Celebrate the 1,500th Translation of the Jesus Film

Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15, New International Version).

God has been at work, from the first translation to the 1,500th.  All the way back in 1979, the “JESUS” film first aired in theaters across the United States. Those first showings saw thousands of people come to know Jesus.

The Holy Spirit was moving.

Less than a year later, the “JESUS” film was translated into Urdu and Tagalog, along with 28 other languages.  By early 1986 (thanks to the faithful support and prayers from believers like you), there were more than 100 translations of the “JESUS” film.

Today I hope you share in our joy as we celebrate an almost unbelievable 1,500 translations.  More than 7.5 billion people have heard the good news.  490 million people have made decisions for Christ! 

For the Daasanach people, their time is NOW!

The Daasanach are a remote people group, their villages stretch far and wide across the harsh Ethiopian countryside, even into Kenya and South Sudan.  That gives you an idea of how expansive the region is and how many people we are praying will come see the film and hear the gospel.

We’ve already heard there is an excited buzz spreading as families hear about the film coming. It’s taken hundreds of hours to prepare and translate the “JESUS” film into their heart language.

Production is finally complete, and the next step is to show the film.

Because you have been praying for or giving toward our ministry, you’ll be sharing Jesus with them.  They’ll get to know our Savior because of YOU!  They’ll hear that they are loved.  They’ll be able to leave false gods and ancestor worship behind.

Your partnership with us has helped to show the film to thousands of unreached Daasanach people. I can’t think of a better way to proclaim His name to an unreached people group in their own language. 

On their behalf, thank you for making a difference now and for eternity. ~ Tez and Christine

A New Chapter Begins

OUR SUMMER

What a whirlwind season this summer has been since we finished raising our support at the end of May.

It started with a simple handoff of my department to a very qualified new leader and suddenly doors flew open for new opportunities for both of us, including a move to Colorado Springs. After a few false starts, we are about to move in a few days.

In July we attended our bi-annual staff conference. It's a 10-day event in Colorado where 6,000+ Cru missionaries come together to rest and relax. We worship together, celebrate what God has done and hear from the Lord so we can return to ministry refreshed and empowered.

Tez taught about 200 missionary authors about the book industry and was later offered a role to be Director of Publishing for Cru Intl. Although he was honored to be asked, he has turned it down for now, so he can continue on with Jesus Film Project.

We rented a humble little mobile home up in the mountains overlooking the city. Two days before it ended, a forest fire approached the mountain where we were staying so we had to evacuate to a hotel. For lack of space, I'm minimizing that event. Let's just say it was a much bigger deal than I've just described.

We got to tour Focus on the Family headquarters and one of Tez's literary friends who works there took us on a back stage tour and let the girls sit in the radio studio. 

When we arrived home (being gone 20 days) it was time to pack our house and continue trying to sell it. Meanwhile, we've enrolled the girls in school here knowing they will probably have to leave in a few weeks...Lord willing.

God has given us strength and patience through it all. We look forward to autumn in Colorado where they say the colors are amazing. 

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

The International School Project (ISP) is another ministry of Cru. It was started as a spin-off from Jesus Film Project. I'm very excited about ISP and the partnership they have with us here at Jesus Film Project. Now Christine is serving with them to help build spiritual movements among educators worldwide.

Christine will go into schools overseas and teach educators how to use curriculum that teaches students the moral value of abstinence, avoiding drugs and alcohol. One evening during this week of seminars she will show the JESUS film and give each teacher a DVD copy.

Because the program requires Christine to take multiple trips, new friendships will be forged between her and these teachers. Many of them are new believers so Christine is very excited about the opportunity to disciple these international women.

One Minister of Education said the entire nation is being transformed. HIV is down, teen pregnancy is down and crime is down since ISP began visiting his country.

As a couple, Christine and I look for ways to use our skills and creativity to glorify God and point others to Christ. With Christine's degree in Education, her experience teaching, and her love for discipling women, this is a great fit for her.

We are expanding our influence as a couple, using both evangelism and humanitarian work to assist us in presenting the gospel message. 

Since I have recently handed over my leadership role at Jesus film Project to another team member, this frees me up to work from my home office. So we will be moving to Colorado Springs to be closer to Christine's new team.

We've always longed to live in Colorado so this opportunity is an amazing blessing for us. We've sold our home in FL and arrive in Coloroad around the 19th. Working for the Lord is always an adventure and we're so glad you're in it with us.