Dear Friend of The JESUS Film Project,

“The gates of hell will not prevail…”

Try to imagine:

It’s in a friend’s home…your weekly small group meeting. Every Tuesday night you and four other couples share your lives and pray for one another.

As you pray, you hear shouting. There’s a mob outside, 10 very angry men are banging on your door. They force it open, barge in and begin yelling: “You can’t do this! Stop! You can’t force people to be Christian! What you are doing is illegal.”

Someone in the mob has already called the police. Officers quickly arrive and immediately side with the activists, accusing you of a crime. Frightened, your prayer group disperses.

But not you. Considered the “outlaw leader,” you are taken to the police station where they subject you to intense interrogation and threats. Late into the night, they release you, but with a stern warning: “Stop what you are doing or face the consequences!”

Far-fetched? Yes, in America (in 2015). But such persecution is sadly common in a number of Asian nations. For what I’ve described just happened a few months ago.

The group leader who was taken to jail for questioning is a man I will call Ripon.* He is a JESUS film worker who trains lay Christians to minister to their neighbors using small groups, to love them and care for them, and then to share the gospel.

Using this strategy he has helped establish care groups in 22 villages in Asia. And most of the villagers are animists, who worship pieces of stone and wood, as though they were divine. The concept of “one God above all” who cares for them is new and fascinating. They want to know more as they meet in the privacy of their homes.

Sadly, after the radicals and police intervened, Ripon had to pull back. Staff members said his ministry would have died had he not already equipped care group leaders with DVDs, and the equipment you have provided so they can show "JESUS." Through this strategy, three churches have already been established. And Ripon continues to meet with the lay leaders helping them to reach even more people. Thank you for your many prayers and gifts that make possible such fruitful outreaches of love.

• In an African nation, a partner "JESUS" film team took a video projector to a religious celebration. The whole area is dominated by an aggressive religion that doesn’t tolerate any other religion but itself. Yet, people devoted to this religion were, according to the team, “literally forcing their way into the showing site.”

During five nights of screenings, they reported that 857 people became followers of Jesus. The team also gave out 175 DVDs of "JESUS." They said that many people continued to watch "JESUS" in the safety of their homes. The DVDs allowed them to repeatedly experience the gospel in their heart language. This too is a result of your partnership.

• A group of Christian workers sat in the mud hut of a tribal chief, who happened to be one of the few Christians in his area. This chief had a heart to win his people for Christ. During the workers’ visit, they showed him a new version of "JESUS" in their language. After viewing, he was enthusiastic and promised: “As soon as you can get me a player and projector, I will personally make sure that every single person in my entire tribe hears this and knows Jesus. We will take the film to every tribal group around us!”

Because financial resources were scarce, the local ministry couldn’t supply him with the equipment. So the ministry workers asked him to contact them when he wanted to schedule a showing. But they were hundreds of miles apart. Three years passed.

Finally the chief acquired new technology, a smartphone. He learned how to use an app that connects with the Jesus Film Media™ Platform. He downloaded "JESUS" in his language and began to let his people experience the gospel on his phone. It worked! People were captured by the person of Jesus and the Word of God. The chief quickly made up for lost time, going from person-to-person, and home-to-home sharing "JESUS." He trained 10 young workers to do the same.

The chief reported that 1,000 of his people had received Christ (many of whom had been raised in a religion hostile to Christ)! And they traveled to a neighboring village in the surrounding mountains, letting people experience the power of the Word of God. For your prayers and gifts that make such advances possible, thank you!

While the world has developed these technologies for profit or entertainment, God’s ultimate purpose is to draw people to the cross. For years, film teams have shown, and continue to show, "JESUS" in large, public gatherings in countries where it is safe. Now, teams and workers are increasingly taking the gospel into nations with vast numbers of unreached, unengaged people where it is not safe. Equipped with Pocket Projectors, DVDs, smartphones, video tablets, and the Jesus Film Media app, they can take "JESUS" virtually to any person, in any nation, in the cities, and rural areas, no matter how dangerous.

