Editorial
Conversations shaping faith-based film, storytelling, media, and transformation.
NRB Highlights: New on the Horizon Featuring The Faith Channel, Hope Studios & GAC
Inside NRB’s evolving landscape of faith-based distribution, streaming, and global storytelling....
Highlights of NRB
Recently, I had the privilege of attending the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) convention in Nashville, Tennessee. This four-day event connects, equips, and edifies thousands of communicators from across the world.
Whether your goal is to meet top producers and filmmakers, preview upcoming films, pitch your project, listen to leaders in radio broadcasting and book publishing, discover the latest in marketing trends, or connect with Christian media and ministry professionals; NRB is the place to be.
Over the next several weeks, I’ll be taking you inside some of the most important conversations shaping faith and film today. Through in-depth interviews with top distribution companies, actors, screenwriters, directors, and producers, you’ll gain behind-the-scenes insight into how projects are getting made, marketed, and seen. We’ll celebrate the 53rd Annual Crown Awards, spotlight the Men Making an Impact and Power Women who are helping shape Hollywood’s future, and explore what’s new on the horizon in faith-based storytelling. My hope is that these conversations will inform, inspire, and equip you—whether you’re creating content yourself or simply passionate about the power of media to change lives.
New on the Horizon
The Faith Channel—John Stewart, Founder & CEO
Faith Channel is quickly emerging as a rising force among streaming platforms dedicated to uplifting, family-friendly entertainment. At the 53rd Annual ICVM Crown Awards the platform celebrated multiple client nominations and wins—another sign that the young company is gaining serious momentum.
For founder John Stewart, the journey began while creating streaming tools and services to serve the church. Stewart used that experience to launch his streaming platform in 2024. Stewart added Faith Channel Productions to his company in April of 2025. While searching for distribution for his own film, Christmas at the Cabin, Stewart recognized the need for a better distribution company to service the Faith Based Market. As a businessman, he was cautious about signing traditional deals. “I didn’t want to lock our film up for seven years without any guarantee it would make money,” Stewart explains.
That mindset led Stewart to partner with distribution veteran Chip Rossetti. By June 2025, the two had launched Faith Channel Distribution and began to immediately sign on titles for world-wide distribution. “Our promise is simple,” Stewart says. “Be filmmakers first and get the revenue from distribution back into the hands of the creators as quickly as possible.”
From there, the company expanded quickly—adding a theatrical distribution wing, growing its streaming platform, and building a full ecosystem that now includes production, marketing, distribution, and streaming.
At its core, Faith Channel is a creator-driven streaming platform. “It’s a combination of Tubi and YouTube for the Faith Based Market” Stewart explains. “Christian creators who currently only have a home on YouTube will now have a place here.”
One of the platform’s most ambitious goals is launching a free livestream service for churches and ministries—allowing them to stream directly to The Faith Channel while simultaneously broadcasting to platforms like YouTube and Facebook. This service is slated to launch in early 2026.
Stewart believes the real win for faith-based filmmaking is bigger than a genre label. “We win when we stop being a ‘Christian film’ genre,” he says, “and simply make great films where people encounter the good news of God within the story.”
A fun NRB Fact: Stewart met several collaborators at the convention who later became partners on The Faith Channel’s feature film, Christmas at the Cabin and the 30 minute television series, The Flock.
To find out more about The Faith Channel: https://www.faithchannel.com/
Hope Studios—Kevin Christenson, Head of Hope Studios
Hope Studios, the cinematic arm of Hope Channel International, is rethinking how faith-driven stories reach the world. With a footprint spanning more than 100 languages across 200 countries, the studio isn’t simply producing content—it’s building a global storytelling movement.
Studio head Kevin Christenson saw that audiences were moving away from traditional broadcast toward digital-first, story-driven media. Their mission—to share the gospel—remains the same. Their method has evolved. “We realized there was a lack of faith-driven storytelling distributed overseas,” Christenson explains. “Especially stories told from a truly global perspective.”
While many studios build content in America and export it internationally, Hope Studios connects stories already emerging from its worldwide network. With more than 90 media entities across the globe, the studio is linking international silos and sharing those stories with a global audience.
Distribution looks different, too. In some regions where media has limited reach, films travel quietly—shared through house churches, small gatherings, even WhatsApp threads. The goal isn’t spectacle. It’s conversation. Christenson calls it cinema evangelism.
Before joining Hope Studios, Christenson worked with major industry players including Netflix, ABC, and NBCUniversal. That experience shaped his approach to faith-based filmmaking.
“In the faith world, stories often start as sermons trying to fit into a script. But film is a storytelling medium, not a communication medium. People want raw and real,” Christenson says. “When faith films clean everything up, you remove the need for a Savior. The Bible is full of flawed people—and that’s where the miracle happens.”
