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About The Film

It’s 30 AD and everyone is expectantly awaiting the coming Messiah. While Jesus isn’t exactly what they imagined, there is something special about this man. Soon, John, James, Andrew, Peter, and others begin to follow Jesus on an unexpected adventure. This beautifully animated story of Jesus is told through the eyes of his beloved young friend, the Apostle John. From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry through his crucifixion and resurrection, LIGHT OF THE WORLD powerfully illustrates how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever and still changes lives today!

LIGHT OF THE WORLD releases in theaters, Summer 2025.

Production Shots

Check out these early images from LIGHT OF THE WORLD and get ready to see this beautifully animated movie in theaters Summer 2025.

VIDEOS

Hand-drawn animation is a timeless medium that retains its beauty over many decades. It contains all the subtle flaws we’ve come to call “human.” To us, it’s a fitting way to express our love and adoration to Jesus—the only unflawed person to ever walk the earth.

Meet The Characters

James

James is set to inherit his father’s fishing business, but when Jesus calls him to leave his nets and become a fisher of men, he doesn’t hesitate.

Jesus

Jesus was born in Bethlehem and raised in obscurity in Nazareth. But angels and prophets have promised that he is much more than just a carpenter. He is the Light Of The World!

John

John tries to act grown-up, like he can do everything on his own, but secretly he hopes for the Messiah to save his people from Roman oppression.

Zebedee

Zebedee is a faithful man who just wants to keep his family safe. That’s why he teaches his sons, John and James, to work hard and stay out of trouble.

Salome

Salome knows hard work won’t save her sons. Only God can do that. She urges John and James to trust that God will send the Messiah to deliver them from darkness.

Pontius Pilate

Cynical, educated, and politically powerful, Pontius Pilate deals with kings and criminals. When the Jews bring Jesus to him as self-proclaimed King of the Jews, he is intrigued—although he hardly sees any threat in the man.

Lucius

Lucius is a strong leader in the Roman guard. He’s quick to deal out justice to those who show disdain for the law. But when he sees Jesus heal a man, he can’t help but think about his sick servant.

Karmi

With deformed legs, Karmi has endured constant whispers that his sin must have caused his malady. But when Jesus heals him and forgives his sins, Karmi is proud to walk out holding the mat that held him.

Caiaphas

As the high priest of Israel, Caiaphas holds the weight of the Jewish people on his bent shoulders. To him, Jesus is a threat to the stability of his tenuous relationship with Rome.

John the Baptizer

John the Baptizer is a true prophet, the herald sent to announce the coming of the Messiah. He boldly speaks against the evil around him—and pays the ultimate price for it.

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene is a tortured woman with a dark past. She made many bad decisions. But when she encounters Jesus, he delivers her from darkness, and she never looks back.

Matthew

Although some call him a traitor to his people, Matthew is just doing his job, collecting taxes. But when Jesus offers him a better opportunity, he’s glad to leave his money bags behind.

Peter

Strong, dependable, and dedicated, Peter won’t stop until he sees the Messiah take his throne, and Rome reduced to rubble.

Andrew

Andrew is Peter’s younger brother. After responding to John the Baptizer’s call, he is the first to seek out the Messiah’s whereabouts.

Mary

Mary loves her son and dotes on him, perhaps because she knows that she is destined to lose him. “And a sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:35).

Nicodemus

Nicodemus is a dedicated teacher of the law. But unlike Caiaphas, he is not afraid to seek out the truth, regardless of what it means for those in power—including himself.

Jesus

Jesus was born in Bethlehem and raised in obscurity in Nazareth. But angels and prophets have promised that he is much more than just a carpenter. He is the Light Of The World!

John

John tries to act grown-up, like he can do everything on his own, but secretly he hopes for the Messiah to save his people from Roman oppression.

Zebedee

Zebedee is a faithful man who just wants to keep his family safe. That’s why he teaches his sons, John and James, to work hard and stay out of trouble.

