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Zero to Sixty in Thirteen Years
Winter Newsletter 913-663-5700
info@JFHP.org
www.JFHP.org
Zero to Sixty in Thirteen Years
Making Vision a Reality Over two-thirds of the world’s entire population, even if they have access, will never read a Bible. ● What does that mean for the Word of God? ● What does that mean for us, when Jesus tells us to take the gospel to the ends of the Earth? It means we must seek to present the gospel in ways relevant to everyone. It means that sometimes the written word becomes spoken, and Jesus’ life becomes a visual enactment of the Gospel of Luke that literally speaks to people’s hearts. JESUS Film Harvest Partners current vision: 100 million evangelistic contacts. One-hundred million opportunities where the gospel has been seen, heard, and/or introduced through the showing of the JESUS Film or other evangelistic tools.
The first report received by a JESUS Film team was in 1998. In a Nigerian village, 332 people gathered to watch JESUS. Of those 332 evangelistic contacts, 108 made decisions for Christ. Travel more than 5,000 miles east and 13 years into the future to a village in Bangladesh. Here, Bangladesh Team #30 has reported the 60 millionth evangelistic contact. On average more than 4.5 million opportunities have arisen each year, allowing people to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ through JESUS Film ministry teams! God is truly blessing this ministry, and without the
support of partners, a vision of 100 million contacts and a mission of helping to fulfill the Great Commission would never become a reality.
Costa Rica (2010). Steve Walden serves local children by showing how to properly brush one’s teeth.
By the Numbers How much is 60 million? To grasp exactly what it looks like we’ve come up with some examples:
Harvest Partners Steve and Chelsee Walden, sponsors of Bangladesh Team #30, said,
“Partnering with JFHP really allows us to feel as if we are in the business of building the Kingdom of God,” the Waldens said. “The reports from our ministry teams really help us to feel connected. We are building relationships and friendships with people we would otherwise not meet. The teams hold a special place in our hearts.” There is a tremendous return on the investment”, continued the Waldens, “Partnering with JFHP is a way to get involved in a ministry that is bringing people to Christ all over the world.”
Every person in the state of New York watching the JESUS Film 3 different times.
Chelsee & Steve Walden
Legging it Out: Down the Stretch to 60 million
60 million pennies, stacked on top of each other, would be 58.8 miles high or over 10 times the height of Mount Everest?
A story and stats from Bangladesh Team #30 Sponsored by the Waldens
Soon after seeing the miraculous healing power of Jesus, Bipul brought his son to us. He knelt down and earnestly requested that we pray to Jesus for his son’s healing. We learned that he fell and broke his leg and had been suffering. Bipul said, “If Jesus heals my son, I will become a follower of Christ.” We placed our hands on the boy and asked him, “Do you believe Jesus can cure you?” He replied, “Yes. I want to walk again.” We prayed our Lord would heal him. After our prayer we took a cup of oil, blessed it in Jesus’ name, and asked Bipul to rub oil on the boy’s leg while praying every day for a week. Three days later, we went to Bipul’s house to check on the health of his son. What we saw amazed us - the boy was walking! We praised God immediately. The villagers were deeply impacted by this, and we visited several times, answering questions about Christ. Many expressed their desire to commit their lives to Christ and receive His salvation.
Equivalent of showing it to every single baby born in the United States... for the next 15 years. That’s a lot of babies.
Bangladesh Team #30 Current Results* Evangelistic Contacts
Decisions for Christ
Preaching Points
Initial Discipleship Follow-ups
52,923
(start up churches)
78
15,761
12,582
*These results are for only one of the forty
teams currently working in Bangladesh. Twenty-six of the Bangladesh teams are still currently unsponsored.
Partnering with
Christ
A Letter of Thanks
This season we are joyously celebrating as the number of evangelistic contacts reached was 60 Million! This number is huge, representing 60 million opportunities, each with a name and eternal soul to become acquainted with God’s love through Jesus’ death and resurrection. I am honored to work with you and help fulfill the Great Commission. This season, please consider sharing God’s love with the lost through one of the gifts in our Christmas Catalog. Your continued partnership makes all of this possible! You are loved. Brian Helstrom and the JESUS Film Harvest Partners Board of Directors
To view the Christmas Catalog online, please scan QR code or go to JFHP.org/ChristmasGift
From Evangelistic Contacts to Decisions for Christ Testimony from Central America A lady welcomed us into her home, and we shared the gospel with her through the EvangeCube. It had a great impact on her, and she and two others in her house became Christians. One woman, Odalis, testifies that she was a person who was oppressed. Violence reigned in her home because her husband was very jealous. In spite of this, she says she has experienced the joy of salvation. She recognizes the need for God and wants to be baptized soon. She tells us that since she began praying, she has noticed her husband´s temper changing “Violence and she
reigned in her home because her husband was very jealous.”
believes the Lord is touching his heart. She hopes, in faith, that one day he will be praising the Lord along with her.