Hope Studios has a growing slate that includes the true crime style docu-drama series Just One Decision, the feature film Slick starring Brett Varvel, and a Vodcast adaption of the podcast Imagine Faith Talk in development.
Christenson’s advice for navigating both ministry and the film industry is simple—and powerful. “Learn the business of the industry and be grounded in the values of ministry.”
For more, visit Hope Studios at http://www.hopestudios.com
Great American Country—Kaitlyn Haubrich—Chief Brand Officer and Chief of Staff
Since launching Great American Media in 2021, Kaitlyn Haubrich and the team at GAC have moved quickly—producing five original series and 25–30 original movies a year. But speed has never meant compromising their mission.
“We won’t waver on our values,” Haubrich says. “Faith, family, and country are the pillars of what we do. We lead with respect and honor, and we celebrate those things. That will never change.”
In an industry often driven by trends, Haubrich says GAC is intentional about protecting the audience’s trust. Every project goes through careful scrutiny—from scripts and character arcs to wardrobe and relationship dynamics—to ensure it aligns with the brand. “We want viewers to know this is a trusted place where they can come, find comfort, and feel good about what they’re watching.”
That doesn’t mean avoiding difficult topics. Series like County Rescue explore heavier issues, but with a thoughtful approach. “We don’t have to show every shocking moment,” she explains. “We focus on how those moments affect people—how they support one another and lean on God.”
When evaluating projects, Haubrich says execution matters most. “We’ve heard hundreds of great concepts. What matters is how it’s executed and the people behind it.”
Haubrich’s advice to filmmakers: know the brand. “Authenticity and faith in everyday life—that’s what makes something unmistakably GAC.”
And five years in, Haubrich believes they’re just getting started. “We’ve barely scratched the surface—and that’s exciting.”
https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/
Men Making an Impact
One of the most anticipated events at the NRB Convention each year is the ICVM Crown Awards. Now in its 53th year, the awards recognize and celebrate excellence in Christian film and television—honoring the storytellers who are shaping faith-driven media with creativity, conviction, and purpose. Below are a few I had the privilege of meeting.
ICVM Crown Awards — Men Making an Impact Include:
Daniel Roebuck—Actor, Writer, and Director (The Fugitive, Matlock, Lost)
With nearly four decades in Hollywood, Daniel Roebuck has appeared in hundreds of film and television projects spanning blockbuster features, network television, and faith-based films. Beyond the long list of credits, Roebuck brings a whirlwind of wisdom, humor, and hard-earned perspective to the conversation. Our interview began like this…
“We call them faith-based movies, but back in the 1970s they were just called movies.” Roebuck pauses. “Make sure you get this on the record—I don’t want to preach to the choir. I want to preach to people driving past the church. The choir is already there, and they have a narrow demand of what they want. We’ve fed into that and said, ‘That’s great,’ but we need more.”
Roebuck encourages writers to keep their feature scripts under 100 pages and to remember, “If the audience knows what your character is going to say, then you haven’t done your job. And make the last five minutes of your movie stick. That’s what keeps people coming back.”
With a career that has thrived across decades, Roebuck offers this powerful encouragement to filmmakers: “Have your vision, but surround yourself with visionaries. Never be afraid. If God gives you a story—find a way to get it made.”
Roebuck’s latest film, The Hail Mary, written, directed by, and starring Roebuck, is a heartfelt comedy-drama rooted in second chances and the quiet power of faith. Set within a Catholic school environment, the film follows a disillusioned man whose life is unexpectedly transformed when he is recruited to coach a struggling Catholic school football team. What begins as reluctant service becomes a journey of healing, mentorship, and rediscovered belief.
The film features an ensemble cast including Timothy E. Goodwin, Bret Anthony, Duane Whitaker, Tyler Mane, and Joe Estevez. Distributed by Hawk Hill Pictures, The Hail Mary was released nationally on February 21, 2026 and won the Bronze Award for Best Theatrical release. http://www.danielroebuck.com/
Bill McAdams Jr.—Actor, Screenwriter, Director (God’s Here, Lost Highway, Gallows Road)
“I came to Hollywood in 1995 with the shallow dream of becoming a star,” McAdams says with a laugh. “I quickly learned I wasn’t great at auditioning. Some actors can turn it on and off instantly. I need time to process.” He also learned that in the indie world, you have to write your own ticket.
With an extensive career as an actor, writer, and director, McAdams believes filmmakers have a responsibility to say something meaningful. “It’s not about dropping a Bible into a script just to get a faith-based deal,” he says. “I want to make family films that include faith—films that aren’t afraid to talk about God without preaching. I want to pull non-believers in.”