James

James is set to inherit his father’s fishing business, but when Jesus calls him to leave his nets and become a fisher of men, he doesn’t hesitate.

Salome

Salome knows hard work won’t save her sons. Only God can do that. She urges John and James to trust that God will send the Messiah to deliver them from darkness.

Pontius Pilate

Cynical, educated, and politically powerful, Pontius Pilate deals with kings and criminals. When the Jews bring Jesus to him as self-proclaimed King of the Jews, he is intrigued—although he hardly sees any threat in the man.

Lucius

Lucius is a strong leader in the Roman guard. He’s quick to deal out justice to those who show disdain for the law. But when he sees Jesus heal a man, he can’t help but think about his sick servant.

Karmi

With deformed legs, Karmi has endured constant whispers that his sin must have caused his malady. But when Jesus heals him and forgives his sins, Karmi is proud to walk out holding the mat that held him.

Caiaphas

As the high priest of Israel, Caiaphas holds the weight of the Jewish people on his bent shoulders. To him, Jesus is a threat to the stability of his tenuous relationship with Rome.

John the Baptizer

John the Baptizer is a true prophet, the herald sent to announce the coming of the Messiah. He boldly speaks against the evil around him—and pays the ultimate price for it.

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene is a tortured woman with a dark past. She made many bad decisions. But when she encounters Jesus, he delivers her from darkness, and she never looks back.

Matthew

Although some call him a traitor to his people, Matthew is just doing his job, collecting taxes. But when Jesus offers him a better opportunity, he’s glad to leave his money bags behind.

Peter

Strong, dependable, and dedicated, Peter won’t stop until he sees the Messiah take his throne, and Rome reduced to rubble.

Andrew

Andrew is Peter’s younger brother. After responding to John the Baptizer’s call, he is the first to seek out the Messiah’s whereabouts.

Mary

Mary loves her son and dotes on him, perhaps because she knows that she is destined to lose him. “And a sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:35).

Nicodemus

Nicodemus is a dedicated teacher of the law. But unlike Caiaphas, he is not afraid to seek out the truth, regardless of what it means for those in power—including himself.

Meet The Team

Matt McPherson

Executive Producer

Matt McPherson has been a successful musician, producer, and entrepreneur for decades. In that time, he founded The Salvation Poem Project, as well as world-renowned businesses such as Mathews Inc., McPherson Guitars, and Canzion Films. LIGHT OF THE WORLD is his passion project and a significant part of what he believes his life-calling to be.

Brennan McPherson

Producer

Brennan McPherson is both the president of The Salvation Poem Project and a lifelong creative. After spending years producing faith-based multimedia content, LIGHT OF THE WORLD stands at the intersection of his passions in art and theology.

John Schafer

Director

Formerly the senior producer of CBN’s Superbook, John Schafer brings decades of experience in building and leading creative teams to bring biblical adaptations to life in children’s animation.

Tom Bancroft

Director

An award-winning veteran of the animation industry, Tom Bancroft has worked on films like Beauty And The Beast, The Lion King, and Mulan. Tom is also the founder of the independent animation studio, Pencilish.

Tony Bancroft

Head of Story and Animation Director

In his three-decades-long career, Tony Bancroft has touched nearly every aspect of animated film production—from co-directing Mulan, to animating on Mary Poppins Returns and Space Jam: A New Legacy. Tony understands what it takes to make a world-class 2D animated film.

The Salvation Poem Project is committed to sharing Jesus with the world through song and story … and it all started with a poem. The Salvation Poem is a 6-line song that shares the basics of the Gospel in a simple, effective, and memorable way. Ministries, missionaries, and many others have used The Salvation Poem to share the Gospel with hundreds of millions around the globe in many languages.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to know Jesus and to choose for themselves to follow him. We are a team of artists who are obsessed with Jesus, and this is our contribution to the Great Commission. With the tools we create, we work with others to deliver those tools  into the hands of the people who need them most.

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