‘That They May Be One’: New film explores call to Christian unity

A new film based on Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21 called “That They May Be One” will be in theaters May 19 and 20.

Inspired by Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21, a new movie called “That They May Be One” is exploring the theme of Christian unity — both across history and in the present day.

The film blends documentary-style interviews with prominent figures in the faith community and reenactments that bring key moments to life. Perspectives from both Catholic and Protestant leaders are featured in the film, including interviews with Father Mathias Thelen, Pastor James Ward, evangelist Francis Chan, and Catholic biblical scholar Mary Healy, who also serves as a producer of the film.

The movie will be in theaters nationwide May 19 and 20.

Adriana Gonzalez, the Catholic executive producer behind the film, told EWTN News in an interview that the inspiration for the film came from her own passion regarding Christian unity as well as a talk she heard in 2020 given by Healy.

Gonzalez said she felt it was necessary to make the documentary because in today’s society “thereʼs greater division, greater animosity, so greater unity is just logically beneficial because we want to stand strong against a world that really attacks Christianity.”

Another reason she believes this movie is needed “is because we do witness a move of God today and so much of it is based on unity in the Holy Spirit … So, who knows when that last day will come, but yet, there is a preparation that moves forward in history and in the progression of the Church, and I do believe that unity is one of those things that must be wrought by the Holy Spirit to prepare the bride of Christ.”

Gonzalez highlighted that this film also addresses some of the misconceptions many have regarding the pursuit of Christian unity, namely that it “waters down our Catholic faith.”

One of the main reasons this fear needs to be debunked, she explained, is because “the Church itself calls all of her faithful to pursue unity in the body of Christ.”

“This was established in the Second Vatican Council,“ she said. ”St. John Paul II reiterated it in his encyclical Ut Unum Sint. And so itʼs a call from the Church herself to all the faithful, not just to the hierarchy, to all the faithful, to pursue unity.”

Michael Girgenti, the actor who portrays Jesus in the film, added that he often sees Christians of many denominations focusing on “wanting to be right versus maybe teaming up on trying to bring others who donʼt know Christ to Christ.”

He added: “The Churchʼs mission until the end of ages is to gather as many souls and to unite them to Christ and thatʼs literally what the documentary focuses on as far as like yes, thereʼs a bunch of different denominations, but thereʼs also even more people who reject the Lord, donʼt know the Lord, and we have to do what we can, together, to bring and show them the light of Christ.”

Gonzalez emphasized another aspect of Christian unity that personally impacted her passion toward the topic and believes all Catholics should contemplate.

“What moves me toward really being passionate about this … is just thinking that our dear beloved Jesus — who is the center and head and core of everything in our faith — prayed this the night before he died,” she shared. “It seems to me like ‘Oh wow, that should be enough to compel every single Christian on the face of the earth to say, ‘Lord, how can I be a part of an answer to this prayer that you prayed just hours before you knew you were going to get arrested and crucified?’”

Girgenti shared that he hopes Christian viewers of the film will be reminded that “itʼs not about trying to prove and convince everyone whoʼs right” but instead would be “more inspired to just talk and preach about the Lord.”

As for nonbelievers, he said he hopes “they accept the invitation to know him [Jesus]. I hope they accept the invitation to go deeper, to try to read Scripture, to try to go to church, and to follow the light that he is providing us always.”

Gonzalez added that she hopes viewers will pursue a renewal in “falling in love with Jesus again because then one of the natural consequences of that is unity in the body of Christ.”