It’s these new tools of technology that make such historic advances possible. This is the reason I am writing, to invite you to help provide these powerful tools.

With my letter you will find a sheet containing photos, information and costs. May I ask you to carefully, prayerfully look at these options and consider how you might help. For instance:

• Your gift of $100 will provide 25 DVDs of "JESUS" to be given out to people interested in seeing a film in their language. Those DVDs may contain other JESUS Project films such as Magdalena, the adaptation of JESUS for women, or The Story of Jesus for Children. Depending on the country and how a DVD is used, up to 16 people can experience the gospel in their mother tongue. These will of course be given to people with access to DVD players so they can watch again and again.**

• You might pray about sending $140 to equip three workers with Micro SD cards, preloaded with "JESUS" and other JESUS Project films. These are the same type of memory cards you will find in smartphones, video tablets or digital projectors. A single card can host the "JESUS" film in up to 10 languages!

• You can provide a worker with a video tablet through a gift of $325. These are like iPads® and are given to trained staff, workers and volunteers. The tablets are also preloaded with "JESUS, evangelistic films and follow-up films for new believers. Video tablets are very effective in small group or private settings, especially to follow up with and disciple new believers.

• Through Internet streaming of JESUS Project films, your gift of $613 can reach 1,250 viewers. Or $1,226 can reach 2,500 people.

• Please also consider providing a Church Planting Resource Kit with a gift of $2,500. All the tools fit into a very small, inconspicuous travel case. On arrival in a home or small meeting hall, a worker will have everything they need to present the gospel to up to 200 people. The price also includes the micro projector pack training and other follow-up resources.

Any one of these tools will help lead people who have never heard to the foot of the cross. Allow me to end my letter with one more report...how God can use you and the equipment you graciously provide.

• Benjamin was an animist priest. In the year 2000 he saw the "JESUS" film and gave his life to Christ. He lives in an area where Christians are routinely persecuted by members of a large, African people group, the Fulani. Yet he continued to share his faith.

Benjamin owned a smartphone and knew how to use the "JESUS" film. As he was passing through an outdoor market he saw some Fulani men. He stopped and asked if they would like to see a film in their language. They said they would and initially two or three men gathered to watch. They called out to others, “Here is Yesu, speaking Fulfulde!” Others joined them, watching the "JESUS" film play on his phone.

One man asked Benjamin, “Was He Fulani?” He replied, “No, but Jesus speaks all our languages.” Suddenly this group understood that Jesus was for them.

Jesus truly is for all people. Supplying these tools is how millions more can see and hear the gospel in their heart language. Thousands of workers are currently sharing the gospel in nearly every nation on earth through these new tools, with much success. Many more of these tools are needed. So as the Holy Spirit may impress on your heart, would you seek His guidance and provision? Allow God again to use you. Thank you so much for your partnership.

Until Everyone Sees Jesus, 

Erick Schenkel
Executive Director

P.S. As film teams, workers, volunteers, churches, and staff go ever deeper into closed and difficult countries, they are asking for this equipment. They advise it is often the only safe, yet effective way to reach people who are ready to respond to Jesus. Several hundred thousand dollars are needed as soon as possible—to meet the many requests for equipment and DVDs, requests that come from teams, workers and partners around the world. As you are able and led, I encourage you to join in, to make it possible for people who have never heard to learn what the Son of God has done for them. Because many of the team requests have come with a sense of urgency, it would be very helpful if you can send your gift by March 31, 2015. You can also send your gift safely and quickly by calling (800) 387-4040. May God bless you for however you are led and enabled to help.

* Because of security concerns and the hostility that surrounds committed staff and these trained workers, I cannot disclose locations or names. Thank you for understanding. Please pray for them.
** Chinese manufacturers are flooding the markets with very inexpensive units. DVD players can be found in even the poorest areas, sometimes attached to a car battery or solar system, or in newly electrified villages.