Dear Friend in Christ,

It may well be the greatest advance for the gospel in the history of Haiti, through the film JESUS. Thousands could come to Christ. I invite your help.

Those who have seen the destruction in Haiti say it is breathtaking, beyond comprehension. But today I want to tell you what God is doing now in the aftermath--amazing things you will never hear in the news media--and how doors have opened wide for the gospel.

First, I need to share a near-miraculous event. The Campus Crusade for Christ national director for Haiti is Pastor Esperandieu Pierre. Just before the earthquake, he had enrolled in a continuing education class that was to begin meeting in Port-au-Prince, January 12 (the day of the earthquake). Instead, he was in Trinidad for a JESUS film media/Christian film training conference.

Upon word of the quake, he returned immediately to Haiti. Esperandieu found the entire building where he was to attend class had collapsed--all four stories. Inside were 322 dead, including 73 in the very classroom where he was to be. He truly feels God has spared his life for a purpose.

His thoughts and ours were also on the safety of 15 JESUS film team members. For many weeks, all but one were accounted for. Much prayer was offered for the missing man. By God's grace (and just before this letter was prepared for mailing), we received the good news that he was found safe! For your intercession on his behalf and for your prayers lifting up the safety of all the teams, thank you! You can understand, then, why all the team members, including Esperandieu, believe God had preserved each of them for a very clear reason.

That reason was on clear display when the Haitian government declared three days of national mourning, fasting and prayer. Given the spiritual background of the nation, that declaration was stunning. Even more so was the near 100-percent participation of the people.

Staff reported that the streets were nearly empty those three days. In every open field, every open space, they could see people gathered to pray and fast, many of whom had been involved all their lives in voodoo. It was such a dramatic development in this spiritually dark nation that staff described the scenes as "eerie." But they were also greatly encouraged. With the fasting and prayer has come a spiritual openness never before seen, a response to JESUS that is simply unprecedented.

In the center of town is the large, national soccer stadium. More than 30,000 people are living there, surviving under makeshift tents. Nightly, film teams are showing JESUS to various groups on the field. They are reporting scores of decisions for Christ at every showing, sometimes more than 100 daily.

You no doubt saw the amazing images of the collapsed presidential palace. Just north of the palace is a triangle of land, bordered by three streets. It is filled with those makeshift tents. The church-planting film teams have been showing JESUS there nearly every night. The latest reports from staff are that 13,200 have experienced the power of the Word of God and the gospel in that place, within sight of the palace, with hundreds giving their lives to Christ.

Esperandieu explains much of their response. All the Haitian people had known failed them--their superstitions, their leaders, the homes and buildings where they lived. They couldn't turn to the government for help. The common emergency services telephone number ("114" in Haiti) also failed. Nobody was there to answer! Even the voodoo priests realized their fetishes were powerless to save--these symbols of spiritual power, were also crushed in the rubble. Their only choice now was to turn to God. And they are.

Before the earthquake struck, Esperandieu's teams were seeing a response rate to JESUS of between five and eight percent (5% to 8%). Right now, teams report an average of 10-20 percent depending on the location. That represents an increase in response as much as 150 percent!

As I write, the film teams are moving into a new phase, following migrations of tens of thousands to their "new homes." With so much of the city in shambles, they have moved to open fields on the outskirts of the city. Others have walked into the highlands. All have brought their trauma with them, fearing many aftershocks, even the sound of the wind. But there is also good news.

Where the people are gathering, we are there to meet them too, mainly around churches. By partnering very closely with Global Aid Network (GAiN), the humanitarian arm of Campus Crusade for Christ, teams are helping to distribute food, blankets, shelter materials and clean water. The teams distribute the aid by day, praying with people, even doing trauma counseling (which the teams have been trained to administer). Then, by night, they are showing JESUS.

There is historical precedence to do so. In fact history is repeating itself. You of course remember the horrendous tsunami that inundated Southeast Asia. When the large government agencies had done their jobs, when various humanitarian groups pulled down their banners, and folded their tents and left, it was the local Christians (JESUS film teams and other staff) who stayed on, helping, giving aid, loving, and then systematically showing people JESUS. Today, in a once-resistant area, where before the tsunami there had been only five churches, more than 10 times that many now exist. Thousands came to Christ!

