Dear Friend in Christ,

I hope this letter, full of encouraging reports from translation teams, will inspire you. God is answering your prayers and going ahead of the teams.

As I write, JESUS has been translated into more than 1,998 languages! Thank you for your generous partnership and faithful intercession that has resulted in this amazing progress for the gospel.

The first report comes from Africa, in a country I will not name in order to protect those whose lives could be at risk. Many in this nation follow a religion that opposes Christ and His followers. One of the people groups in the region is made up of 80,000 speakers—many of whom have never heard the gospel. JESUS was not available in their language. A translation team tried to find Christians who could translate the script. But they only found one man.

In a workshop setting that lone man worked with linguists from the outside to translate the script of JESUS, based on the Gospel of Luke, the Word of God. When completed, they next had to find the voice actors. Again, there were no Christians to be found. The translation supervisor remembers: “It was really, really tough. Speakers of that language were hard to locate. And we needed 19 voices. The only speakers we could find were followers of that religion.

“But God went before us. We unexpectedly connected with a couple at the bus station. They were from that small people group. As we explained the translation project, they were intrigued. They came to the studio and the two recorded with us, but we needed many more voices!

“While the couple was getting ready to return home, they ‘just happened’ to meet other people from their language group. The couple told them about the project, how they were recording their voices for a film called ‘Isa,’ their name for Jesus. They asked if they could participate. Person to person, the voice actors explained and invited others from that group until they had all the voices. And not one of them was Christian. But they loved the process. One man said, ‘We never understood our holy book the way we understand the film ‘Isa.’ Then came opposition …

“One of the voice actors became disgruntled. He wanted a greater part in the film. He complained to a security guard and religious leaders, revealing that their people were working on a Christian film. The authorities began to investigate. They found and harassed the actors.

“They arrested, jailed, and beat 10 of them, some severely. The authorities demanded, ‘What kind of movie is this!? Have you left our religion?’ All the voice actors would say was that they had merely recorded their voices and that there was nothing wrong with the film.

“Finally, they released all 10. But elders of the group wanted to know more. One of the voice actors arranged for a showing of JESUS. After watching, the elders said, ‘There is nothing wrong with this film.’ They actually gave their endorsement for the actors to work on the next translation, Magdalena, the version of JESUS for women. And all the voice actors want to take part, even the 10 who were jailed and beaten! God is obviously at work!”^*

This next report^** is from another translation recording leader: “We were in an area where a strong religion is everywhere. Our team was in a big rush to finish, putting in long hours in our studio. Our dialogue director suddenly left the room on a phone call. I heard yelling coming from the next room. It wasn’t anger, more like excitement.

“A minute later he burst back through the doorway with a huge grin on his face. He explained it was the leader of the house of prayer. He heard that members of his village were taking part in the recording. He was so excited to have JESUS in his language that He insisted that the premiere of the film be held on the steps of his house of prayer!

“Everyone’s jaw was practically on the floor. These leaders usually oppose. The national Jesus Film Project director has been stoned twice for showing the film. The first stones were thrown by {some of} these leaders. Now, not only was this man OK with a JESUS film showing, but he wanted to lead the charge! I believe that the Spirit is using this religious leader to get the hearts and minds of thousands of people ready for the King’s arrival, to hear Him speak in their mother tongue.”

This report comes from workers in Southeast Asia, another place where persecution can be intense. Linh (name changed for security) is a young church leader, an evangelist and church planter. He focuses on unreached people groups who speak many varied languages. Not long ago, he expectantly planned a Christmas celebration where he hoped to show JESUS in several completed languages.

But he was nervous. His country is among the most dangerous nations for Christians in Asia. And he was concerned because among those attending were government officials. Using a portable micro-projector set, different people groups gathered to watch JESUS in their heart language. Rather than respond with oppression, the leaders were glad to hear their mother tongue so honored. Several actually exclaimed, “God speaks our language!”

Linh played JESUS throughout the night, with 400 in attendance. The officials saw their people dance and sing in their mother tongue. At least 12 people professed their faith in Christ that night, in this traditionally difficult area. Linh and his team are following up with the new believers, showing them Jesus Film Project^® follow-up films in local languages. They hope to see a growing movement of evangelism and church planting.

My last report is a message for you from one of the JESUS translation leaders, a man from Ethiopia. He is currently directing several language projects in dangerous areas. “It is really exciting seeing all these people coming to know Christ as He speaks their language. They clearly understand. There is no word to describe how joyful they are, watching and listening to Jesus speak in their own language. There are no words that can adequately describe those moments.

“For many, watching the JESUS film on the screen is like watching a miracle coming from heaven. And on top of that, they understand! I want the friends of Jesus Film Project to know they are giving people the chance to see and hear what Jesus has done for them. No further translation is needed in those moments. There are no religious leaders or authorities who will twist the Word of God. They hear Him speak for themselves, directly from the mouth of Jesus. So many people are coming to Christ! Tell the partners thank you!”

I join our leader in Ethiopia in saying “thank you!” As you know, most of the larger people groups in the world now have JESUS in their language. Jesus gave us the charge to take the gospel to ALL the world and to seek out the lost sheep he told us about in the parable of the ninety-nine sheep. Through new translations, the day is coming when every lost sheep will have the opportunity to hear the gospel in his or her heart language.

HOW YOU CAN HELP CREATE A SCRIPT OF JESUS

Many of the remaining languages are spoken by smaller people groups. They are not documented, much less studied—oral languages that require a special approach. Creating scripts for these oral languages is difficult and arduous. But it can be done, requiring on average $16,250. Once complete, recording teams record the voices. Some versions can be produced with fewer voices or a single narrator.

That script-creation amount of $16,250 is beyond most of us. But many friends working together can complete several of these smaller-language projects to reach the lost sheep. Once approved, the next phase—recording, editing, and release—can begin. You may feel led to help create a script by providing a portion of the costs, perhaps $130, or $260. Should you have the financial ability, perhaps you can cover a quarter of the cost with a gift of $4,063 or half by a gift of $8,125. Many friends working together can accomplish this first and most essential step of a new translation … the script of JESUS.

Scripting, then recording and editing JESUS is a global, team endeavor. It takes many intercessors, linguists, translators, dedicated recording and editing teams, and giving partners. Once completed and released, ministry partners and their teams show these new translations of JESUS to unreached people in the language of their hearts. They also can share these translations through broadcasting and digital distribution, seen in the privacy of their homes. People hear and understand, and many believe.

Thank you for your concern for the lost sheep. Hundreds of unreached oral language groups remain. Your partnership can help everyone, everywhere to experience JESUS in their heart language. I am grateful for you. 

Until everyone sees Jesus,

Josh Newell
Executive Director
Jesus Film Project^®

PS: When unreached people experience JESUS in his or her heart language, God (the Holy Spirit) calls them to see and hear the truth. These smaller language projects can be completed with your help. The next 25 scripts await partners. You can also give securely by calling (800) 387-4040. Also consider transfers of stocks, securities, real property, a donor-advised fund, or your IRA. Please visit: www.jesusfilm.org/planned-giving. You can email stock@jesusfilm.org or ira@jesusfilm.org to begin the process of making a tax-wise gift today. May God bless you.

* At this point we don’t know if any of the actors have believed. In difficult areas it can be a process, requiring multiple exposures. Staff are hopeful that many of the actors will become followers of Jesus and form a church.

** I have edited and shortened their reports for my letter.