The ADVENTISTS, the new one-hour documentary film now airing on PBS stations, will have a special showing at the General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists on June 30th at 4 pm in the Georgia Dome.

“The film has broken new ground by taking the Adventist story - and particularly the Church’s emphasis on health and healing – to mainstream America,” says Fred Kinsey, who directs communications for the North America Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “This special presentation at the General Conference Session will be an opportunity for the worldwide Church to see what all the excitement is about. The fact the film is made by a non-Adventist makes it even more unique.” Kinsey and filmmaker Martin Doblmeier will discuss the film before its presentation.

The Adventists – now a best-selling DVD on Amazon for documentary/religion, explores the history and contemporary story of the American-born faith whose members are some of the healthiest and longest-living people on the planet – living on average 8-10 years longer than most Americans. Formed in the mid-19th Century, Seventh-day Adventists are by their own description a conservative religion that holds as a central tenet that Jesus Christ is returning again, soon. At the same time Adventists are pioneers in medical technology and health care exploration. For them, waiting for the Second Coming is not a time for fear, but for preparation and hope.

Filmed on location at hospitals and health care facilities in Florida, Ohio and California, the film also contains a re-enactment of the 1844 event called The Great Disappointment which gave birth to Adventism, and a profile of the charismatic figure, John Harvey Kellogg whose Battle Creek (MI) Sanitarium set the standard for progressive health care in the early 20th century.

“This winter and spring I had the privilege of traveling to a number of leading Adventist churches and colleges to present the film and speak to its core themes,” says filmmaker Martin Doblmeier, who has directed more than 20 award-winning films on religion and faith, including the best-sellers BONHOEFFER and The POWER of FORGIVENESS. “At a time when our country is deeply divided over the health care debate, this film reframes the issues beyond economics by raising the notion that the body is “the temple of God,” and hospital and health care work is “sacred work.” In many ways, the Adventist approach is revolutionary - yet at the same time solidly based in Scriptures.”

The ADVENTISTS is a produced in high definition by Journey Films of Alexandria, VA. It is written and directed by Martin Doblmeier, produced by Dan Juday and edited by Gayle Añonuevo.

For more information visit: www.journeyfilms.com