The Abundant Life Church is celebrating a big birthday in unique fashion: With the release of a self-funded film called “One Hundred Years, One Hundred Voices of Faith.”

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The film, premiering Friday at a semi-formal event at the Putnam Avenue Upper School, weaves together the stories of generations touched by the church since it opened its doors a century ago as a spiritual refuge for immigrants – at the time, coming mainly from Barbados. The modest wood-frame structure sits at 47 Howard St., having survived fire, shifting economic tides and what leaders call the “rapid secularization of society at large.”

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“Other churches may come and go, but ALC has been a cornerstone in this community for generations, helping build, grow and shape the lives of families,” said Bishop Lawrence A. Ward, senior pastor of the church.

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The film, made by a Waltham production house, “is meant to inform, encourage and empower people. But it is also a tool for posterity – something we can pass on to generations to come,” Ward said. “I grew up in this church. My father, who is now 93 years old, served as pastor before me. I can tell you that young people have always been a vital part of ALC, and we are still connecting with children, youth and millennials – as well as different people from all parts of the world.”