Andy Erwin: Faith Films Are Opening Doors for the Gospel Worldwide

Erwin compared today’s studio distribution system to the “Romans Road” – a phrase familiar to evangelicals as a pathway of Bible verses explaining the gospel, but one that traces its roots to the ancient Roman road system that connected cities across the empire and helped spread Christianity.

Erwin made the remarks at the 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards, which will be broadcast on TBN Friday (May 29) at 7:30 and 10 Eastern.

“The Romans Road was something that was established in the days of Jesus for commerce, for war,” Erwin said.

“It would be easy for people in that society to say ‘these things were used for greed or for power, and that there's something not spiritual about it’ – but the thing that allowed the gospel to explode around the world by this group of fishermen was that all the roads were already laid,” he added.

When Jesus’ disciples “were radicalized by the resurrection,” they already had a vast Roman road system in place to help spread the Good News, Erwin added.

Similarly, today’s global studio distribution networks are already in place, allowing faith-based films to travel rapidly into theaters around the world.

“[Studios] have output deals that are already laid around the world, just like the Romans Road, they're there in place,” Erwin said. “And so when you put out a film here, and it does well domestically, it goes on autopilot around the world – the gospel goes out. So there's places like in China or in Saudi Arabia that I'd be arrested in the streets if I preach that message, but in the theater they're paying for us to bring it there.”

Of course, the modern-day “Romans Road” also opens doors in countries that are not necessarily hostile to Christianity but are nevertheless far removed from the U.S. film industry. Erwin shared the story of a woman in Australia who watched I Can Only Imagine and felt compelled to accept Christ as soon as the credits rolled.

“She was sitting by herself at the end of the row, and she was in tears, and she said [to two other moviegoers], ‘Are you guys Christians?’ … She says, ‘I'm not, but whatever the heck just happened to Dennis Quaid in that film, I need it in my life.’ And then she knelt down on the aisle and gave her life to Christ.

“That was in Australia,” Erwin said. “I've never been to Australia. It's the Romans Road.”

Cindy Bond, a producer on multiple faith-based and family films, said I Can Only Imagine helped prove that faith-based movies could succeed at the mainstream box office and resonate far beyond traditional Christian audiences.

“God just really used the first movie to just open up the marketplace on a whole other level,” she said.

Erwin emphasized that Hollywood studios are not opposed to Christian themes.

“If you prove that it can make money,” Erwin added, “they will let you do anything you want.”

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Photo Credit: ©Kingdom Story

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.