Welcome to the Breakpoint podcast. I'm Shane Morris, host of the Upstream podcast. And today I want to share with you a very special discussion I had with the star of an exciting new movie. It's called The Most Reluctant Convert. It's about C.S. Lewis. And I spoke with Max McLean. You may have heard of him. He may be the voice of the Bible for you. This is a special discussion from the upstream podcast, and we want to share it with you today.

Thanks for listening.

Since St. Paul, Christianity has been marked by the accounts of reluctant converts, people whose hearts, souls, and intellects were pursued by God, sometimes through overwhelming miracles, and sometimes through just a relentless

chase until at last the fugitives gave in. I think of St. Augustine's restless heart,

of John Newton's surrender to amazing grace, of Francis Thompson's flight from the hound of heaven.

But over the last few weeks on this program, we've been focusing on

one of the most reluctant converts of all whose life and work shaped Christianity and the faith

of millions in the 20th century. I'm talking, of course, about C.S. Lewis, who tells the story

of that conversion and his autobiography surprised by joy. Well, here with me today is someone who has brought Lewis to life

for a generation of theater goers and who stars as CS Lewis in the new biopic, The Most Reluctant

Convert. Max McLean, besides being the voice of the audio Bible in several versions for millions,

is the founder and artistic director of Fellowship for Performing

Arts, a New York-based producer of live theater and film from a Christian worldview. He has adapted,

produced, and starred in touring stage versions of the screw tape letters, The Great Divorce,

and most recently a production based on C.S. Lewis's autobiography entitled C.S. Lewis,

the most reluctant convert. This Wednesday, November 3rd, the film version of that production is getting a brief run in theaters nationwide.

I just saw it, and I got to say, even after Dune, this has to be my favorite film of the year.

And the star of the film has graciously set aside time to join us today on Upstream.

Max McLean, welcome.

Thank you, Shane.

Man, I enjoyed that introduction.

Well, you know, Max, I've enjoyed your productions over the years from Pilgrim's Progress to the Bible to these various adaptations theatrically of Lewis's best works. You've become C.S. Lewis in the minds

...