Your Impact
When you support Jesus Film Project®, you ensure that our mission is carried out in the following key areas:
Reaching the least reached: Mission 865
There are 865 documented language groups in the world with 50,000 or more speakers, representing roughly 323 million people. Research has determined that these people are largely unreached or unengaged with the gospel. We want to share Jesus with them, and you can help. The Mission 865 initiative represents Jesus Film Project’s commitment to reach these groups with Jesus’ story in their own language. When these unreached people groups see the Story of Jesus on screen, they are touched by the Spirit of God.
Witness the powerful moving of God’s Spirit as a group of Gamo-speaking men, women and children watch “JESUS” in Southern Ethiopia.
Reaching a village and planting a church
People in communities large and small await the gospel, and your support takes it to them today. Your gifts send teams to show “JESUS,” follow up with those who respond and establish a fellowship of believers. Your generosity allows us to reach entire villages or neighborhoods with Jesus and helps plant thriving churches in their communities as well.
Jesus Film Project is helping to reach hearts and nations with the gospel of Christ, and with your help, hundreds, even thousands more can be reached.
Reaching people in the digital world
Your gifts reach people anywhere in the world, even in closed nations. With your support, we can help them experience the power of “JESUS” and other films online on any mobile device or smartphone. Your investment in digital evangelism brings the message of hope and eternal life in Christ to men, women and children across the globe.
See how Sadi’s life was transformed by learning about Jesus and connecting to the Jesus Film Project community through Facebook.
Leveraging partnership to equip and mobilize the body of Christ
With the help of partners like you, Jesus Film Project gives refugee families special heating and cooking units to keep their homes warm and provide hot meals.
Your heartfelt gifts supply heaters, cooking plates, propane canisters, and the opportunity to experience the love of Jesus. With your support, we can help meet the most essential physical needs of a family torn by war (Matthew 25:35-36) and also help open the doors to meet spiritual needs.
Hear from Damtew Teklemariam on the “Go + Make” video podcast about all of the different ways Jesus Film Project enriches the communities we serve.
“One of the most powerful tools God has given us to proclaim the gospel today is the medium of film … Perhaps this film, “JESUS,” is one of the means God is using to hasten the day when ‘every knee shall bow’ before our great King.”
—Reverend Billy Graham
Not Even a Three-Day Arrest Could Stop His Bold Faith
The Word of God, the basis of “JESUS,” did His work.† After the film, Hamzah stayed to talk with one of the team members, a worker named Andrew. Hamzah didn’t make a decision for Christ but seemed open. They exchanged cell phone numbers and began communicating through WhatsApp®, a secure messaging platform. But then Hamzah was deported, sent back to North Africa.
Fortunately, Andrew kept in contact with him. Since Hamzah had been the leader in his house of prayer, Andrew was surprised when Hamzah changed his profile picture on WhatsApp … to an image of the cross! This was unthinkable since the cross of Christ is deeply offensive to his traditions and religion.
Read more of Hamzah's Story here
Andrew quickly messaged Hamzah. He told Andrew that in the days after watching “JESUS,” which touched his heart, he learned more about the gospel and became a follower of the Lord. He described that even though it’s illegal to share the gospel in his country, Hamzah could not remain quiet.
He said he was sharing the good news everywhere he went, that he was on a new mission, but now for his Savior. He also reported that four young Christians, including Hamzah, were meeting together secretly to study Scripture, pray and watch Christian content online.
Authorities even arrested Hamzah for his bold faith, but then released him three days later on the condition that he would remain silent about Jesus. He has refused!
And Hamzah has been taking an online Bible course, meeting regularly with an Arabic-speaking missionary online. Because of his testimony, five women and 10 men want to follow Jesus and be baptized, all from that same dominant religion. That’s the supremacy of His love. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, English Standard Version).
All I have shared is indeed a result of the power of God as He has worked through your partnership and the labors of those 1,800 ministry partners. I give all the praise to Him. It is to His glory that we labor for fulfillment of the Great Commission, even in this generation. But can it be done? I believe it can, and so do many ministry partners who use “JESUS.” For He has given His church a powerful tool, “JESUS,” the right partners, the right mission to reach the right people—those who have never heard.
You play a vital role in all that God is doing.
What Happens When God’s Power Is on Display
Pastor Long’s prayers were answered as many were delivered from demonic oppression. Eyes saw. Ears heard. Hearts understood. As people came to faith, Pastor Long showed the “JESUS” film again, so they could meet their Savior and Lord and begin the process of discipleship.
