A Race Against Time: Bob Campbell on Preserving the Gospel Films Legacy

A massive library of 20th-century religious and cultural history is on the verge of disappearing. Thousands of 16mm “Gospel films,” which brought spiritual messages to audiences across the globe for decades, are currently “at risk” and “disintegrating.” This vast “celluloid history” is facing a critical moment; if nothing is done, a significant part of 20th-century religious heritage will be lost to time and decay.

Film preservationist Bob Campbell, co-founder of the Gospel Films Archive (GFA), is leading the charge to save this invaluable collection. The GFA has launched a “Help Preserve Christian Film History” campaign, a crucial initiative seeking the backing needed to preserve this at-risk library and establish a permanent Gospel Films Museum to house and celebrate this legacy. We spoke with Bob Campbell to discuss the urgency of this mission, the cultural importance of these films, and his vision for the future of the archive.

Q: What is the core mission of this initiative, and what makes the preservation of these Gospel films so urgent right now?

Bob Campbell: The core mission is to rescue and restore a century of inspired works while preservation is still possible. Even if well stored, 16mm color film prints eventually turn pink. If rescued in time, color can be restored with today’s technology. If not, old film stock will shrink or warp and become impossible to transfer to digital. These films are not the big budget Hollywood epics that are well-preserved by the secular studios. The films we are rescuing were originally produced for churches and television, but had no pathway to preservation once the digital age arrived and thus fell into obscurity. 

Q: The article describes this collection of 16mm films as “at-risk” and “disintegrating”. Can you elaborate on the scale of this problem and what will be lost if this “celluloid history” isn’t saved?

Bob Campbell: These vintage films reflect Biblical history and Christian ideology, while addressing topics that remain relevant to contemporary audiences. Once lost, this unique and fascinating history will simply disappear. Imagine if your family’s history as captured in photos and films were to suddenly vanish.  

Q: A key part of your campaign is the plan to establish a permanent Gospel Films Museum. What is your vision for this museum, and why is an online archive  important for this collection?

Bob Campbell: We have established a cost and ad-free online Gospel Films Library featuring nearly 500 films. Now that these relics have been rescued and with thousands more to track down, an online repository is needed to document, archive and make freely available the entire history of 20th century Christian film. 

Q: This is a massive undertaking. What kind of “backing” is the Gospel Films Archive seeking, and what opportunities are there for partners, donors, or the community to get involved?

Bob Campbell: Because few on the planet are even aware these precious films exist, and given the distractions fostered by the internet and social media, finding an audience and financial support has been a challenge. We welcome those in the Christian film community and beyond to consider becoming a sponsor or founder of the museum. For the cost of producing one episode of the highly popular “The Chosen” series, GFA can continue expanding the collection and establish the Gospel Films Museum. Currently, we have a Kickstarter campaign underway and seek support at any level. There is a donor button at the Gospel Films Library and the GFA website and we encourage sharing the links with family and friends. 

Q: Looking beyond the preservation itself, what do you believe is the long-term cultural and historical importance of ensuring this 20th-century religious heritage remains accessible for future generations?

Bob Campbell: The films are a testament to countless artists, storytellers, and visionaries that helped shape the spiritual landscape of the last century, providing future generations with a tangible link to their past and offering a sense of continuity and roots. The films provide invaluable primary sources for historians and researchers. 

Q: What motivated you to pursue preservation of religious films?

Bob Campbell: In 1979, I pitched to PBS the concept of recreating the movie-going experiences of the 1930s-50s using public domain content that was little-known and long neglected. The idea took hold and the series Matinee at the Bijou became a major ratings success. These were secular films that encompassed all film genres. Decades later, as the nation’s spiritual values and culture began shifting in disturbing ways, it seemed natural to look to the past for guidance. Discovering the existence of thousands of religious films from the past century had been ignored, I joined with two friends and fellow film preservationists to track down and essentially give the same treatment to religious films as was given to secular films for the Bijou series. A major motivation for me from the beginning is from scripture, “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

The conversation with Bob Campbell underscores the critical nature of this preservation effort. This campaign is more than just an archival project; it is a cultural rescue mission to save a unique and irreplaceable part of American religious and film history. The threat of disintegration is real, and the window to save this “at-risk library” is closing.

By seeking backing to both preserve these films and create a permanent Gospel Films Museum, the GFA is working to build a bridge between 20th-century faith and 21st-century audiences. This initiative ensures that the legacy, stories, and messages captured on this celluloid history will not be forgotten but will instead be available to educate and inspire for decades to come.

To learn more or to support the mission, visit https://www.gospelfilmsarchive.com/

To contact GFA, visit https://www.gospelfilmsarchive.com/contact.html.

To support the mission visit their Kickstarter campaign at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gfa1/gospel-films-library-and-museum?ref=cmxznu&token=c0b861e0