Missionary survivors showcase movie

Whether you’re religious or not, it’s a story about faith and deliverance. FatCats Cinema 6 showcased a new movie that is giving people a new perspective Saturday. Missionaries Travis Tuttle and Andrew Propst are telling the world how an abduction changed their lives forever.

More than 15 years ago the men survived what many would call a nightmare.

“I was on this path (mission) doing the things that I thought I was supposed to be doing and then I just got completely knocked off. Now I got to reconcile my life right now and am I ready to die,” said Propst when explaining his abduction.

They were abducted, beaten and held for ransom while on a mission in Russia. Tuttle said there are a number of reasons why they survived, including the hope that they found within each other.

“We’re in the situation to where if he would have given up on me I don’t know if it would have worked out very well. If I would have given up on him at any point I don’t think we would have been as successful as we were,” said Tuttle.

Holding on to hope also meant not retaliating. Although the men were beaten and handcuffed for almost a week, not once did they throw a punch. Tuttle said they had to think about how their actions would reflect on future missions.

“I don’t know what the results would have been (if we would have fought back), but I don’t think they would have been very good,” said Tuttle.

To give people a new perspective on life, the men agreed to participate in a movie called “The Saratov Approach.” The title was derived from the approach the men took with their abductors to survive.

The movie has been showing since last Friday. Viewings were slow at first, but FatCats management said they have had shows that have completely sold out. FatCats employee Jake Glider said he believes that it just took those few people who saw it on opening night before word got around.

“A lot of families and local college students are really taking on to the movie, the message it portrays and the message behind it is really positive. … It lets people know that they can get through anything,” said Glider.

A positive message is the reason the men say they agreed to the film.

“We’ve endured this trial. We can get through today and we can get through tomorrow. Not only can we get through, but we can help other people get through.”