Inspired by a true story, McAdam’s film God’s Here follows Jack Gilmore (McAdams), a decorated firefighter and devoted husband whose wife (played by pop artist Sarah Elizabeth Reeves) and son are killed in a texting-and-driving crash three weeks before Christmas. As Jack struggles through grief and a DUI charge that leads to community service, he meets a young girl tied to a painful past. Meanwhile, Detective Kent Powers (Kevin Sorbo) investigates the accident and uncovers a shocking personal connection to the case.
McAdams’s performance as Jack Gilmore earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 2026 Crown Awards. “To be nominated alongside Neal McDonough and Dean Cain is surreal,” he says. “I’m having my ‘suddenly’ moment—25 years later.”
The story is deeply personal. “I lost my younger brother in a fatal motorcycle accident,” McAdams shares. “My mom forgave the 19-year-old who hit him. She didn’t press charges. She invited her to the funeral.”
That experience shaped how he approached the role. “Faith didn’t drive the story—it revealed it. The humanity was in the grief, the confusion, the forgiveness. People don’t go to a movie to be preached at. When my mom forgave that driver, she didn’t give a sermon. It was raw, painful, human. As an actor and a writer—you have to be willing to go there.”
For aspiring filmmakers, McAdams’s advice is simple: start small. “Write a five-page short and film it. If you can tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end in five minutes, you can create a sequence. If you can create a sequence—you can make a movie.”
God’s Here is available on all major streaming platforms.
Kevin Sorbo—Actor, Producer, Director, Writer (Hercules, God’s Not Dead)
Best known for his iconic role as Hercules, Kevin Sorbo remains a strong voice in faith-based entertainment, history, and culture. During our time at NRB, Sorbo discussed the opportunities—and challenges—of AI in filmmaking. His upcoming film The Flood: End of Mankind uses the technology in several scenes. “AI generated background actors, the animals… it’s weird,” he admits. “But technology isn’t going away. We have to find ways to adapt—and use it for good.”
With a career spanning decades, Sorbo credits a piece of advice he once received from Kevin Costner. “Don’t go back to your trailer between setups,” Sorbo recalls. “Sit behind the cameraman. Use the downtime to learn everything about filmmaking—why this lens instead of that one? Why this camera? Why this filter?”
His message to actors and storytellers is just as direct. “Don’t let anyone set your limitations—especially yourself. Never let fear dictate your story. Walk into an audition like you own it. It’s good to have nerves—just don’t let them control you. Let go and let God.”
The Flood: End of Mankind is scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on October 2, 2026.
Interested in traveling with Kevin Sorbo? Join him and his wife in Greece as they walk in the footsteps of Paul:
https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/in-the-footsteps-of-the-apostle-paul-with-sam-and-kevin-sorbo
Tyler Sansom—Pastor, Filmmaker, Director (I can, A Father’s Fight, Learning You )
Pastor and filmmaker Tyler Sansom has more stories, titles, and depth than I can capture in one article. As lead pastor of First Capital Christian Church and founder of First Capital Films, he has built a unique bridge between pastoral ministry and filmmaking.
“I’ve wanted to create films since I was five. I also went into ministry when I was nineteen. I started an online church way before it was cool,” Sansom laughs. “It didn’t take long before I saw the life-changing impact of combining ministry and film. Between us and partners who use our films, more than 1,200 people have been baptized in the last seven years from hearing the Gospel in new ways.”
His latest film, Learning You, recently earned Gold recognition at the ICVM Crown Awards. “The story follows a father and son trying to reconnect. The son is profoundly autistic and has been institutionalized. The dad essentially kidnaps him out—in a positive way—and takes him on a road trip to the beach, because he’s wanted to see it his whole life,” Sansom explains. “Learning You is a love letter to parents of children with autism.”
Inspired by real families raising children with special needs, Sansom was intentional about telling the story honestly. “I didn’t want to romanticize autism. I wanted to show a father and son learning from each other.”
That idea—learning you—has become a personal conviction. “Every relationship requires us to keep learning the other person. The minute we stop learning is when relationships begin to break down.”
Sansom challenges filmmakers not to serve two masters. “We can be in this industry and not give the enemy a foothold.”
A unique quality of First Capital Films: 100% of its profits support nonprofit ministries.
Learning You, distributed by The Faith Channel, was released in March and is available everywhere movies are streamed. https://www.firstcapfilms.com/
What stood out most in these conversations weren’t the awards or the impressive résumés—it was the shared conviction behind the work. Each of these men approaches storytelling with a sense of calling. Whether through acting, directing, writing, or pastoring, the message was remarkably consistent: if God gives you something to say, don’t sit on it. Create it. Film it. Tell the story. Because the stories that change lives are the ones someone had the courage—and faith—to make.