“…I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12b, NASB)
 

Dear Friend in Christ,

What I want to share is gripping, tragic … yet full of hope.

May you be blessed by what God alone has done, and the opportunity to help people around the world experience His power through the “JESUS” film.

It happened in the heart of the Amazon jungle basin. When YWAM missionaries Marcia and Edson Suzuki first arrived in the Suruwahá village, they knew they had arrived at “… the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8b, NASB).

At first, it was a challenge to even communicate. The Suruwahá* were completely isolated, their language totally unique and unintelligible, at the time, seemingly unrelated to any other known tongue in the Amazon. It took years for the Suzukis to understand their speech, thought processes and culture.

The people believed instinctively that they themselves were evil. And the longer they lived, the more evil they became, destined to go to an “eternal river of punishment.” So it came as a shock when the Suzukis learned of a tragic practice among the Suruwahá—suicide. To keep from becoming too evil, they took their own lives, usually between the ages of 11 and 30.

This people group was slowly moving toward extinction.

They would dig out the root of a dangerous plant and suck out the juice. It was painful, but within 20 minutes the poison paralyzed the victim, resulting in asphyxiation. So with understandable urgency, the Suzukis struggled to translate the Scriptures and communicate the gospel. But the people didn’t understand.

Then came the day that the 11-year-old daughter of the village shaman (witch doctor) drank the poison and took her own life. The shaman’s name was Asia (Ah-see-ah). He became despondent and desperate. Asia wanted to join his daughter at the eternal river. He ran down the path to the garden where the deadly plant grows, determined to commit suicide.

Suddenly, he was confronted by a magnificent man standing in the jungle. He appeared to be a Suruwahá man, dressed in a loin cloth, and covered with red pigment—a sign of strength and perfection. Asia said he had “eyes of fire, and was very strong. His voice was so powerful, yet sweet and tender.” “Asia, do not follow your daughter. It is not your time yet. Go back and tell the others what you have seen and heard.”

Asia returned and talked with the Suzukis, saying, “I have seen this Jesus you have told me about. He changed my heart. I don’t want to die anymore.”

That was the breakthrough. This former Shaman went on to influence seven others to believe. But then something happened before more people could understand the gospel: Certain anthropologists and political forces pressured the government to issue an order— all missionaries had to leave the region.

Today, the area remains officially a “Forbidden Zone.” No Westerners, no missionaries are allowed access to reach them with the gospel.

But the film “JESUS” can. That’s why I am writing.

Recently, more than 3,000 indigenous Christians, representing the vast Amazon basin, attended an historic conference in Brazil, COMPLEI 2012. They came from every direction and five countries: pastors, lay people and evangelists—many of whom were won to Christ when they first watched the “JESUS” film in their Indian language. About 83 different people groups were represented.

Staff from The JESUS Film Project also attended, to share a new vision. They demonstrated the new “Give Them Life” backpacks and the Mini-Pack systems, which make the “JESUS” film more accessible and provide workers with new mobility (see the photo above). The Mini-Pack uses a tiny, table top projector, run by solar-charged batteries. The larger backpack, for larger audiences, can also be carried by one worker. A single person (perhaps a member of an Amazon Indian people group) is thus able to hike the jungle trails and travel up river, to reach a remote people group with “JESUS.”**  This allows
them and not an outsider to reach their own people.

So you can understand the enthusiasm that spread through these workers, as staff members demonstrated the equipment and then left 15 equipment sets with the national workers. Before leaving the conference, the workers asked for 30 more sets as soon as possible! This is how every village in the Amazon and beyond can see and experience the power of “JESUS” and learn about the God who loves them—whose truth shines in the darkness, leading to eternal life.

As our hearts turn towards the gift of God’s Son this holiday season, I cannot think of a better gift than to help send news of the gospel to remote people groups, not just in the Amazon, but those in the inaccessible areas such as the Himalayas, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and other difficult-to-reach places. I’m also asking for the film teams who will help mobilize these workers, encourage them, conduct training, do follow-up, help plant churches, and deliver this marvelous new equipment that you provide.

As we look at all that God has called this ministry to accomplish, more than $2,000,000 must be received for equipment and film teams by December 31, 2012.

Perhaps you can support the work of one staff film team for a month through a gift of $1,250. Or you could help with a single day of a team’s labor through a gift of $42. You might wish to sponsor two
days with a gift of $84, or four days by sending $168.

Another option is to provide a Mini-Pack Projector Set for a single worker in the Amazon through a gift of $1,075 (for small audiences), or equip a worker in Africa or Central Asia with a “Give Them Life” backpack for a gift of $5,250 (for larger audiences).

The doors our Lord has opened are amazing. Teams and equipment are needed in more than 35 countries. So please make your response to my letter a matter of prayer and thoughtful consideration.

I close with this thought: The workers who attended COMPLEI 2012─wanting to reach these remote people groups in South America, some of whom live in the “Forbidden Zone”─are nationals, not Westerners. Many of these 3,000 laborers are well acquainted with the famed “10/40 Window,” the geographic area where 90 percent of the world’s unreached people groups live.

But they are called to focus on another unique window of opportunity in the Amazon—in Brazil, Venezuela, Peru and Guyana─which they call “The Green Window.” With this equipment and the support and training of staff film teams, they will strive to reach every remote people and tribe living in “The Green Window,” the vast rain forests and river basins of South America.

Thank you for joining with them, here and around the world. It’s a great vision.

Through your gifts and prayers, you are telling these remote people groups that the God of the universe has already dealt with evil, that He loves them, forgives them, and invites them to His eternal river of life in the heavens.

On behalf of unreached people who will see, hear and understand the gospel─because of you─we are all most grateful.

Until Everyone Sees Jesus,

Erick Schenkel, Ph.D.
Executive Director
The JESUS Film Project

P.S. For teams and equipment, more than $2,000,000 is needed by the end of the year. If you send your gift by December 31, 2012, you will receive a tax-deductible receipt for 2012. You can give online at www.jesusfilm.org/supportfilmteams or call (800) 918-9929 and give by credit card. Consider also gifts of appreciated property or stock. Substantial tax savings are available. Transfers of property, securities or retirement assets must also be completed by December 31, 2012. Please visit www.jesusfilm.org/donate/stock or call (888) 278-7233. You can also email stock@jesusfilm.org for assistance. Thank you for however you feel led to help.

* The amazing story of the Suruwahá and the work of the Suzukis has become a book, A Way Beyond Death, by Jemimah Wright, available at many Christian book stores and through Amazon.com. We interviewed Marcia Suzuki specifically for this letter. She and her husband are with YWAM, currently at the ministry’s University of The Nations in Hawaii, equipping hundreds of young people to share their faith. The Suzukis are true heroes of the faith.

** Staff members identified 32 languages of smaller population for whom a simplified version of “JESUS” will be created (single-voice narration versions). Suruwahá is near the top of the list. In partnership with mission groups and COMPLEI 2012, three portable recording/mixing studios will work to give these groups “JESUS” as soon as possible.