Now in Haiti, aid, administered by compassionate believers, followed by JESUS, opens hearts. As audiences watch the film JESUS they explode with cheers, screams of joy and applause at the miracles of Jesus, sometimes celebrating for two minutes. Teams must turn off the projectors until the crowd quiets! Then, in showing after showing, thousands move from darkness into His marvelous light. Among those who respond are many voodoo priests! Those moments are incredible! Recently, one voodoo priest brought all his fetishes to be burned, three wheelbarrows full! The team poured out gasoline from their generator to start the fire! Then, the teams stay on to pray with the people. The next day, they follow up with new believers, and begin working to plant churches.

That's why I am coming to you. Staff, film team leaders and Christian leaders in Haiti tell how the hearts of Haitians are open as never before--first touched by love, and then by JESUS. Staff are passionate that a door of opportunity has opened to reach them. To seize this moment they have devised and are implementing a wonderful plan to reach them (the following is a partial list of needs):

1. Increase the current five church-planting film teams to 15. Cost: $10,000 per team.
2. Large tents, sufficient to house more than 100 people. They have a critical need for at least five large tents, to serve as aid stations, sheltered areas and to show JESUS. Cost: $21,105 each.
3. Generators. The teams, both staff and volunteer, need generators to run the projection equipment to present JESUS. Need: 20 generators at a cost of $1,425 each.
4. Portable DVD players with solar chargers. Staff have 5,000 "The Story of Jesus for Children" DVDs. Currently, there are tens of thousands of orphans in Haiti. Workers and partners need 50 players to go from home to home, camp to camp. Cost: $310 each.
5. "Acclaimer" Equipment Backpacks to present JESUS. Highly portable, and able to be carried on rugged trails by one person, they contain a solar-charged battery, video projector, speakers, and screen, for teams hiking into remote areas. Cost: $5,125 each.
6. Vehicles! To reach migrating survivor groups. Five vehicles. Cost: $42,210 each.

The cost for this historic ministry to draw hundreds of thousands to Christ in Haiti is still more than $460,575. A very generous donor has reviewed these plans, talked to staff and, seeing this unprecedented opportunity, has given the first gift, a most generous "challenge grant" of $150,000! He now asks you to join with him to help deliver Haiti from darkness, to help establish hundreds of thriving, reproducing churches, to help transform the entire country.

May I ask you then to consider a gift of $100, $250, $500 or more? According to how the Lord has blessed you, perhaps you will want to provide one of the items I've listed above, tools that will help reach thousands with the gospel.

Please give this opportunity your most thoughtful and prayerful consideration. Many are praying that God will use this earthquake, and the love that follows, to break through spiritual barriers that have long dominated Haiti.

In thinking of all that has happened, let us never forget that God is their ultimate sustainer. They need to be pointed to Him, and the good news of the gospel. In the midst of their suffering they need to know the encouragement and hope of Lamentations 3:31-33:

"For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever.
Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion
because of the greatness of His unfailing love.
For He does not enjoy hurting people
or causing them sorrow" (NLT).

This Scripture ties in beautifully with a wonderful fact I just learned. The first name of our ministry director in Haiti is Esperandieu. In Creole, it means "Hope in God." Esperandieu's father gave him that name because he had become a Christian and renounced voodoo. He had lost his first two children to illness. When Esperandieu was born he defied the priests' advice and placed his hope in God, entrusting his newborn boy to God, dedicating him to the Lord. Esperandieu indeed survived and is serving our Lord in a very strategic way. It is his passion that is driving this vision to reach Haiti for Christ through JESUS. May all of Haiti soon declare that they too "Hope in God."

Thank you so much for your partnership! May our Lord bless you for the love you will show.

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Jim Green, Executive Director
The JESUS Film Project

P.S. This is such an extraordinary opportunity to send spiritual aid that lasts for eternity. The stories of openness, of seeking God, are truly encouraging. More than $460,575 is still needed to show JESUS to the victims of Haiti's terrible earthquake. Please follow in the steps of that wonderful challenge grant and do what you are able. Additional new teams are forming now. To give today, click on the Give a Gift button. You can also give via credit card by calling (800) 387-4040. Thank you and God bless you. You are much appreciated.

OTHER GIVING OPTIONS
You'll find several ways to help online at www.jesusfilm.org/donate, including regular bank transfer (EFT) giving for team support. You can also call (800) 387-4040 and give via credit/debit card, even monthly. You can make gifts of appreciated property, stock or mutual funds, all with potentially excellent tax benefits. For more information, please go to www.jesusfilm.org/donate/stock. To arrange for gifts of stock or other securities, please call toll free (888) 278-7233, and ask to speak with "stock administrators" Debbie Williams or Ben Grames, or email stock@jesusfilm.org.