Dear Friend in Christ,

All praise, honor and glory go to our wonderful Lord for the amazing thing He is doing!

Standing under a tree during a torrential downpour, 10 young disciples were being drenched. Huddled closely together, lightning struck a nearby power pole. The explosion of the strike was unnerving.

The 10 workers had been riding a bus, taking portable JESUS film equipment and a translation of JESUS to a village in Ecuador. En route, the bus suddenly blew two tires, lurching to a stop. A fire broke out--a fire so severe that the team had to escape with the equipment through the windows!

As they stood in the pouring rain, another lightning bolt struck . . . this time much closer. Again, a loud boom. This was not the kind of outreach they expected.

Two blown tires . . . a fire with a harrowing escape . . . close lightning strikes . . . they must have felt their mission was under spiritual attack. Fortunately, a second bus stopped to pick them up. They loaded up the equipment, boarded, and traveled again over the rough, dirt road.

When they reached the "end of the line," they offloaded their equipment. Now on foot, the team of 10 hoisted all the equipment on their shoulders--the generator, a projector, collapsible screen, PA system and lights. Then, another obstacle. They came to a river, swollen by the downpour. If they were to reach their target village, they had no choice but to lift the equipment above their heads and carefully wade through the swift current.

Finally, the weary evangelists made it to the village, a group of people steeped in idolatry. They set up the equipment. Then, as though right on schedule, the rain stopped. About 600 people heard the gospel and the Word of God in their own language. It was the first time they ever learned about Jesus and what he had done for them. Of the 600 in attendance, 218 indicated decisions for Christ--about 36 percent!

This team of 10 young disciples is exemplary of a growing movement of partnership. The 10 were volunteers working with Church of the Nazarene, a key partner of The JESUS Film Project. Such partners supply workers and support. Our role is to supply them with projection equipment, translations of JESUS, films and training. The dedication of those 10 workers, and the equipment you helped supply, were used by the Holy Spirit to move 218 people from darkness into His marvelous light!

Let me tell you about another Nazarene JESUS film team, working in Malawi, Africa. They traveled to a village in the grip of ancestral worship. Like an article from National Geographic magazine, the people engaged in secret rituals--men in masks who danced in an attempt to interact with the dead. They usually succeeded, but not with the dead . . .

Being demonically controlled territory, the team expected spiritual resistance. No doubt because of prayer, the village chief readily granted them his approval to show JESUS. The team prayed again as the villagers gathered, asking God to break the powers of darkness.

As the film was shown, the village became so attentive. They were touched in their hearts by the Word of God (heard in their mother tongue). They marveled at His miracles and love. They were disturbed by His unfair crucifixion. And they rejoiced at His resurrection.

After the film concluded, the village chief declared, "Our eyes have seen new things." The next day the team organized a disciple group in the chief's house, with many in attendance. They eagerly agreed to meet every Sunday afternoon to study the Bible and their new faith.

Next, and hundreds of miles away in Zambia, several thousand people gathered to watch JESUS. The team had brought the film in the Tonga language, a perfectly lip-synced version that used nationals--Tonga speakers. They projected the film on a large screen using a 16 mm projector and portable generator. The team said so many were watching that the crowd was impossible to count.

In the audience was a 99-year-old chief! After the invitation was given, and with great passion, he told the team, "I did not know that Jesus was a Tonga when He was on earth many years ago." Then he began to weep, saying his wife had died eight months ago. Through his emotion he said, "She did not have the chance to meet Jesus."

Other chiefs from the surrounding villages were with him. They responded the same: "There are hundreds of graves in our villages filled with the bodies of those who did not know Jesus, and that makes us sad. Please come, and maybe our children will choose to accept that Jesus was the Messiah, the Anointed One of God."

That's what motivates my letter. A whole new generation of African youth is emerging who has never heard the gospel. This is true not only in Africa, but also in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and especially in the famed 10/40 Window. And it is not just for the youth that I ask, but the remaining thousands upon thousands of villages and communities who have not heard the gospel even once, much less have seen JESUS in their heart language.

