Former Cover Girl, 'I Am Not Ashamed' Actress Jennifer O'Neill Says Christian Martyrdom Is in America (Interview)
Right before her death, Scott was asked about her faith and the killers deliberately inquired about her Christian beliefs. Columbine killers students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold knew about 17-year-old Scott's overt Christian faith and moments before her death, they questioned her asking if she still believed in God, to which she replied yes. It was her response that many believe led to her ultimate death.
O'Neill, an activist herself and one who takes a stand for Christian principles, had some advice for other Christians in this day and age on standing up for their beliefs.
"Standing up for your faith is normally going to cause you to be martyred. It happens in different flavors all around the world," O'Neill maintained. "What I think is coming to this country at such a time as this, I have to say this, is if we don't get out and stand up for the principles of God all the way down to our government if we don't [stand up] it's going to be really really bad."
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She added, "It's time for we who say that we know the love of Jesus Christ, that we read the word of God, that we be obedient to His words."
She went on to say that standing up for one's faith in America might not look the same as in the Middle East but action is still required.
"We might not be shot or decapitated but you might lose your job because you stand up for your faith. There are lots of ways that the enemy is going to come around and try to erode the foundation of the church," O'Neill emphasized.
"There are so many of us that might be saved, but not everyone is called to be a disciple. Rachel was called to be a disciple. What I liked about the movie is that it doesn't get into technicalities she just lived her faith through who she was," she noted.
O'Neill revealed that in the first script of the film the name of Jesus was not initially mentioned and she took it upon herself to share her concerns with the producers, telling them that if Jesus was not mentioned, she was not interested in being involved because, "He's the key."
The final product however does feature the name of Jesus quite often and although O'Neill doesn't think it was because of her statement, she is happy with the final version.
"I just hope that people support it because it's a true story. It's not just someone's fantasy. Everyone needs to see it, not just our young people. [It's for] everyone who's going to have the willingness to stand up for their faith," the 68-year-old actress concluded.
In closing, O'Neill shared a story about her son whom she says she was pregnant with when she first came to Christ. He is now studying Ministry at Hillsong Australia and she recalled always praying over him that God would use him in a mighty way. She believes that it was her bold prayers that steered her son on the right path, comparing it to Scott's bold prayers and writings in her journals.
Scott believed that she would reach the world with her story, not knowing that in 2016 she would in fact be reaching the masses with a film about her inspirational life.
"I'm Not Ashamed" was filmed in and around Nashville, Tennessee. The cast includes newcomer Masey McLain as Rachel, Ben Davies ("Courageous"), O'Neill ("Summer of '42") and Jaci Velasquez ("Let The Lion Roar").
"I'm Not Ashamed" is now in theaters. For more information, visit ImNotAshamedFilm.com.