Then came the resistance. The ministry worker who shared this said:
“Everyone fears the spirits. If a village member follows Christ, word spreads immediately. There are no underground churches. The pressures are enormous when people follow Jesus. I know of one believer who died. An angry mob came and stole his body, so he could not be buried in the village cemetery, angering the spirits. This is why it’s so important to disciple the new believers. They are helpless against the pressures unless they know who their Lord is and have the Word of God in their hearts.”
Read more about Pastor Long's story here
Yet the church grew—400 new believers in three villages in just 18 months! Greatly alarmed, the authorities threw Pastor Long in prison for a year, for “disrupting unity.” While he was imprisoned, the churches multiplied, becoming 12 churches!
Finally, in frustration, the authorities asked Pastor Long, “What do you want?” He replied, “Nothing except freedom to worship God.” They not only released him but also allowed him to build a church. It has become a great center for training and discipleship.
This ministry partner reports that they are now seeing “unprecedented growth.” They have held 279 seminars where they trained 6,685 leaders (most are former spirit-worshippers), equipping them with “JESUS” for evangelism and discipleship. In the last five years, they have planted 924 churches. Some of the churches have planted other churches, reproducing themselves to the fourth church generation.
God’s power is apparent in Asia as people hear Jesus speak in their heart language and are transformed. Sending tools to unreached nations is made possible through your generosity and the work of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for supporting Jesus Film Project®. Because of you, the Great Commission is getting closer to being fulfilled.
God’s Spirit Works as People Watch
A young woman from South Asia, Anju, was seeking God and met a pastor who showed her JESUS. She believed, but then suffered greatly for abandoning her culture’s many gods. Deepak, her older brother, was especially angry, for he was faithful and devoted to the deities they worshiped. Every time she tried to read the Bible, pray, or learn more about Christ, Deepak would turn the TV volume up or play very loud music. To get away to read the Bible or pray, Anju would go to the roof.
Read more of Anju's story here
Because of her witness, her two younger siblings received Christ. But Deepak’s opposition only increased. Finally, a film team was going to show JESUS at a local church. Anju asked Deepak to come, but he bluntly refused. She asked him one more time on the day of the showing.
Something spoke to his heart, a compelling urge which Deepak describes: “It was as if a voice inside me kept telling me to go. I could not say no.” Do you know what happened? He heard the Word in his heart language and was transformed, leading to a 180-degree turn in his life.
Deepak was discipled and today is a member of a JESUS film team! Deepak: “God’s Spirit works as people watch, and that is the miracle of the JESUS film. If I had not seen it, I still would be languishing in my doubts and arguments. I met Jesus through the showing.” A film team leader wrote: “Through these teams, entire communities are being influenced by the life of Jesus. Many who once saw Christ as foreign now put their faith in Him … {the film} is transforming lives and giving people hope.”
To Him alone goes the glory and praise.
Overcoming Spiritual Opposition
One of our more than 1,800 ministry partners is JESUS Film Harvest Partners, Church of the Nazarene. They are among the very first ministries to extensively field their own JESUS film teams, having planted tens of thousands of churches. They tell of a film team in Africa who also wanted to reach a resistant village, one dominated by a very aggressive religion from the north. In a team report, they wrote:
“Before we travel to a community, we take time to pray, because we believe prayer is the key to successful evangelism.” Since the village was very resistant to the gospel, friends joined with the team in praying and fasting.
Read more about Markus' story here
For their protection, they first seek a village leader’s permission and support for a showing. The leader of this village also happened to be the religious leader, the head of the house of prayer. I will refer to him as Markus. He immediately rebuffed the team, saying to the pastor, “No … you can’t preach here. You can’t show the JESUS film. This community is of our religion.”
They left the village discouraged, I’m sure, still praying, asking God for a breakthrough. It wasn’t long before the pastor’s phone rang. It was Markus who said, “Will you please come and pray for me?”
The pastor went, and they sat to talk in the house of prayer. Not only did the Holy Spirit provide a breakthrough, but also a miracle. Markus accepted Jesus as his Savior! A few days later, the pastor’s phone rang again. “Will you come back to the village?”
When he arrived, he found that Markus had shared the gospel with some local youth. And they had closed their house of prayer! Transformed by the power of God, Markus said, “Pastor, let us plant a church here!” He and the new believers wanted to learn more.
So, where their house of prayer had been, a church was born. There, they showed the JESUS film and “… many villagers accepted Christ. Markus has become an amazing evangelist, as well as providing extra security for our team. He comes with us wherever we want to preach. Because he is a respected man in the community, we feel safer. He continues to share the gospel with others and always asks people, ‘Do you want to accept Jesus Christ?’ Many people say yes.”
