Paul's Promise
Set in the peak of the 1960s Civil Rights movement, Paul's Promise is the inspiring true story of Paul Holderfield, former racist firefighter-turned-pastor who started one of the first integrated churches in the American South. It’s one man’s journey to hope and healing during a troubled time in our Nation’s history that resulted in one man’s decision to serve God and stand up to injustice - a story that continues to make a huge impact on the community to this day.
Paul's Promise chronicles Paul Holderfield, Sr.’s life, who is raised poor and knows what it’s like to go to bed hungry and hear his mother pray at night for food for her children. In the 1950’s, during the Little Rock Central High School crisis, Holderfield is a North Little Rock fireman who remembers turning his back on a Black man, hoping he will not recognize him, but he does. His childhood best friend Jimmy Lipkin approaches Paul for a handshake, but Holderfield puts his hands in his back pockets and refuses to shake Lipkin’s hand. Later convicted by his actions, Holderfield tells his wife Barbara that he will never again treat a human being that way.
Ultimately, Holderfield starts Friendly Chapel and F.L.A.M.E. (Feeding and Loving All Men Equally) to help others and spends the rest of his life giving back to anyone in need. Fully dedicated to meeting people’s needs, Holderfield builds an organization that serves others for 30+ years, meeting the nutritional (through a soup kitchen/food pantry) emotional, physical (clothing, shelter), spiritual and health needs of others 24/7, 365 days a year. His life’s work continues to this day through his extended family.
Paul's Promise is coming soon!
