The film “God is Good” had a successful run in Santa Clara over the weekend, screening four times and attracting a large audience. Following the screenings, lead actress Marina Savoy and the real-life inspiration for the character, Margaret Liu Collins, engaged with the audience, sharing their behind-the-scenes experiences and faith testimonies.
The movie is based on the true story of Margaret Liu Collins, a prominent Chinese-American entrepreneur and philanthropist in the Bay Area. Born in Chongqing, raised in Hong Kong, and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Margaret is the founder and CEO of Liu Realty, Liu International Management, and GIG Media LLC. She has established a prominent presence in the business world and served on the boards of non-profit organizations such as Grace Cathedral, San Francisco Symphony, and UC Berkeley Foundation.
“God is Good” depicts Margaret’s journey of drawing strength from her faith. Since embracing Christianity at the age of thirteen, her faith has been a pillar in navigating life’s challenges. Whether facing marital struggles, financial pressures, or her son’s accident, she turned to prayer to overcome adversity and ultimately find fulfillment in life.
In an interview with a media outlet, Margaret shared that she didn’t always understand God’s guidance from the beginning. During a tumultuous marriage, she prayed daily, and when she cried out in anger over her husband’s mistreatment of their children, he unexpectedly asked for a divorce two weeks later, leading her to believe that God had indeed heard her prayers. Despite facing severe financial difficulties after the divorce, she followed her inner guidance, ventured into real estate, obtained her license in just three months, and quickly reached the pinnacle of her career.
She realized that God resides within her heart, and by being quiet and humble and listening to her inner guidance, big or small matters, God will always guide her in life.
Margaret also learned to discern God’s leading in her failures after making ill-advised investments. Reflecting on her life, she deeply believes that as long as one trusts and obeys, God will prepare the best. In times of hardship, she advises against despair because “man may fail, but God can’t.”
She actively engages in charitable endeavors, establishing the “T.O. Liu Memorial Scholarship,” supporting single-parent students, and contributing to neuroscience and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) research. In 2011, she was recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the “Top 150 Most Influential Female Entrepreneurs in the Bay Area.” Margaret attributes her journey from a single mother to a prosperous life to God’s grace, acknowledging that she is merely a steward of God’s gifts. She emphasized the brevity of life and shared that whenever she sees a need, she prays first, then donates upon receiving approval.
Margaret initially wrote her testimony in “God is Good,” which received widespread acclaim before being turned into a film. She encourages young people not to rely solely on their intelligence, as God is all-knowing, omnipotent, eternally loving, present not only in heaven but also in our hearts, serving as a source of comfort, salvation, wisdom, and healing.
Marina Savoy, the actress portraying Margaret Liu Collins, shared that she originally studied business and only delved into acting after marriage. Upon encountering the casting call for “God is Good,” she was deeply moved by the story and prayed, “Even if it’s not me who portrays it, may the most suitable person fulfill this role, allowing more individuals to find faith and redemption through this film.”
She expressed that the Chinese community rarely discusses faith, but without it, life can veer towards self-centered pursuits of money and utility, ultimately losing its meaning. To her, the value of life lies in “being loved by God and loving God.” She hopes that young people will contemplate the purpose and meaning of life and recognize a greater existence beyond humanity. ◇