Lipscomb University archaeologist Chris McKinny helps bring the mystery of the Ark of the Covenant to theaters nationwide in April

Lipscomb University archaeologist Chris McKinny helps bring the mystery of the Ark of the Covenant to theaters nationwide in April

McKinny, associate professor of archaeology in Lipscomb's Lanier Center, serves as host and scholarly guide for 'Legends of the Lost Ark,' set to premiere at the Museum of the Bible on April 7

Kim Chaudoin | 03/16/2026

For more than two millennia, the fate of the Ark of the Covenant has stirred curiosity, debate and imagination for millions of people around the globe. This spring, that ancient mystery is heading to movie theaters across the country with a Lipscomb University archaeology professor helping lead the search.

Legends of the Lost Ark, a cinematic documentary adventure investigating one of history's greatest mysteries, is hosted by Dr. Chris McKinny, associate professor of archaeology in Lipscomb's Lanier Center for Archaeology, housed in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The film blends archaeological research, historical inquiry, immersive reenactments and cinematic storytelling to explore what may have happened to the biblical artifact that many believe embodies the presence of God. Legends of the Lost Ark premieres on April 7 at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. and will be released in 1,000 theaters nationwide April 12, 14 and 15. Purchase tickets here.

A project years in the making

For McKinny, who joined Lipscomb's faculty this academic year, the film represents the culmination of years of scholarship, fieldwork and persistence.

"The Ark was not only lost, but its story and significance have also largely been forgotten," said McKinny. "What happened to the Ark remains one of the most fascinating mysteries in human history. This film charts new territory in investigating the most ancient legends surrounding its disappearance."

Directed by Stephen Pettit and produced by Gesher Media in partnership with Myriad Pictures, the film will be distributed by Fathom Entertainment. Filmed across multiple countries with a 200-person crew and more than 100 cast members, the documentary follows McKinny on a global investigation that at times feels like a real-life Indiana Jones expedition, but one grounded in archaeology, ancient texts and theological scholarship.

The story behind the film stretches back five years. McKinny said the project began in 2020 after a documentary interview in Houston connected him with Roy Brown, founder of Accordance Bible Software. That relationship led to his work with Gesher Media, a company created to serve as a bridge between the world of the Bible and modern audiences. For McKinny, that mission aligned naturally with his own calling.

"I have always understood that to be active in this very difficult field of biblical archaeology, you have to have a public face," he said. "That's not only important for me as a scholar. It's also incredibly important for our field. If we don't grow the field, if we don't keep showing people why this matters, we lose something important."

Watch the 'Legends of the Lost Ark' trailer.

That vision came with challenges. Early documentary concepts stalled. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted production. Travel limitations and the war in Israel after Oct. 7, 2023, made filming even more difficult. But with Pettit joining the effort as director, the team refocused on a subject McKinny believed could connect deeply with audiences - the Ark of the Covenant.

The result is a 90-minute film that examines three enduring legends about the Ark's disappearance through textual analysis, archaeological exploration and expert theological debate. Through archaeological investigation in Israel and cinematic reenactments filmed in Colombia, the film vividly portrays the prophet Jeremiah's desperate mission to safeguard the Ark during Jerusalem's fall, placing audiences inside a pivotal moment in biblical history. The documentary explores theories tied to a rock, a tomb and the Temple Mount - all traditions associated with Jeremiah and the final known movements of the Ark.

Watch McKinny on CBN News interview about the film.

McKinny said the team set out to do more than chase a mystery.

"I'm interested in where it is, but I'm more interested in why we care," he said. "If you were to boil the whole Bible down to an object, the only object that would qualify is the Ark of the Covenant. It connects Eden, Sinai, the tabernacle, Solomon's Temple and the story of God dwelling with His people."

