The Distant Boat: A Perilous Journey of Self-Discovery

The Distant Boat is a feature-length drama with an aim to stir the heart of the African church toward greater involvement in missions. It tells the fictional story of Max, a young urban Kenyan who has it all: a dream job, a best friend, and a girl he hopes to marry. In the midst of a crisis, Max is befriended by a poor Muslim fisherman named Yousef— an encounter that radically changes his life and perspective.

After taking time off work to visit his family, Max shares with a wise old uncle his heart for Yousef’s people who have no church and no Christian witness. In the process Max realizes that God may be calling him to be a missionary, but the journey is fraught with obstacles. Max must be willing to risk everything: his future, his reputation, and even the love of his life, as he pursues this call. There’s ridicule from his friends, rebuke from his potential in-laws, and disappointment from his family. His church has never known a Kenyan missionary before. His pastor hardly knows where to begin. For Max, his family, friends, and church, it is a perilous journey of discovery and trust in what it means to be and send a missionary, and why it is worth the cost.