Lee Strobel Hopes Church Leaders Use ‘The Story of Everything’ To Reach the ‘Spiritually Curious’

Lee Strobel is an executive producer on “The Story of Everything.” During his conversation with ChurchLeaders, he discussed the evidence for God presented in the film, shared apologetics resources, and explained how churches can be safe spaces for people wrestling with doubt. 

Strobel began the interview expressing his hope that ministry leaders use the film to help Christians understand that their worldview is reasonable and to help non-Christians come to faith. 

“We’re all in congregations where we have young people who are deconstructing their faith, who are asking questions about the faith,” he said. 

“And this film, I think, can take a big step in encouraging Christians in their faith,” said Strobel, “to show the science points powerfully and persuasively toward the existence of a creator who just happens to match a description of the God of the Bible, as well as being an evangelism tool.”

“I’d love to see churches use this film [and] encourage their people to go and bring a spiritually curious friend,” Strobel said, “because I guarantee it will challenge them in their skepticism and really present them with evidence that Christianity really is well-based.”

Strobel had a few suggestions for how church leaders could engage with the film. One was that churches with high school or college ministries could encourage their students to see the movie and to invite spiritually curious friends to see it with them. 

Church leaders don’t have to focus solely on student ministries, however. Strobel said that pastors could alert their congregations about the film and encourage congregants to see it with interested non-believing friends.

“Frankly, if I were a pastor, I would arrange to buy out a theater and to say to the congregation, ‘We’ve got this showing on such and such a night,’” said Strobel. “‘Get your ticket here that could defray the cost, and buy two tickets, one for a friend, and invite a spiritually curious friend. And let’s come to this movie together. Let’s see it together and see what God does.’”

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Afterward, those who invited friends could go out to coffee and discuss the movie. “Not that they’re necessarily going to come to faith right there, but it’s going to plant seeds, going to plow the ground,” said Strobel. “They’re likely to ask you as a Christian…‘I didn’t realize there’s so much evidence that points toward this. How did you become a Christian? What’s your story?’” 

The conversation could then lead to “an opportunity to tell your testimony and to invite that person to come to church with you in the future so that they can engage with God’s community,” Strobel pointed out. “And who knows what might lead from that?”

“The Story of Everything” is in theaters from April 30-May 6. Learn more about the documentary at thestoryofeverything.film.