Published On:Tuesday, December 15, 2009

FOUR years ago a popular pastor ignited a firestorm of controversy when he began peddling "miracle water" that his supporters claimed could cure terminal illnesses, heal the blind and reverse paralysis.

The story grabbed national headlines, stirred a local religious debate back in 2005 and forced many to question whether Bishop Lawrence Rolle was simply "doing the Lord's work" or misleading impressionable parishioners.

The issue is the subject of a new documentary, The Bishop, The Scientist & The Miracle Water, being screened tonight at the Bahamas International Film Festival.

Expatriate filmmakers David Lee and Simon Frank -- who were both holding down teaching jobs at a local high school at the time -- spent three sweaty weeks during the summer of 2005 with the bishop, attempting to understand what drew the hordes of miracle seekers who poured into "the singing prophet's" church.

Blessed

They filmed Bishop Rolle as he blessed the water -- which was sold in 12 fl oz and five gallon bottles for $1 and $5 respectively -- and later took the liquid to independent scientist Alfred Thompson, who tested the water's properties.

The film itself questions the substance of miracles along with the powers of faith and unwavering belief.

"There's so much talk of miracles that the word becomes commonplace - what is a miracle? Can it be proven? Is it enough to believe in it for it to be real? (I think) that the word is relative and probably used too lightly but we all, even scientists cannot help but want to believe. We are all human after all," director David Lee told The Tribune when asked about the motivation for the film.

The two UK natives said they approached the subject without prejudice and allowed Bishop Rolle, his followers and the scientist to weave their own stories about the unbelievable tale. They said they were welcomed with open arms into the Voice of Deliverance church as they quietly observed the frenzy; after news broke of Mr Rolle's blessed water hundreds of persons reportedly swarmed Bishop Rolle's services where they shelled out cash for the "holy" water.

"The movie is as much about the journey as it is about the result, so we went with no preconceived ideas," said Mr Frank, adding that the documentary is a gritty look at a part of paradise left unseen in tourist ads.

Whether or not Bishop Rolle's "miracle water" had any healing properties -- real or imagined -- is left up to the audience to decide.

"We came away believing in his ability to make people believe," said Mr Lee.

Bishop Rolle has previously said that he made no profit from the water sales, adding that the $50,000 generated in sales was all donated to the poor.

The Bishop, The Scientist & The Miracle Water plays tonight at 7 pm at Galleria Cinemas JFK.

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