I bought The Amy Carmichael Story DVD, one of the titles in the Torchlighter’s series of animated movies on the lives of passionate men and women and their exemplary feats in proclaiming the love of God.

The DVD commences with a short trailer which captures and intrigues the viewer. There is an option to play the DVD in English or Spanish with subtitles in both languages as well. A 30 minute documentary on the life and legacy of Amy Carmichael, a comprehensive study guide, trailers of other titles from the Torchlighters series and the Torchlighters song are some other features of the DVD.

The story opens with the struggles Amy Carmichael faces as she begins a travelling, preaching mission in India, clad in the Indian Sari. Along with two young Indian women converts, Amy forms what they call a ‘starry cluster’ to shine the love of Christ in South Indian villages.

While Amy and her new found friends grapple to connect with Indians, in another part of South India, a little girl named Preena is offered as a temple child by her mother, in the hope of securing ‘blessing’ from the god.

A chance encounter brings to Amy’s notice the outrageous Indian custom of offering young girl children, even babies to temples where they are abused and tortured besides being severed from their families. Amy’s perseverance in prayer reaches out to Indian children who live in the dark and also rescues young Preena from the clutches of the ‘temple woman’. Amy Carmichael eventually becomes ‘Amma’ meaning ‘Mother’ to Preena and many others like her.

The DVD is power packed with emotion that can keep the viewer engrossed and on the edge of the seat. The story unfolds one of the worst atrocities towards women that was in vogue in India namely temple prostitution. The DVD has been made having children of the age group of 8 to 12 years and so the content and dialogue has been carefully created to leave out mention of ‘prostitution’. The story however highlights the pitiable state of girl children within the heavily guarded gates of temples where they are ‘married to the god’.

It is advisable for parents to use their discretion while playing the DVD to younger children though there is no offensive message in the story.

The DVD concludes with a brief footage of pictures of Preena and Amy’s early converts and co workers along with a few final words on Amy Carmichael’s work in rescuing temple children and ultimately putting an end to this grotesque Indian custom.

This Torchlighter’s series DVD is an eye opener in many ways as well as an inspiring account of Amy Carmichael who lived up to her famous words “One can give without loving but one cannot love without giving”

Here is the Amazon link to buy The Amy Carmichael Story

Torchlighters: The Amy Carmichael Story