Capernaum Studios, nestled in Poolville, TX, offered a one-of-a-kind Independence Day Experience just west of Ft. Worth. The studio, originally the set for the acclaimed religious film 'The Chosen,' now serves as a unique space where filmmakers can blend live sets with cutting-edge technology to create realistic scenes featuring large armies.

This event, performed several times just before the 2024 4th of July, followed critical events in the New England colonies in 1775. Given its origins as a religious studio, the event naturally incorporated spiritual themes, starting with the Black Robe Regiment.

The Black Robe Regiment referred to the clergy who supported the Patriot cause during the American Revolutionary War. These ministers were influential in rallying support for independence from Britain through their sermons and moral leadership. Wearing black clerical robes, they preached principles of liberty, justice, and resistance to tyranny, urging their congregations to support the revolution. Some clergy even took up arms, fought alongside their congregants, or served as chaplains in the Continental Army.

One of the most famous members of the Black Robe Regiment was Reverend John Peter Muhlenberg, a Lutheran minister who played a notable role in the American Revolution. He is mainly remembered for a dramatic moment in January 1776 when he delivered a powerful sermon on Ecclesiastes 3, which famously includes the passage, "To everything, there is a season... a time to be born, and a time to die... a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted." At the end of his sermon, Muhlenberg declared, "In the language of Holy Writ, there is a time for all things... there is a time to pray and a time to fight... and that time has now come!" He then removed his clerical robes to reveal a military uniform underneath and urged the men of his congregation to join the cause. Muhlenberg went on to serve as a brigadier general in the Continental Army, significantly impacting the fight for American independence. His dramatic call to arms and subsequent military service made him one of the most celebrated figures among the clergy who supported the Patriot cause.

Alongside Muhlenberg, figures like Sam Adams and Paul Revere were brought to life to convey the message of the Patriot cause. The event then transitioned to a reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, where the sounds of musket and cannon fire, though not from actual weapons, were expertly used to demonstrate the engagement fought on April 19, 1775. The immersive storytelling was well-executed and transported the audience back in time.

The only major issue was the attempt to preach at the end of the experience, which felt out of character with the rest of the Independence theme they were trying to reach. While the story was excellent, and the trip to Ft. Worth was pleasant, I would not attend again, as this approach detracted from the overall experience. Perhaps, in a few years, I will review a reenactment of Lexington and Concord instead of just an experience at Capernaum.