The Hopeful, a historical drama tracing the roots of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is showing multiple times daily at MX Movies in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, during the 2025 General Conference Session.

The film, which had a limited theatrical release in April and qualified for Oscar consideration, continues to make an impact, this time just across the street from where thousands of Adventist delegates and guests have gathered.

Kevin Christenson, director of Hope Studios and executive producer of The Hopeful, described how the opportunity arose unexpectedly. “The cinema chain reached out to the convention center,” Christenson said. “They said, ‘There’s a mainstream film, it opened in 900 theaters, it qualified for Best Picture, we want to show it here alongside Lilo and Stitch and Jurassic World.’ ”

Before approving the film for local promotion, the cinema consulted the America's Center staff, who contacted the General Conference. “The GC officers were supportive if Hope Channel was on board,” Christenson said. “We said, ‘Oh, we’re very cool with it.’ ”

Set in the 19th century, The Hopeful tells the story of William Miller and the movement that would eventually form the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Through the eyes of J. N. Andrews and his children aboard a missionary ship to Switzerland, the story unfolds as a bedtime retelling of the Millerite movement, the Great Disappointment, and the formation of a new faith community.

For many GC Session attendees, the film serves as a timely reminder of the church’s origins. “It does a good job of reminding people that first of all, we’re imperfect people,” Christenson said. “We came out of a situation of disappointment ... but out of that, they find hope on the other side.”

Christenson said he believes the screening location has practical value as well. “Adventists who may not have been able to see it before can go across the street and see it,” he noted. “But they’re also able to invite people as they talk to them in St. Louis, ‘Go check out this film,’ and maybe have an understanding of who we are.”

Christenson also shared that international filmmakers at GC Session have expressed appreciation for the church’s support of cinema evangelism. “Someone from Central America said, ‘You don’t know what this means for us,’ ” he recounted. “With The Hopeful going to cinemas globally, it’s opening doors for them locally.”

Beyond its presence in St. Louis, The Hopeful has demonstrated wide-reaching influence. In the South Pacific Division, more than 60 percent of ticket sales were reportedly to non-Adventists. “They’ve been having people come and join their churches because they walked out of a movie theater and did research,” Christenson said.

One viewer, a Hindu man in Virginia, United States, attended a local Adventist church after watching the film. According to Christenson, the man said, “The light that was coming from that film, I needed to find that light and follow that light.” After several weeks of Bible study, he was baptized.

At its core, Christenson sees The Hopeful not as a call to theaters but as a call to bold mission. He referenced an earlier statement by GC president Erton C. Köhler: “We don’t have to change the message, but we can change the way we present the message.” Christenson echoed this, saying, “It’s not about getting Adventists into theaters. It’s about getting Adventists to embrace every avenue for mission, including theaters.”

The film continues screening at MX Movies daily through the remainder of GC Session. For a full schedule, attendees can check with the venue in person or online. 

For more coverage of the 2025 General Conference Session, including live updates, interviews, and delegate stories, visit adventist.news and follow ANN on social media.