Welcome to our new MISSION magazine. Asia Pacific Media is upgrading our communication. We hope you will like the new format and the fresh information we will bring you every other month. In this issue, you will read about a new movie for Nepal and a video project that is targeting Filipino children.
with media to reach or disciple children. We believe that a values oriented video series will not only be used by churches but also in schools.
Nepal is a nation of 28 million, the vast majority of whom are Hindu. This movie tells of the transformation of a young boy from a talented, but, selfish soccer star to a follower of Christ and true leader of other young men. Through drama, we believe the message will attract many who will hear God’s good news for the first time.
We do this through the production of indigenous tools, the training of local workers to become speakers and producers and the partnerships with other like minded ministries, knowing that together we can do more.
The Philippines is a young nation. Over 50 percent of the population is under 20. Yet little is being done [2.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
We have a vision to see Christ followers effectively using media to reach every people group in Asia Pacific. Media then becomes a tool that not only shares the Good News but brings people into contact with followers of Christ.
Asia Pacific Media is beginning its 26th year based in Manila, Philippines. From humble beginnings, God has blessed and expanded our efforts. We could not have imagined the media of 2014 in 1988. This expansion is - continued -
God’s gift to the church. Our team is based in Manila, Hong Kong and Taiwan. We support other media efforts in Indonesia and Cambodia. We want MISSION magazine to inform you as well as inspire you to become a part: through prayer, through volunteering your time and talent and through giving. Thanks for giving us a few minutes of your valuable time. Also, let us hear from you. You can reach us through apmedia.org or on the Asia Pacific Media Facebook page.
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FILMMAKER EMPLOYS ‘FROM SCRATCH’ PHILOSOPHY TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL Nepal, a tiny country about the size of the state of Arkansas, strategically situated in the Great Himalaya Mountain Range between behemoths China and India, is home to more than 30 million souls. Less than one percent of its population is Christian. This nation stands as a testament to the words of Christ, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37, NIV). It is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with more than 25
percent of its population living below the poverty line. Nepal’s seemingly relentless political upheaval and propensity for natural disasters cause some to see insurmountable challenges in spreading the gospel here. But with the advent of a more stable political system and a population skewing toward youth — more than half of Nepal’s population is less than 25 — Asia Pacific Media, Promise Ministries and Sword Productions see unlimited opportunities for advancing the Kingdom. The three organizations recently joined forces to produce a feature film, appropriately entitled, “Bijay” (“Victory”). It has a boy- continued -
[4.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boygets-girl-back-again subplot set against the wildly popular sport most of the world calls football, although U.S. fans are more likely to refer to it as soccer. Bijay, the hero of the story, flaunts his pride and arrogance in his own athletic skills, only to have his hopes of playing for the national team crushed. Fortunately for Bijay, the coach of his village team never gives up on him and eventually introduces him to the transformative power of faith in Christ.
for Cadd and his crew, but providing quality entertainment to the local population pales in comparison to the teams’ primary goal. They want to spread the gospel by training young indigenous Christians to be leaders in their countries’ own film and entertainment industries.
“Football is hugely popular in Nepal, and it gives a place for action to happen, an important factor in a movie targeting youth,” explains director Stephen Cadd of Sword Productions. “But while the movie is set in a village and has a football theme, it is really about how Christ can make real change in our lives.”
“No matter how much we try, we will never fully understand the cultures of these countries,” Cadd admits. “To truly know how they think, you need to be from that place. If we want to communicate effectively and powerfully, we need to speak in their language and in a cultural context that makes sense to them. The Good News needs to be ‘good news’ to their world, their issues, their fears.”
Making a movie that can compete with anything the general market has to offer is a priority
Cadd and a team collaborate to use movie-making as a tool to accomplish that mission. Each crew member starts out - continued -
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performing the functions of his or her filmmaking position, but trains up to four local workers to take over as the production progresses. “As we make the movie, we explain what we are doing and why,” Cadd says. “By the second week they are assisting. The third week they are doing most of the work, and by the last week they are doing everything. Our role is to step back and advise when we feel it is needed.”
tion. Finally, the young filmmakers learn about distributing their movies in the nation’s cinemas or releasing them on DVD. “All of our projects have a larger goal than just making an evangelistic movie in the national language,” Cadd says. “We want to train young believers from that culture so they can be effective communicators of the gospel — telling their stories to their people in their language and culture. We use the making of the movie as a training tool.”
