
š šæ Lifetime’s Sweet āA Gospel Christmasā by St. Pete Director Is Now Streaming for the Holidays

When the Lifetime Television movie Kirk Franklinās A Gospel Christmas premiered on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, St. Pete-based filmmaker, director, and educator Erica Sutherlin hoped as many homes as possible would tune in.
The film is now streaming again on Hulu, Lifetime, and other platforms for the 2022 holiday season.
The story centers on Olivia, a young pastor trying to find āher voice as a woman, a pastor, a leader, and ultimately as a singer.ā Living in the shadow of her megachurch pastor mom, Olivia leaves to pastor a small church in Texas, following her journey to recover from āchurch hurtā and reclaim her familyās generational gift as a singing pastor.
Oliviaās journey to self-awareness is one many people can relate to. While there is a romantic aspect, along with Franklinās high-energy gospel songs and the Jesus Christmas element, Sutherlin noted that itās not the familiar Lifetime Television narrative. āThatās what I think is so sweet about it,ā she said.