2015 Winter Newsletter

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Kansas City, MO Permit No. 1554

15055 West 116th Street Olathe, KS 66062

Seeing JESUS. Changing Lives.

Winter Newsletter

913-663-5700

info@JFHP.org

www.JFHP.org

Seeing the Hand of God Testimony from South Sudan

Our departure date was approaching.

Airline tickets were lined up, hotel reservations made, and payments ready. Yet still no word from Steve, the JESUS Film leader in South Sudan.

Our team was delivering several sets of equipment, and we were excited to see the work God was doing through the JESUS Film in this country. When we didn’t hear from Steve, anxiety crept in. What could be wrong?

Then we heard the news: war had broken out! Where was Steve?

Was he safe? ...Alive?

gunmen. When they came to his city, he hid.

Gunmen entered the room where he was hiding and began to shoot. God protected this brave leader, as Steve went unnoticed and none of the bullets hit him.

Thankfully, he was able to flee to a neighboring country.

Steve’s response to all this? “I see the hand of God, and it is great!”

We still weren’t sure what this meant for our trip. When asked what we should do, Steve encouraged us to come.

“If you meet me here, we can drive to a refugee camp and minister to the people who fled.”

When we landed, we were met by this brave and dauntless leader, who even after his harrowing experience was determined to share the gospel of Jesus wherever he was. We worked with others, too, some of the most dedicated men and women I have met, unwavering in their devotion to share Christ with the thousands who had been displaced.

“Do not come.

Not safe.

I will contact you.”

Finally, something: “Do not come. Not safe.

I will contact you.” What now?! We waited and prayed.

Three days later, Steve called, detailing his experience.

When the war broke out, people had to flee. Ten thousand had been killed in just three days! Christians were being hunted: men, women, even children. Steve pastors a large church in the area, so he was a prime target for the

These people needed to hear the story of hope and salvation offered through Jesus, and with the equipment brought in, Steve and his fellow workers were given the perfect tool to share the gospel right where they were.

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Pitching for Missions in the Baseball World A General Manager’s heart for the Great Commission

During a recent JFHP World Challenge, Bobby Evans, the General Manager of the 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants, shared from his heart his own efforts to live out the Great Commission.

five extra Bibles with him in case another player asked.

Unfortunately, when Bobby wasn't looking the Bibles went missing. He knew this must be what he had been warned about - that players would not take kindly to him bringing Bibles in the clubhouse. However, as he looked for the Bibles, he was struck to find five players sitting in a circle sharing the Word of God together using those five Bibles.

Leading Off

Bobby's heart was warmed to the presence of God. He quickly ran to get the remainder of the Bibles and was reminded of that great song, "I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel." He proceeded to hand out the entire box to all the Spanish-speaking players.

Bobby shared that as we pray, God will often open our eyes to the needs of those around us and opportunities to serve Him. One such opportunity came as Bobby prepared to go to Spring Training. Even though his work didn’t allow him to "go to all nations and share the gospel," he felt that he could encourage those from around the world that were coming to him, particularly during Spring Training.

“...learned over and over the blessings of being obedient to God’s nudges.”

With so many players from Latin America, Bobby planned to distribute Spanish Bibles to all of them. However, after a church friend delivered the Bibles, Bobby had second thoughts. Was this really a good idea?

Thrown a Curve

Sure enough, when he asked one of the Christian players on the team, Bobby was alerted to some of the negatives of taking this step, even in the minor league clubhouse. That was all Bobby needed to hear, and the box of Bibles sat in his office.

As Spring Training neared an end, Bobby worried about his friend's reaction if he didn't give away any of the Bibles he had delivered. So he prayed one morning that God would help him to give one Spanish Bible away that day.

Double Play

As the players went about their early morning work, one player approached Bobby to ask for his help. The player explained, "Yesterday, after I had finished throwing my bullpen, my catcher asked me if I knew how to get a hold of a Spanish Bible. I told him I would try and find one. Bobby, do you know how I can find a Spanish Bible?"

Bobby was stunned, as he had just prayed earlier that morning for a chance to give away one of the Bibles! He praised God and rushed to get the player the Spanish Bible.

Bobby knew he had experienced God at work and carried

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First Pitch

Bobby shared one other experience. He invited a half dozen or so players to see the JESUS Film in Spanish. After the film was over, several players asked if they could see it again the next night and bring some other guys.

Sure enough, another five or six guys watched the film the following night. That's where the story ended... or so Bobby thought. Obedience and the sharing of God's word doesn't always allow us to see the fruit of His work right away.

Circling the Bases

About ten years later, Bobby received an unexpected phone call. One of the players who had seen the JESUS Film shared with Bobby that he had given his life to Christ that very night ten years ago. He said his life has never been the same, and he wanted Bobby to know what a difference that Jesus has made in his life!

