Some within the Church embrace the impact that movies and media can have in a ministry setting. Others prefer a separation of Church and culture.

Whatever you think of the media and motion pictures, one thing is certain: they heavily influence the culture in which you minister.

While most of us only know what we see and read about Hollywood , there are a number of Christians who are leaders in the movie industry.

George Barna has brought together an impressive group of experts — hands-on practitioners — for this unique CCN live satellite broadcast that will look at Movies, Media, and Ministry .

Joining George are Randall Wallace, who earned an Oscar nomination for best screenplay for Braveheart ; Ralph Winter, a leading movie producer; and Craig Detweiler, an author and the chair of Biola's Mass Communications department.

These Hollywood insiders will talk about the impact of movies on peoples' lives, the potential of movies as a ministry vehicle, and how some churches are effectively integrating movies and other visual elements into their services.

This broadcast will help you better understand movies and the media, while helping you decide what role they can play in your ministry.

George Barna is the Directing Leader of The Barna Group, Ltd. located in Ventura, California. The Barna Group analyzes American culture and creates both resources and experiences which facilitate moral and spiritual transformation. George has written more than 30 books, including such bestsellers as The Frog in the Kettle, A Fish Out of Water, Think Like Jesus, and Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions. George Barna is in-demand for his teaching and expertise, speaking at conferences, churches, universities and seminaries throughout the country. He is a regular speaker on CCN training broadcasts.

Craig Detweiler is Associate Professor and Chair of Mass Communications at Biola University . He is also a screenwriter and the coauthor of the book A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture . His screenwriting credits include The Duke , Extreme Day , and an award-winning documentary, Williams Syndrome: A Highly Musical Species . He and coauthor Barry Taylor were 2004 Gold Medallion finalists for A Matrix of Meanings . He has a Mater's of Fine Arts from USC, an M.Div from Fuller, and is working toward a Ph.D. in Theology and Culture.

Ralph Winter is a top Hollywood producer who has worked on such films as The X-Men, Planet of the Apes, Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country, Inspector Gadget, Left Behind , and others. His numerous projects also include short films and television. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. His first work in Hollywood was post-production on the 1970s' TV shows Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Taxi, and Mork and Mindy.

Randall Wallace is a producer, screenwriter, director, and author. He wrote the script for the Oscar-winning film Braveheart . He wrote, directed, and produced both The Man in the Iron Mask and We Were Soldiers . He also wrote the screenplay for Pearl Harbor and served as executive producer. He stared in Hollywood in television, as a producer and writer for Stephen Cannell Productions, writing a number of screenplays for different series. He is currently working on a film version of Love & Honor , a novel he authored.