#190 - What if you could trade flat maps and footnotes for sunrise on Sinai and sea spray in your face as you approach a harbor Paul once saw? That’s the world filmmaker Craig Dehut invites us into—where sacred places become cinematic classrooms and faith is strengthened by seeing.
Craig shares how Appian Media grew from a coffee-shop idea to a nonprofit producing free, high-quality Bible documentaries viewed more than 20 million times in over 160 countries. We dig into the nuts and bolts: small teams hauling Sony rigs, drones, and audio kits through Israel, Egypt, Turkey, and Greece; the scramble for permits that can change by sunset; and the art of capturing clean, honest moments among crowds at sites like the Church of the Nativity. Craig explains why their films lean into archaeology, geography, and culture—so viewers can picture Capernaum’s streets, feel the Valley of Elah’s creek bed, and re-read Scripture with sharper eyes.
Beyond craft, we talk impact. Homeschool families use the series as living curriculum. Skeptics come for history and stay for the evidence. Teachers cue clips, kids ask to binge-read First Samuel, and lifelong believers say they finally “saw” Jerusalem. Craig opens up about the editing grind, the joy and exhaustion of 16-hour field days, and a bold ten-year plan to build a Genesis-to-Revelation visual journey. The goal is simple and ambitious: help people read better by helping them see better—turning the lands of the Bible into accessible, vivid learning for everyone.
Watch the documentaries on YouTube, explore resources at AppianMedia.org, and if the mission resonates, consider supporting monthly to fuel future trips and post-production. If this conversation moves you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what place from Scripture do you most want to see brought to life?
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