Because of the witness of that religious leader, and using JESUS, they have planted six churches, as the film team report said, “… in an area that was once overcome by darkness.”
A Powerful Dream Leads to Faith
Jassa searched for God and could not find Him, but then one night he saw Jesus in a dream … He dreamed he had found himself in a church on a high mountain. He saw Jesus who stretched out His hand to Jassa and said, “Follow Me, I am your Savior. I am the beginning and the end.” The dream was powerful and stayed with him, but he didn’t know what it meant. Unfortunately, it was many years before he understood the dream …
Read more about Jassa's story here
Eventually, Jassa fled the turmoil of his country, Yemen, seeking refuge in Europe. He was invited by local believers to dinner and a movie—the believers showed him a film about Isa, “The Great Prophet.” He saw the same Man in his dream!* Jassa watched His miracles, felt His love and heard the Word of God, exactly as written in the Gospel of Luke.
The God whom Jassa had wholeheartedly sought was now before him, portrayed on the screen—in love and power—speaking the language of his heart. Jassa could hardly believe it. Finally, he had found the One he had been searching for!
Within days of meeting his Savior, Jassa was baptized and began being discipled. Our ministry partners discipling Jassa share that he is so courageous and is faithfully sharing Jesus with others from his country.
Jassa truly embodies what it means to seek wholeheartedly after God and find the truth. Thank you for your prayers as you join in lifting up people like Jassa, those who are seeking the truth. Praise God for how He finds His lost sheep.
A Miracle of Divine Protection
A ministry partner with Jesus Film Project® shared this story with us:
The country where I was going was in utter chaos. Christians were in hiding, being hunted and killed. It was a true hornet’s nest and the worst time for anyone to visit. But the Holy Spirit gave me a desire to deliver a cash gift from partners to a temporary feeding program for 300 hungry families. I was also bringing a backpack full of small ‘JESUS’ film equipment: microSD cards, NewLifeBoxes™ (Wi-Fi hotspots for watching the film) and video tablets.
Read more of the story here
A Chance Meeting? Hardly.
“While applying for a visa in a Middle Eastern city, I happened to connect with a businessman with an African accent. I will call him Chad.* We ended up on the same flight to the capital city. In a row in front of us, a boisterous American bragged how he was going to start a business in the country. My concern was what might happen if customs agents found either money or ‘JESUS’ film equipment in my bag. Yet, I knew God was leading. I prayed.
After we landed, we were directed to the back of the plane and walked down the stairs. As I stepped on the tarmac, it hit me, [I gulped], … ‘I’m actually here! Guards were waiting for us, robed, with AK-47 assault rifles on their shoulders. Their eyes were empty, like an inner void. We were directed to passport and document control. I feared that when I got to baggage claim, officers would inspect and find the equipment. Chad walked in front of me and apparently was recognized by the guard. They motioned for him to break from the line and go left through a side gate. He looked back at me and, with a nod, gestured, ‘Follow me.’ I did.
God Protected His Word
We were bypassing the immigration officers! What a relief. As I waited inside for our bags, I knew officers could still inspect my luggage. I looked back and saw that loud American businessman. Two guards had him by both arms, escorting him to a private office (for interrogation). We never saw him again. I thought, ‘That could have been me,’ but God’s protection was there.
I got my bags. No inspections! I had to run quickly across a large parking lot to a waiting van. Arriving at our destination in the city, our Christian partners were so grateful. We had come in their time of need. We entrusted to them the funds and the tools to show people ‘JESUS.’ Their workers have now gone out to scores, even hundreds, of remote villages beyond the city in the hills and mountains, letting unreached people experience ‘JESUS’ in their heart language. They report that people all over this troubled country are ready for the gospel.
And Chad, the African man from the plane…He gave me his business card to stay in contact. I never saw him again. When I got home, I called the number to thank him, but it was disconnected. I think Chad was an angel.
Please tell the friends of ‘JESUS’ that God goes with their gifts, from start to finish. He makes a way and protects, like He did for me. He is using their partnership to call thousands in this nation out of darkness into the kingdom of His Son, Jesus our Lord. Thank you to all!
An ISIS Fighter Turns to Jesus
The power of God’s Word can penetrate the hardest hearts.
IRAQ—The phone rang. When a “JESUS” film staff worker answered, he heard a deep voice saying, “I am an ISIS fighter in Syria. I heard your phone number on the radio. (He had been listening to an audio broadcast version of “JESUS.”)
