Dear Friend in Christ,

The church is witnessing a great, historic harvest … a digital harvest.

The Holy Spirit is calling people out of spiritual darkness. Lives are being transformed in the most difficult of places. It’s why I am grateful for you and every partner of Jesus Film Project.

During the recent month of Ramadan (the Islamic month of prayer and fasting), Jesus Film® staff placed digital ads in some of the most unreached nations on earth. A young man, Saleem, saw one of those ads on Instagram. The social media ad linked him to a short video, “Show me the right path, O Lord,” from Psalm 25.

Saleem* watched and clicked a button to learn more. That’s when a waiting digital team member with Jesus Film Project® began a dialogue. The first word Saleem typed was “WOW!”

The worker (a trained specialist) talked to Saleem about what he had just watched, sharing Scriptures and the gospel. Saleem prayed to receive Christ and began to experience a vision. That’s when he wrote those words above: “Yes, my heart is still burning. I have sins in the past. They are losing power … Relief comes to me.” This is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Another man, Mousa, also responded to a social media ad and shared his dream with a digital worker: “I was in a well. The well was very deep and silent, it was also quite dark. A light started to shine on the ground from above, and when I looked up, I saw Him. I was floating, and I was getting closer to Jesus Christ. As I was getting closer, He started to get blurry, and when I was going to touch Him, He disappeared.” After the team member shared the gospel and asked if Mousa wanted to believe, he typed, “I would be happy to accept this gift of forgiveness and start following Jesus as my Savior!”

They prayed together and the digital team member responded, “Welcome to the family of God!” Mousa confirmed his decision and typed, “I feel good and enlightened; I also feel happy!”

A woman from North Africa, Abiba, had been working in Ukraine when the Russian invasion began. She was already close to becoming a follower of Jesus when she saw one of the social media ads: “I was in a bomb shelter for several days thinking that Jesus was protecting me and was making me feel safe. I’ve always wondered if I can just hug Him and cry? Is it a sin to think we can hug God? One of the volunteers that helped me flee war gave me a necklace with Jesus on it—I haven’t taken it off since then.”

She continued: “I’m from a [non-Christian background]. My parents are nice, they just believe I’m wrong having this assurance deep inside of me that Jesus is the truth. My knowledge about Him is very little, but I know He loves all of us no matter what we’ve done, no matter who we are.” Sometimes, workers will send a link to seekers like her so they can watch “JESUS” online or portions of the film and then ask their questions. A digital team member may also send Scripture, such as Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” After understanding the gospel story, Abiba also prayed to receive Christ. Right away, she wrote: “I do not feel alone anymore. I feel butterflies in my stomach, and I wish I can shout it out loud to everyone.”

A man I will refer to as Kamal responded to one of the ads. After the digital worker shared the gospel message, Kamal typed: “How could I ignore such a merciful message from God? Of course, I want to learn and practice God and His teachings. I want to live with compassion and dignity in a world full of sin and cruelty.” He also typed, “Although no one knows about this decision but me, I am full of hope and peace. I feel that I have joined a big and great family.” And another person reached through social media wrote, “I’ve finally found true peace for the first time in my life.”

God is at work! During Ramadan, ads were seen millions of times on smartphones and other devices. Nearly 5,000 people responded, wanting to know more. People in these countries might not be reached in any other way. Once a person becomes a believer, they are immediately invited to participate in digital discipleship to learn about their new faith. When possible, they are also discreetly connected with a local believer or house churches in closed nations. From this single digital campaign, 75% are still in online discipleship groups, actively learning about their new faith and how to share the good news.

Staff are excited because even in closed nations they have seen fields that are ripe for harvest. They are encountering thousands looking for something better, seeking truth. Digital evangelism is no longer for the future—it’s happening now, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands, privately and safely, even in the most difficult and resistant areas.

And people are still being reached when someone shows them the film “JESUS” and other Jesus Film® content in person. Workers may use a small portable projector outdoors or a video tablet with a small speaker.

Emmanuel is a team member with a ministry partner. He received training in how to plant churches and use the film. He started first by sharing The Four Spiritual Laws evangelistic booklet and saw 15 people receive Christ. He then began using “JESUS” and the equipment. Another 22 people accepted Christ. He now leads a thriving church, a body of believers zealous to win others to their Savior. One of his disciples moved to a new community and now has a church of 34 members!

Lastly, Jesus is healing people when they experience the “JESUS” film. Rani lives in India and testified: “I suffered for 18 years with paralysis. My entire left side was totally paralyzed. One day, my cousin, a follower of Jesus, visited my home, and she brought a small tablet to show the ‘JESUS’ film. As I lay on my bed and watched the movie, I was amazed to see the miracles of Jesus. I started to weep… “

As I continued to watch the movie, something amazing happened. I felt as though Jesus had touched me. There was absolutely no pain in my body, and I was able to move my legs. I even got up off my bed and started walking. Everybody in the room was amazed at my healing miracle. We all started giving glory to God for what was happening! Now, I am absolutely fine, and I have surrendered my life to Christ. I am also sharing my testimony with others in my area.”

Whether clicking a social media ad, watching a short film on a smartphone, receiving the Word of God in a text message or watching “JESUS” on a video tablet or at a public showing, people are ready, searching and saying “yes” to Jesus.

It’s estimated that more than 3 billion people have never been exposed to or understand the gospel. Many haven’t even heard the name of Jesus. The task of reaching them all seems humanly impossible, daunting and overwhelming.

But just as the world’s population has grown so large, to nearly 8 billion people, God has also given us technologies to help reach them: TV and radio broadcasting, satellites, the internet, social media, compact projectors, video tablets, high-capacity memory cards, smartphones and more … and “JESUS” now available in 2,070 different languages!

As digital evangelism expands, this growing strategy has the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of seekers.

Would you feel led to help? Your gift today of $210 will help reach up to 14,000 people through social media ads. Your gift will place the ads on social media sites and support online streaming and the team members who respond. Another option is to supply waiting workers with microSD cards. You can send six memory cards for $60. These are incredible, tiny tools that can hold the entire “JESUS” film in 10 different languages, as well as discipleship films, or the complete Bible.

Video tablets are also in great demand among the more than 1,800 ministry partners who use “JESUS.” Staff in just one Asian nation need training along with several thousand video tablets to equip waiting workers. Each video tablet set includes a solar panel to power the device and a wireless speaker to enable up to 25 people to hear the good news in their heart language. Your gift of $530 will provide a video tablet set for an awaiting film evangelist.

Each tablet is loaded with “JESUS,” “Magdalena,” “Rivka” or other follow-up and discipleship films. Through these tools you can help unreached people hear Him say, “I love you,” in the languages of their hearts. With gifts from friends like you, more stories like those of Saleem, Rani, Abiba and Kamal can soon be written. These are people who live in nations where sharing the gospel is restricted. They need to know Jesus died for them just like He died for you and me.

I appreciate your prayers and partnership. For you are equipping the worldwide church. He is preparing hearts. People just need to hear and understand. Thank you for telling them. God bless you for helping.

Until everyone sees Jesus,

Josh Newell
Executive Director
Jesus Film Project®

P.S. These tools are in great demand. It’s our privilege to supply more than 1,800 ministry partners with the equipment, training and translations of “JESUS.” Those partners will do the work of evangelism, church planting and discipleship as friends like you send and equip them. To make a tax-wise gift through appreciated stock, an IRA or a donor-advised fund, call (888) 278-7233 or email stock@jesusfilm.org or ira@jesusfilm.org.

* Names altered for safety and security