My close colleague Bill Wolfe, who is our JESUS Film Project field director, was recently in Nigeria, Africa, home to 25 percent of that continent's population. He presented the idea of partnership, including The JESUS Film Project supplying 16 mm projection equipment, as well as film copies, and training to a new consortium of partners . . . with a special emphasis on follow-up for oral societies, discipleship and church planting.

Bill sought to recruit five teams for a test, but was overwhelmed by the response of the many leaders present. They countered with an offer of not five, but 20 teams! They also begged him to hold six more partnership meetings, feeling they could recruit many more teams to go to unreached areas.

In fact, Bill said the Holy Spirit was clearly present--"their enthusiasm was so great that if I left without promising equipment and films they would not have let me leave!"

Because the plans they were making were solid and comprehensive, in faith, Bill promised those leaders 20 sets of equipment for their teams, at a cost of about $126,000. He didn't know where the funds would come from, but he knew our God would supply as He leads. He also knows how very generous this family of JESUS film supporters is, of which you are part.

Tools needed by the film teams are 16 mm projectors, video projectors that use DVDs, generators, portable screens, sound systems and accessories. Some teams need video equipment for private showings in the most dangerous areas.

Besides the need to get equipment, films and training into the hands of those 20 partner teams as reported by Bill Wolfe, there is a greater need for similar equipment worldwide . . . to enable the work of many more film teams. For all the strategically important requests the total is $546,235. When raised, both staff and partner teams will use what you provide strategically. Millions of people could experience JESUS in their own language, be followed up, grounded in their faith . . . with the potential of hundreds of new churches being planted. Isn't this the essence of what our Lord has called us to do in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . ."?

I invite you to pray about the tools needed for the film teams. Seek how the Lord may work through you. You can look at some of the options by taking this link. Perhaps you will find a piece of equipment you would like to provide. You may be able to purchase a 16 mm projector for $1,980, or, a generator for $1,215--enabling potentially thousands to see JESUS in their heart language. You may have the resources to give one of these waiting teams a complete set of equipment for $5,300. Obviously, few of us have that kind of capability, but many of us can help by sending a gift of $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 . . . however He leads and enables. Your gift of any amount will be combined with the gifts of others to provide this equipment, so whatever you send will be a substantial help.

As you pray and consider these many opportunities, I offer this last report from another of the partner Nazarene teams.

In Southeast Asia lived a man who had spent his entire life in a tiny, mountain village. He possessed abilities to perform signs and wonders as part of their animistic religion.

When the JESUS film team arrived, he resisted strongly. Finally, he agreed to allow them to show his small village the film. One night he quietly slipped into the audience to watch JESUS. He was moved by Jesus' suffering--the God-man without sin. Unable to contain himself, the man shouted, "Jesus, have mercy on me. I am a sinner." That night, he joined 17 others who believed, who were transformed.

The God of the New Testament is alive and at work today--". . . for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction . . ." (I Thessalonians 1:5 NASB). He is transforming lives for eternity. All praise, honor and glory go to our wonderful Lord!

Thank you for your partnership that makes these greater partnerships possible. Thank you for your careful consideration of this important opportunity.

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Jim Green, Executive Director
The JESUS Film Project

P.S. As I review the many requests for portable sets of JESUS showing equipment, I count 85 sets for waiting teams in at least six countries. A total of $546,235 is needed, including 20 sets for the Nigeria test partnership teams. If you can help--simply select this link. Another option is to call (800) 387-4040. Thank you so much.

Church of the Nazarene is one of a growing number of partners using the film JESUS. Many such partners (much like our own JESUS film staff teams) have well-established networks of disciplers, Bible schools, trainers and pastoral leadership. They also have thousands of dedicated disciples willing to reach their nations for Christ, who use the equipment and films you help provide. It is our privilege to pass on these reports which Church of the Nazarene has graciously supplied. We ask your prayers for their teams, as working together with you, the day moves ever closer when the Great Commission will be fulfilled!