Regent Alum Lands Career with the Acclaimed Series The Chosen
Leo Thome, M.A. in Practical Theology ‘17 & MBA ‘19
The Great Commission commands all Christians to share the gospel far and wide with as many audiences as possible. Leo Thome is one Christian leader who is changing the world by following Jesus’ teachings and putting faith into action, having spent the past three years working with the hit series The Chosen, a program chronicling the life of Jesus shown through a Biblical lens, produced under the direction of its groundbreaking creator Dallas Jenkins.
Leo found himself at Regent University after attending Bible college in Ohio and calling on the Lord about his next steps.
“I had a dream that same night after asking for guidance. I was praying to the Lord, and He spoke to me about Regent University and told me about the great programs there. I applied and moved from Ohio to Virginia Beach,” he recalled.
While at Regent, he earned a M.A. in Practical Theology, an MBA a few years later, and even met his wife, Gwenyth. He also had the honor of meeting with Dr. Pat Robertson on a monthly basis, who was President of the Council of Graduate Students at the time.
“Seeing him and hearing from him was a great life experience. There was also some really awesome faculty in the School of Business & Leadership and the School of Divinity,” Leo recounted.
“Regent gave me three major takeaways: an impartation of faith by Pat Robertson, the academic excellence of the high-caliber professors, and the life-changing experience of meeting my spouse,” he summarized of his time at Regent.
Building on that foundation, he continued to express the massive impact Dr. Robertson had on his life during his time at Regent, sharing the following:
“Dr. Robertson talked about how the Lord spoke to him through the verse in the Book of Acts when Luke tells Theophilus that Moses “was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in words and deeds.” As he was speaking, it was like hearing the Lord speak to me. I also remember being at Dr. Robertson’s house for one of his barbeques, and he told me to remember that there is nothing God cannot do through you. His vision, passion, and example set me on the path, alongside Regent’s academics.”
After graduating, Leo went on to earn a graduate certificate in marketing through Harvard, which helped further prepare him for a job at The Chosen, building on the strong foundation he laid down at Regent. He describes his involvement in the series as a privilege.
“It’s like what Jesus says in John 12:31–32, ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ It’s redemptive storytelling—the Gospel is the power of God, and it’s so powerful. To me, The Chosen is really about the power of the Gospel. It doesn’t matter what one’s background is—we work with people from all backgrounds. The privilege is to see the Gospel being preached,” he stated.
With 200 million viewers globally and almost a billion total episode views across platforms, The Chosen has indeed become a verifiable modern-day interpretation of the Gospels, continually reaching new streaming service audiences in an age where screens rule the roost.
“My favorite part of it has been the community. We see people watch the show and hear about them encountering Jesus for the first time or seeing Him again after drifting away from Him. It’s awesome to see firsthand how The Chosen builds community around the Gospel, impacting people through the story of Jesus,” Leo shared.
He emphasized the greater importance of sharing redemptive stories such as those dramatized in the show.
“We need to tell redemptive stories, and there is no story that is more powerful than the Gospel—the Bible is clear the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation…there needs to be an urgency about this time we’re living in right now. It’s more important than ever to share it,” he explained.
Leo further shared how his own faith has been strengthened through the power of The Chosen.
“At the end of the day, the Gospel is perfect, and if we preach it, it happens. My faith in The Chosen has been strengthened because it’s a reminder that the story itself can still have an impact because it’s the Gospel. It’s humbling because the power to salvation is the Gospel. It encourages me because I see how God is committed to spreading the Gospel,” he revealed.
Leo and the team’s goal at The Chosen is to see one billion people watch the show to experience the authentic Jesus and eventually go even further, inviting everyone to see firsthand the seeds Jesus planted while on Earth.
When asked what advice he has for students interested in getting involved in Christian television and film work, Leo emphasized the importance of becoming the best one can be and becoming an expert, using the example of Dr. Robertson’s skillset and strong faith.
“Become the best you can be and pursue wisdom. Do the best you can to be the best. I wouldn’t be at The Chosen were it not for my wife. She was the one who encouraged me to apply. Having the right person for support is important,” he shared.
Leo Thome’s journey with The Chosen is a reminder of the power of faith and a testament to the importance of obedience to God’s calling. From his time as a student at Regent to helping reach millions through his impactful work, he has remained committed to sharing the Gospel through powerful storytelling.
“I’m thankful for Regent, Dr. Robertson, and my wife; I’m thankful for the whole Regent community,” he concluded.
Watch all episodes of The Chosen for free on The Chosen app, available for Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, iOS, and Android, and enjoy access to lots of special features. The show is also streaming on Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, fuboTV, and other popular streaming platforms.