My name is Fareed. I am part of an ISIS militia. Our commander sent us to a neighborhood to attack and kill Christians. We hid in a burned-out church. Everything in the church was destroyed, blackened. Waiting for our orders to attack, I sat, exhausted, and leaned against a wall. With my headphones on, I began listening to your broadcast and fell asleep.
Read more of Fareed's story here
He Saw Jesus
“Like in a dream, the burned-out church began to turn white. Color returned. The lights came on. I saw rows of benches. Suddenly, a Man in brilliant white was in the aisle walking towards me.”
The Man Who Said, “Follow Me”
He said: “Everything was white and then in full color. The Man touched me on the shoulder and said, ‘Fareed, don’t worry. Follow Me.’ Just then the phone rang. Our commander canceled the mission. But all the rage and bitterness inside me was gone. I was peaceful and knew I could not fight anymore. So, I turned in my weapon and came to Baghdad. I’m calling you. What shall I do?”
The “JESUS” film staff member who took Fareed’s call explained the gospel and directed him to a church in the city, which he joined and grew in his faith. He has since been actively witnessing to others about the love and power of God and using “JESUS.” In his latest update about that former ISIS fighter, the staff member said, “I speak with him often and have given him equipment and support to help show the film to many others. He is a transformed man.”
People are Open to the Gospel
Although Fareed’s near attack happened a few years ago, ISIS struck again in the area several weeks ago. They carried out another suicide attack on a church in Syria. We know that God is in control, yet we probably will not understand why tragedies such as these occur until we reach eternity. This we know, however: millions are open now to the good news. Many have seen the risen Christ in dreams and visions and are ready to receive the gospel. Whether through radio broadcasts or film teams working to safely and discreetly show “JESUS,” people are responding.
Stunned … Amazed … “I Met With Jesus”
Meet the esteemed Arab professor who became the unlikely voice of Jesus.
He was a respected professor at a seminary in the Middle East, in an area hostile to Christians. For security, I will call him Ali.
As an expert in his field of ethics, Ali obtained a Bible to study Jesus. But Ali only knew Him as the “Great Prophet Isa.”
As the professor read the Gospels, he was fascinated, even stunned. The Word of God spoke deeply to his heart. He discovered that Jesus was quite different from the other prophets.
He was not violent, but self-giving and loving. Yet, for someone in Ali’s position, following Jesus would be difficult, perhaps even impossible.
Then it happened …
Read more of Ali's story here
Ali said that Jesus began to appear to him again and again. The Lord would literally sit across the table, teach and answer his many questions. He said it happened 17 times!
Ali said, “I asked Him how we can live like Him. He gave me [the] truth for the rest of my life.”
Then Ali was given the chance to watch the film “JESUS.” Again, he was stunned.
“It was Him in the movie, the Man who appeared to me 17 times!” He believed and began sharing with his fellow professors that Jesus is the Son of God. He led seven of those fellow professors to Christ.
As expected, the seminary fired him, and he suffered persecution. But the Lord’s hand was upon him. He fled to Lebanon and became the voice of Jesus for the translation of “JESUS” in the Baghdadi dialect of Arabic.
That version has since been seen and heard an estimated 15 million times.
See How “JESUS” Transformed an Entire School
Chioma,* a school administrator in West Africa, wanted to find a way to correct disciplinary issues among the students. She collaborated with Jesus Film Project® partner, Samuel, who is with The Timothy Initiative (TTI), and they decided to show “JESUS” at the school.
A large group of 340 students, teachers and community members gathered to watch the story of Jesus in their heart language. Many were deeply moved as they watched the film outside in the heat; you could hear sniffles in the crowd and people were wiping their eyes and noses.
Read more of Chioma's story here
Once the film was complete, the crowd was invited to follow Christ and 110 people responded! Afterward, nine teachers and 18 students took further steps and joined The Timothy Initiative’s training program.
Following the showing, Chioma testified to the immediate and profound changes in her students. Cases of theft and disciplinary problems dramatically decreased, and parents were also thrilled to witness these drastic changes in their children. The area became a place of hope and Samuel even planted a church on the school premises.
“The Spirit of the Lord was palpable,” a TTI worker shared. “It was a moment of true inspiration because they had made a difference in the lives of the next generation.”
Through the power of the Holy Spirit—and God’s favor over the “JESUS” film as an effective ministry resource in their heart language—a small school in a remote village has become a beacon of light to its community.
