Dear Friend of the "JESUS" film,

“For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God.” (Deuteronomy 32:3*)

God is at work––even among wives married to radical fighters! I was in awe as Salma spoke. She gave testimony to the incredible power of God.

Salma† and her husband, Misbah, are from the Middle East. I’ve known this remarkable couple for many years. They have been helping to give humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees. After winning the trust of many, Salma and Misbah arranged for a showing of "Magdalena" for the women, in a church, expecting perhaps 25 to come—AT THE MOST.

Salma: “When we arrived at the church I was in complete shock. There was a sea of black in the sanctuary, women in their traditional dress, covered from head to toe. They were sitting shoulder to shoulder, packed in tightly. There wasn’t a seat left. I estimated about 200 women, fully covered. I was afraid. They were nearly all wives of radical men. I feared that when they realized I was about to show them a Christian film, they might kill me. ‘Lord, this is in your hands.’

“I went to the front before them. And their eyes! They were filled with hate.

“‘Lord,’ I prayed, ‘only you can do this. This is your problem to own and solve.’ Misbah inserted the DVD into the player and started projecting the film on the screen. I fully expected some to bolt, to leave the building angrily, perhaps many of them. But no one moved, not an inch.

“'  Magdalena'   came to the Crucifixion scene. I couldn’t believe it. They were transfixed, eyes focused, ears hearing. Then came the resurrection of Jesus, another offensive concept. Everyone stayed—not one woman left—they were taking it all in.

“When the film ended, I went to the front of the room and prayed silently, ‘Lord, you are in control. I can’t do this.’ He gave me boldness: ‘I know you have lost your homes, all your possessions, some of you, your husbands and sons. I know you are hurting. But God has brought you here. You have seen the God who loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you. You have a choice to make this day.’

“Then this came out of my mouth, by the Holy Spirit: I lifted my left arm and pointed to my left. ‘You can either follow the dead founder of your religion and go to hell, or,’ pointing to my right with my other arm outstretched, ‘you can receive Jesus, the living God who died for you and was raised to life. You can receive Him and have eternal life. Would you pray with me if you want to follow Jesus?’

“I couldn’t believe it. As I prayed the sinner’s prayer there was weeping among them and many tears. They were saying ‘Yeshua, Jesus, Isa is the true way, the true God.’ I then asked those who wanted to follow Jesus to raise their hands, if they had just received Jesus. Not one, not 20, but ALL OF THEM raised their hands! They all decided to follow Jesus!

“They began to take off their head coverings. Their angry, hopeless eyes were gone. Released from shame, they were beaming with joy, smiling. They began to hug one another, and me, saying ‘Thank you, thank you…for the first time in our lives we know we are loved!’

“Many spoke up, ‘We want to show this DVD to our families, our friends in our refugee neighborhoods. Can we have our own DVDs?’ We had brought only 60 extra DVDs. But there was such demand that we sent one of our team back to the warehouse to get more. We gave them all we had in store, 2,500 DVDs of 'JESUS'! The Lord did this!”

Since that historic showing, Salma and Misbah have been helping to place these women into secret Bible studies and fellowship groups so they will grow in their faith and become witnesses to their own families. How glorious is our God!

But this wasn’t the only miracle Salma experienced. In the months previous she had taken another risk. Salma went to a high-end hotel in her Middle Eastern nation. A very wealthy woman leader was attending a conference, with her “royal” entourage, family and servants.

Salma: “The gospel is for everyone, from the peasant to royalty. I felt that this leader also deserved to know what Jesus had done for her.” Salma placed DVDs of "Magdalena" in her bag and went to the hotel, approaching the security desk. “Lord, don’t let them see the DVDs. It’s illegal. They can have me arrested!”

“I was amazed. They looked at the x-ray, went through my bag and didn’t see the DVDs! The Lord blinded their eyes. I was able to approach this well-known leader. I began telling her how much God loved her, that He wanted her to know what He had done for her.”

