Acclaimed producer visits

Along with Mark Burnett, former Liberty vice president Johnnie Moore speak during Convocation

David Nasser, senior vice president for spiritual development, welcomed Johnnie Moore, former campus pastor and senior vice president of Liberty University, now chief of staff and vice president for faith content at Lightworks Media, to the stage Friday, Feb. 6.

Moore walked up to the microphone to the applause and cheers of the student body and guests in attendance. Moore opened Convocation in prayer, during which he said he was overwhelmed and almost brought to tears at the thought of the work the Lord is doing through Liberty and its student body.

On seeing Moore again, Liberty junior Archibald Randolph VI said “it was like seeing an old friend that you haven’t seen in forever.”

Moore went on to introduce acclaimed film and TV producer Mark Burnett to the Convocation attendees. Burnett shared an extended trailer of the upcoming NBC series “A.D.” to the Convocation attendees. After the trailer, Burnett spoke to the crowd about the process of filming. He told a story about a group of clouds that rolled over the set in the shape of a cross. It was incidents like this that reassured Burnett and others that God was with them. It was also shared that Moore and Ed Hindson, dean of Liberty’s School of Religion, have been working with Burnett on the historical accuracy of “A.D.”

Burnett challenged students to do their best in everything. He said that Christians are called to do their best and not be content with sitting on the sidelines. Burnett went on to share a never-before-seen, 11-minute clip of the series “A.D.,” which premieres on Easter. Burnett was excited at an opportunity to work with the world-famous Christian band Newsboys on the making of the “A.D.” trailer and music video, which features the Newsboys’ song “We Believe.”

After Convocation, Burnett held a private showing for local pastors and community leaders in the THX Theater in Liberty’s School of Cinematic Arts. After this showing, he went on to hold another question and answer session. Daniel Bolton, director of Spiritual Programs at Liberty, was excited by the opportunities and experience students would not receive at any other university, thanks to Burnett.

In leaving, Burnett and his wife, producer and actress Roma Downey, wrote a letter for Liberty students giving them the exclusive right to download the never-before-seen trailer for the upcoming NBC show “A.D.” Liberty students are the only university students with the right to download the clip directly. They are encouraged to download the clip through the Liberty portal splash page and share the clip to promote the upcoming series to their friends and families.

CHIPMAN is a news reporter.