New Documentary Unveils Stories of Healing and Hope

A new documentary by Hope Channel Inter-America is shedding light on how health ministries are transforming lives across the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory, featuring stories of healing, hope, and mission in action.

Recently premiered, the film—titled Life Tested—showcases the IAD health ministries department’s commitment to impacting one million lives each year through a comprehensive, faith-driven approach to health. Rather than simply reporting statistics or outlining initiatives, the documentary puts a human face on the church’s mission, chronicling four compelling stories of struggle, resilience, and hope from Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, and Haiti, church leaders said.

Showing What Impact Really Means

“When we say we’re impacting lives, it doesn’t mean anything unless we can actually see it,” said Dr. Franck Généus, health ministries director of the IAD. “This documentary tells the story of what that transformation looks like.”

The 45-minute feature film captures the personal journeys of a dentist serving remote communities in the Amazon, a young man facing a near-death experience, a physician inspired by a miracle to dedicate her life to service, and an ambulance driver who daily risks his life with unwavering faith. Together, their stories represent what health leaders in the region call “validated hope,” emphasized Dr. Généus.

“These are not just stories of healing,” he said. “They are stories of faith, resilience, and total commitment to service—even under life-threatening circumstances.”

Hope Channel Inter-America executive director Abel Márquez emphasized that the purpose of the documentary goes beyond showcasing projects.

Franck Généus, M.D., Health Ministries Director of the Inter-American Division, speaks about the documentary moments before its premiere in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, on July 8, 2025.

Franck Généus

“Our goal is not only to capture the dedication with which different groups and individuals share hope and healing, but also to tell the stories of people in remote areas—where faith is lived, despite any other need,” said Márquez.

Capturing Humanity, Faith, and Second Chances

According to Life Tested producer Lizbeth Elejalde, the film’s power lies in its authenticity and emotional resonance.

“When everything seems to stop, there is something that keeps beating: hope,” she said. “More than a documentary about health, it is a vibrant testimony of humanity, courage, and second chances. It invites viewers to believe in the impossible. It is an open door—a door to what truly sustains us.”

Over the course of a year, staff from five of the channel’s media centers—located in Chiapas, Venezuela, Cuba, Montemorelos, and Miami—worked together to journey from the most remote corners of the Amazon to the quiet hallways of a hospital, said Elejalde.

“All of this was done with the goal of capturing—through images and testimonies—how faith, service, and compassion intertwine in places where human need runs deep,” she added. “The result places the viewer as a witness to the work of medical missions, focused not only on physical health, but on the full restoration of the human being.”

An excerpt from Life Tested during its inaugural screening at the 62nd General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 8, 2025.

Lizbeth Elejalde

Márquez highlighted how the film was made possible through a collaborative network of production centers across the region.

“One key aspect to highlight is that at HCIA, we work as a network in collaboration with the production centers of the unions,” said Márquez. “In this case, working with the different centers across several countries—extending all the way to the local church—enriches not only the production, but also the collaboration, as the great network that we are.”

A Vision of Total Health Involvement

The documentary also serves as a visual representation of the division’s growing “Total Health Involvement” initiative—a model that encourages every member of the church to participate in health ministries, not just trained professionals.

“We’re not building an elite group of health experts,” said Généus. “Even visiting someone or praying with the sick is health ministry. Everyone has something to contribute.”

Lizbeth Elejalde (center), producer of Life Tested, and Abel Márquez (right), executive director of Hope Channel Inter-America, present the new documentary alongside Dr. Franck Généus during a screening in St. Louis, Missouri, in July.

Roel Cea

This vision, he said, is organized through a strategic framework known as DREAM, which stands for Detection, Restoration, Education, Accompaniment, and Maintenance.

“Through this model, local churches and institutions across the IAD engage in activities ranging from health expos and medical missions to lifestyle education and emotional and spiritual support,” he said.

Framework with Measurable Impact

To measure the effectiveness of these efforts, the division has implemented a new real-time data app, www.onemillon.org, enabling leaders to track impact and identify areas of need throughout the territory.

The official launch of Life Tested took place on July 8, 2025, during a special presentation at the 62^nd General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri. The film is available on Hope Channel Inter-America in Spanish and English.

“We want the entire world to know that the Inter-American Division is moving forward—strongly—with a united vision for health,” said Dr. Généus.

To view the film on demand and find other resources, visit hopechannelinteramerica.org. The original article was published on the Inter-American Division news site.