TIMISOARA, ROMANIA: Excitement filled the room as people gathered for the world premiere of the Romanian adaptation of "The Hope." More than 100 Christian workers, pastors and representatives from organizations like Campus Crusade for Christ, World Vision, and the Romanian Orhodox Church waited for the film to begin.

A news reporter from a secular TV station in Timisoara was asking me questions for the camera. "What's new about this film?" "Why have you come to Romania?" Why 'The HOPE'?" I was able to tell her that people and societies everywhere needed hope. And we had come to give all of God's story from creation to salvation and tell people about the hope that was found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. People in Romania may have heard a part of the story at Christmas and another part of the story at Easter. But "The HOPE" showed the overarching arc of God's story of salvation.

"What is your favorite part of the film?" I answered that it was the resurrection because the resurrection proved that Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross was for everyone. Most of the time when I have been interviewed by the press before a special event, they stay just long enough to get the pictures they need and leave to make a broadcast or print deadline. But not this night.

After opening remarks and thanks for coming, the room darkened and "The HOPE" filled the screen. And as the message of "The HOPE" began in the heart language of those who were watching, there was a murmur across the crowd and then a hush. The Spirit of God was there in the room with us.

This uniquely Romanian film captured the TV reporter and her cameraman and they stayed until the end of the film.

The Orthodox Church is a strong influence in Romania. That night, Archbishop Nikolai, the Archbishop for Romania's Western Region was there. The church had informed us that His Excellency was elderly and frail, and because of his pacemaker and heart condition he could only make a short appearance at the beginning of the film. But when the film began, the story captured him. He sat on the front row and stayed for the entire 84 minutes so he could see the whole story. After the film was over, the applause had died down and the lights came on, Tudor Petan, the president of Alfa Omega TV and our long time partner in Romania, asked for comments from the audience. Several people in the audience told how much the film had moved them and how the Romanian storytellers made the story come alive.

And then Tudor asked the Archbishop what he would like to say. The old gray haired bishop stood and Tudor handed him the microphone and then walked away to where I was sitting. I must confess that in my heart I was saying, "No, no. The Orthodox Church is not known as an evangelical presence in Romania. The film just ended with a strong evangelistic invitation to invite Christ into your life. Don't let him have the microphone without knowing what he is going to say. And especially don't walk away."

Tudor came and knelt next to me so he could translate the Bishop's words. "This film is wonderful. Every Romanian should see it. It shows us how we can become better followers of Christ."

We hope that this endorsement by such a high official of the Orthodox Church will open doors for the film far beyond what we could do ourselves.

During the reception after the showing David Zeoli, our Director of International Ministries, was interviewing viewers of the film so we could capture on film what they had to say. He turned the tables on the TV reporter and asked her what she thought now that she had seen the film. She said, "I've never seen this story before. To think that there is something like this in Romanian. It's so simple. The whole Bible is told in just one hour and a half, and you understand it and it's logical and it's simple."

Another viewer told us, "Romanian people are Latin and they like stories. We look for tales that are real, that change our lives. It will have a powerful impact because people are always searching for meaning and this will offer them an answer."

"The HOPE" provides the answer. With its unprecedented approach and almost boundless applications, "The HOPE" may be one of the most effective vehicles for fulfilling the Great Commission available today.