"It was a very dangerous, spiritually dark area, off limits to foreigners. The nationals didn't want to call attention to our white faces. We had to be very careful."

Tony Ransom (not his real name) is a retired oil company executive. He had gone to witness a film team show JESUS in Myanmar, for the remote Rumai Palaung people. His church had sponsored the translation.

Tony: "Because it was militia-controlled territory the team waited until dark, and then drove us in the back of a car for 45 minutes.

"When we arrived at the showing site it was incredibly dark. There was no electricity, no moon...it was just pitch black. The only light came from a cartoon playing on a screen set up in the field, to draw the people. The workers asked us to stand in the back, well behind the video projector, out of sight in the shadows. What I then saw was simply breathtaking...

"We looked up, barely able to discern the outline of the surrounding hills. Glimmering on and off through the leaves of the jungle trees I spotted hundreds of strange fireflies in all directions. But they weren't like fireflies I had ever seen. They were moving slowly, methodically, inexplicably, and right toward the film showing.

"'What are those lights?' I asked the film team. They replied: 'They are the people. You are seeing candles to light their way on the dark trails.' The symbolism was obvious. These people had never heard the gospel. Soon, JESUS would light their way out of spiritual darkness.

"In a few minutes 250 people had gathered. They sat on the ground, candles blown out, but still in their hands. The team gave us an early warning, that we would have to leave before the film was over. But for now I marveled. Their faces glimmered with the light of the video projector and screen. Jesus spoke Palaung! His Words of love and life illumined their hearts. Many began to cry, completely engaged. I was engaged too.

"What a wonder to watch. Then we had to leave.

"I'll never forget that night, how the light shone in the darkness. Deep in militia-controlled territory I was part of an unreached people hearing the gospel for the first time. I later heard that many responded and believed. They had been called {...out of darkness into His marvelous light...'}."

Let me take you to a different part of Myanmar, where the light is also shining, directly into the hearts of thousands of monks, but in the open.

Tony's church is also involved in a ministry to Myanmar called "Golden Boxes." Every holiday season, a time when there is more religious freedom, Myanmar Christians assemble and give out "Golden Boxes" (last year, some 10,000). Each box contains a DVD of JESUS, a New Testament, Christian literature and other gifts. Amazingly, they give them to monks on the streets, in homes, and directly at the monasteries.

For cultural reasons, the monks always accept the "Golden Boxes" and a number have become followers of Jesus. One was so transformed that he decided to remain in his monastery, to be a witness to other monks. Today, he works closely with national Christians, giving out many more DVDs of JESUS. National Christians there are also taking the "Golden Boxes" into orphanages and the public schools. Now, this third report is so humbling...

Far from Myanmar, in an extremely restricted country of the Middle East, live two courageous women. They have been giving out the DVDs of JESUS you send for the past 16 years, typically filling their purses or shopping bags with DVDs and Gospels of Luke. They go out on foot or by taxi, giving JESUS to all. They realize that if discovered by the authorities, they could spend years in prison or be killed. But they are willing to die, so the light may shine.

They gave one of those DVDs to a woman. Six weeks passed. They saw her again and heard: "I have good news. I showed 'JESUS' to more than 500 people. Many became followers of Jesus and clamored for more information. They want help so they can share the gospel with others."

Those two women are always busy. They take JESUS into a different home almost every night (remember, this is a highly restricted country): "Homes are always jam packed. By the time the DVD concludes, most want to become followers of Jesus, and then ask for their own DVD copy of JESUS." So great is the demand that the women say: "It's a problem--a good problem--but we can't keep up. Please pray that the Lord provides helpers and ways to strengthen the faith of these new believers."

What wonderful problems to have! It's why I'm writing to you today. The Lord has opened opportunities to distribute more than 950,000 DVDs and audio CDs of JESUS (the audio drama adaptation of the film). These will be given out by volunteers, partners and film teams in many nations.

Would you feel led to help the light shine in the darkness? Every $50 gift you send will produce and distribute 12 DVDs or audio CDs of JESUS. And each DVD can be seen by up to 16 people. That means your gift of $100 will help deliver 24 DVDs into the hands of unreached people, reaching as many as 384 men, women and children. (The number of people who watch a DVD varies from country to country. Although scientific surveys are not possible, workers in each country do their best to evaluate their work, and accurately report the results of your partnership.)

If you have been blessed financially, even during these difficult economic times, perhaps you would want to send a gift of $500 to supply 120 DVDs, or $1,000 for 240 DVDs and audio CDs. A gift of $1,000 would make it possible for up to 3,840 people to experience the power of JESUS.

Another way you can help is by providing new micro-video players. These are useful in restricted nations where even being found with a DVD is too dangerous (or if a DVD player is not available). An ideal alternative, micro-video players fit into a pocket and resemble a cell phone. With just a couple of ear-bud headphones, a person can appear to be listening to music, but is actually watching JESUS safely and securely. You can provide one micro-video player for workers in a restricted nation by a gift of $90 (for multiple uses), or 10 players with a gift of $900.

Thanks for however you can help. Now I have one more report!

A volunteer in a restricted country who distributes the DVDs wanted to give JESUS to a woman. But that woman was reluctant to accept. Her disc player had been broken for some time and wouldn't play anything. The worker offered a DVD anyway and the woman agreed.

She returned home and inserted it in her player. Immediately, it came to life, enabling her to experience JESUS! Convinced she had just witnessed a miracle, she returned, wanting to know more about Jesus!

As you have read, God is working. According to how He leads, join in! Thank you for letting
His light shine.

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Jim Green, Executive Director
The JESUS Film Project

P.S. What a joy to give you glimpses into what God is doing. Today, more than 950,000 DVDs, and now, 3,000 micro-video players that play JESUS, are being requested. Your $50 can provide 12 DVDs, enabling as many as 192 people to experience the film JESUS in their mother tongue, based on the Word of God. If possible, please give your gift now by clicking on the "Give a Gift" button above. Consider also giving via credit card by calling (800) 387-4040. Thank you so much.

Recently, the stock market hit two-year highs. You may now want to consider gifts of stock or mutual funds, gifts of other appreciated property, 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" Debbie Williams or Ben Grames, or contact them at
http://www.jesusfilm.org/donate/donate-options/stock-or-securities-gift.