The Community Misfits – A film debut

By Brandie Majeau
Thorhild Living Gospel Fellowship (TLGF) Youth Ministries invited viewers to a
free First Viewing and Awards Ceremony, featuring the completion of their creation, a
full-length feature film. Fourteen teens along with the help of their pastor, parents and
community volunteers, and businesses created The Community Misfits, a project borne
out of boredom and meaningful conversations emphasizing the issues and topics that
have impacted the youth group individually and as a whole. The Community Misfits is a
movie that has been a year in the making and was nearly abandoned several times,
however, TLGF Youth Ministries prevailed, and the result was a film exploring the social
and emotional turmoil surrounding today’s youth.
The movie premiered at the Thorhild Community Hall with close to one hundred
guests in attendance. Murmurs of anticipation filled the air as the countdown began. In
opening remarks, Pastor Steve’s voice resounded with thoughtful contemplation that
slowly revealed itself to a storyline surrounding everyday school life, bullying, religion,
home life, mental health, racism, and sexuality. As the development moved between
social and individual problems, a complex plot was revealed unraveling the intricacies
and the turmoil of today’s youth. Scenes of a truck theft elicited giggles throughout the
crowd as the trio of unlikely thieves struggled to pop the hood of an antique truck, once
underway the amateur driver complained to his passenger accomplice for tying his
shoes, which was too distracting. After the absurd arrest at the nearby quarry, The
Community Misfits took a more serious turn.
The movie delved into the pressures of peers, making mistakes, and choosing
life paths. The actors portrayed fictitious storylines that wove together with the haunting
accuracy of the seriousness of teen life. Several times, the film descended into a rabbit
hole of darkness, defining the very real struggles that youth are sometimes faced with
and offering them a light in the form of gentle guidance and forgiveness. There was also
a tangle of unlikely friendships, punctuated with unequivocal support. The words of a
parent character echoed through the analogy of life as a chess game and offered sage
advice, “Before you win, you will definitely lose.” The movie showed challenges and
heartaches but were cushioned with open arms ready to embrace.
Thorhild Living Gospel Fellowship Youth Ministries created a wonderful piece that
was both heartfelt and creative. Their fun was evident in several impromptu scenes that
were left in the film to the delight of the audience. There were special thanks to all the
community volunteers and/or actors, community businesses churches, and sponsors.
The cast was fantastic and was completed by a talented group of set technicians and
camera operators. The TLGF-Youth Ministries welcomes all youth between the ages of
12-18 who are looking for a place of fellowship. The group meets on Saturdays from 7-9

pm and began with a movie night during Covid with everyone scattered apart for proper
distancing. The group evolved to include Newbrook, Redwater, Thorhild, and Radway
and is emphasizing “…a multi-church effort just to be there.” The focus is on being
there to listen, engage and interact. The words of Grandma D echo from the film, “We
are all misfits until we find out how much we are loved.”