Executive Overview
Very few musical acts, regardless of genre, possess the extraordinary staying power required to remain culturally and spiritually relevant for five consecutive decades. Petra, the undisputed heavyweight champions of Christian rock, are definitively among that elite tier. Over a career spanning more than 50 years, the band has undergone numerous personnel shifts, sonic evolutions, and stylistic reinventions. Yet, through every era, a singular, immutable core remained: an uncompromising level of musicianship, a fierce, infectious passion, and an unmistakable gift for crafting driving, emotional, hands-in-the-air rock anthems anchored deeply in faith and evangelism.
Petra did not merely survive the shifting tides of the music industry; they actively broke new ground, effectively constructing the blueprint and paving the way for countless contemporary Christian artists who followed in their wake. Now, more than half a century after their inception, these trailblazers are redefining their legacy once again. Rather than resting on their laurels, Petra’s vast, influential musical catalog has served as the creative foundation for an entirely new cinematic venture: the feature film Beyond Belief, which is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
Directed by Johnny Meier and co-written by Meier alongside Darren Scott Jacobs and Joe Sanders, Beyond Belief is not a traditional documentary or a self-serving biographical chronicle detailing the highs and lows of the band. Instead, it is an original, narrative-driven story set squarely in the neon-tinted, synth-heavy landscape of the 1980s, powered entirely by the iconic music of Petra. For longtime devotees and casual music fans alike, the film functions as a cinematic time machine—a nostalgic yet deeply moving exploration of grief, ambition, and divine calling.
Detailed Chronology: From a 15-Year Vision to the Silver Screen
The journey of Beyond Belief from a fleeting concept to a fully realized theatrical release is a story of persistence, patience, and providence. According to Executive Producer Joe Sanders, the project has been a staggering 15 years in the making. What began as a distant creative vision eventually snowballed into a concrete ambition, requiring years of conceptualization, script development, and industry maneuvering.
The critical turning point for the film arrived when Sanders and his creative team secured a meeting with Petra legends John Schlitt and Bob Hartman. Over what was reportedly a casual steak dinner, the filmmakers pitched their ambitious concept to the core architects of the band’s sound. They needed more than just a blessing; they needed permission to weave Petra’s legendary catalog into the narrative fabric of the movie, and they wanted the rock icons to make special cameo appearances. Much to the delight of the production team, Schlitt and Hartman agreed. True to form, the musicians embraced the project with enthusiasm—and, as it turns out, they might just deliver the biggest laugh in the entire movie.
Capturing 1980s Suburbia
With the music secured, production kicked off primarily in the historic and picturesque suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Crucially, filming took place in Woodstock, Illinois—a location famously recognized by cinephiles as the stand-in for Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in the 1993 Bill Murray comedy classic Groundhog Day.
This specific Midwestern aesthetic proved to be an ideal backdrop. The quiet, tree-lined streets, classic architecture, and suburban charm provided an authentic canvas for capturing the quintessential world of a teenage Christian rock fan navigating the spiritual highs and adolescent lows of the 1980s. Under the direction of Johnny Meier, the production design meticulously recreated the era, right down to the cassette tapes, vintage wardrobe, and posters adorning bedroom walls.
The Plot: Faith, Loss, and the 1980s Rock Dream
At its narrative heart, Beyond Belief follows Andy, a passionate teenage rocker determined to make it big in the music industry. However, beneath his outward ambition lies a heavy, unspoken burden: Andy is struggling to process and cope with the sudden loss of his father.
As the pressure mounts, a mysterious, echoing voice urges him to "run." This inexplicable prompting pulls Andy into an unexpected, life-altering journey. It is a path that relentlessly challenges his worldly ambitions, tests the foundation of his faith, and ultimately forces him to confront the ultimate question: What kind of life is he truly meant to live?
