Dear Friend of Jesus Film Project,

“Lord, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power” —Jeremiah 10:6, NLT

The film team was alone that night…taking the gospel deep into a dangerous country. With no moon, all they could see were faint silhouettes of buildings and trees.

The team began playing music through the speakers to attract people to the film showing site. But not a single person came. This almost never happens.*

The team said they felt an unsettling, eerie foreboding. Then they heard it, the sound of bushes rustling, the cracking of branches breaking on the ground. With a cry, 12 radicals stormed out.

Waving machetes and with great anger, they screamed: “We are going to kill you and every infidel with you.” The three team members fled for their lives, running as fast as they could to their jeep. In their confusion they all jumped into the back seat. With the radicals fast approaching, one team member vaulted into the front seat and started the engine just in time. Hearts pounding, they sped away.

For almost a year the "JESUS" film team felt they had forsaken their task, even feeling guilty. They prayed: “These people need to hear the gospel. Lord, what should we do? We need your wisdom.”

As they were praying, one of the team members said, “God is speaking to me. We should go back.” After more prayer they came to an agreement. Although the risk was great, they would go, asking and trusting God to go before and protect them. Little did they know the way He would answer!

The three team members loaded the "JESUS" film and showing equipment into the back of their jeep, along with three boxes of Bibles. They headed for the village, several hours away.

On the road, the film team came to a police checkpoint—for them a potentially dangerous stop in the road. The officer queried, “Where are you going?” Trying to be noncommittal, they said, “We are headed south.” He then surprised them, “Well so am I. Can you give me a ride?” There was no way they were about to refuse a police officer’s request! But then it got worse…

The officer insisted that he climb in the back of the jeep. He actually sat on the boxes of Bibles! They feared that if he looked in the boxes, he could have them arrested or killed. They prayed, and drove on.

Soon, they approached another police checkpoint. This could not go well. The officer popped his head out of the back and told the officers, “I’m with them, you don’t need to search the vehicle.” The police waved them through. Three more police check points…and three more times he got them through!

By now, they suspected that God was doing something. The officer asked the film team, “Tell me, what’s your destination?” “The village of Chanddon,”** to which he replied, “Why, that’s my village! I’ll go with you!” At his request, they drove him to his home where he invited them in for tea. Inside, he asked, “And why have you come to Chanddon?”

“We’ve come to show a film about the Great Prophet Isa (Jesus).” Having experienced their kindness, the officer asked, “What do you need?” This was the very village where radicals had chased them out a year earlier, nearly hacking them to death with machetes. They answered, “We need permission.”

“Oh, that’s no problem. My brother is the mayor! And where do you want to show this film?” They asked, “Can we use the town square?” (Where they had tried before.) To which the policeman replied: “Sure, but you know we have some radical elements here. So I’m going to have my police force guard you as you show the film.”
The team prayed and set up their equipment. Once again, darkness fell. As before, they played music to draw the people. This time a crowd came, sat down and watched "JESUS," hearing the Word of God in their heart language. For the first time in their lives they learned who Jesus really was.

The Holy Spirit ministered to their hearts that Jesus was not just a great prophet, but the Son of God who demonstrated power and authority over sickness and death, that He was raised from the dead, and offered all who believe eternal life. That night—that wonderful night—when God went before them, 167 people came to Christ!

Our God longs for every person on earth to hear and understand the gospel, even in the most difficult of places. It’s His heart, your enabling partnership, thousands of faithful workers, and the response to "JESUS" that drives the vision of Jesus Film Project— that everyone, everywhere should be given a chance to meet Jesus, to hear His Word in their mother tongue.

Now in the past four years, 917 more people groups have experienced their first-ever contact with a missionary or the gospel and more than 450 of these newly reached people groups have the "JESUS" film in their language. That’s a remarkable achievement, the result of the obedience, prayer, hard work and gifts of many. Thank you!

This is why I’m writing. Staff teams and partner film teams need showing equipment to take these new language versions of "JESUS" into unreached/pioneering areas. As you know, Jesus Film Project considers that "JESUS" belongs to the church worldwide. Your partnership makes available translations, training and equipment not just to staff teams, but to partner organizations who support their teams.

These partner film teams agree to show "JESUS" and other Jesus Film® media at least 100 times per year. There is therefore great demand for these tools—with many specific, urgent requests for equipment, totaling more than $530,000.

One of those urgent requests comes from film teams in The Gambia, West Africa—a nation that at the end of 2015 declared itself an Islamic state. Teams there are undeterred and believe that this declaration is leading people to be more open to Jesus. The teams are asking for 35 more video tablets ($380 each) and two more 300-viewer projector sets (see the information sheet).

Film teams in other nations are asking for hundreds of tablets as they boldly reach out to soldiers fighting against radical militias in Central Africa and in Central Asia. Film teams in Nigeria are working to expand their ministries in prisons (where radicalization often occurs). Nigerian teams alone need 56 video tablets, ideal to show prisoners (including radicals) "JESUS," "Magdalena," "My Last Day," and the "Walking With Jesus" follow-up series (for new African believers).

Other teams and partners are asking for many thousands of Micro SD memory cards, pre-loaded with "JESUS" in multiple languages. And literally hundreds of Church Planting Evangelism Kits are being requested—a small projector, solar panels, screen sets and speakers for showings for up to 200 people at a time. You can provide one Church Planting Evangelism Kit for a film team through a gift of $3,240, or a 300-viewer projector set with speaker amps and a projector stand for a gift of $2,285.

If you are unable to send a gift of that size, you can still help through a gift of $100, $250 or $500. Combined with the gifts of others, your partnership will still make a tremendous difference changing lives and advancing Christ’s kingdom.

Please take a moment and prayerfully review the enclosed sheet. Seek His heart and guidance. Ask God to go before the teams, protecting them, opening hearts to meet the Son of God. Ask if He would like you to help equip these teams, and help draw hundreds, if not thousands, to the cross and eternal life. God bless you for however you feel led to help.

Until Everyone Sees Jesus,

Erick Schenkel
Executive Director

P.S. Film showing equipment is urgently needed for places like The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Central Asia, Central Africa, and Nigeria. Though partner film teams agree to show "JESUS" at least 100 times in a year, many teams show "JESUS" far more often. As a result, hundreds and thousands of people are coming to Christ through each set of equipment, and scores of churches are being planted, even among radicals. So your gift, large or small will make a great difference. Please give as you are able and as He leads you. You can  give online, securely and safely, on this page or through a credit/debit card gift when you call (800) 387-4040. If you can, please send or post your generous gift by May 31, 2016. Thank you.

* This incident occurred several years ago before newer, compact showing equipment was available.

** I’m using a pseudo-name for reasons of security.