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Ted Baehr

esus has an agent in Hollywood - Dr. Ted Baehr, chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission and publisher of MOVIEGUIDE®. Like an agent - preparing the way, opening doors, being a spokesperson for the Lord's standards - Dr. Baehr is committed to serving God and educating the entertainment industry and the general public of the media's impact on audiences. He carries out his mission as a lawyer, an author, a teacher and preacher, a recipient of numerous awards ... and as a man who loves his wife, Lili.

Lili, who works as the chief financial officer for the couple's ministry seeking to change society for the better, recalls the early days of their ministry.

"In 1978, we founded our ministry together as The Good News Communications, with the purpose of integrating our talents in these areas of work for the Lord," says Lili. We produced films and were involved in other ministries around the world. Then we began writing movie reviews for the Atlanta Christian News. People asked, ‘Who is making the decisions to make movies?' God gave us a revelation that we needed to go and reach these people. That's how we got to Hollywood!"

Ted Baehr

Ted Baehr has a background in entertainment and show business, but not as a Christian in the early years. His father, whose stage name was Robert (Tex) Allen, was one of the original Hollywood screen cowboys, starring in over 40 films in the 1930s, including a series of Texas Ranger movies. He was best known for winning the Box Office Award in 1936 for his role in "Love Me Forever."

"My mother, actress Evelyn Peirce, was a star at MGM; Florenz Ziegfeld called her ‘the most beautiful woman in America.'" says Ted. "I grew up as a pagan, backstage at the Broadhurst Theater in New York City. I came to Christ at age 27, when people challenged me to read the Bible. Reading the Scripture made the difference. I don't believe we can change ourselves. It's all God; it's not us." The Lord has used him in a mighty way since then.

You want me to be a servant?

God called Ted and Lili to move across the country to the Hollywood/Los Angeles, Calif. area, where Ted goes to Hollywood's key influential people one by one. Recalling the move, Ted said, "It wasn't easy!" Their children voiced their opinion: "I don't want to move!" And Lili didn't want to give up her beautiful home and one-acre property in Atlanta.

The Baehrs "heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'" (Isaiah 6:8) They responded, "Here am I. Send me!" They packed up everything and moved.

Ted Baehr in his backyard

Lili shares, "When I accepted the Lord's will to move, God gave me my California home on an acre of ground; but not until I committed to follow God's call." Jesus said in John 12:26, ‘Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.'"

The Baehrs began their life's work of persuading and demonstrating to the influential Hollywood elite that it is financially lucrative, and to their benefit, to produce and fund movies that foster biblical values.

As Dr. Baehr documented in his latest annual report to the entertainment industry, "It's been proven to Hollywood that if the name of Jesus is mentioned in a movie, the box office sales and profits go up!"

"Ted needs to go to movie producers and studio and TV heads. I believe the Lord equipped him for that in particular," Lili explains. "Ted went to the best schools - seminary and law school as well. He's a highly intellectual person who is a defender for the faith. He can be on the Oprah show or on Hannity & Colmes. People fire questions at him; he can hold his own. God has equipped Ted as an effective spokesman for the faith."

They follow their call, despite the continual battles with Hollywood filmmakers, a demanding schedule, and the trials of fighting the forces of darkness. Ted says, "It's all by God's grace, God's forgiveness, His love. We keep laughing and loving."

Ted and Lili stand firm. As the apostle Paul advised early Christians, Ted and Lili let nothing move them, and always give themselves fully to the work of the Lord, because they know that their labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

A different kind of Hollywood marriage

The Baehrs' practical living example of a Christian marriage has weathered and conquered many challenges.

United, their character and love testify of God's grace. They have a strong marriage and work relationship. Lili's presence mirrors the elegance and strength of Queen Esther. Ted diligently preaches as a 21^st-century prophet. He serves in the strength of God's call to reform the film industry and alter the culture's mores.

Ted and Lili Baehr

Ted found a good thing when he found Lili (Proverbs 18:22). As "a helper suitable for him" (as Eve was for Adam, Genesis 2:18), Lili Baehr, who suffers from a painful health condition that includes partial blindness, graciously entertains guests in their beautiful hilltop Camarillo home. Dr. Baehr wrote his supporters, "It is clear that when you pray, Lili gets better. Please pray for Lili." Dr. Ted Baehr is a husband who loves his wife.

What kind of stability can a marriage relationship cultivate, where the husband travels around the world speaking and the wife works when she's not at doctor's appointments, suffering in pain, or supporting her college student daughter, Evy, who also works at the ministry headquarters? What is the source of the Baehr's strength and true love? What is the stabilizer, the root, in their relationship? Ted says, "Every day I get up at 5:30 a.m.; I read the Bible to my family in our home. We're in Romans now." The Baehrs lead by example.

Lili Baehr and daughter Evy Baehr

What is the secret to their satisfying marriage relationship? They follow the directions: "Let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband." For a happy marriage relationship, the Bible says in Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." There is a boomerang effect.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions and love will flourish. In practical everyday living, the Bible says when a man truly loves his wife and gives himself to her, as Christ loved the church, the wife responds with love and respect (Ephesians 5:33). When the wife completely loves, respects and submits to her husband, he reciprocates in deep faithful love. Both spouses enjoy the physical and emotional bond, the magnetic chemistry and a deep abiding love that God intended. They give themselves to each other; one doesn't work without the other.

The minds of the future

Ted and Lili Baehr practice their mission of positively influencing young lives on a personal level. Family relationships are strong, because they obeyed God's Word in Proverbs 22:6: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Ted and Lili Baehr and their four children

Lili explains, "Ted and I have always challenged our children to analyze and to think. When we'd see a movie we'd ask, 'Who is the hero of the movie? Does he live Christian standards? How do his actions prove this or that? Try to decipher.' Children get the good or the bad out of a movie. Involve the kids in a discussion about it. The more involved the parents are in the children's lives, and the more the parents share with them, the more accomplished the children will be."

Ted explains, "We offer the alternative - a positive, constructive influence to what elementary school children are learning about romantic relationships in today's TV shows. By the time children are 17 years old, they've seen over a million sex acts on television and in movies, 600,000 to 1 million acts of violence, and 33,000 murders."

"Children are susceptible," Ted continues. "They're susceptible to violence and to consumerism. They see an ad for a new pair of sneakers and think, ‘If I had new sneakers, I could run faster.' ‘If I had this new iPhone, I could do more work.' Some are susceptible to sex. And 74 percent are susceptible to violence."

Dr. Baehr says the media influences our society today and into the future and we must understand the influence of media for good or bad. He points out the "Jesus Film" led millions to Christ.

"You must make children understand how the media works," he advises parents. "The visual dominates. People do what they see. Understand what your values are. Learn how to ask the right questions."

Vote for future positive relationships

Ted and Lili Baehr are making inroads in the film media, and they are leaving a positive legacy for our society. The Baehrs are mobilizing and educating the audience of movie viewers. Ted says, "Our goal is difficult. God gave me a mission of turning the entertainment industry upside down. It's got to be God."

Take an active part. You can help foster positive relationships now and for future generations. You can positively influence your family and circle of influence with values that will last eternally. Read your Bible, memorize Scripture, then live the biblical principles. Develop and use the gifts and relationships God has entrusted to you, for fis glory.

Help ensure a good society through positive movie, television, and film production. Pray for Dr. Ted Baehr, his family and ministry team. To gain insight into today's media, visit: www.movieguide.org