Filled with genuine heart, self-aware humor, and a powerhouse soundtrack featuring Petra’s defining tracks, Beyond Belief delivers an inspiring narrative about learning to discern God’s voice, trusting a plan larger than oneself, and discovering that divine dreams for human lives routinely eclipse our own short-sighted ambitions.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Cultural and Musical Footprint of Petra
To truly understand the cultural weight of Beyond Belief, one must examine the staggering historical footprint of Petra within the Christian music landscape. Formed in 1972 by guitarist Bob Hartman, keyboardist Greg Hough, bassist John Slick, and drummer Bill Glover, Petra (Greek for "rock") emerged during a time when combining rock and roll with orthodox Christian theology was treated with suspicion by traditional church leaders.
Despite early resistance, Petra persevered. By the time lead vocalist John Schlitt joined the lineup in 1986—following the departure of original frontman Greg X. Volz—the band was entering its commercial golden age. Albums like Not of This World (1983), Beat the System (1984), Back to the Street (1986), and the Grammy Award-winning Beyond Belief (1990) catapulted Christian rock into the mainstream consciousness.
Key Metrics of Petra’s Legacy:
- Generational Reach: Over 50 years of continuous active and legacy existence, bridging the gap from the Jesus Movement of the 1970s into the modern digital age.
- Accolades: Multiple Grammy Awards and Dove Awards, solidifying their status as pioneers of the genre.
- Commercial Success: Millions of records sold globally, proving that faith-based rock could achieve high-level production and commercial viability.
- Catalog Impact: The album Beyond Belief (1990), which shares its name with the new cinematic project, is frequently cited by music historians as one of the greatest and most influential Christian rock records ever recorded.
Official Statements and Behind-the-Scenes Perspectives
Bringing a fictionalized narrative of the 1980s Christian rock scene to life while interacting with the actual living legends of the movement created a uniquely surreal environment for everyone involved.
For John Schlitt and Bob Hartman, seeing actors in their twenties step onto a recreated set to portray their younger selves was a mind-bending experience. After decades of standing behind microphones and guitar amplifiers on stadium stages, watching their historical personas interpreted by a new generation was humbling.
Conversely, the pressure on the actors was immense. Oscar Mansky and Jeremy Burchard shouldered the daunting task of portraying two of the most influential figures in Christian music history—all while the real Schlitt and Hartman watched intently from behind the cameras.
In subsequent interviews, John Schlitt emphasized how vital it was to him and Hartman that the actors felt comfortable and supported in their respective roles. Schlitt noted that they wanted the cast to feel free to explore the characters without the crushing weight of imitation. Yet, regardless of the encouragement offered, stepping into the shoes of musical royalty under the watchful eyes of the originals remains an extraordinary career milestone for Mansky and Burchard.
Reviewers and early audiences have been quick to praise the cast’s dedication. Critics who witnessed the band live during their 1990s peak have noted that the young actors managed to capture the frantic, joyful, and deeply spiritual energy of a classic Petra concert.
Future Outlook: A Time Machine for Gen-X and a Gateway for New Audiences
As Beyond Belief completes its rollout in theaters across the country, its long-term cultural impact is already taking shape. For Generation X and millennial believers who grew up hiding cassette tapes of Petra behind secular rock albums, the film operates as a fully functional time machine.
During early theatrical screenings, audience observations revealed a shared, collective nostalgia: viewers could be seen pumping their fists, nodding their heads in time with the percussion, and quietly mouthing the lyrics to songs that soundtracked their spiritual formative years. The film’s marketing—heavily leaning into a Back to the Future aesthetic—proves to be remarkably fitting. It captures an era when Christian youth culture was vibrant, distinct, and boldly searching for a way to reconcile faith with a love for electric guitars and stadium-sized hooks.
However, Beyond Belief is meticulously constructed to extend far beyond mere nostalgia bait. By anchoring its framework in universal human struggles—grief, loss, vocational confusion, and the search for identity—the film speaks just as clearly to younger demographics who have never heard a Petra record. It offers a narrative blueprint for how to listen for guidance amidst the noise of modern life.
Ultimately, Beyond Belief is more than just a clever cross-promotion for an aging rock band. It is a cinematic testament to an enduring legacy. For lifelong fans of Petra, stepping into the theater is a welcome pilgrimage back to the 1980s. For newcomers, it is an introduction to the band that proved faith and rock and roll were never mutually exclusive.
Beyond Belief is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
