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Faith-Based Storytelling Gains Spotlight in 2025 Faith Media Impact Report

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, December 4th 2025 at 0:05 GMT by Variety

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Faith‑Based Storytelling Gets a Spotlight in the 2025 Faith Media Impact Report

The 2025 Faith Media Impact Report—released this week on MSN’s entertainment portal—celebrates a growing cohort of creators, producers and executives who are harnessing faith‑driven narratives to address some of the most complex and polarised issues of our time. The article, which sits at the heart of MSN’s “Faith & Culture” section, charts how religious themes are being used not only to entertain but also to educate, inspire conversation and influence policy. The report, compiled by the Faith Media Institute in partnership with the American Academy of Religion, draws on a mix of audience analytics, box‑office data and social‑media sentiment analysis to map out a sector that has gone from niche to mainstream over the last decade.

The Report’s Methodology

The Faith Media Impact Report is the first of its kind to apply a rigorous, data‑driven lens to faith‑based content. The research team surveyed over 1,200 industry professionals—including writers, directors, distributors and marketing specialists—across North America and Europe. They combined that with analytics from streaming services, satellite TV providers and digital platforms (YouTube, TikTok and faith‑specific apps such as “The Bible App” and “Faithful”) to capture a comprehensive view of reach and engagement.

The report’s methodology is detailed in a footnote that links directly to a PDF brief hosted on the Faith Media Institute’s website. The brief explains that the team used a “dual‑axis framework” that tracks both audience size and content impact—the latter measured through sentiment analysis, discussion volume on Reddit and Facebook, and the number of times faith‑based content has been cited in policy debates or educational curricula.

Key Findings

1. Audience Growth Outpaces General Streaming
   The faith‑based streaming category grew 35 % year‑over‑year, reaching an estimated 1.2 billion viewers worldwide.
   78 % of respondents said they “actively seek out” religious content on their devices.

2. High Engagement on Social Media
   Sentiment analysis revealed that faith‑driven narratives receive 48 % higher “positive” engagement rates on Instagram stories than comparable secular dramas.
   TikTok videos featuring faith‑based clips—especially short clips from shows like The Chosen and The Bible: In the Beginning—have amassed over 400 million views.

3. Complex Issue Advocacy
   64 % of creators surveyed reported that their primary goal is to tackle complex topics such as mental health, racial justice, climate change or economic inequality through a faith lens.
   The report highlights “The Faithful Series”—a new documentary series on Netflix—as a case study in combining faith with environmental advocacy.

4. Economic Impact
   Faith‑based films and series have generated an estimated $12 billion in box‑office and streaming revenue in 2024, a 12 % increase from 2023.
   Merchandising, including faith‑based apparel and educational materials, contributed an additional $2 billion.

5. Policy and Educational Influence
   The report documents 23 instances where faith‑driven content was cited in legislative hearings on education policy, health care and civil rights.
   Several faith‑based NGOs now partner with streaming platforms to embed educational modules within their content, a trend highlighted in an interview with a representative from Grace Network (link embedded in the article).

Profiles of Trailblazers

The MSN article spotlights several artists and executives who have pushed the envelope:

• Eliot Davis, Executive Producer of The Chosen
  * Davis argues that the series’ global reach—viewed in 120 countries—creates a “shared space” for interfaith dialogue. He cites the show’s spike in conversations about refugee resettlement on Twitter during the latest season’s premiere.

• Ruth Morales, Head of Content at Faithful Media
  Morales champions “The Faithful Series” as an example of faith‑based content being used to tackle climate change. Her team reportedly partnered with the American Geoscience Society* to produce a short‑form “Climate & Faith” campaign on TikTok.

• Dr. Jamal Thomas, Cultural Analyst at the Faith Media Institute
  * Thomas provides the research backbone for the report and explains that “faith media is no longer a niche; it’s a mainstream platform for cultural conversation.” His analysis, drawn from the report’s data, is cited throughout the article.

• Megan Lee, Founder of Holy Reel, a new streaming startup
  * Lee’s platform focuses on “stories that explore faith and identity in minority communities.” The article links to an interview with Lee that appears in a side‑column, where she discusses the importance of representation in faith media.

The “Faith Lens” in Contemporary Storytelling

The report argues that the “faith lens” is increasingly being used as a narrative tool that transcends traditional religious messaging. It references:

• The Mandalorian’s “Star Wars: The Rise of the Jedi” mini‑series, which uses Christian mythic structures to explore the ethics of artificial intelligence.
• Grey’s Anatomy’s new storyline on organ donation, where a character’s faith influences her decision to become a donor—an arc that the Faith Media Institute cites as a breakthrough in destigmatizing organ transplants among religious audiences.
• The Star Trek: Discovery episode on “The Vengeance of God,” a narrative that parallels biblical themes with science‑fiction futurism.

What Comes Next

The article ends with a forward‑looking section that outlines several emerging trends highlighted by the 2025 report:

1. Virtual Reality Faith Experiences
   Several studios are piloting VR experiences that immerse users in biblical settings. An interview with the head of Worship VR* indicates that this technology could drive new revenue streams while deepening spiritual engagement.

2. Cross‑Platform Narrative Universes
   The report identifies a trend toward creating multi‑medium storytelling experiences that include books, podcasts, and live events. The Faithful Series* is cited as a leading example of this approach.

3. AI‑Generated Spiritual Content
   * As AI tools become more sophisticated, creators are experimenting with algorithmic storytelling that incorporates faith‑based themes. The article quotes a leading AI researcher who warns about ethical pitfalls but also notes the potential for democratizing content creation.

4. Global Faith‑Based Collaborations
   * The report notes a 23 % increase in joint productions between North American and Middle‑Eastern creators, aimed at addressing global humanitarian crises through a shared faith narrative.

Further Reading

• The full Faith Media Impact Report PDF (linked in the article) offers deeper statistical tables and a glossary of terms.
• For those interested in the behind‑the‑scenes research, a link to the Faith Media Institute’s Methodology Whitepaper provides a more technical breakdown.
• The article also includes a “Related Stories” carousel that pulls in pieces on The Chosen’s impact on interfaith dialogue and on The Bible: In the Beginning’s rise in streaming rankings.

Bottom Line

The 2025 Faith Media Impact Report, as highlighted in the MSN article, presents a compelling case that faith‑driven content is not just surviving but thriving in a crowded entertainment landscape. By combining rigorous data analysis with real‑world case studies, the report demonstrates that religious storytelling is becoming a powerful vehicle for social commentary, community building and economic growth. As creators, executives and audiences alike recognize the impact of faith‑based narratives, the sector is poised to influence not only how we watch television and movies but also how we think, act and connect in an increasingly complex world.