She was moved by what she heard and said, “Thank you for telling me this. I want to know more.” She actually took Salma into a hallway. Two other leading women were there at a table. Salma began to them all about the love of Jesus and the gospel. One of the women began to cry. They all wanted a DVD!

Still with a sense of shock and joy, Salma went to the banquet hall. There she found 450 other women, many associated with these leaders. “Lord, they deserve to hear the gospel too, but giving out a Christian film here is illegal. What shall I do?”

As she walked near a door in the banquet room, one of the guards spoke up, “Can I assist you with anything?” Salma said she needed help with some boxes in her car (boxes of DVDs!). The guard not only obliged, but called other guards over to help. She opened her trunk and they carried all the DVDs into the hall. The guards actually helped by personally giving out the DVDs of "Magdalena"! And every woman accepted, some actually asking for more! In all, they gave out 1,500 DVDs to leading women in her country. Only God could have done this—because of His grace and glory—working through your giving and intercession.

This is why we all give thanks for you. It’s your partnership, your gracious giving and faithful intercession that supports, sends and protects workers like Salma and Misbah, and thousands of others just like them all over the world. They show "JESUS" and "Magdalena" to millions using a variety of tools…DVDs, SD cards, video tablets and more. Would you feel moved to let the Lord work through you again?

Here are several tools of evangelism you can provide to these workers, so unreached people can see and hear the gospel, the Word of God in their own mother tongue. A gift of any amount, large or small, will help send these tools. For instance:

•Your gift of $108 will send 24 DVDs of "JESUS" or "Magdalena." DVDs of "The Story of Jesus for Children" are also needed. Depending on the area and situation, as many as 16 people can experience the gospel in their mother tongue for every DVD you provide.

•Would you pray about a gift of $450 to send 100 DVDs? As the gospel is given to people who have been hidden from the Truth their entire lives, they will be able to watch again and again…and they do just that!

•For more dangerous areas where radicals are openly active, consider a gift of $180 to equip 9 workers with micro SD cards, preloaded with JESUS and other JESUS Film media. Each memory card can host the JESUS film in up to 10 languages! The films can then be copied from device to device. (30,000 micro SD cards are being requested for West Africa alone!)

•You can also send a video tablet with the gospel through a gift of $380. Like iPads® and other digital devices, these powerful tools of technology are perfect foor trained workers and volunteers to use for private showings to individuals, families and small groups.

•Lastly, high-output DVD duplicators are needed in several locations at a cost of $2,360 each. Volunteers typically will man these duplicators for several hours per day, “churning out” hundreds of DVDs in a day, as fast as their volunteers can give them out. You can send a duplicator ($2,360) or a complete duplication production system with a controlling laptop for $5,110, including up to 1,000 of the first DVDs to be produced. Your most generous gift could potentially help thousands see, hear and understand the gospel.

As you have read, the Spirit of the Living God is moving in the hearts of men and women who live in darkness, even wives of radical fighters and prominent families in their nations! They are hungry for truth, for love. You can give them both as God leads and enables.

So with thankfulness for you and every partner of The JESUS Film Project, millions can be transformed, made new creations in Christ. God bless you for however you can help.

Until Everyone Sees Jesus,

Erick Schenkel
Executive Director
ES:fdv The JESUS Film Project

P.S. Requests for DVDs, micro SD cards, and even DVD duplicator production systems continue to mount. Workers speak of an unprecedented openness to the gospel, that people are ready to respond to Christ. As you are able, please pray and seek His mind, if He would lead you to join in this great, worldwide movement of evangelism and church planting. Because many of the requests come with a sense of urgency, I ask you to send your gift by March 31, 2016. You can send your gift safely and quickly on this page or by calling (800) 387-4040. May God bless you bountifully for your partnership. Thank you.

* New King James Version
† I’ve changed names throughout this letter for security.