Martin Doblmeier, award-winning and critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker, visited Goshen College on Tuesday as part of a tour for the preview of his upcoming four-part documentary, “Christianity at a Crossroads.”

Doblmeier, who visited the college about a year and a half ago, met with staff and students, especially those related to the More Than Just Stories initiative, and spoke on a panel at a viewing of a 40-minute excerpt of his film.

More Than Just Stories is a new project at the college, funded by a $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, that consists of two podcasts, a documentary, a speech competition and a climate change-centered storytelling festival.

The screening and talk was part of the college’s Yoder Public Affairs Presentation series.

Duane Stoltzfus, the project director of More Than Just Stories, served as Doblmeier’s escort during his visit.

“It was exciting to have him back, and it was so gratifying to see Umble Center filled almost to capacity with people who were there because they care about the state of the church and its future,” Stoltzfus said.

Doblmeier is the founder and president of Journey Films, a production company specializing in documentary feature films about religion, faith and spirituality. He founded the company in 1983 after working in broadcast news.

“I was doing 8-10 minute pieces, and I felt as though I wanted to get more serious about long-form,” Doblmeier said. “I like the hour long form. I felt as though I had run out of gas for the shorter pieces.”

Each of the four parts of “Christianity at a Crossroads” is an hour long.

After the viewing of his film, Doblmeier spoke on a panel about contemporary Christianity in the U.S. The panel was hosted by GC President Rebecca Stoltzfus, and included President Dave Boshart of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary; Regina Shands Stoltzfus,  professor of peace, justice and conflict studies; and Shalom Solomon Teferi, a junior biochemistry and molecular biology major.

While on campus, Doblmeier was busy from 8:30 a.m., when he sat for an interview with Globe TV, until 9 p.m., when the reception after his film wrapped up. In that time, in addition to the screening, he spoke in a film class, talked with the entire MTJS team in great detail, had dinner with the other panelists and sat interviews for both Globe TV and The Record.

Keegan Wyse, a junior broadcasting major, interviewed Doblmeier for his Globe TV news package and attested to him being well-spoken. “There were a lot of things he said that made you want to stop and think and ask more questions,” Wyse said.

One thing Doblmeier brought up in both interviews was the idea of a “God gap.”

“It’s not an absolute concept, but it’s principled around the idea that churches have sort of self-selected around political divisions,” Doblmeier said. 

“We used to think in the past that religion was the first lens of how we’re looking at the world, processing the world,” Doblmeier said. “I think more and more we’re realizing politics has become a more important lens.”

What Doblmeier likes most about his films is that they are “trying to reach for an ideal that’s beyond the political divide.”

Adam Sherrill is a sophomore broadcasting major who was in the film class Doblmeier attended, and he asked a question to the panel during the Q&A portion of the screening.

Sherrill spoke highly of Doblmeier. “He has a lot of experience and he absolutely knows what he’s talking about,” he said. 

Sherrill said he came into the film with low expectations since he is “not super involved in modern Christianity.”

Sherrill said he was surprised by how interested he was in the film. “The documentary was very well done. It was interesting, they didn’t linger, it had tractors,” he said.

Doblmeier has interviewed two former U.S. presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton; more than one pope; Mother Theresa, and Billy Graham, a prominent evangelist. Additionally, Doblmeier said, “I think the last time I counted, it was nine Nobel laureates for the peace prize.”

While Doblmeier has a degree in broadcast journalism, he said he has always been interested in religious studies. “I just think it’s the single most interesting and formative aspect of so many people’s lives,” he said.

“The numbers decline. I don’t argue. I think a lot of people have begun to abandon any sense of care for what happens if there is a life after this or how to live according to a gospel text,” Doblmeier said. 

“But the truth of the matter is, it still means a lot to a lot of people. And it means a lot to me,” he said. “I just care about it.”