The Chosen has become a worldwide phenomenon, both encouraging Christians in their faith and providing opportunities for non-believers to encounter Jesus afresh through excellent storytelling and the powerful medium of film. This year at Summit, we will encounter the show in a conference environment—with fans of the show, presentations by a variety of individuals, and good conversations all around. Naturally, our lineup of presenters will feature professionals from the world of theatre and film, including individuals who have been involved with the show. And we’ll also have theologians and biblical scholars, including a New Testament professor involved with the production as a consultant. We will spend time in Scripture, talk about how we use imagination and creativity in our faith and in reading the Bible, and of course we’ll watch and discuss scenes from The Chosen itself! Our time at Summit will be extraordinarily rich, and we hope you will join us.

COMMUNITY DETAILS

DAVID KNEIP

Dr. David Kneip teaches in ACU’s undergraduate Bible department and serves as the associate director of the Siburt Institute. He teaches courses in church history and worship, and his research interests focus on the early church period, especially on early Christians’ theology and their interpretation and understanding of the Bible. David’s combined background in theatre and ministry has led him to love The Chosen, and he contributed a chapter to the first scholarly volume dedicated to the show, entitled Watching The Chosen: History, Faith, and Interpretation (Eerdmans, 2025). David and his wife, Cynthia, have two daughters and are members of the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene.

DAWNE SWEARINGEN-MEEKS

Dawne Swearingen-Meeks is the Chairperson of Abilene Christian University's BFA Theatre Program and is in her 20th year at ACU. Dawne holds an MFA in Acting from The University of Arizona and MT Certificate from NYU’s CAP 21. She loves traveling and engaging with people and places. Dawne has performed in, directed, and produced hundreds of productions in her time at ACU Theatre and NYC. She loves Jesus and Mexican Food. Dawne and her husband, Jeremy, call Abilene home and are the proud parents of two boys, Charlie and Henry.

CATHERINE BAUMGARDNER

Catherine Baumgardner, Associate Professor and Head of Costume Design at ACU Theatre, blends artistry, scholarship, and faith in her work. Host of the Voice of Costume podcast, she has interviewed nearly every Oscar-winning costumer, offering rare insights into cinematic wardrobes. In this session, she reflects on her faith journey and her recent interview with the costume designer of The Chosen, exploring how costume design can serve as a sacred act of visual theology.

JASON BAUMGARDNER

Jason Baumgardner is a West Texas native and filmmaker who has worked in the entertainment industry since 2013. Alongside his wife, costume designer Catherine, Jason has pursued his passion for storytelling through both triumphs and setbacks. A graduate of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Media Arts with an MFA in Film Production, Jason has been mentored by industry veterans including director Randal Kleiser (Grease), editor Paul Seydor A.C.E. (Tin Cup), and screenwriter Bettina Gilois (Glory Road). Through his work and speaking engagements, Jason shares candid lessons from his “top fails,” encouraging others to chase their own creative dreams.

NOUWEN CRAFT-DOYLE

Nouwen Craft-Doyle, ACU Theatre alumna ’24,  brings compassion and authenticity to her performances. A rising voice in faith-based theatre, she presents a monologue inspired by The Chosen, weaving biblical text with personal reflection to explore the intersection of faith and art. Through this performance, her own spiritual journey, and experience on set of The Chosen, Nouwen invites the audience into a sacred space where faith and art meet.

ARIEL FERNALD

Ariel Fernald is an award-winning producer, director, writer, and professor with three decades of experience in stage and film. Alongside her husband, Trey, she co-authored Producing Drama for Ministry and co-founded Eastern Sky Theatre Company. Their acclaimed film The Last Appeal has reached over 13 million viewers worldwide, and her recent feature Bringing Back Christmas won 30+ festival awards in 2023 before releasing on major platforms. Ariel also teaches at Biola and Abilene Christian University and is currently producing the documentary Singled Out and developing her next feature, Eternal Realm.

TREY FERNALD

Trey Fernald, alongside his wife Ariel, has produced, written, and directed over 100 stage and screen projects over the past three decades. Their most recent film, Bringing Back Christmas, debuted in 2023, while their award-winning play-turned-TV feature The Last Appeal has reached over 13 million viewers worldwide. Together, they co-founded CineSky Entertainment and Eastern Sky Theatre Company in Los Angeles. Trey has also co-authored the textbook Producing Drama for Ministry and taught theatre at several universities, including Azusa Pacific and Abilene Christian.

ALISHA JANETTE TAYLOR

Alisha Janette Taylor is an actress, producer, director, and founder of Taylor Made Studios. With a BFA in Musical Theatre, she has performed in productions such as Mary Poppins and The Mountaintop, and transitioned into filmmaking with the shorts Baggage and Nazen, both screened at the Pan African Film Festival. Her feature documentary A Legacy Unearthed explored Black history in her hometown and was selected for the Queens Underground International Black History Film Festival. Most recently, she completed Da’Cipher 360, a documentary on mass incarceration in Texas, which is set to screen nationally and enter the festival circuit in 2026.

CLIFF BARBARICK

Dr. Cliff Barbarick is an associate professor and the Chair of the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry at ACU. He's been at ACU since 2011, after earning degrees at Pepperdine (BA and MDiv) and Baylor (PhD). His teaching and research focus on the New Testament using a method known as biblical performance criticism. He serves on the board of the Network of Biblical Storytellers International and convenes the organization's Scholars Seminar. He and his wife, Tali, have three children—one in high school, one at ACU, and one at Lipscomb University.

KEN CUKROWSKI

Dr. Ken Cukrowski serves as the Olbricht Distinguished Professor of Christian Scripture in the Graduate School of Theology. After finishing his undergraduate work in Bible and French at ACU, he completed his M.Div. at Yale Divinity School, and his doctoral studies in New Testament at Yale University. His recent scholarship has focused on Luke-Acts, Greco-Roman backgrounds, and intertextuality. He and his wife Karen have two adult daughters and four grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, running, visiting National Parks, and eating dark chocolate.

DOUGLAS HUFFMAN

Dr. Douglas Huffman is a New Testament scholar, teacher, and church leader who has served at both Northwestern and Biola University and is currently the Dean of the School of Theology and Ministry at the University of Northwestern St. Paul. He has written many books and articles on the Bible, contributed as a script consultant and author for The Chosen television series and related projects, and is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Free Church of America.