Bobby is like you and I, trying to navigate the balance of life, family, work, and ministry. He has learned over and over the blessings of being obedient to God’s nudges.

Thanks to everyone who steps up to the plate to share the gospel with their surrounding communities.

Whether by word of mouth, or through using evangelism tools like the JESUS Film, you make a difference!

Transformation Begins with Jesus Jesus transforms lives.

Through your partnership with JESUS Film teams in over 58 countries, your support is crucial in supplying these teams with the equipment, tools, and ability to take Jesus with them wherever they go. Partnering together will make it possible for our teams to go to communities all over the world and share the atoning work of Jesus. When individuals turn to Christ, transformation happens. Individuals like...

The depressed - Karina was mistreated throughout her life. In a terrible twist, she lost her sight three years ago and fell into deep depression. Even in her blindness, during a showing of the JESUS Film, she listened and made the decision to accept Jesus as her Savior. Her life is changing. She has confidence in the Lord and that her misfortune will turn around. She attends every service of the congregation that was formed.

The confused - Fernando is a young man from a middle class family. In his teen years, he started hanging out in the street with his friends. Little by little he was exposed to activities which were destructive, such as alcohol and marijuana. The temptations were escalating. In God’s timing, a new JESUS Film team was working in

Fernando’s neighborhood. The leader invited Fernando to a presentation. He became a follower of Christ that night.

Leaving his bad habits behind, he is a witness to his “old” friends.

The lost - Serena is a teen who grew up in the church, but she never made the decision to accept Christ. Someone shared the JESUS Film with her. She decided to accept Christ as her Savior. Now she is being received as a member of the church and is looking forward to serving the Lord.

You make JFHP ministry possible. Without your support, individuals like Karina, Fernando, and Serena might never experience a life transformed by Christ.

A way to give this Christmas season is with the JFHP Christmas Catalog. Every gift benefits the teams and furthers the ministry. To give, call 913-663-5700 or go to JFHP.org/ChristmasGift.

Thank you for your support.

Seeing the Hand of God

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That night, 2,650 people heard about God’s love.

Today, on that spot, 1,650 people still come to worship every Sunday.

We are so thankful for, and stand in awe of, the indigenous men and women who make up JESUS Film teams around the world. They serve faithfully and fearlessly, wherever they are, whatever they have experienced, to the ends of the earth!

Thank you for partnering with these dedicated teams, allowing them to continue delivering the hope of Christ to everyone, right where they are.

You can come alongside the JESUS Film teams yourself; just come on a JESUS Film trip!

Please call 913-663-5700 or go to JFHP.org/ministrytrips to find out how you can start this incredible mission experience.

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A Victorious Voodoo Priest

Testimony from a recent Mission Trip to Togo/Ghana

This past spring, Harvest Partners joined together raising support to purchase and deliver 25 backpack sets of JESUS Film equipment to West Africa. One of the teams who received new equipment was the all women’s JESUS Film team in Togo.

They have over 20 women from one church who can’t wait for their next opportunity to show the JESUS Film. These women are fearless and willing to go into potentially dangerous situations in order to bring the Good News of Jesus to more people. They report miracles happening every week as they go to new towns and villages.

The all women’s JESUS Film team just shared a transformational story with us from their most recent JESUS Film showing. At this place, there was a voodoo leader who made sacrifices and called upon his idols to stop these ladies from showing the film in his village. Nothing was working, and this voodoo animist became very sick. For several nights, these women showed the JESUS Film, and each night more people’s lives were freed from the dark powers of sin. On the day the women were leaving to go home, this voodoo leader decided to call these women to come by his thatched mud home, and asked them to pray for him. They shared the wonderful gospel of Jesus, and this man repented of his sins. God gloriously forgave him and received him as a new believer. The women then returned to their homes. The next day, a message was sent to them saying this man had passed away…and through the gates of Heaven. What a time of rejoicing! On the last day of his life, God saved him! I can’t wait to meet that man someday in Heaven.

Want to see the JESUS Film team ministry in action? Minister alongside the JESUS Film teams yourself by coming on a JESUS Film trip. Please call 913-663-5700 or go to JFHP.org/MissionTrips to find out how you can start this incredible mission experience.

Life Extended

Team Testimony from Cote D’Ivoire

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My name is Yves; after several years of failures in school I decided to end my life because everyone in my family works except me. I’m not considered to have value in the family and people of my generation make fun of me. Given this situation, I resolved to shorten my life, to suffer no more shame and humiliation of any kind. I already planned everything in order to kill myself, when behind my house I could hear people screaming “Jesus!” I was attracted to their cries. This was the JESUS Film. Through this program God spoke to me, and I gave my life to Christ. I no longer want to kill myself because I have value in Jesus!