Whether “Bijay” becomes a major victory in Nepal remains to be seen, but Cadd’s method has produced remarkable success in other regions of Asia. A team of Mongolian filmThe team takes a “from makers trained by Cadd and his scratch” approach to training their young protegés. They start crew went on at the beginning, with idea gen- to produce 12 feature-length eration and screenplay writing, films for their then progress to production country’s mainmanagement, then lights and stream cinema, their most resound, casting and shooting cent production earning a “Best and editing and post-producPicture of the Year” award. “Discipleship is all about teaching so that the next generation can be empowered - continued -
[6.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
to become the leaders and influencers in their nations,” Cadd says. “By multiplying ourselves, we can see genuine change happen as Christ
is made known and people encounter the life-changing gospel in their own language and culture.”
Nepal is a landlocked country located between China and India.
Less than 50 percent of the population speaks Nepali, the nation’s official language.
Read more about the team effort that went into producing “Bijay” on page 8.
Nepal is home to Mt. Everest, the highest point in Asia, reaching 8,850 meters.
80.6 percent of the Nepalese are Hindu. Another 10.7 percent are Buddhist. Muslims make up 4.2 percent of the Agriculture provides the livelihood for 75 percent of Nepal’s population. Less than 1 percent of Nepal is Christian. population, but only 16 percent of its land is arable. 29.1 percent of Nepal’s children under the age of 5 are under46 percent of the Nepalese weight. population is unemployed. January/February 2014 [7.]
It is past 1 a.m. when we arrive in Nepal to shoot the movie“Bijay” (translated as “Victory”). I am part of the production team. The next morning, we go directly to the office of Promise Media (the Nepalese media ministry we are working with) to check on all the equipment and prepare for the coming week’s training. Our first day, we begin with devotions after breakfast, which is how we will begin every day. We want to reach out to the non-believers working with us through our interaction with each other, our attitudes on set and by the way we work. Training starts with a general assembly of the cast and - continued [8.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
crew. Everybody is introduced and the actors do a full readthrough of the script. In the afternoon, the actors stay with the director and the acting coach for a workshop. These actors auditioned with and were selected by our director and our acting coach, together with the director trainees, only the week before. While the actors work with the director and acting coach, the technical team is divided into different departments for hands-on training. We spend three days teaching our Nepalese counterparts in sound, lighting and camera work, and another two days practicing full set-ups with the actors and all technical departments, allowing the Nepalese to apply their new knowledge before we actually start shooting. It is our second week, and we travel to the “mountains” (which the Nepalese call “hills”) for almost four hours, over rough roads, until we reach our location in the village
of Chitlang. We start shooting the film. The week of shooting, the Philippine team takes the lead in the technical departments while the Nepalese observe and help. Then, gradually the Nepalese team takes over more and more of the responsibility, and by the end of the shoot they are doing all the work. The entire production is a long continuous training for the locals. They observe and learn correct procedures and how to deal with problems that arise during a shoot. Shooting a movie is quite challenging and stressful at times, but God is allowing miracles to happen. He gives us electrical power when we need it. We experience some rejection as we chose some of our locations, and God provides a better place that makes our - continued January/February 2014 [9.]
shots more interesting. He also provides healing to some of our actors and even instantly heals a family member, of an unsaved crew member, who was in the hospital, and that leads them to believe that our God is powerful. The sun sets early, and we lose daylight just after 4 in the afternoon. We try to accomplish our shooting schedule each day before it gets too dark. Temperature is another challenge. Every day is sunny, but from dawn until about 11 a.m., the weather is very cold. It becomes warmer until about 2 in the afternoon, and then it becomes colder and colder as darkness approaches. The cold weather is our daily challenge, but the warm character, hard work and willingness to learn, of the people that we work with, enables us to finish our 15-day location shoot in the village on time.
that things happen because that’s how the Nepalese do it. But after being in Nepal for almost five weeks, I see their potential as they realize that with God’s help they can achieve great things. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (NKJV). This verse inspires me during my five weeks in Nepal. Indeed, the plan of the Lord is greater than the plans that I have as He brought me into Nepal. It is an honor to be a part of this project, training people in production, producing an evangelistic movie and serving the Lord with the Nepalese people who are passionate in using their lives for the glory of God. Dhanebad Yesu! (Thank you, Jesus!)
