This will be my last letter to you as executive director of The JESUS Film Project. 

Beginning April 2, my colleague and friend, veteran of Campus Crusade for Christ, Erick Schenkel, will become the new executive director. His wife Elizabeth is also an experienced veteran of Campus Crusade with many talents. (Elizabeth is a gifted speaker and creative writer. She is the vision and drive behind a new follow-up series for women, "Rivka.")

You will be blessed by Erick's leadership.

I plan to remain active with The JESUS Film Project. I want to focus on future strategies, productions relationships and partners that will help take the vision of the JESUS film ministry into the world of online, digital and mobile media. Exciting days are ahead!

As we look to the future under Erick's gifted leadership, may I look back...to another leader, my predecessor and close friend, Paul Eshleman? As executive director in the early 1990s, Paul coordinated an unprecedented mobilization of JESUS film teams to reach every village of India--at the time, estimated to be an astounding 644,000 communities. Paul:

It was a daunting task then and seemed impossible from man's point of view. But today that number is projected to be at least 400,000 villages reached--communities that have experienced the JESUS film in their own language, through the work of the teams. Tens of thousands of churches were planted. It happened because of the courageous faith and willingness of the teams to risk their lives. I, and the millions of people they reached who are now in the kingdom, will be eternally grateful to God and to the many partners who sent them.

In commemoration of what those teams accomplisehd (many are still very active), I want to quote a moving story told by Paul in 2004. What happened then still moves my heart. Paul:

Two large Hindu temples dominate a remote, resistant community of 4,500 people near the northeastern coast of India. Sanathan was the priest of both temples. He led the people in the worship of Kali, the "goddess of death." During festival times he routinely sacrificed 100 goats each day for the sins of the people--a people who believed their idols actually drank the blood that was placed before them.

When a JESUS film team arrived--a team you may have helped support--this Hindu priest attended one of the four showings. He was respected, and even feared as the "master of sacrifice" in the temples, but the blood of the goats he had killed left him with only a deep vacuum inside his soul.

As Sanathan watched Jesus being crucified, "lifted up from the earth," and as he saw His innocent blood spilled, he understood: "I came an empty man. As I watched, I realized that Jesus was God's only sacrifice for sin. Today, Jesus has changed my life!"

A year has passed since the team made that journey to his village where there are now 300 believers. Sanathan is one of the church leaders. At last report, Sanathan is actively evangelizing, discipling and helping the JESUS teams travel to unreached islands off the coast.

And the movement continues! By the millions, people have learned for the first time that Jesus sacrificed His sinless life for them, when they watched JESUS. The deep vacuums in their souls have been filled by God Himself.

Now I have before me the latest report from this part of the world. In 2011, church-planting teams planned to show JESUS in this area to 371,500 people. Did they succeed? Yes, and more. They showed it to 413,647 people and trained 7,455 new believers in evangelism! Those teams planted 2,870 new house groups and reproducing churches!

It started with one woman who came to Christ and who then prayed for her husband. He too came to Christ and then brought some of their neighbors to Jesus and soon a new house church was planted. Currently this house church is planting another house church in a nearby village.

Praise God for what He has done through those teams. Approximately 244,000 villages remain, containing millions of people who have not yet seen JESUS or received a clear presentation of the gospel. And that's in just one country of Asia. There are hundreds of millions more, many of whom must be reached where they live and work, including urban areas.

To reach them all, JESUS film teams, as well as partner teams, are working across the continent of Asia. It is for all these teams that I invite your help today...and bring to you a generous and encouraging offer. A caring partner wants to stand with the teams and with you. He has offered a $100,000 matching gift to inspire your partnership with the teams.

Each staff team needs about $1,250 monthly. This covers transportation, meals and lodging, a modest allowance, equipment and their many follow-up activities. This works out to $42 per day, or $15,000 per year. (Based on worldwide averages. The rate does vary from country to country.) There are currently 332 staff JESUS film teams at work in South Asia. This is one key area where support is greatly needed. If you can send $168 to enable four days of ministry for a team, that generous partner will match your gift to become $336, sponsoring six days of ministry.

Your $294 gift--a team for a week--also could be doubled, becoming 14 days of showing JESUS or following up new believers. Your gift of $625 could be doubled to become $1,250, making one month of showing JESUS possible, or if God has enabled you, would you consider a gift of $2,500 or $5,000? Further, he will double every gift you send until all $100,000 is met. This is a wonderful offer indeed.

As a committed ministry partner, would you consider a special gift to bring people salvation and hope through the work of film teams? As the Lord has blessed you, and only as He leads, I invite you to take part. I would like to close with this last story, taken from that team report--an example of the teams' zeal and faith:

Maa Manasa is a goddess of snakes, worshipped in the village temple. (I have masked the location to protect lives and the new churches.) When a team approached the village, they were soundly turned away, and told to never return. Undaunted, the team spent the next few weeks in prayer. They were granted permission to show the JESUS film in a home of the village. But the "minister" of the temple warned the team: "If you share Jesus in this village then Maa Manasa will take over your life and you will be dead." The two replied, "Our living God will not let that happen to His children." They showed JESUS. The minister's threat proved powerless as the villagers saw and heard the Word of God, responding to the true and living God, Jesus Christ. A small church was established and now meets in the temple courtyard of the deposed Maa Manasa goddess! One of the church's lay leaders has already planted a second house church in this same area.

May His name be praised and glorified for all He has done! And thank you for helping with the teams. As they continuously pray for God's provision, they rely on funding sent by generous partners like you. Remember too the $100,000 matching gift offer that can double your partnership.

Finally, thank you so much for your partnership and prayers for Nan and me these last seven years. Please do the same for Erick and Elizabeth. And rejoice, for the best days are yet to come!

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Jim Green, Executive Director
The JESUS Film Project

P.S. JESUS film teams are so important. They are on the front lines, showing JESUS
to unreached people, following up new believers, training and mobilizing volunteers and partner organizations to do the same. More than $1,200,000 is needed to sustain their ministries. As you give, keep in mind that what you send could be doubled, up to a maximum received of $100,000. While ultimately relying on the Lord, JESUS film team members also rely on the generosity of others like you to continue in ministry. So if possible, please give a gift today by clicking on the "Give A Gift" button above. Thank you so much for all you do.

If you prefer, you can give by regular bank transfer (EFT) giving for team support. You can also give a gift via credit card by calling (800) 387-4040. With the recent increase in stock market values, now could be an ideal time to consider a gift of appreciated property, stock or mutual funds, all with potentially excellent tax benefits. For more information, please go to www.jesusfilm.org/donate/stock. To arrange for gifts of stock or other securities, please call toll free (888) 278-7233, and ask to speak with "stock administrators" Ben Grames or Debbie Williams, or simply send an email to stock@jesusfilm.org.