“I
Testimony from Africa My name is Simakoua. I grew up observing the practices and principles of my animist parents. I even used to sacrifice beasts to protect my family. However, I want to give glory to the Lord Jesus for loving me, forgiving me, and saving me. Thanks to seeing the JESUS Film even used
to sacrifice beasts to protect my family.”
in my village, my family and I now adore the Lord and are happy in Him. Now I know that Jesus protects us, so I no longer need to sacrifice. Currently, I am a member of a marvelous church in which the Lord continues to bless me.
M 0 6
S n o illi
rtners Unite. a P : e n O h t i w At JESUS Film Harvest Partners, s t r we love to come alongside and partner with ta
people in unique and creative ways to help fulfill the Great Commission. Whether it’s through a VBS program, a yard sale, or a book subscription, God is calling people to come together creatively to make Him known to the ends of the Earth! Here are some stories to encourage you to get creative for His Kingdom. Remember: 60 million starts with one!
Answering His Call
“I attended a World Challenge, because I believe in the importance of missions. I have always tried to give to missions and I love to hear mission stories. My desire has been to go on a Work and Witness trip, but I am a retired widow and I could not see how I could help. I am an avid reader, so I was captivated by the technology film teams use to get Christian literature into areas that may not allow it. The Lord spoke to me and reminded me of my monthly book subscriptions. He told me if I canceled them, it would allow me to partner with the JESUS Film (plus give me more time to read my Bible)! I believe we will all be held accountable for anything we put in priority over God’s call. Thank you for allowing me to have a small part in answering His call.” --Harvest Partner in Castro Valley, CA “We wanted the kids thinking all summer about giving towards missions, because that was the theme of our Vacation Bible School. What better way to promote the idea of missions than through a valuable, rewarding ministry like JESUS Film Harvest Partners? We showed mission videos and took an evangelistic approach when describing the purpose and uses of the JESUS Film. We discussed the language barriers of hearing the gospel for kids around the world. The idea was to connect our kids efforts in raising money to the gospel being preached to unreached people groups. Their money now allows other kids like them to hear the gospel in their own language. We knew Brian Helstrom, Director of JESUS Film Harvest Partners, was coming at the end of our VBS and the kids were elated to present him with a check. We wanted an example the kids could take home with them - thank you JFHP for that example!” --Harvest Partner from Conway, AR
Take it Home
There’s $3 for Christ
I am already the pastor of a church, but I sensed in my heart that I should start work in another neighborhood. So I asked the JESUS Film team to come. We
began to show the film and as people drew near, we could see tears falling down faces as the people felt deep pain for the lives they had been living. The Holy Spirit was moving, and at the invitation, an entire family turned their lives over to Christ. The Lord restored a marriage and broke a son’s addiction to drugs. Today, their home is a place where people visit daily to hear the gospel. I thank God for this family, for this place, and for the tool of the JESUS Film.
Ch
ble
it a
Ch ar
Endow nds ments
Contacts make Decisions for Christ in South America
Charit
Changing His Contacts
able G aritable Lea ift Ann d Trust Don or-A uities s dvis ed F u
“We already had plans for the World Challenge weekend, but prayed about getting involved in some other way. What stuck with me was that ‘$3=1 decision for Christ.’ We decided on a dollar amount we would like to give. However, God needed to provide for that amount to be possible. A yard sale came to mind, so as we began to walk throughout the house finding items to sell, our slogan was ‘There’s $3 for Christ!’ On the day of the sale, we shared with shoppers that all proceeds were going to charity. It was our testimony that this was not for our benefit, but for something more important. Half of the dollar amount we had wanted to give was raised by the end of the day and God provided for the rest in other ways! W With God, all things are possible.” --Harvest Partners from Evansville, IN Endow ills m Crea ents tive Givi n Rem g Opt aind ions er
Chari Trust Lead table s Trusts
Thank you to our ministry partners at the Christian Network Foundation (CNF) who make it possible to use tools like Donor-Advised Funds, Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, and Endowments to support and expand God’s Kingdom. Contact Ken Roney online at KenRoney@CNFoundation.org or call 866-273-2549 to learn more about alternative giving.