Eric Close arrives at the 46th Annual Country Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, November 1, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Actor Eric Close loves a good redemption story. That’s why he agreed to be in “Average Joe,” a film about Joe Kennedy, the high school football coach who won a major victory in the U.S. Supreme Court in his years-long battle to pray after games at the 50-yard line. yards.
“I love second chance stories,” Close told CBN News.
The “Nashville” star, who plays Kennedy, said the film tells the story of the former coach, who persisted, never gave up and “finally found faith.” Close said perseverance is a key element in Kennedy’s story, as the coach faced a lot of adverse moments in his life before finding Christianity.
“I admired his conviction, his willingness to fight for his convictions and for what he believed was right,” Close said. “Regardless of the negative consequences that befell him, the threats, the loss of his job.”
Before his Supreme Court victory in June 2022, Kennedy spent seven years in a legal battle with the Bremerton School District in Washington state, which ultimately led to the Supreme Court ruling 6-3 in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District in June 2022, a decision that upheld their right to pray after the games and found that the government should not punish private religious acts such as prayer.
Close said playing Kennedy in “Average Joe” highlights the reality that it is “important to do the right thing as often as possible.”
Before finding Jesus, Kennedy had a difficult childhood and was full of anger. At one point, he was an atheist and saw his relationships fall apart; but discovering Jesus changed everything.
“One of the things… that I loved about this movie is that every person matters, everyone matters,” he said. “God loves; His love is so broad and reaches everyone.”
And that love — and that faith — can inspire people to take a stand and do what’s right, even when it’s difficult or seems insurmountable, Close said.
“Through faith, nothing is impossible; “These challenges can be overcome,” he stated. “You never know when the time may come when we are called upon to step up and stand up for something and make a difference.”
Finally, Close said she wants to see how Kennedy went through many events in his life before he was prepared for his prayer battle.
“He had to go through a lot of different battles and fights in his life that gave him that strength and that fortitude,” the actor said. “I think the catalyst that pushed him over the edge and really allowed him to take the plunge and risk everything for this, for something he firmly believed in, was his faith and trust that no matter what happened, God had his back.” .
