The Faith and True Story Behind Soul on Fire: A Conversation with Joel Courtney and Masey McLain

Joel Courtney and Masey McLain discuss why they were drawn to Soul on Fire, a true story they say is saturated with hope, resilience, and the power of personal choice. The film follows John O’Leary, who survives a devastating burn accident as a child in 1987 and later grows into a man whose life points others toward what it means to truly live, a journey the actors say reflects the heart of the gospel.

As believers themselves, Joel and Macy reflect on how this story reshaped their understanding of resilience, vulnerability, and the gospel—revealing a hope that isn’t naïve, but hard-won and deeply rooted in faith.

Highlights

• Why telling true stories of hope and overcoming matters now more than ever

• The idea of agency: choosing life, joy, and freedom one decision at a time

• How John’s journey mirrors biblical resilience, including parallels to Job

• A powerful picture of the gospel: being fully known and fully loved

• What it was like meeting the real-life John and Beth and how it shaped the performances

• The promise of restoration—what’s been stolen can be replenished, resurrected, and rebuilt

• Why hope isn’t automatic… but it is always available

Join the Conversation

What part of this story resonated with you most—choosing hope, embracing vulnerability, or seeing restoration firsthand? How has faith helped shape your own resilience through hard seasons?

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Resources Mentioned

• Joel Courtney – Actor known for Soul on Fire and Super 8

  • IMDb

  • Official Instagram

• Masey McLain – Actress featured as Beth O’Leary in Soul on Fire

• • IMDb:

  • Official Instagram:

• Soul on Fire (2025) – Official film page with cast and details

• John O’Leary – The real-life inspiration for Soul on Fire (author & speaker)

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