WKTV airs film about a real-life Indiana Jones-style archeologist

Dr. Mark Fairchild in Turkey. (Photo from “The Last Apostle”)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Dr. Mark Fairchild has a lot in common with Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones character. They both are archeologists and they both have made some amazing discoveries.

Other than one being fictional and the other being real, the only other big difference is that there has been been four films about Indiana Jones and none about Fairchild— that is until now.

“The Last Apostle: Journeys In the Lost Holy Land” will air on WKTV Comcast Channel 25 and AT&T Community Channel 99 at midnight Friday, Dec. 6; 11 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, and 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12. The film was produced by local filmmakers Matt Whitney and Logan Bush, both graduates of Indiana’s Huntington University, where Fairchild is a professor of Bible and religious studies.

“When I go to Turkey, I have been there for more than 20 years, and I investigate Biblical sites dating back to the Greek period, the Hellenistic period, the Roman period that is what I concentrate on,” Fairchild said during a promotional video about the film.

“The place is exciting. It’s new. It’s fresh. It is relatively unexplored,” he said. “Turkey is very important. All three of Paul’s missionary journeys were in Turkey. A large portion of the new testament has to do with Turkey and Turkey was the cradle of Christianity.”

For the past 25 years, Fairchild has discovered mysteries in the Turish countryside, including the oldest synagogue in the world. In “The Last Apostle,” the film follows Fairchild as he travels one of the historic routes of the apostle Paul and explores Paul’s origins.

Fairchild noted that the things being discovered in Turkey are transforming the understanding of the scriptures and giving additional insight on what was going on back in the day of Paul.

“Traveling wit Dr. Fairchild is like following Admiral Byrd to Antarctica,” said producer Matt Whiney. “‘The Last Apostle’ brings you along for the ride.”

Whitney said the film would not have been made without WKTV.

“They graciously allowed us to make a long-term reservation of their cameras and take them out of the country to document Dr. Fairchild’s adventures and show them to the world.

“I’ve worked with WKTV for years both because of their access to professional equipment and because of the knowledgeable and friendly staff who are always excited to offer their expertise.”