Dear Friend in Christ,

“It’s extremely dangerous here for believers.

“You can be beaten or executed just for telling people about Jesus. But, I will never stop.”

The moving reports in this letter are the result of your partnership, the obedience of His servants who show “JESUS,” and the power of God. Thank you!

Ali is one of the most courageous Christian leaders I know.* Once adamantly opposed to believers, Ali has become a modern-day Apostle Paul. With supernatural fervor, he declares: “As long as I have life, I will live for Him.

“In my difficult country I’ve preached to about 1,500 extremists. I will often visit a large prison, where 50 percent of the inmates are hardcore radicals. One terrorist had participated in a coup against our nation’s president. His radical group failed. As he was fleeing, soldiers shot him in the back. The bullet severed his spine. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison…paralyzed.

“When I met him he had been lying on a bed in his jail cell for seven years. He was suffering from bed sores and had no way to move about. The Lord gave me compassion to find him a wheelchair. I did and brought it into the prison. He used it that evening to come see a showing of ‘JESUS.’

“He watched intently, along with hundreds of other prisoners. Most of them also had hard hearts. How much they related to Jesus when He was brutally beaten and then crucified—although He was an innocent man, killed as a common criminal.

“When the film was over, that paralyzed terrorist called for me. He said: ‘Ali, I reject radicalism. Even if extremists in this prison kill me I don’t want to live that way anymore. Being a terrorist broke me. Jesus died in my place and gave me this wheelchair. I want to live for Him.’”

Ali said that news of his transformation spread throughout the prison. Even the guards were amazed that a hard-core radical like him could change.

“Through ‘JESUS’ hundreds of prisoners have become followers of the Lord. We have also taken ‘JESUS’ and ‘Magdalena’ to women’s prisons. At one, there were 500 women at a showing. Through ‘Magdalena’ and preaching, about 95 percent became believers and hundreds were baptized. Murderers were transformed, thieves made new. Never has anything like this happened in our country. There is great power in the Word of God and these films. I will show them until the day I die.”

Let me now take you thousands of miles away to a country in Southern Africa. This report came from a partner, the Wesleyan Church, whose workers use “JESUS” and the equipment you help provide.

One of their film teams came to a rural village. Word spread that Christians had brought a film. One man in the village was known for his volatile temper, that he could suddenly and violently explode in anger. His heart was as hard as a prisoner’s heart. He gave his wife clear instructions: “You and the children are NOT to attend the showing of that film.” Fearing his anger, she obeyed. Yet God created a way around him.

Because their house was not far from the showing site, she and the children could hear the soundtrack clearly, in their mother tongue. She heard Jesus say, “Let the children come to me…for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

The last night of showings, before the team started the projector, she took a huge risk and came to the showing site. She wanted to talk to the team and in tears said: “I could hear the message ‘loud and clear.’ I think God is showing me that I am shutting my children out of a lifetime of opportunity…. It is clear He wants me and my children to give ourselves to Him.”

Despite her husband’s threats, she and the children stayed, watched “JESUS” and gave their lives to the Lord. Afterward, she gave her testimony to the crowd. Please pray that her husband will see the transformation in her life and that he too will believe.

Lastly, let me tell you about another woman in a very radical country, where she worked for the government. Devout and committed to her nation’s traditions, she was highly resistant to any conversations about Jesus (living in her own prison of spiritual darkness).

Christians she knew kept praying, kept trying to tell her the good news. Over and over she rebuffed them. Finally, they just gave her a Bible. Now in the safety of her home, away from the watchful eyes of workers and radicals, she opened the Bible and began to read. She could not put it down. Compared to her religious book, the Bible was alive with power and truth.

That dear woman came to the workers saying she wanted to know more about Jesus. Surprised, yet happy, they gave her a DVD of “Magdalena.”** She told the workers later that she watched it probably 200 times, saying through tears, “This is the God I want to believe in.” This once “hard-core” woman led her sister to Christ as well as her children. So great was her transformation that she left her government job to share the gospel full time: “I only want to preach Jesus Christ. My previous work was directed towards Satan. I understand the real Savior of people is Jesus Christ. I want to serve Him to the end of my days.”

