SHAKY TOWN: A Documentary

Reformed Perspective Magazine

If you don't believe that there is a real life antithesis - and an on-going battle between good and evil - that's going on right now you need to see this video. This is the story of San Francisco and the active attacks of the gay rights lobby on family values in general and the Christian faith in particular. It's also the story of the Christians who are standing up and fighting back. This is a tough, disturbing movie to watch, and one that will keep you awake if you watch it before you go to bed. Yet if you, your teenage kids, or your high school students need a reality check or a kick in the pants to help you get out there and stand up for what's right, then this is a movie you should see. Leave time afterwards to talk about what you've seen and to discuss what you should do, but do see this film.

Jon Dykstra - 100 worth watching: the best (and most conservative) collection of movies and videos ever assembled - Volume 25 Number 9/10 July/August 2006 - Website (http://www.reformedperspective.ca)


New Horizons: Magazine for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church

During the 1980s, even as the Reagan revolution gripped the nation and traditional conservatism began to reemerge, a new radicalism appeared on the horizon. San Francisco's entrenched homosexual community moved to the fore. Initially they expressed only a desire to be left alone, but their agenda evolved into a demand that everyone celebrate and affirm the gay lifestyle. Tactics became increasingly aggressive, and the city of tolerance became increasingly intolerant of those unwilling to legitimize homosexuality - and thus the modern gay rights movement was born.


Shaky Town, a new DVD directed by the Gunn Brothers, documents this birth and undertakes to review from an evangelical perspective the radicalization of the homosexual political movement in San Francisco from the early 1980s onward. Standing against this powerful tide were conservative evangelicals of all stripes. Mixing firsthand accounts of Christian leaders with actual footage of events, the movie chronicles the homosexual movement's increasing extremism: "abuses of political office, hijacking of school board meetings, mob rioting [in front of] a worshiping church, and death threats towards a pastor's family." Prominent in the story is the role of First OPC and Pastor Charles McIlhenny and his wife, Donna. Shaky Town retells the legal battle over the fired homosexual organist, First OPC's victory in court, and the reaction of radicals to the Mcllhennys' courageous stand for righteousness. In a particularly poignant vignette, Mrs. Mcilhenny describes their life during the darkest years - "harassment, vandalism, threats on our lives." She has saved a shard of charred glass from the manse's master bedroom window, through which a firebomb was thrown. "The intent was to kill."


Shaky Town has value for the church today. It not only serves as a candid reminder of the present evil age in which we find ourselves, but also provides a firsthand look at the suffering that is ours in this world when we stand for Christ. Again, Mrs. McIlhenny's words are especially potent:: "It's been a challenging life. . . I began to learn the fear of God. I'm terrified of denying Christ, because Christ is the one who's kept us. At the same time, there's been a gloriousness, but it's been very hard."

Reviewed by: David K. Thompson Date posted: 02/12/2006

Shaky Town: Review by the Rev. R.E. Knodel, Jr., RCM Missionary to Europe.

Most of us in the OPC have heard of the heroism of our once San Francisco pastor Chuck McIllhenny and his wife Donna, but with this terrific DVD, the viewer can see “with his eyes” much of what our on-site church went through.  While the documentary movie presents other clergymen, as an old OPC pastor, I rejoiced to hear Chuck preaching God’s clear word to those in San Francisco. 

Seeing the bedroom of the McIllhenny home, which was firebombed by militant homosexuals, and hearing Chuck and Donna’s testimony of how it all happened was both chilling and invigorating.  Such is the faith to which any of us might be called in this evil day.  I don’t see how anyone in the OPC would not want to own this film.

Two Scotsmen, one of whom has taken up residence in Texas, produce it.  Both are Calvinists who love the reformed faith, and want to use their gifts for the advance of God’s kingdom!  Through an encounter with Euan, the resident Scot, I got the benefit of introduction to this fine work.  May God bless it to our viewing and denomination.