Hillsdale students are known for many things— getting married young, clutching their Western Heritage readers like holy books, and being strange enough to pick rural Michigan as their dream destination for college. Atheism isn’t one of our identifying traits.
But it’s easy to forget that some of the most beloved Christian authors and thinkers began their religious journeys as atheists. That’s what the Fellowship for Performing Arts hopes to remind students of next week.
The not-for-profit theatre company founded by actor Max McLean strives to produce plays and movies from a Christian perspective. McLean is known for his roles in C.S. Lewis-centered works, most recently in “The Most Reluctant Convert,” which premiered last November. The film is coming back to Hillsdale next Wednesday, but instead of at the local theatre, it’ll be directly on campus.
The showing is a part of FPA’s campus ministry initiative, a branch within the company that works with colleges all over the country to share the productions.
“Lewis didn’t believe that rational argument created belief,” McLean said. “But he did think that the lack of argument destroys convictions. What is not defended is soon abandoned. That is what is happening on American campuses. It’s not that they think Christianity is nefarious. Rather, they think it is irrelevant and therefore the case is not made.”
“The Most Reluctant Convert” chronicles Lewis’ spiritual journey as it unravels throughout his life. Strained familial dynamics, tragic losses, and scenes of war composed the writer’s life, and the film shows it all. Directed by two-time Emmy and BAFTA winner Norman Stone, the biopic breathes life into a previously unexplored tale.
“It’s very logical,” Campus Initiative Manager Courtney Menking said. “It follows a path. I believe it is very good for college students because college students are very logical. They want to know why. And they want questions to be answered– as do I. So this is just a really interesting, logical, exciting take on one man’s journey to faith. It doesn’t ask anybody to come to the altar. It doesn’t make anyone take a huge leap of faith. It plants a seed and causes people to ask questions. And that’s what we love about it.”
Menking previously ran a Broadway booking agency where she was taking Broadway stars around the country to do master classes. She saw the play version of “The Most Reluctant Convert” and was determined to work for FPA. To Menking, it was the perfect combination of her passions: theatre, career, and faith.
The initial goal for the campus initiative was to bring the play to large, secular universities. As the word spread and the demand for FPA’s showings increased, the pandemic pressed the pause button on the operation. Through 2020 though, the FPA team had access to tons of film resources since very few productions were continuing the filming process. A year and some change later, “The Most Reluctant Convert” saw its own conversion, this time into film.
Since a lot of schools are unable to support a full Broadway production, the movie version of the story provides the ability to share it with ease.
“We want to reach students on a new level,” Menking said. “This is a unique way to present not only Lewis’ story, but also the gospel.”
FPA sends along a study guide with the movie in order to encourage students on campus to engage with the movie fully. University Coordinator Erin Reed commented on what is lost and gained in the story’s transformation from Broadway to screen.
“The best thing about the film is that it has the ability to reach so many more people than a stage production,” Reed said. “Something Max has mentioned in other Q&As is that this will outlive us all. It’s like that stage production exists with people on stage at that moment, but the cool thing about the film is that it does continue on. The hope is that future generations beyond the people in our company right now will still be able to see it.”
“The Most Reluctant Convert” makes the case for Christianity’s relevance and importance in modern times. It will play in Plaster Auditorium on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Admission is free for students, but RSVP is required.