A childhood love of archaeology

That interest has shaped McKinny's academic career from the beginning. He traces his love of archaeology back to his grandfather, Larry Mayo, a farmer-preacher in rural Texas. Growing up just a mile from his grandparents' home, McKinny spent hours riding combines and cotton harvesters with his grandfather, listening to stories about biblical history, World War II and the ancient world. A trip to Israel at age 13 with his grandmother, Paula Mayo, deepened that fascination and helped turn a childhood interest into a life's calling. By high school, McKinny said, he already knew what he wanted to pursue as a career.

"As a freshman in high school, when we had to write what we wanted to be when we grew up, I wrote 'biblical archaeologist,'" he said. "From that point on, I just became more and more certain that this was what the Lord was calling me to do."

That calling led him to extensive study and excavation work in Israel. McKinny earned a master's degree at Jerusalem University College and then completed both a master's degree and Ph.D. at Bar Ilan University in Israel. Over the years, he has excavated at multiple sites and developed expertise in biblical archaeology, historical geography and the world of ancient Israel and the New Testament.

His path to Lipscomb came through longstanding professional relationships. McKinny has known Lanier Center scholars Dr. Steve Ortiz, center director, and Dr. Mark Janzen, associate professor of archaeology and ancient history and chair of Lipscomb's Department of Archaeology, for years through excavations, academic collaborations and shared research interests. When the archaeology faculty opportunity opened at Lipscomb last year, he said, it felt like a natural fit.

"I was drawn by the chance to help shape the future of biblical archaeology at a Christian university while continuing to show students and broader audiences why the discipline matters," explained McKinny. "We really can't understand Scripture fully without understanding the world in which it was written and received. The best thing about archaeology is that every year, new discoveries add nuance and depth. They don't change the biblical text, but they help us see it more clearly."

Special opportunity for Lipscomb film students through Imagine House

There is also another Lipscomb connection tied directly to the film's theatrical release. Students in the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts' Imagine House produced a bonus feature about the Lanier Center for Archaeology that will appear after the credits during select showings. Led by Steve Taylor, executive director of Imagine House, the special segment highlights the Lanier Center's mission and invites audiences to keep learning, participate in archaeological digs and support the work being done through Lipscomb.

For McKinny, the collaboration was an exciting example of what can happen when disciplines intersect.

"I've been very impressed with Imagine House," he said. "One of my dreams is to embed filmmaking into excavation work from the beginning to document discoveries, tell the story well and help people see why archaeology matters."

"My friend Nick Royak produced the movie, and when he contacted me a couple weeks ago about this, I was amazed to learn that the star of the movie was our own Dr. Chris McKinny," said Taylor. "We quickly put a shoot together with Chris and Mark (Janzen) using our new Volume Wall with the help of cinematic arts professor Matt Huesmann and one of our film students, Hayden Cassetto. Hearing Chris and Mark talk about the research that went into the film made me even more excited to see it in theaters."

A film with a purpose

As final preparations are being made for the release of Legends of the Lost Ark, McKinny is already thinking about the future. He hopes future projects will connect the Lanier Center's fieldwork, research and teaching with documentary storytelling and digital outreach. Among the projects ahead is work connected to Bethsaida (el-Araj), the Galilean hometown of Simon Peter, where McKinny hopes to continue exploring how archaeology can illuminate the world of the New Testament.

For now, though, he is looking forward to seeing Legends of the Lost Ark on the big screen.

"It feels surreal," McKinny said. "After five years of work, setbacks, revisions and so many people pouring themselves into it, I'm thrilled that audiences will finally be able to experience it in theaters."

The film's release offers a rare national spotlight not only on one of history's most enduring mysteries, but also on the kind of scholarship and storytelling McKinny is now bringing to Lipscomb. At the center of both, he said, is the same goal - helping people see the Bible with fresh eyes.

"Archaeology turns the Bible from black and white to color," McKinny said. "It helps people understand that these stories happened in real places, among real people, in a real world. That's why this matters."

Learn more about 'Legends of the Lost Ark'