CommSummit Encourages Communicators To Use Cinematography As A Valuable Evangelistic Tool

November 16, 2023 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

“We need to fly back home inspired to make changes and striving for more creativity, innovation, and collaboration in the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” said Abel Márquez, communication director for the church in the Inter-American Division (IAD) as he challenged more than 180 Adventist communicators and media producers during the territory-wide CommSummit, or communication summit, held Nov. 7-8, 2023, in Miami, Florida, United States. “We did not want this event to be an advisory or workshop style event but a collection of inspirational and motivational talks that can empower you to do more for the mission of the church,” he said.

From short talks, panel sessions, interactive activities, spiritual segments, prayer sessions and more, communicators and media producers from throughout the IAD’s 24 unions, fields, and media centers, CommSummit wrapped up with a showcase of new productions, upcoming film projects, and the need to maximize opportunities to share the gospel through creative means.

One of the discussions near the closing of the Summit discussed how  cinema can become an evangelistic platform to reach others with the gospel.

“The human being has always turned to stories to find meaning to existence to life and to get to the emotions of people and as a church we may have demonized emotions, but God gave us the capability to feel empathy for persons and the cinema is like how music makes us feel without asking permission. It is time to feel Jesus more through acts, actions and show people who may have the wrong concept of who Jesus is and show hope, said Luis Rojas, cinematography director of the film on Hope Channel Inter-America “Jornaleros.”

“Stories through films create emotional connections,” said Julio Muñoz, associate communication director of the North American Division and director of Sonscreen Film Festival. Films allow that first step, that first connection through characters on the big screen that people may not be able to connect with in other ways, he added.

Hellen H. Castro, screenwriter, director of “Conocidos”, a new television series for Hope Channel Inter-America and owner of Creativo 115, said: “We have grown up hearing that it’s Hollywood’s fault for many things, for the moral decline, the way we look at love, that it’s at fault for the existing violence, but I want tell you that I think that Hollywood is not at fault at all. We are at fault because we have not reclaimed these spaces on the big screen.”

Media Producer and Cinematographer at Hope Media Europe in Germany Adrian Duré suggested that, just like the church’s health department has the mission providing healing first and only afterwards is the message of the gospel introduced. “Perhaps in films we should come up with a slogan or similarly and urgently define what we want with cinematography in the context of the church,” said Duré.

Jorge Diaz, production assistant of Hope Channel Inter-America and director of UMedia in Montemorelos University, in Mexico, agreed that a definition should be studied. As moderator of the discussion session, he asked how cinematographers could convince communication directors that cinematography can lead others to the gospel.

“My theory is that the problem is not in doing films but what will the church do with it,” said Duré. “The church could have 50 film productions at hand but what will it do with them?”

Jonatán López, media producer in the Puerto Rican Union and producer of the SPIN film carried on Hope Channel Inter-America, said that the church must think outside the box. “The Church must find methods of distribution that can be effective, getting rid of sectarism and understand that although we are not of this world, God has called us to be a light in the world and through films we can make a great evangelistic impact but it could just stay as a great film and maybe not be so relevant,” said López.

It has to do with collaboration, referenced Muñoz. “Everyone’s doing their own things but we must find a way to collaborate because we can be stronger if we are united together,” he said.

“Leaders can also tell if something is not authentic and see when someone wants to shine instead of the story, and they also see when there is no passion,” said Hernández. “When you show your project, you must show it with that passion, with that assurance and with good intentions because not only leaders see it but God sees it.”

It should be about the stories, agreed Diaz. “If you as communication directors are convinced and know the message that we need to take to others, God will work to allow films to become a great evangelistic tool,” Diaz said.

Earlier on Nov. 8, communicators and media producers of the upcoming television series “Conocidos” on Hope Channel Inter-America this month, Hernández, script writer and director of the series together with Raquel Ramos, producer, and Pastor Melchor Ferreira, personal ministries director and executive producer, spoke on the experience and purpose of the series. “The series had a specific purpose to motivate church members to be involved in reaching others through small group ministries,” said Ferreyra.

