Whisenand one of The Chosen

The Chosen is a Christian television program that has taken the nation by storm. As one of the only fan-funded television series created, the purpose of the show is to bring people closer to Jesus by recreating plausible scenarios using faith-based principals and direction from the bible.

Earlier this year Valerie Whisenand, a resident of the Heart area, took the opportunity to travel to Texas to serve as an extra cast member on the show which now has more than 144 million viewers.

“We went to Midlothian Texas, my son, Gary and myself. It is about seven and a half hours from here, so it was an easy drive over. I have been a part of the fan club from the very first time I discovered The Chosen which was one Easter ago,” Whisenand said. “I just kept getting more and more involved and there was an offer for investors to take part in the filming of the Sermon on the Mount.”

Whisenand said there were initially 6,000 people expected to participate in the filming that day, but due to COVID-19, some were unable. After a COVID test here in the Ozarks and a second one prior to entering the bus in Texas, Whisenand said the adventure began Feb. 10.

“It was for The Sermon on the Mount and it was filmed for the end of Season 2 and the beginning of Season 3,” Whisenand said. “Ever since I first started watching the show, I was committed to it because it is the most powerful evangelical tool I’ve seen in my entire life and I’m not kid. I wanted to support it as much as I could and part of that has been using my writing. It’s not that I’m very altruistic I am just so sold on the message The Chosen is telling. It is the gospel for everybody.”

Whisenand said she took home many things from her experience with the cast and crew during the recent adventure, however; being told to “leave our denominations at the door” resounded with her.

“We get caught up in the ceremony and details, but the only thing that really matters is Jesus Christ. To follow him trusting God to take you where you need to go. That is how I wound up there. I’d been praying for a way to deepen my walk with God,” Whisenand said.

In early April, The Chosen had 108 million viewers who watch the program through a free App on their cellular device, however; since that time, more options have been made available and a whopping 144 million viewers are now following.

After arriving at the set, Whisenand said the hospitality was above and beyond. “They wanted us to be comfortable because the weather was closing in. It was the week of the ice storms. The highest temperature was 30 degrees and with the windchill it was between 18 and 20 all day long,” Whisenand said. “They had heaters set up and there were entertainers there.”

The day of filming, Whisenand said she stayed on set in the weather alongside others for nine hours.

“It was very cold, so cold there was even ice on the tables. We did a walk twice–it was the ‘coming to see Jesus walk’ twice. I had taken a staff with me to help me stand up because It was kind of an arduous walk,” Whisenand said. “We took a break and then we were told to go to the field, all of us without our coats and without our socks under our sandals. We’d been told to bring blankets and rugs to sit on.”

Whisenand said she opted to be in the rear of the crowd but much to her surprise, as she and her son sat waiting for direction, they were told to stand up and turn around.  “It put me right in the front when Kari Jobe, Phil Wickam and Cody Carnes came out to sing the blessing over the group. It was wonderful. It was like an all-day revival and the people were amazing,” Whisenand said.

When asked what the highlights of participating as an extra during the filming were, Whisenand said she had more than one defining moment.

“The overall feeling was that I’d never been in a group of nicer, more loving, more accepting people and there were thousands of us, but none of us knew each other. The singing of the blessing and the praying,” Whisenand said.

Additionally, the moment Roumie, portraying Jesus, entered the staging area to begin preaching.

“Roumie was going to come out from behind a curtain and they had cameras over the top and had told us not to look at them. When he came out, we were all supposed to sit down to listen to him,” Whisenand said. “I know he was an actor, but all I could see was Jesus on that stage. He isn’t Jesus, but the presence of Jesus was there.”

Whisenand said much more than all of those things was the hard work and effort put in by all involved to ensure the message remains pure.

“They keep the message true, and it is relatable. I thought it was unique in that when I started watching The Chosen. I went straight back to the bible and opened it up to look and see. Someone said it had turned the bible from black and white to full color,” Whisenand said. “They’re not making things up, it is either from the old testament or indications from the bible that will give you a look at the personalities of the disciples.”

If offered the chance again, Whisenand said she would participate in a heartbeat.

“I want people to know they need to give it time. It does not move fast because it is seven seasons long. When I watched the first episode, I almost gave up, and I am so thankful I didn’t. I kept waiting for Jesus and I was waiting for it to be like all the Hollywood films and it is not. Also, it has no association with Hollywood. It is fan funded,” Whisenand said. “It was so impactful, and I will make sure I will be better prepared if I get to do it again. It has been a wonderful ride.”