Vanderbilt Divinity School is pleased to announce two events that will bring award-winning director, writer, and producer Nicholas Ma to campus. The producer of Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, the highest grossing biographical documentary ever, has released a new documentary called Leap of Faith.
Twelve diverse Christian leaders find hope and fellowship at a series of boundary-breaking retreats in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brought together by Michael Gulker of The Colossian Forum, five women and seven men struggle with some of today’s most contentious issues. The divisions between them become apparent and test both their common belief in the universal importance of love and kindness and the bonds they build over the course of a year. Inspiring and provocative, Leap of Faith explores whether we can disagree and still belong to each other in a divided world.[1]
Ma will visit Vanderbilt Divinity School for a brown bag lunch and conversation with Dean Yolanda Pierce Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 12:30pm in the Divinity School reading room followed by an event with StoryCorps. Bring your lunch and learn more about Ma’s creative process to bring the film to life. RSVP is required and available at: https://forms.office.com/r/TxCk1KBHAP.
Later that evening at 6:00pm, Mr. Ma will visit the Donelson Branch Library for a screening and discussion of Leap of Faith, facilitated by Millions of Conversations.Registration is available at: Film Screening: Leap of Faith Tickets, Thu, Sep 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite
“We are delighted to have Mr. Ma join us for this impactful conversation,” Dean Yolanda Pierce said. “We are also grateful to our wonderful campus partners in the Department of Religious Studies, Student Affairs’ Belonging and Communities, Government and Community Relations, and Millions of Conversations who helped make these events a reality.”
Vanderbilt Divinity School extends a warm welcome to Vanderbilt faculty, staff, students, and community members who wish to participate in these events. For more information, email Cheryl Williams, director of administration (cheryl.a.williams@vanderbilt.edu).
[1] Leap Of Faith: A film by Nicholas Ma – A film by Nicholas Ma