Dallas Jenkins, the creator, director, and co-writer behind the hit biblical drama The Chosen, is coming to Oviedo this fall to headline a fundraiser at St. Luke's Lutheran Church. The October 3 event, titled “Loaves & Fish: From Failure to 'The Chosen,'” will benefit Lutheran Haven Retirement Center's Benevolent Care Ministry, which provides financial assistance to residents who need extra help affording their retirement care.
According to WFTV, Jenkins will discuss the challenges, faith, and perseverance behind creating The Chosen, a historical drama told through the perspectives of people who knew Jesus Christ. Event organizers say the series, which premiered in 2019, has reached more than 250 million viewers since its debut. The presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, located at 2021 W. State Road 426 in Oviedo.
A Title Rooted in a Hollywood Flop
The fundraiser's title is a direct nod to Jenkins' career-defining setback. Before The Chosen, Jenkins directed the 2017 feature film The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, which grossed only $2.3 million against a $2 million budget, as reported by Dexerto. Jenkins has frequently described that box-office disappointment as the humbling moment that pushed him to rethink his approach to filmmaking and eventually launch the crowdsourced series that became The Chosen.
That personal turnaround has since scaled into a full-fledged media enterprise. In late 2024, Jenkins launched 5&2 Studios — named for the “five loaves and two fish” Bible passage — as an umbrella studio expanding The Chosen into a multi-series biblical entertainment universe, per Gospel Music Association reporting. In February 2025, Amazon MGM Studios signed a multi-year agreement with 5&2 Studios, according to Willkie Farr & Gallagher, securing exclusive U.S. streaming rights for The Chosen on Prime Video, theatrical distribution rights for future seasons, and a first-look deal for upcoming TV and film projects.
From Streaming Series to Studio Franchise
Jenkins has also found success outside The Chosen's streaming format. He directed the 2024 holiday comedy-drama The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for Lionsgate, which earned over $40 million at the domestic box office on a $10 million budget, the Christian Film Blog reported. The franchise has since branched into unscripted and animated television as well, with Amazon MGM Studios announcing The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls, a six-episode series following the survivalist and cast members on wilderness adventures, and a 14-episode animated spinoff, The Chosen Adventures, aimed at children ages 7 to 12 and featuring voice actors including Paul Walter Hauser.
The flagship series itself is entering its final chapters. Production is structured across seven planned seasons, with Season 6 filmed for release in late 2026 and Season 7 slated for summer 2026 filming to depict Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, according to Wikipedia. Hoodline reported disputes over crowdfunder payouts as production on Season 7 got underway, after early equity crowdfunders raised legal questions in arbitration over how revenue would be shared as the franchise transitioned to major studio deals.
Nearly 80 Years of History at Lutheran Haven
The Oviedo institution hosting Jenkins traces its roots back to 1948, when it was established after Slovak immigrant Andrew Duda Sr. donated 40 acres of land and $90,000 in 1937 to build a home for retirees and orphaned children, according to Lutheran Haven. The community grew out of the historic Slovak agricultural settlement of Slavia in Oviedo and today operates as a recognized service organization under the SELC District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
Lutheran Haven CEO Jerry Griffing said the organization is honored to host Jenkins and learn about his creative journey, per WFTV. The retirement community operates next to St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Oviedo, and the Benevolent Care Ministry that will benefit from October's fundraiser supports residents including missionaries, teachers, former pastors and church workers who need additional financial assistance.
Ticket Details and Options
Tickets for the October 3 event come in three tiers. VIP tickets cost $125 and include a pre-presentation dinner, a photo opportunity, a question-and-answer session, and premium seating. General admission tickets are priced at $60, while overflow tickets cost $40 and include a simulcast of the presentation inside the St. Luke's Lutheran School gymnasium. Free parking will be available at the church.