Most of the Nepalese people who join us are new to this kind Alena Palad is an audio recordist of setting. We are often told and sound editor for APMedia at the
regional studio in Manila, Philippines. [10.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
“UKids,” a series of short dramas targeting Filipino children ages 6 to 12, addresses character issues. The eight-minute dramas, on which production began in 2012, are anticipated to be an ongoing project. “There is a significant interest in these videos in the public schools since values formation is a part of the public school curriculum,”Bill Snider, Director of Asia Pacific Media (APMedia), says. Having produced and field-tested a pilot package of six episodes, APM is currently working on the first complete series, which will include 13 dramas. “UKids” illustrates Christian character. As a part of the Usapang Pamilya (Family Talk
emphasis of Asia Pacific Media), the series can introduce viewers to the broader video library. “Since 50 percent of the Philippine population is under 20, we feel it’s important to minister to children and teenagers,” Snider says. “They provide the opportunity to present Christ in the practical aspects of living.” The national church has partnered with APMedia in the development. They are introducing “UKids” to their Christian Education leadership team. The Christian Education department will be heavily involved in promoting “UKids.” APMedia is in ongoing conversations with consultants - continued January/February 2014 [11.]
connected to the Philippine Department of Education, and there is interest in incorporating the “UKids” video series into values education in the primary schools. “‘UKids’ dramas are another expression of our concern, as a ministry, for the Filipino family.
[12.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
We’re excited to see where this project goes and are very thankful for the very strong support that we’re receiving from national churches, as well as for the interests expressed from the Department of Education.” For ways you can contribute to the “UKids” project turn to p. 15.
“Usapang Pamilya” video series
“This program has contributed to the noticeable numerical growth of our church. The early morning and afternoon services are increasing in attendance, and that is a good thing!” — Egay Gomez
“I am thankful for what is happening in my life, especially to my children because of what we have been hearing and watching [in the “Usapang Pamilya” videos] in the days we’ve been attending. Even though I am separated from my husband, I have learned so many things. I have forgiven my husband and myself over the many things that I have gone through in life. Together with my children, I 14.
have surrendered all to the Lord and to all His plans for us. With all that has happened to us, I know that the Lord has a plan for my life. Slowly, I am drawing nearer to God. Together with my children, I am offering my whole life to Him. I am thankful for having come to this church.” — Emelita Casabuena
“I am thankful for the wonderful things happening in my life ever since I started coming here because I have learned how to humble myself, and [as a result] my husband and I no longer fight as much and our business has picked up. I give thanks to the Lord!” — Jackielou Duldulao - continued January/February 2014 [13.]
“We give thanks that we have settled all our financial obligations and that our child has been healed!” — Augusto and Maribel Landig
These are authentic testimonies by people whose lives have been changed by the “Usapang Pamilya” videos produced here at Asia Pacific Media. We are a regional ministry of the Assemblies of God World Missions—USA based in Manila, Philippines whose mission is to empower national churches in Asia and the Pacific Islands to use and produce media tools for evangelism, church planting and discipleship of believers. Our videos are used in a variety of ministries and outreaches throughout the region, and are impacting people for Christ. “Usapang Pamilya” are episodic, one-shot videos that contain powerful, lifechanging lessons shared through dynamic, real-life dramas and follow-up group discussion formats, providing ministry leaders with ample opportunities to offer biblical solutions to the every day issues faced by the people in their communities. [14.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
We would like to thank you for joining us with your support of this dynamic, life-changing ministry to our friends across the globe. Your faithfulness enables us to continue developing effective outreach tools using convenient, contemporary technologies that provide practical, easy-to-use, and most importantly, effective biblical resources to produce spiritual
results. Here at Asia Pacific Media, we appreciate your continued support. If you’ve not been able to give monetarily in the past but would like to start, we invite you to visit page 15 or apmedia.org for instructions on how to contribute. Thank you for being a part of Asia Pacific Media!