Witch Doctors Becoming Discipled
This partner also tells of a witch doctor who came to Christ. Ron was likely possessed by demons. He was responsible for great suffering, even death. He would go into the forest under a full moon and sacrifice animals. He was greatly feared, regarded as “hardcore.””People would avoid walking by his house for fear of his power.
Enter the gospel!
Read more about Ron's story here
Ron was given the chance to watch JESUS on one of our video tablets. At first, he resisted and went home. He had a vision. Before him stood the Lord, in brilliant glory. We don’t know what Jesus told him, but the experience was profound. Immediately, Ron repented and was transformed.
Now this former witch doctor became “unstoppable” (the description of the ministry director). Ron went boldly to the homes of five other witch doctors, shared the gospel story and led each one of them to Christ.
Ron and these new believers are also part of those 600 faith groups. How are they discipled? Through the video tablets and film teams you supply and support. Thank you.
The Team Using Digital Technology to Lead People to Christ
Amber, whose name is changed for security, is not part of a traditional film team but instead is using digital technologies on the internet to lead people to Christ and to make disciples around the world. Amber’s team focuses especially on reaching people in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Recently, Amber has been discipling a new believer online. One of her disciples is a young man whom I will call Omar. He was originally from Gaza, but today he is a refugee.
Read more about Omar's story here
Years ago, as a teenager, he witnessed extremists enter his home and execute his entire family. Omar managed to escape and fled from Gaza to a distant land. He then spent eight years searching for hope, for truth. He found no answers or peace.
Video tablets are in great demand by ministry partners. One ministry in a large Asian country is saying that they need thousands of tablets to equip their workers. Many are new believers, zealous to reach their families and neighborhoods with the gospel. The tablets can go anywhere discreetly.
Then, last spring during Ramadan, Omar saw a social media ad, one placed by Amber’s team. The message raised his curiosity, and he wanted to learn more. He immediately responded, and within the first hour of live messaging with Amber, he wanted to follow Jesus as his personal Savior.
That same day, she invited him to begin online follow-up, to teach him the Scriptures, provide new-believer discipleship, and show him clips of the JESUS film. Omar embraced it all. However, he was deeply afraid to tell anyone about his newfound faith. Like Vasant, he lived in a culture opposed to Christ. Yet, he persisted in his online study and grew in his faith. The Holy Spirit then replaced his fear with a vision to reach his people.
Just days after the recent war erupted in the Holy Land, Omar began to boldly reach out, through the internet, into Gaza. Within two weeks, he saw two people say “yes” to Jesus! One was his cousin Abdul, who initially questioned anything “Christian.” But as Omar shared his life and the hope and peace he had found, as well as some film clips of JESUS, Abdul’s heart softened. Within days, he began a new life with Christ. This is just one example of how digital teams are increasingly reaching out to hurting, searching people using social media. And people are responding.
The Gospel of Luke in their Heart Language
South Sudan is a troubled nation in Africa. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the brutality of an aggressive culture and religion in the north that seeks to silence people who don’t believe as they do—especially followers of Jesus.
About 10 years ago, a pastor/translator with Wycliffe Bible Translators (WBT) translated the Gospel of Luke for a people group here of about 150,000.* Yet, few could read in this scattered rural people group. Over time, a small church was planted, eventually growing to 200 members.
Read more about the pastor's story here
Then that same pastor translated the script of JESUS, which is based on the Gospel of Luke. Two thousand people attended the premiere—the largest gathering ever of people in this language group. Most had never even seen a film, and here was one in their heart language.
Projected onto a large bed sheet, the story of the gospel came alive. The words of Jesus penetrated their hearts. Amazed at His miracles, they watched Him die for their sins and then be raised to life. The Holy Spirit assured their hearts that what they were seeing and hearing was all true, that Jesus was for them. When the pastor asked who wanted to follow Jesus, 1,200 people raised their hands!
Immediately, they all wanted to be baptized in the river next to the camp (see the photo). And God’s timing was perfect. The area is mostly arid, with a river that flows only for three to four weeks each year. On this day, there was water! Baptizing them all was such a challenge that the pastor became exhausted. So, he divided the people into groups of 25. As he pronounced baptismal words over each group, they dipped themselves in and out of the water!
Through a single showing of JESUS, that church of 200 people became 1,400—a seven-fold increase—because they could see the visual portrayal of the gospel, hear the story, and understand His Word! More importantly, the Holy Spirit revealed to their hearts that Jesus died and rose again for each of them, personally. That revelation happens thousands of times every day as teams go to unreached people with the gospel story. To God goes the glory.