You Can Send Them "JESUS"

#2785090 - Send "JESUS" DVDs to Restricted Nations

Dear Friend in Christ, 

I can’t tell you the name of this man’s religion…
his leadership position, his city…or what I mean by “religious center.”

To do so would be too dangerous. But something amazing has happened…

● I will call him Michael. He lives in a nation that is very hostile to Christians.

After years of study and devotion, Michael became a respected scholar of his religion. He was so fervent that he memorized his religion’s holy book, cover to cover.

Michael was made the leader of his city’s religious center, fully equipped to teach its traditions and beliefs. But today─when he stands before his people─he preaches Jesus, Him crucified, and risen from the dead.

The country ministry director for Campus Crusade for Christ, International wanted to know how this happened! (For security, I will call him Ted.) Ted traveled to the man’s city, sat down with Michael and a local Christian pastor. He discovered they had become the best of friends, and were now working together for the cause of Christ.

Michael described how two years earlier, the pastor reached out to Michael in love. He gave him a gift. It was a DVD of JESUS, in his heart language. It’s the same DVD you and many partners of The JESUS Film Project have sent around the world (millions of them…thank you!)

Because it was in his heart language, he was really eager to watch. Michael inserted the DVD into his player. Soon, he found himself strangely captivated by the story, by the words he heard, and by this man Jesus—who could work miracles and show so much love. It was all new and radically different from his world view, all he had studied and been teaching others.

Over and over he watched the DVD of JESUS. Each time, as Michael heard the Living Word of God, he was drawn closer to this man. Michael described to Ted how a light began to shine in his heart. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, he realized that Jesus was truly unique. He summed it up powerfully by saying:

“I understood one truth…that Jesus died, and He was raised again.”

That powerful fact set Jesus apart from any leader or founder of a religion. Michael believed and was transformed, and is now boldly preaching Jesus and the salvation that only He offers.
By the way, when he’s not teaching at the religious center, Michael is a barber. He cuts the hair of up to 30 customers a day. As he works, he prays fervently that God will reveal truth to each person he serves, as He did to Michael.

● In a large country in Asia a young man was sick, suffering greatly and dying slowly. I will call him Steven. His parents did everything they could to seek help, including taking him on a religious pilgrimage. It was to no avail. Steven continued to slip, becoming weaker by the day.

One day, Steven’s mother walked past a home where people were watching a DVD movie. It was JESUS. She heard her language, stopping to watch too. She saw His miracles—that Jesus could heal the sick. After the showing, the woman talked with the worker who had brought JESUS. She asked for a DVD, saying that her whole family should watch.

Several weeks later, that worker ran into Steven’s mother, who gladly announced that the truth had transformed their hearts, that everyone had placed their faith in Christ. She also asked for prayer for her son, saying that they had lost hope for a cure.

Two weeks later, the ministry worker was in her neighborhood. He went to the house and prayed for Steven. The Lord healed him completely! All his symptoms disappeared…a testimony to their neighbors. I expect they will also want to know more about Jesus. May our Lord receive the glory!

● Lastly, as a partner with this ministry, you have very likely heard of the women’s adaptation of JESUS called “Magdalena.” Based on the classic JESUS film, it includes stories of Jesus’ ministry to women, like “The Woman at the Well.”

Film workers recently conducted a new-language premiere of “Magdalena” in Asia. They booked a 200-seat meeting hall. Despite the heat, 370 women packed the room, sitting in the aisles, and standing along the outside walls. After the showing many women expressed how deeply the film had affected them. One woman said: “I was attacked with much witchcraft and evil things, but today my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has delivered me from all.”

A few days later, 50 of the women, from the wider area, met and committed to show “Magdalena” in their communities and give DVDs to their friends and family. They asked if film workers would come to their villages and towns and show the DVD to other large audiences.

As I share these uplifting reports, I hope you sense the power of JESUS, the reach of these DVDs…and how much you are positively influencing families, women, children and even whole communities with the gospel. All this has happened because people like you pray and give so generously, as the Holy Spirit works through your obedience. Thank you for making the difference in the lives of people like Michael and Steven.

I write because we receive so many, often passionate, requests for DVDs from ministry leaders, mission organizations, churches and other workers around the world. Requests are coming particularly for unreached countries, where millions of unevangelized people have never heard nor understood the gospel. These requests add up to a cost of more than $1,520,000. (Remember, that the DVDs of JESUS and other media tools are available in more than 1,180 languages, far more than any other film in history.)

Not only are many requests coming for DVDs*, but also for showing equipment. Moreover, workers tell us they are eager to receive new technology tools to show people JESUS in difficult-to-reach, dangerous countries.

They are asking for thumbnail-size SD memory cards that play in tiny pocket projectors, for handheld MP4 players (similar to a smartphone), for video tablets, and even powerful duplication sets to make thousands of DVDs. There is also an increasing need to financially support live streaming of the many JESUS film versions over the Internet. This is because demand for live streaming has soared since release of the Digital Media App for iPhones, Android phones, plus other smartphones and video devices.

Seeing how God is so powerfully using His Word and the story of Jesus, could you prayerfully consider one or more of these options to help give the world Jesus?

Thank you for your gracious, giving spirit. As you prayerfully consider how you can help this month, may I share a final story? This comes from the continent of Africa.

Hundreds of DVDs were being distributed in a community. As the workers went from home to home, they knew the Holy Spirit would minister as people watched. Weeks later, a staff worker witnessed just how.

He came across a funeral for a local, much-loved man, attended by a very large crowd. The people were crying loudly and wailing…as was their custom. This mourning can go on for hours, so he was surprised by what happened next.

The family of the man for whom the funeral was held started playing a DVD of JESUS for the crowd! The JESUS film worker said he was amazed. “The wailing and crying stopped. Everyone ceased from their grief and began watching JESUS. Many of the people received Christ!”

How wonderful is our Lord. Even in the midst of sadness and grief, the Spirit of God proclaimed the glorious news of the gospel through a single DVD and the faith of one believer! Praise be to our Lord!

Again, please make these opportunities a matter of prayer. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing more life-changing stories of JESUS, made possible because of your gifts and prayers.

For however you can help let them see JESUS, thank you.

Until Everyone Sees Jesus,

Erick Schenkel
Executive Director
The JESUS Film Project

PS: Once a family watches JESUS they often pass it on to relatives or others. Workers have seen this happen many times, with a single DVD going from home to home. In the hands of a film team worker, or trained church leader or student, each DVD you send could reach as many as 16 people. Ascribing the number of people reached through tools like MP4 players and video tablets is not easy. But these portable devices are widely used and requested. More than $1,520,000 is needed for all, for DVDs and these new technology tools to give people JESUS. If you can send your gift by June 30, 2013, that would be a great help and encouragement. You can also send your gift via credit card by calling (800) 387-4040. Thank you so much.

* The DVD requests are for JESUS, “Magdalena,” “The Story of Jesus for Children” and follow-up media such as “Rivka,” and more.
 

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