Dear Friend,

“Give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name…”
—Psalm 96:7b-8a


Prepare yourself to give Him glory!

Everything I am about to share with you is a wonder. It’s as though one of the early apostles is alive today, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.

His name is Sonam, a former atheist and communist. Now transformed, he is a JESUS film team leader and has suffered nine attempts on his life.

One attempt took place outside a stadium, where Sonam had just conducted an open, bold, evangelistic crusade. It was bold, because his nation is filled with radicals opposed to Christ.

“We were driving out of the stadium. Many had become followers of Jesus, some through the JESUS film. Five Christians of our evangelistic team were in one car, and 15 in a van. I was continually aware that radicals threatened our lives. But I also trusted in God’s promises, ready to die in His service.

“As we passed through the gate I saw two men with Kalashnikovs (Russian-made automatic assault rifles).

“They motioned for us to stop, but I shouted to the driver, ‘Don’t stop…move!’ They raised their guns and started firing, showering our vehicles with a hail of bullets. We could hear the metal striking all around as we sped away. It was very frightening.

“But somehow we made it out. No one was hurt. When we arrived at our base, and got out to examine the damage, there was not a single mark, not a single bullet hole on either car! We were all amazed. God had protected us miraculously. Had we stopped, they would have killed us all. We knew He had more plans for us.”

Years earlier, Sonam had been an avid communist. “I was on fire for Marxism, believing it to be absolute truth. I fought for communism, preached it, made it an idol. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I claimed that there was no God.”

Then came the collapse of the Soviet Union along with the dreams of many for a Marxist utopia. “All I believed was false and crumbled before me. I became depressed, was lost and searching.”

Sonam visited a Christian friend (one of the very few in his nation) looking for answers. That friend took a Bible from his shelf and tossed it to Sonam. It flipped open on the table to Proverbs 6:17-19, where God listed the things He hates: “A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood….”

Sonam was struck to the core, realizing, “That’s me!” Overwhelmed with his sin and the holiness of God, Sonam was miraculously born from above at that moment.

The next day, saying he had found Truth, he led a friend to the Lord, and then another. He went to the streets of his city and began preaching about Jesus. He preached openly, showing the film JESUS which he had been given. In two years, Sonam founded five churches with 500 disciples and 60 workers in his closed nation. Several of those began to share their faith and as they were equipped, showed JESUS to others.

That’s when Sonam launched the evangelistic crusades, preaching the gospel, and presenting JESUS to hundreds of thousands more. Time after time, the Lord protected him, through every one of those nine attempts on his life.

As you can see, Sonam is an anointed leader, having mobilized hundreds of workers in his nation. He and the teams he leads are currently asking for tens of thousands of DVDs to give out to families and even to inmates in a prison. The prison holds 35,000 people—half of whom are radicals. (Many are allowed to have inexpensive DVD players in their cells, or share DVDs with visiting family.)

Sonam has an even greater vision: to place a DVD of JESUS or “Magdalena” in every home of their nation. He and his teams also want to go beyond their borders and do the same for 30 million unreached people of their ethnic group in this troubled region. Sonam: “Once people see and experience the love of Jesus, hear His divinely powerful Word, and the gospel, they become followers of Jesus. This is what I live for.”

But there is a challenge before Sonam and his teams. Half of the country is mountainous where transportation is very difficult. During winter, that mountainous half is inaccessible. Further, there is little or no electric infrastructure. Yet most families have DVD players, manufactured cheaply in Asia.

They get their power from micro-hydraulic generators, placed in the thousands of streams that line the mountains near their homes. Turning slowly all day, the generators charge car batteries that run the DVD players and lights at night!

Critical to his strategy is meeting the humanitarian needs of his people as he shares the gospel. Sonam says that DVDs are the perfect tool to reach these people with the gospel, while they are “wintered in.” With little to do they are ready to watch the story of the ages, presented in the safety of their homes…experienced over and over.

These teams are also working to reach people in the urban areas, using new tools that are appropriate for use in difficult nations. Sonam and his workers (many of whom believed when they first watched JESUS) are asking for 1 million DVDs.

I write in the hope that you will catch the vision and fervor of Sonam, and see all that is possible when people experience the Truth of the Word of God, in their mother tongue.

Further, I ask not just for Sonam’s nation, but for several other countries where workers are anxious to reach their people with the power of JESUS. These workers from several nations, including those within the famed 10/40 Window, need a variety of tools. Would you carefully and prayerfully ask if the Lord would lead you to join in these historic outreaches?

For instance, if you feel led to send $100, you could supply a worker with 25 DVDs of JESUS or “Magdalena” and other tools of evangelism or follow-up to take to the mountains. With these tools in the hands of a trained worker, as many as 32 people could be reached by a single DVD. You might consider a gift of $500 for 125 DVDs, possibly allowing as many as 2,000 people to see and understand the gospel in their heart language.

I bring you one more report that surely brings glory to His name. Noureed was also a radical, sold out to fighting against the enemies of his religion. One day he returned home from the fighting, only to discover that Christians had set up a tent in his village. There, Christians were offering prayers for the people and showing a DVD of JESUS.

Noureed was enraged. He loaded his gun, determined to kill them all. His wife tried to restrain him, but to no avail. Then Noureed discovered that his two sons had gone to the tent. So he waited.

The boys returned home, with tears in their eyes. They told Noureed, “Our father is Isa (Jesus). You go to kill people, but Isa saves lives, heals the sick, and feeds the hungry. Isa says to love your enemies, but you kill yours. From here on, Isa is our father and not you.”

Noureed was heartbroken by their words. He promised to lay down his weapon and go the next day with his sons to watch JESUS. He did and was moved in his heart. Like so many, he too became a follower of Jesus! Today, he is one of those trained workers, helping to show JESUS to thousands of others! He has started two house fellowships...a former radical.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

All glory to His name! Thank you for letting me tell you of such wonders. It is your intercession, your generous partnership that helps all this to be possible. You are much appreciated!

Keep in mind more than $1.4 million is needed for these many requests for DVDs and other tools to show people JESUS. There are more Sonams and Noureeds awaiting the message of love, forgiveness and hope through Christ. Perhaps you might be the one the Lord would lead to help bring the gospel to them.

As you know, this is a worldwide partnership of the many, reaching the many. For your part, thank you. May God use you to His honor and glory.

Until Everyone Sees Jesus,
 

Erick Schenkel
Executive Director
The JESUS Film Project®

PS: There is much more I could tell you of Sonam’s story. He is truly a remarkable man, passionate about leading his people to Christ. He is one of thousands of leaders, volunteers, and film teams in the world today who have been delivered from spiritual darkness—hundreds through the film JESUS. They are sold out to Christ, ready to die if they must, so their people can walk from the darkness into the light. They do the work. All they ask is for the DVDs, tools, prayers, and financial support to reach their nations. Also, the requests for these tools are for use now. So if there is any way you can send your gift by October 31, 2013, they, and I, will be most grateful. You can also send your gift safely and quickly via credit card by calling (800) 387-4040. Thank you so much.