đ đż Lifetime’s Sweet âA Gospel Christmasâ by St. Pete Director Is Now Streaming for the Holidays
When the Lifetime Television movie Kirk Franklinâs 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 âher voice as a woman, a pastor, a leader, and ultimately as a singer.â Living in the shadow of her megachurch pastor mom, Olivia leaves to pastor a small church in Texas, following her journey to recover from âchurch hurtâ and reclaim her familyâs generational gift as a singing pastor.
Oliviaâs journey to self-awareness is one many people can relate to. While there is a romantic aspect, along with Franklinâs high-energy gospel songs and the Jesus Christmas element, Sutherlin noted that itâs not the familiar Lifetime Television narrative. âThatâs what I think is so sweet about it,â she said.