An Abilene Christian University documentary about alumni and students who make a real difference in the world has won three times in the 33rd annual Telly Awards.
“Outlive Your Life,” Abilene Christian University’s 2011 President’s Circle film, won Tellys in the Education, Fundraising and Religion/Spirituality categories.
The film profiles Eternal Threads founder Linda Egle (’73) and Fort Worth family physician Randy Brown, M.D. (’94). Its title is based on a book by minister and best-selling author Max Lucado (’77).
Egle’s company, which is based in Abilene, imports and sells handmade goods crafted by women in countries such as Nepal, Madagascar, Thailand and Afghanistan. Profits help the women learn the entrepreneurial skills they need to feed and provide for their families. Eternal Threads also inspired ACU students Brittany Partridge and Samantha Sutherland to co-found the Red Thread Movement, which sells $3 bracelets woven by Nepalese girls and funds a safe house to rescue women there who are victims of human trafficking and sexual slavery.

For years, Randy Brown has led Dr. Brown’s Mighty Men, a program in which Christian men mentor boys who demonstrate leadership potential in the historic and close-knit but financially challenged Como neighborhood in southwest Fort Worth. Brown developed a heart for missions from time he spent with the late Stanley Shipp (’46), but felt God’s call for him was to be a physician instead. He and his wife, Anda (Adams ’94), moved their family to Como to live among the people he served in a nearby clinic, and in his family practice now located near a local hospital.
The Telly Awards annually receive thousands of entries from all 50 states and nations on five continents. The project was created through the joint efforts of our Creative Services team and Martin Perry (’83) of Phillips Productions Inc. of Dallas.
The film has a memorable message behind it. What Linda and Randy are doing should inspire each of us to find small and large ways to use our time, talents and influence to help others and, in turn, take the Gospel to those who need to hear it most. It’s always a privilege to partner with Martin, Bob Phillips and Jason Anderson to plan and make these stories come to life.
Nine film projects we have created with the help of Phillips Productions have earned 17 Tellys, won three medals in international competition sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and been nominated for an Emmy Award.
Watch the 22-minute film here:
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