Following a tradition of more than seven years, the Adventist Church’s communication community, GAiN Europe, in coordination with Hope Media Europe, has unveiled its latest film and media productions, along with written content under the project My Greatest Purpose. This new global network project focuses on the theme of life purposes, bringing together the collaboration, efforts, and teamwork of numerous media centers and entities of the Adventist Church worldwide.
The final results of over two years of production were presented as part of the official program of GAiN Europe—recently held in Budva, Montenegro. Hope Media Europe led the presentation, under the leadership of Klaus Popa, with the strong involvement and official support of the EUD and TED communication departments and the project’s coordinator, Adrian Duré, along with representatives from global media centers. These efforts culminated in the creation of a three-documentary series and a narrative film produced by the North American Division, coordinated by Julio Muñoz, director of the SONscreen Film Festival, with significant contributions from Pacific Union College. Additionally, Norel Iacob, lead editor for the upcoming book on PURPOSE, shared the next phases for its completion.
After more than two years of work, the My Greatest Purpose project has achieved the production of three documentary series, the aforementioned book (still under development), and a narrative film titled Inner Space. A noteworthy aspect of the multiple documentary series is the decision, perhaps for the first time, to focus on the life stories of world-renowned public figures excelling in their respective fields.
The Decision to Highlight Public Figures
"From the moment we met with the coordination group of the network projects, we decided to respond to feedback from previous years regarding why we weren’t working with highly influential public figures. We realized this would be a way to reach new audiences with a positive and hopeful message," explained Adrian Duré, the project’s overall coordinator.
"After much prayer, persistent interviews, rejections, and negotiations, we managed to engage famous and respected individuals who were enthusiastic about working with Adventist representatives to share exemplary stories and inspire other audiences,” said Duré. Under the direction and production of Adrian Duré, Lizbeth Elejalde Garcia—renowned producer from the Inter-American Division—and Marcelo Ziegler, experienced documentary director and leader of Hope Media Central Asia, these three documentary series were brought to life, telling the stories of true-life purposes through the experiences of public figures."
The Documentary Series
1. My Greatest Victory
This series, featuring five stories (Season 1), highlights the life purposes of elite athletes. Among them is Aguska Mnich, a freestyle football legend and six-time world champion with three Guinness World Records. Alongside her husband, Patrick Bäurer, also a freestyle footballer, they boast over 10 million followers. Aguska shared how her life transformation came solely through God, stating, "Jesus changed my life. If He could change mine, He can do it for anyone. I need to tell the world what Jesus has done for me."
Nicola Olyslagers, one of the standout athletes from the recent Paris Olympics, known for her radiant smile and positive spirit, also shares her testimony. "I don’t want to be remembered for my achievements but for how I loved others. High jump is not my final goal but the tool shaping me into who I’ve always wanted to be,"Nicola explained.
Other inspiring stories in this series include Moesha Johnson, an Australian athlete who won a silver medal in open-water swimming at the controversial Seine River Olympic event, alongside stories from Africa, Argentina, and beyond.
2. My Greatest Venture
This series explores the journeys of four renowned entrepreneurs and innovators. Among them is David Aguilar, famously known as Hand Solo, who gained global recognition for building his own prosthetic arm using LEGO pieces. Today, David builds prosthetics for thousands of children worldwide using the same materials.
The series also features Dr. Rosana Alves, a Brazilian neuroscientist whose humble beginnings did not stop her from becoming a global authority in neuroscience and a bestselling author.
3. My Greatest Decision
This series presents the stories of six musicians from the world of popular music who experienced life-changing transformations, leading them to reevaluate their careers and life purposes.
Kevin Olusola, a member of the Grammy-winning group Pentatonix, shares his journey of faith, detailing his past, present, and hopes for the future. The series also features Irida Dragoti, a prominent opera singer from Albania, who recounts her transformation and how her faith guides her in the elite world of European classical music.
A Free Resource for All
Adrian Duré emphasized, "From the beginning, we saw an incredible opportunity to tell untold stories and reach new audiences. The protagonists deeply valued the Church’s initiative to create such meaningful content."
The My Greatest Purpose project is available to all, free of charge, with the first English-language content being released on December 1 via the project’s website: www.mygreatestpurpose.org. These productions will also be accessible to Adventist media centers worldwide, with the potential for translation into other languages.
A New Platform for a Special Niche
For the first time, Hope Media Europe introduced www.jplus.app, a new platform dedicated to films, documentaries, and reflective articles focused on CULTURE, VALUES, and FAITH. Launching in March 2025, the platform will cater to audiences interested in the intersection of these three areas. Featuring an extensive library of intercultural productions from the Adventist Church, www.JPLUS.app aims to be a hub for cultural, value-based, and faith-driven content.