Radicals…prisoners…people hostile to Christ are being transformed by the power of God, through a film in their heart language and by your generous partnership. In our day we are seeing Scriptures fulfilled: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14b, NIV). That light is shining because of you. Thank you!

As you might imagine, these few reports are merely a glimpse of what you are helping to accomplish. I share them in hope that you might feel led to help again, as God leads, so more prisoners may be set free.

As you know, there are thousands of staff and partner film teams (workers with other organizations with whom we partner), as well as churches and volunteers. Together, they are striving to let the world see “JESUS.” Workers and teams are willing to show “JESUS,” follow up with new believers and plant churches, often at risk to themselves. To enable their work, they need partners who will supply them with tools, equipment, the films and training. So with gratefulness for all you do, here are some ways you can help them set the prisoners free:

Compact “Give Them Life” Pack - $4,065
Reach a Village, Help Plant a Church - $150
Video Tablet - $440
Mini-Pack - $1,925
DVDs of “JESUS” - each $60 provides 15 DVDs
Traveling Film Teams - $1,250 per month

Here is something else to consider: Pray about inviting your church, Sunday school class or small group to join with you in shining light in darkness. In this age of social media, believers are connecting, banding together to do more than they could alone. As a group, they are taking on one of these larger items. When they have raised the funds, there is collective joy. If the idea of group giving is appealing, you’ll find more information at fundraise.jesusfilm.org.

Lastly, I’d like to pass along one more report from Ali. “I know a woman in my country who lived in such darkness that she was ready to take her life. She actually went to a local hospital and tried to commit suicide. But one of our workers gave her a DVD of ‘Magdalena.’

“She watched, understood and became a follower of Jesus. That woman is nowworking in the ministry every day, showing ‘JESUS’ and ‘Magdalena’ to all the people she can.”

And Ali wanted us to pass along this message to you. “Tell the partners of The JESUS Film Project that their giving and intercession are not in vain. What they are investing is resulting in a huge spiritual return. Showing equipment, tools and DVDs are delivering people from darkness. Tell every person who gives and prays, thank you! Thank you for everything!”

I could not say it better. In many ways, this is your ministry. It’s our privilege to strive to be faithful to you, and together, to help shine the light on your behalf. For your faithfulness to the Lord, we are all grateful. 

Until Everyone Sees Jesus,

Erick Schenkel
Executive Director
The JESUS Film Project

P.S. Ministry directors and Christian leaders tell us they are seeing an openness to Christ never before seen. They declare that this is the hour to reach their nations for Christ, that the Holy Spirit is active, preparing hearts…that people are responding. All they need to do to see hearts respond is pray, submit themselves to God, and show people “JESUS.” They testify with power that the Word of God in the films never returns empty. To meet the many needs and opportunities, for team support, projectors, DVDS and other tools, at least $2.5 million is needed by year’s end. If you can send your gift by December 15, 2013, that will be a great help. You can also give via your credit/debit card at (800) 918-9929. Thank you so much.

As end-of-year approaches, consider gifts of appreciated property, stocks or securities. Very substantial tax savings are possible, as your giving furthers the kingdom of the King. If you are 70½ or older, you may be able to use your IRA to reach people with the gospel while saving on your taxes. To learn more, please contact Debbie Williams or Ben Grames (stock administrators), toll free at (888) 278-7233. Thank you.

* This country is so hazardous for Christians that I cannot mention its name or location. “Ali” is a pseudo-name. Thank you for understanding.

** “Magdalena” is based on the “JESUS” film but adds scenes from the Gospels that relate to women, such as “The Woman Caught in Adultery” and “The Woman at the Well.” It helps women understand the gospel, that Jesus loves them, and is offering them new life in Him.