Ken Anderson (December 23, 1917 – March 12, 2006) was an American

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christianity, Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe ...

minister, screenwriter, director and producer of

Christian films The Christian film industry is an aspect of Christian media for films containing a Christian-themed message or moral. They are often interdenominational films, but can also be films targeting a specific denomination of Christianity. Criteria P ...

. He is most well remembered for founding

Gospel Films Gospel Communications International (formerly Gospel Films) was a non-profit Christian organization and the founder and parent organization of several Christian websites based in Muskegon, Michigan. Gospel Communications Network was founded in ...

and directing ''

Pilgrim's Progress ''The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come'' is a 1678 Christian allegory written by John Bunyan. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of theological fiction in English literature and a progenitor of the ...

'', a 1978 adaptation of ''

The Pilgrim's Progress ''The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come'' is a 1678 Christian allegory written by John Bunyan. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of theological fiction in English literature and a progenitor of the ...

'' by

John Bunyan John Bunyan (; baptised 30 November 162831 August 1688) was an English writer and Puritan preacher best remembered as the author of the Christian allegory ''The Pilgrim's Progress,'' which also became an influential literary model. In additio ...

, which marked the first screen appearance for actor

Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Tony Awards. In 2020, he was placed 7th on ''The I ...

. Anderson wrote 77 fiction and non-fiction books over six decades, including the best-seller ''Where to Find It in the Bible.''Christian Cinema: Ken Anderson, Christian Film Pioneer, passes away
/ref> He was the first editor for ''Youth for Christ'' magazine, which came to be known as '' Ignite Your Faith''.

Early life

Anderson was born in Rembrandt, Iowa. His mother died during childbirth, due to which Anderson was raised by his father and paternal grandmother. In 1938, he married Doris Ilene Jones (1918-2013). Anderson studied at

Wheaton College Wheaton College may refer to: * Wheaton College (Illinois), a private Christian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois * Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Wheaton College is a private liberal arts college in Norton, Massachus ...

and

Trinity International University Trinity International University (TIU) is an evangelical Christian university headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. It comprises Trinity College, Trinity Graduate School, a theological seminary (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), a law school ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...

, later joining the Evangelical Free Church as a

pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

. He preached in churches in

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, and later in Newman Grove,

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the so ...

. In 1944, he became the first full-time editor for Ignite Your Faith magazine, then known as Youth For Christ, through which he met

Robert Pierce Robert Pierce (1914–1978) was an American Baptist minister and relief worker. He is best known as the founder of the international charity organizations World Vision International in 1950 and Samaritan's Purse in 1970. Early life and edu ...

. In 1948, under Pierce's guidance, he traveled through China as a

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

Career

In 1949, Anderson founded Gospel Films, which grew into the world's largest distributor of Christian films. In 1961, he and his wife Doris left to form Ken Anderson Films, a for-profit company that eventually released over 200 titles As a pioneer in the field, Anderson directly and indirectly influenced and encouraged many non-profit Christian film company start-ups.

Death

Anderson died of

natural causes In many legal jurisdictions, the manner of death is a determination, typically made by the coroner, medical examiner, police, or similar officials, and recorded as a vital statistic. Within the United States and the United Kingdom, a disti ...

in Winona Lake outside of Warsaw, Indiana.

Filmography

Director

*1961: ''The Family That Changed the World'' *1964: '' In His Steps'' *1965: ''Man of Steel'' *1969: ''Journey to the Sky'' *1972: ''The Gospel According to Most People'' *1979: ''Pilgrim's Progress'' *1979: ''Christiana'' *1981: ''Hudson Taylor'' *1982: ''The Answer'' *1984: ''Fanny Crosby'' *1984: ''Mud, Sweat and Cheers'' *1986: ''Mark of the Red Hand'' *1986: ''Second Step''

Producer

*1972: ''The Gospel According to Most People'' *1981: ''Hudson Taylor'' *1984: ''Fanny Crosby''

Writer

*1964: ''In His Steps'' *1974: ''Apache Fire'' *1979: ''Pilgrim's Progress'' *1979: ''Christiana'' *1981: ''Hudson Taylor''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Ken American film directors American film producers American male screenwriters 1917 births 2006 deaths 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters