Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Kansas City, MO Permit No. 1554
15055 W. 116th Street Olathe KS 66062
Giving or going, Harvest Partners are
fulfilling
the
Great Commission
Spring Newsletter
913-663-5700
regional leader in charge of several lesser village chiefs. This task was crucial to keep the JESUS Film ministry going. Often, you cannot simply go into a village, prop up a video screen, and start showing the JESUS Film. Instead, teams must work with the local customs and authorities. Gaining proper permission not only opens doors for JESUS Film teams to share the gospel in the area, it also provides an opportunity to witness to the authorities.
-Written by Missionary John Cunningham
Mission Interrupted With a pop and a loud hiss, our motorbike veered off the asphalt road on top of the steep escarpment we had just ridden up in northern Ghana, West Africa. Flat tire! Thankfully, a small Ghanaian town was about a half mile ahead. I wiped the sweat off my forehead and helped push the motorbike to a tire repair shop at the edge of town. While the mechanic repaired the tire, I thought about our mission. Six of us, including JESUS Film team members, were to meet the paramount chief, a
The JESUS Film teams in Northeastern Ghana were previously given permission to minister. We were going to this chief to keep the con-
“‘Above all,’ he said, ‘do not speak unless spoken to.’” nection open for further ministry. “Lord,” I prayed, “help the chief to be receptive and give his approval for the church to continue its ministry here.” Riding to the Village With our bike repaired, we were back on the main road through town. We traveled north several miles where the tarred road branched off to a maze of paths, passing many villages made up of grass-thatched huts arranged in clusters called kraals. Mud walls enclosed a number of huts (one for
info@JFHP.org
www.JFHP.org
the family patriarch, one for cooking, and the rest for the wives and children). When we arrived at the chief’s village, we were instructed by our spokesperson and translator. “Above all,” he said, “do not speak unless spoken to.” Meeting the Paramount Chief We parked our motorbikes and entered the chief’s kraal. We approached his “palace,” a large thatched hut with a covered porch. A chaise lounge on a raised platform in the center, surrounded by wooden benches, served as the chief’s throne. The chief did not say a word as we came into his presence. We bowed down and kept our eyes on the floor until the chief recognized us. When we heard him speak, we sat, keeping our eyes downcast. Our interpreter was allowed to speak and told the chief about the JESUS Film and the work of the church in his area. The chief thanked us for coming to visit him and said Continued on next page
we had his permission to continue I reflected, with relief, on what our work in the villages under his just happened. It could have control. He dismissed us and we ended very differently. However, prepared to leave. Suddenly, he told I knew many Harvest Partners us to stop. We all sat back down were praying for this team and and waited. “What this place. went wrong?” I I also saw “Suddenly, he told us thought. The chief how this team to stop. ...‘What went began to speak. had nurtured wrong?’” He commanded us, relationships “Each of you please tell me your with the paramount chief and other name and where you come from authorities. so I can report who you are during my next council meeting.” So we “God,” I breathed, “continue to all took turns talking to the chief. guide them to more unreached When it was my turn to speak, I villages so we can bring the JESUS gave him my name and my country. Film to thousands more. Help “Thank you for allowing us to tell us to continue to resource them ired God’s story to your people through and others like them around the Top: Bike being repa am member the JESUS Film,” I concluded. The world.” The mechanic looked up Middle: JESUS Film te chief nodded his head, thanked our and waved to us as we passed his carrying a JESUS Film backpack group, and dismissed us. tire shop heading home. ramount Bottom: Riding to Pa age ll vi s Chief’
Ten minutes later on the bouncing bike, hot wind blowing in my face,
Personalizing Missions
ing Left: JESUS Film show ca Ri in Costa with Above: ‘Scout’ team delivered equipment
For many years the Oro Valley Church from Arizona has annually donated funds to purchase a set of JESUS Film equipment. In early 2010, the church, in response to God’s abundant blessings on them, authorized funds to purchase two sets of equipment. However, their senior pastor, Craig Coulter, challenged them to do more. In response, the church increased it’s giving and decided it could be a JESUS Film team sponsor AND purchase another set of equipment. Oro Valley Church also sent a ‘scout’ on a JESUS Film Partner Trip to Costa Rica. The Scout, Dr. Dave Burros, is a dental surgeon in Tucson, Arizona. Dave delivered and dedicated one of the sets of
equipment Oro Valley Church had purchased. His trip report was so encouraging that many from the church are now planning to go to Honduras in October. They plan to meet their sponsored JESUS Film team and commission them in their work. This is personalizing missions! The JESUS Film ministry wants to thank the leadership team of Dick Egolf, the NMI President, pastor Craig Coulter, and many other generous and visionary people of their church. All praise to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Like Oro Valley Church, you can also “personalize missions” by sponsoring a team and visiting that JESUS Film team. Please call Chuck Watson at 817-368-1211.
e k a T
an c i fr
the
a oad r ver e ne You’v ced a n rie e expe t ride lik fi bene before! is th
To effectively show the JESUS Film around the world, it is important to transport the equipment to strategic locations—some of which are remote villages where it is impossible to arrive by car or truck. While traveling in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Benin on a recent trip, I saw locations like these where JESUS Film equipment was either carried on one’s back or on a motorbike. Riding motorbikes over dusty walking trails for two weeks made it clear that this was an efficient delivery method for JESUS Film equipment (Read “Meeting the Paramount Chief”). New motorbikes in West Africa cost approximately $2,000. A newly designed backpack system, which carries a complete set of miniaturized solar-powered JESUS Film equipment, costs $4,000. Therefore, for
$6,000, a “Bike and a Backpack” package gives 250 people per showing the chance to see Jesus and provides a motorbike to a JESUS Film team to carry and deliver the equipment. Your church or group can deliver this equipment and possibly have the opportunity to rent motorbikes to ride to a remote village with the backpack system and attend an actual JESUS Film showing. If interested in providing a “Bike and a Backpack” to JESUS Film teams who work in remote areas of West Africa, please contact:
John Cunningham 816-694-2684 JCunningham@JFHP.org
Scan QR code with smart phone to check out the Bike and a Backpack promovideo Or, go to www.vimeo.com/JFHP/bikeandbackpack
God’s Faithful Provision Chris and Sonia Jimenez were successful commercial real estate brokers before the recession of 2008. Due to the down-turn in their business, they were in jeopardy of losing their home and were scheduled to go to court to determine their fate. The Jimenez family were invited to attend the first ever all-Spanish World Challenge fund-raising event earlier this year. Because of their financial situation, they were reluctant to accept, but went anyway to hear about the amazing ministry of the JESUS Film. When the time came to respond to the invitation to become Harvest Partners, Chris did not think they had enough money to save their house, but they could make a difference in the lives of others by committing to a Harvest 120 Sponsorship. After the meeting, Chris and Sonia prayed to God with some of their personal friends over their situation.
Chris Jimenez at his residence
When Darrell Leber from JESUS Film Harvest Partners called to follow up about the court’s decision on their home, Chris and Sonia shared some great news! Due to a glitch in paperwork, the Judge ruled in their favor, allowing them to keep their home. Since then, God has opened some doors for their business. Their willingness to give what little they had has blessed them in many ways, both financially and spiritually. Praise God for His faithfulness.
Dealing with the Heart “During the last showing, a group of gamblers watched the JESUS Film from a distance.”
JESUS Film staff member, Darrell Leber, and 29 Harvest Partners hand-delivered an ARK shelter to a JESUS Film team in the Dominican Republic in March 2011, which is now used to conduct medical clinics and show the JESUS Film. Team members walked the streets inviting people to attend each showing, resulting in crowds from 200-300 participants each night. As they invited esponded many to come, several team members rs who r e l b m a G : ospel Top Left were invited into homes to pray for to the G e ARK nt of th o r special needs. f n i elivered Team d that was shelter dical e for a m and used clinic cube e Evange h t g n i s el Right: U the Gosp to share
Above:
dvis ed F und
s
During the last showing, a group of gamblers watched the JESUS Film from a distance. At the conclusion of the show, several team members and Darrell approached the gamblers, asking if they enjoyed the movie. They responded positively, but continued gambling until Darrell asked them if they would like to accept Jesus into their hearts. Ten of the eleven men stood and prayed the sinner’s prayer out loud. After they prayed, their countenance changed, demonstrating a transformed heart. The one man who stayed seated also had an encounter with God. He stood up and shook hands, thanking Darrell and the other team members vigorously with a huge smile on his face. Eleven gamblers lives were changed in the moments following a JESUS Film showing in the Dominican Republic.
NEW, CREATIVE WAY
Don or-A
Endow Wills ments C
ive G
Lead table Trust
Endow
Ch
ivi
Rema ng Opt Chariinder Trusts ions
ments
s
reat
Ch ar Gif itable tA nnu itie s
e Gift AaritableWLeialls d Tru nn vis sts ed uities Fu nd
TO GIVE WHILE SHOPPING!
UPCOMING PARTNER TRIPS Honduras Oct. 27 - Nov. 1, 2011
Benin Feb. 2 - 11, 2012
Peru June 15 - 23, 2012 Experience the JESUS Film first hand. Call 913-663-5700 or go to www.JFHP.org/partnertrips
JESUS Film Harvest Partners is now an Amazon Associate. If you shop at Amazon through the provided link, www.JFHP.org/amazon, JFHP will receive 4% to 8.5% of purchase cost—depending on the purchase total. This program is a win-win-win—a win for you, a win for the ministry, and a win for Amazon. Thank you to our ministry partners at the Christian Network Foundation (CNF) who make it possible to use tools like the Donor-Advised Funds, Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, and Endowments to support and expand God’s Kingdom. Contact Ken Roney at KenRoney@CNFoundation.org or 866-273-2549 to learn more about alternative giving.