Alumnus steps out of the frame as L.A. movie producer and filmmaker to return to Liberty and follow ministry calling

John Kearns (’02) has built a wide-ranging career in film and video production, including several titles that have made it to the silver screen and Netflix, but his new pursuit of a Master of Divinity through the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity is an answer to a call to ministry that came into his life while still an underclassman.

Kearns first developed his passion for visual storytelling at the age of 7, when his grandparents bought him his first video camera and he began experimenting with the equipment. As an early teen, Kearns started producing videos by joining the audio/visual team at his church in Morehead City, N.C., and working at a local cable company’s public access TV show.

“I always found filmmaking interesting and a place where you can express yourself,” Kearns said.

Though Liberty did not have a program in filmmaking when Kearns attended (he pursued a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and a minor in communications), he said he still found ways to continue practicing the craft, creating short films in his free time and over summer breaks. (Liberty launched its cinematic arts degree program in 2012.)

He said the valuable lessons he learned at Liberty laid a solid foundation for his future career.

“The events that had the most effect upon my life from my days of undergrad were those in which Dr. (Jerry) Falwell inspired and challenged the student body to not only strive for educational excellence but also spiritual excellence as well,” Kearns said of Liberty’s founder. “I also learned how to network and build relationships. I feel that it helped me along my journey for the past 16-plus years.”

Following his graduation, Kearns moved to Wilmington, N.C., which at the time was the third largest city for the film industry, behind Los Angeles and New York City. Over the next few years, he worked at the local NBC and FOX affiliate news stations, created a short-lived television series titled “Palmetto Pointe,” and started an advertising business.

In 2009, Kearns found himself in Los Angeles after a few friends from Wilmington invited him to join them on the West Coast, marking the official beginning of his career in television and film. He performed various jobs on the sets of music videos, commercials, television shows, and independent films, including roles as production assistant, grip, lighting, camera, and eventually directing and occasional acting.

His most notable credits have come in recent years with his role as a producer on feature films under the stage name Johnny Cleveland, including “Silencer” in 2018 and “The Final Wish” and “The Outsider” in 2019. Many of his projects have been shown in theaters or on Netflix and other streaming platforms, and some are available for purchase in Walmart and other retail stores. Over the years, he has worked with the likes of Bruce Dern, Kris Kristofferson, Jody Sweetin, and Gillian Jacobs, among many others.

In the near future, he plans to launch a nonprofit that will sponsor grants for filmmakers “who are making God-honoring content that strengthen the faith and values of audiences.”

This fall, Kearns has enrolled at his alma mater to pursue his Master of Divinity through Liberty University Online Programs and refocus on the calling he felt as an undergraduate student. While he will likely find ways to still contribute to the entertainment industry, he says he wants to answer the call to ministry directly.

“During my film career, I went through some trials and tribulations,” Kearns said. “The best way to explain it is that I was blessed to live my dream, but also ran from the call in the pursuit of my dream. I felt called for a long time, but it took years to heed what I felt the Holy Spirit was directing me to do.”

“I do believe that film will always be a part of my life, but specifically in which manner, I am leaving that up to the Lord,” he added.

Kearns said he chose to return to Liberty for his graduate degree because he enjoyed his time as an undergraduate student, recognizes the high caliber of its graduate-level online education, and still believes in its mission of Training Champions for Christ.