New Hope Worship Center was packed with supporters and the red carpet rolled out March 7 prior to the Augusta premiere of Yannik McKie’s documentary “What Pain Left Behind”.
A DJ spun tunes and people enjoyed food as McKee greeted supporters and posed for photos on the red carpet.
The film highlights his life and how faith changed his life’s trajectory.
“The story is about me losing both my parents through AIDS at the age of 16,” said McKie, who is a pastor, author and speaker.
But the story doesn’t end with tragedy, and in some ways, it’s not about McKie per se, he said; it’s more of vehicle to show people they can turn their lives around and spark the hope to get them to try.
“I’m an object lesson. Sometimes you learn more about yourself when you look at the lives of others,” he said.
McKie has a degree in marketing from Georgia Southern University and a master’s degree in Christian Ministries from Liberty University. He was inducted into the Top 40 under 40 of his alma mater, Georgia Southern University, according to the church website.
His story has been featured on numerous media outlets including ESPN, The Huffington Post, The New York Daily News and Good Day Atlanta. He is the founder and executive director of the McKie Foundation through which he donates his time and resources to at-risk youth. He received the Change Maker of the year award from the National Leadership Council, the website said.
Among the attendees March 7 were cadets from the Youth Challenge Academy, an organization his church sponsors.
Jukwan Brooks, who has been part of McKie’s Chosen church for about four years and helped in the documentary’s filming, said he can see himself in McKie’s story and is amazed by the story of a man he said should’ve been a felon.
“It reminds me a little of my upbringing just like him, I come from a little of a street background myself, so seeing someone turn their life around while putting God first and preaching the gospel inspires me. He’s definitely turned his pain into purpose,” he said.
The Augusta premiere came a week after a showing in Jacksonville, Florida. The film will be shown in Atlanta in May.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