The eight-episode series will also be used in small group ministries across the IAD territory with a bible study guide that goes together, as well as a book that will instruct readers on how to work in reaching others in large cities.

Casting the actors meant that they had to become familiar with Adventist songs and lifestyle before the 15 days that it took for filming the series, said Hernández. “We had to practically evangelize them, read the ‘faith of Jesus’ bible studies so they could interpret Adventists on camera,” said Hernández. The eight episodes highlighted the challenges and stories of eight main characters on the series and how they become more than acquainted, more like brothers and sisters in Jesus, she said.  The first episode will be aired on Hope Channel Inter-America, starting Nov. 17, 2023.

CommSummit’s last day also featured several short talks, presentations, and a panel discussion on how to best manage creative content, how to ensure funding for projects, as well as how to promote collaborative efforts to complete innovative projects.

For Eduardo Roch, recently appointed as communication director in the East Cuban Conference in Holguin, traveling to the United States for the first time to attend the CommSummit, was an extraordinary experience. He had waited 30 years to visit the United States and, through a series of events, was able to come after spending 14 days in Guyana waiting for a visa. “This is an actual miracle to be here, and I am just speechless at how wonderful this event has been for me,” said Roch. “What I’ve seen and heard will help me grow in this field and with God’s help and the notes I’ve taken will also help me share with my communication team back home.” His team at the conference produces a radio program that is taped every morning and sent off for broadcast in a station in the United States.

“I’ve always worked with music, but I see so many opportunities in communication and so much we can do no matter what limitations we may be surrounded with because I know God rewards true dedicated efforts,” Roch said.

Similarly for Vanessa Draaisma, communication director in the Suriname Mission, her first experience into the United States for CommSummit impacted her. “The unity and warmth that I immediately saw and felt despite our different languages, cultures and backgrounds impressed me,” said Draisma.  She was impressed by how the various presenters always emphasized that God’s Spirit alone can propel His mission. “We need to have a relationship with God, be open to innovation, keep up with current technology, daring to work ‘without finances’ and trusting that God will bless each project for His glory,” said Draisma. She takes back a larger perspective in giving young people more space to work in the communication ministry. “They are full of talents, and they have a place in God’s mission,” she added.

For Pastor Misael González, communication director for the Panama Union, many of the presentations and experiences of the experts resonated with him. “We sometimes may fear what’s new, or fear of the unknown, we have challenges, but we must overcome those, not be afraid of taking risks and moving forward,” said González. That hit home, he said. “I didn’t’ study communication and sometimes have some fear in managing a few things so I’m always in consultation with communication experts looking for their advice but we must continue to grow and move forward,” he said. González said he was heading back home more determined to do things different with a new vision to produce a television series on the history of the church in Panama as well as other projects with his team at the union and throughout the local fields. He is planning to hold a CommSummit for communicators and media producers in Panama next year.

Cristel Romero, marketing and social media expert in the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union, felt and understood that the purpose that God has is to use each one for His mission to complete the work, she said. “I was enormously inspired by meeting so many people working in social media from different countries, cultures and languages, all willing to collaborate,” said Romero.

She said the main takeaways from the summit include the identity that one can obtain when you have a calling and a mission in the job and how it’s important to motivate young people to become “creative disciples” to fulfill that mission. “I understood that every project needs to be integral and not as isolated efforts and that we have specific strategic guidelines that will help us redirect the work in our local media centers,” she added.

As Inter-American Division’s CommSummit event concluded, Pastor Leonard Johnson, executive secretary of the IAD, challenged attendees to make a difference when they return home. “Please do not bury the ‘deposits’ you have received, the investments made in you here,” he said. “We must transition from this place excited to go back to our areas and to elevate to lift or take to a higher level what we have been presented here. Continue to enlighten us.”

To  find out more about IAD’s CommSummit event, keynote speakers and presenters, visit interamerica.org

To view a photo gallery of the event, click HERE