How well do young Americans really know the history of their country?

On this week’s Pray with America’s Leaders, IFA Chief Program Officer Kris Kubal highlighted a sobering statistic: only 13% of eighth graders are proficient in American history. She was joined by twin brothers and filmmakers Kyle and Shawn Justice, who believe storytelling—and emerging technology—can help reverse that trend.

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The brothers previously collaborated on By Dawn’s Early Light, a documentary examining anti-Christian bias and government weaponization. The project grew out of President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias in the federal government. Rather than allowing the task force’s findings to remain buried in a lengthy written report, Kyle and his team turned many of those stories into a feature-length documentary.

The film has special significance for IFA. Many of the cases and controversies depicted in it—from COVID-era policies and military mandates to government actions against pro-life advocates—were issues IFA intercessors prayed about as they unfolded.

Now, the documentary is headed to some remarkable venues. Kyle shared that By Dawn’s Early Light is scheduled for a private screening for members of Congress on September 29, with another screening planned at the White House. President Trump is expected to attend the latter event.

But the brothers are already turning their attention toward an even more ambitious undertaking.

Bringing the Founders Back to Life

Their newest project, The Founders, will use an AI-assisted filmmaking process to tell the story of America’s founding through a feature-length docudrama and six-episode series.

Kyle explained that the idea developed through conversations with Salem Media Group about using new filmmaking technology to tell the stories of America’s founders during the nation’s 250th anniversary. What began as an idea for a television series grew into something much larger.

The project will not simply recount dates and events. Kyle and Shawn want viewers to encounter the founders as real people wrestling with enormous decisions—and to understand the faith that shaped many of them.

“We wanted to convey maybe where they saw the Lord taking them, how the Lord influenced them,” Kyle explained.

The brothers see enormous potential beyond entertainment. The Founders is being developed for five different audiences: entertainment and streaming, churches and faith communities, private and homeschool education, public schools and government, and military and institutional leadership training.

That broader educational mission is especially important at a time when so many Americans lack a basic understanding of their history and government. Kubal noted at the beginning of the webcast that only 13% of eighth graders are proficient in American history and cited another statistic indicating that 70% of registered voters cannot pass a basic civics quiz.

For Kyle and Shawn, however, restoring historical knowledge also means restoring an understanding of God’s role in America’s story.

“Our ultimate goal is to bring glory to God and what He did through the founders to establish this nation,” Shawn said. He specifically asked intercessors to pray for boldness as they portray the founders’ faith—an element he believes is missing from much of the historical content available today.

A New Tool for an Old Story

AI is allowing the brothers to attempt something that would otherwise require a far larger budget and production crew. Shawn explained that traditional independent Christian films might require crews of 20 to 40 people, while an AI-assisted production could potentially operate with five to 10 people.

But the technology does not replace filmmaking. The brothers still have to write, direct, research, edit, develop characters, create music and sound, and carefully review scenes for historical and visual accuracy. Their goal is not simply to produce something quickly, but to create something excellent.

Kyle offered a broader perspective on the technology: “So many tools can be used for, by the enemy. And, you know, we can use these tools for the glory of God.”

The project is already underway, with a screenplay drafted and character development beginning. The filmmakers hope to release the feature film sometime next year, although the schedule will depend partly on funding.

IFA intercessors have an important role to play before then.

Kyle and Shawn asked for prayer for provision, wisdom, the right production team, historical faithfulness, distribution opportunities, and boldness in telling the spiritual dimensions of America’s founding. Kubal also encouraged intercessors to pray against spiritual opposition that could hinder the project.

At a moment when millions of Americans know increasingly little about the nation’s founding, The Founders represents an opportunity to put those stories before a new generation—and to restore parts of America’s spiritual heritage that have too often been forgotten or ignored.

IFA plans to continue praying alongside Kyle and Shawn as the project moves forward.

You can watch this webcast in the embedded player below.

Share your prayers and scriptures for Kyle and Shawn Justice and The Founders in the comments.

(Photo Credit: The Founders/Facebook)