Rev. Steven Martin is a religious leader and documentary filmmaker who creates films on topics ranging from religion in Nazi Germany to Muslims living in rural America. His recently released film, STORM TROOPERS OF CHRIST: Baptism and Jews in the Third Reich, examines the way the Christian doctrine of baptism became a dividing line between those who chose to follow Nazism’s racial theories and those who resisted the Nazis.

Through Rev. Martin’s 18 years of experience and research, he says we need to make churches into places to openly discuss problems in our world. That way, citizens with common interests can tell politicians what they want rather than wait for politicians to provide them with their answers and avoid the type of blind faith that occurred in Nazi Germany.

Rev. Martin can also discuss:

• The dangers of not radically separating church and state.

• Ways to create peaceful dialogue amid controversy within churches.

• His mission of creating insightful documentaries on a variety of faith-based topics.

CREDENTIALS: Rev. Steven Martin has served United Methodist churches as a pastor for 18 years. A graduate of Candler School of Theology, he’s also a documentary filmmaker and president of Vital Visions, Inc., a non-profit organization committed to using films to educate and bring about dialogue in the areas of religion, ethics and public life. Among his previously released films is THEOLOGIANS UNDER HITLER, which asks: Does the church of today retain the ability to recognize profound evil?

AVAILABILITY: Tennessee, nationwide by arrangement and via telephone
CONTACT: Steven Martin, (865) 483-6823 (TN); steve@vitalvisuals.com; http://www.vitalvisuals.com