Documentary filmmaker Nicholas Ma, son of famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, has created a documentary that brings together 12 Christian leaders with slightly differing theologies and views on life.
The new film, Leap of Faith, follows Rev. Michael Gulker as he works to bring unity to a world divided. Gulker's life goal is to bring unity amid differences, including inside the church.
"I felt like there was this kind of longing, this sense of nostalgia, even the sense that maybe that era has passed and people that are that thoughtful don't exist anymore," said Ma in an interview with The Christian Post.
His previous documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, follows the life of Fred Rogers, and asks, will anyone else follow in his footsteps of radical kindness.
"We talk a lot about ‘love thy neighbour’ right now, and I think what we forget is generally, we fulfill that by choosing our neighbours, not by loving the people around us better. And that challenge is really hard. There's a reason that we avoid it. So, to watch people try to do something really hard and improbable, to me, was fascinating."
While many of the pastors and Christian leaders were apprehensive about taking on this project, they began to open up and see the beauty of vulnerability unfold.
"It’s the beauty of being willing to hear what you may not want to hear. To say, ‘Here’s who I am, and I’m afraid that this is the part you won’t like about me.’"
The topics the 12 pastors have conversations about range from politics to sexuality to theology.
"Transformation is at the heart of the faith," says Ma. "Hopefully, we are transformed. That doesn't mean that we've compromised. That doesn't mean that we've given up our values. It just means that by providing that space for the spirit to work, something transforms. And that, to me, is what's beautiful about it."