** Thanks to a generous partner, your gift today to support "JESUS" film teams will be matched up to a total received of $75,000. **

I love sharing these amazing reports of “JESUS” with you!

God is working through your prayers, your generous giving and the work of committed film teams…and in the most difficult of places.

Just a few months ago, a film team in an African nation approached a highly placed chief, a religious leader known as “The Sultan.” They asked if they could show “JESUS” in his palace square, saying it had just been released in his people’s language. But being a fervent follower of his dominant religion, he refused.

The team planned to return later, hoping to saturate the area with the gospel. They gave themselves to prayer, worked out several strategies and organized into teams. On arriving, they debated: “Should we go back and visit the Sultan, and try again? He resisted us before and refused.” After spending more time in prayer, they became convinced of the Lord’s leading. They should!

He agreed to meet. With grace and humility, the team leaders explained, “We are here to preach the good news to your people, to be your friends.” He listened and this time gave full permission. The teams left the meeting praising God who had answered their prayers. They immediately went to work.

As they began to set up in the palace square of the Sultan, they sensed growing opposition, fearing they could be stoned. So, they sent word to him, asking for help. To their surprise, he sent his officials to actually assist the team, and assure their safety.

They told the team where to set up the screen and the projector, specifically so the Sultan-chief, his wives and all the officials could watch! Remember, this is a very resistant area. Anything can happen, especially when a Christian film is shown. When they started the projector, a few stones were thrown, landing harmlessly on the ground, but soon stopped. The team reported that those who were once opposed, the chief and all his officials “…sat glued to the film from beginning to the end. About 1,925 people watched. The hillside, neighboring homes and the palace square were packed full…Over 200 people prayed to receive Christ.”

Three of the villages in the area requested that the film be shown to them. Young Christians from nearby villages asked to be trained, so they could work like the teams. Pastors and missionaries who had tried for years to reach the area rejoiced over the breakthrough. As the team described it, ““JESUS” became the talk of the town... the impact was felt tremendously.” To Him be the glory—wonderful answers to prayer!

Let me take you to another nation, where film teams are sharing “JESUS” literally behind enemy lines, in militant territory. Here, radical movements have spread into several parts of Africa, leading to greater opposition. Yet our Lord is here too, answering prayer, overcoming barriers, working in amazing ways.

A member of a partner team reported: “God has done so many wonderful things through this film and the projector we use. There are so many testimonies. I’ve taken “JESUS” to many villages. But I had been unable to go to one particular village, so I began praying for them.

“A man in the village died at age 111 years. In my country, people will gather all night, coming to pay their respects for the deceased (like a wake). And the people expect to be entertained. The dead man had five sons. They tried to find entertainment but failed. So, we heard of their search and offered to come and show the people “JESUS.”

“At first, the five brothers resisted. Eventually, they allowed us to show “JESUS.” I started the projector, but no one came. The first to arrive was an older woman, then others arrived. We ended up showing “JESUS” three times during the night, with 354 people watching.

“THEY ALL RECEIVED CHRIST, INCLUDING THE MAN’S WIDOW.* There is now a wonderful house church in this village. I thank God for His miracles.”

Lastly, let me tell you about those witch doctors! A man named Bedada, also in an African nation, had received training in how to plant churches using “JESUS.” He went to an unreached village and showed “JESUS” below a tree, but to a small number of people. While there, he met a witch doctor, greatly feared, who commanded the spirits (demons), and was opposed to anyone who could come against his powers and livelihood.** This would not be easy.

Yet, through that showing of “JESUS” and through faithful follow-up, 12 people believed. Bedada organized them into a new church. Using his training, and through more showings, two years later the church had grown to 145 people! Next to the tree where he had first presented “JESUS,” the people built a beautiful church. They have since planted a daughter church, and are planning a third!

And that witch doctor, the one all the people feared? He is a member of the church! When asked, “Who is Jesus to you now?” and with his face beaming, he says, “Jesus is my Savior!”

This former witch doctor and his fellow church members have a ministry to witch doctors in the surrounding villages, of which there are many. They pray and fast for about a month before going out to one of these powerful shamans, declaring the gospel, and showing the film “JESUS.” It’s then that darkness flees in the light of the gospel.

In this same area, staff leader Belay (the one who trained Bedada to plant churches) set a goal to plant 30 churches in 30 villages, most of which were also controlled by witch doctors. He has since planted 32 churches, ranging in size from 30 to 150 believers each! Some of these have multiplied themselves three times, leading more to Christ, planting more churches.

This, then, is the work of the film teams and partners—who wield the power of the Word of God contained in “JESUS,” supernatural power that sets the captives free. For your gracious partnership, for your many prayers and generosity, thank you. I am coming to you today not only to encourage and express our gratitude, but also in hopes that you will continue your gracious support. Will you help write more life-changing stories like these? Would you help bring light and life to thousands…hope and freedom that Christ alone brings?

This is the church Bedada planted, built next to the tree where he first showed the people “JESUS”. Note the cross painted on the building, declaring to all around that Christ was their Lord, and had set them free. As teams here and around the world strive to plant churches, they are truly grateful for “JESUS,” the training, for your many prayers and gifts that help make their ministries possible.

Church-planting film and partner teams need, on average, $42 per day. On any given day of ministry, they may meet with new groups of believers from a showing the night before, or hold evangelism training for church leaders, disciple a local pastor, or conduct a baptismal service. They may commission a new pastor. They may show “JESUS” to a Sultan and his officials, along with 2,000 people in a palace square!

With appreciation for all you do, may I invite you to consider a gift of $126 to support three days of a team’s ministry? Your gift of $294 will enable one week of ministry. If possible, can you do more through a gift of $420 for ten days or two weeks by sending $625? As you give, you will be truly with them, at every showing…making their work possible.

Moreover, your gift can be doubled. A wonderful partner of Jesus Film Project has again offered to double your gift for the teams, matching it with one of his own.*** For example, your gift of $294 to support one week of ministry could make two weeks possible.†

Should you have greater resources for advancing the kingdom, please consider a gift of $1,250 for one month of team support, or even a gift of $15,000 to enable a team’s work for a year. During that year, you could help a team plant scores of new churches, even in villages now dominated by witch doctors or cultures opposed to Christ, leading thousands to Christ and an eternity with our Lord. That matching gift offer also applies and can double your impact.

Please join me and the staff of Jesus Film Project, the many film teams, in giving glory to our Lord.

Pray for the teams! Thank you so much.

Until Everyone Sees Jesus,

Erick Schenkel
Executive Director
Jesus Film Project®

P.S. Jesus Film Project is honored to serve in a key partnership role with many ministries, churches and denominations, providing translations of “JESUS,” training for partner teams and equipment. Church-planting film teams help mobilize, train and equip lay people to plant churches. And it’s happening worldwide, through “JESUS.” More than $3.4 million is needed for this worldwide task to mobilize and support film teams for the next few months. So, if possible, please mail your gift by July 31, 2017. Or you can give securely on this page, or by calling (800) 387-4040. Every gift matters, large or small. Thank you for however you can help.

* Capital letters added for emphasis.

** Witch doctors, also known as shamans, “sell” their services, casting spells, calling on the spirits. Missionaries will tell you it’s all very real. In league with evil and demons, witchcraft is their source of income, their livelihood.

*** This matching gift offer applies to all gifts, up to $75,000 received.

† A careful review and study has confirmed that for each dollar given to the ministry, an average of 10 people will hear the “saving message” of the gospel and one will receive Christ.