty sure my mom did a good job of convincing Shane he needed to be teaching me. (Thanks mom!) Though I don’t think it hurt that I was not going to a full time school and was able to commit to an apprenticeship of sorts, and that I was able to drive. Believe me, I have run many an errand for City on a Hill. Many.

So you think that sounds easy? I wish I could write everything this has entailed, but for the sake of the ministry I will not. PETI would probably get involved if they knew how things really went down here.*

I continue to learn to communicate using this powerful medium of film, and I think I have found my home here for a while. I might have even convinced the staff I can be funny at times, which is quite an accomplishment, let me tell you.
I can only speculate what the continued journey will bring about. I am sure it includes fund-raising, and many projects I never dreamed I’d be given the chance to be a part of. Currently there are two specific projects I will be heading up in the near future I really should mention. One is a documentary in the country of Nepal I will be making this December. The other is “Shepherd’s Project” which has has been put on hold as we are extremely busy with other projects, like Easter Experience and such right now. It will be a very cool project though, and I am excited about it’s ministry potential. (hint: It’s about adoption)

There you go. That is my update for now. I hope you continue to enjoy reading and going behind the scenes with our ministry and the lives of the staff members who make this team of creative amalgamation. Thanks for listening.

Shepherd Ahlers
Intern/Apprentice

[*People for the Ethical Treatment of Interns]

City on a Hill Productions is 5 years old! Come celebrate with us at the Olmsted on October 2nd. Wear your party clothes and get ready to have a fun & relaxed evening!

Click here for more details, or purchase tickets!

So you wanna be a real editor… You want to take what Shane taught you, and go to the next level. You want to learn from us? Well Kevin steps up to the task with some instruction on color effecting in Final Cut, and how he edits with music in mind. Sorry we don’t yet offer credits. Coming next semester…

You probably have a collection of tapes hanging around, collecting dust… What about breaking out a Mac and Final Cut Pro and editing those old home movies into something fresh and new?
Well Shane is here to show you how we do our basic editing, and to let you check out an edited sequence from The Easter Experience!

John Howard is our Sound Dude. (He personally requested that title and we try to pick our battles here at CHP, we call him “our skilled audio professional” behind his back.)

You would never know it when watching the finished product, (or shouldn’t) but 90% of the audio recorded during production will never make the final mix. That’s where John comes in.

Checking, 1, 2, 3, … Welcome to John’s world of audio…

Ever have questions that you would love to ask Shane? (Outside of: What is your favorite food? or What’s your favorite TV show?)

We are talking the serious stuff. Why was City on a Hill started? What is in store for the future? The deepest questions imaginable! (Sort of)
Good news! Shane took a moment to talk about the focus of City on a Hill from its inception, and the very exciting future! It is all wrapped up in a nice little video blog complete with a sweet techno soundtrack…

Kristy has a typical day at the office! With love, from all her adoring co-workers.

P.S. This video is based on what actually happened to Kristy and her office when we had a shipment of H2O arrive AND had to move a bunch of stuff around as we organized our mailing room…

This week we give you a run through tour (literally) of our new and exciting offices at City on a Hill!

Oh, and Cassie has something to break to Shep…

Did you notice how empty the offices are this week? Sheesh. Where did everyone go?