WINTER NE WSLET TER 2020
W O RHEARS LD
UNTIL THE WHOLE
The Port Cities Project
A fleeting moment to make an eternal difference
L
ast summer David, one of our Port Cities volunteers, was stationed at a port gate in France. He had been praying for receptivity. There was a lull in the traffic, and the few people who did come through were refusing the free evangelism packets he had been passing out. Then a man from North Africa came up and asked David if he spoke English.
Reaching into closed countries The man explained how he had received a Port Cities packet last year. The packet, filled with Christ-centered resources including More Than a Carpenter, had opened his heart to the truth about Jesus. “You understand what that means, right?” he said. “You know that I am your brother now?” he said with a smile. He asked for another packet to give away. You are making an incredible
KEEP READING to find out how you can be part of Port Cities 2020 The impact of Port Cities 2019
40,222
Josh McDowell books and other resources distributed
809
people who were open to hearing about Jesus
95
people who said “Yes!” to Jesus right there on the spot
The Port Cities Project
Reaching into closed countries with the gospel
How it works . . . Reaching into closed countries (Continued)
impact on people from the Middle East and North Africa through the Port Cities Project — you are helping raise up followers of Jesus who are eager to join His mission.
A time-sensitive
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY Beginning this spring, hundreds of thousands of men, women and children from the Middle East and North Africa will travel to Europe for vacation. But instead of taking planes to Paris or Madrid, many drive their own cars straight onto ferries that cross the Mediterranean.
SUMMER OUTREACH: Spreading the gospel through 12 major ports of entry
VOLUNTEER EVANGELISTS
Right now we are gearing up for outreach activities that launch this spring. The Port Cities Project will be one of our most significant outreaches in 2020. Volunteers are eagerly preparing for evangelistic outreaches all throughout Europe — in busy ports as travelers from North Africa and the Middle East wait in long lines and in high-traffic tourist areas.
A mission field on the move Many of these travelers follow the predominant religion of their closed country but are desperate for hope and peace. Others have heard about Jesus but have been unable to safely seek out Christianity. Those who receive the evangelism packets often have no access to Bibles or churches in their home countries. But while they are in Europe, our staff and volunteers have a fleeting moment of freedom to make an impact for eternity! Your gift will make a difference. 2
are ready and waiting
When visitors are ready to return home, they sit in long lines, sometimes for hours, waiting to board ferries at the international ports. This gives our field partners the opportunity to talk with people about Jesus.
Alicante Malaga Motril Algeciras Tarifa Ceuta
Almeria
CHRIST-CENTERED RESOURCES you can provide
Melilla
Your giving changes lives . . .
Our field partners have asked us to help provide materials for the evangelism packets used during the summer outreaches. Each packet includes a New Testament, Christ-centered materials like a dual-language copy of More Than a Carpenter and other resources and videos, all translated into both Arabic and French.
Find out how YOU can provide More Than a Carpenter for as little as $7.74
Malaga, Spain — March 2019
Marseilles, France — July 2019
Tarifa, Spain — September 2019
A woman from North Africa accepted some materials and listened hesitantly to a gospel presentation. When she understood that God could make her pure, her face lit up with joy.
A young lady from the Middle East was getting ready to travel for 17 hours. She took a packet and told the Port Cities volunteer she was glad she had so much time to read the gospel because she was interested in learning about Jesus.
An old North African man walking through the port didn’t wait to be offered a packet — he approached a Port Cities volunteer and asked for a packet. As he kept walking, he kissed the gift, put it to his chest and lifted it to heaven. 3
Knowing God Personally
Please give by March 31
What does is take to begin a relationship with God? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Follow countless rituals and rules? Become a better person so that God will accept you?
The Port Cities Project You can send the gospel into the Middle East and North Africa
Sadly all around the world people try to do all these things. But none of them will work. To begin a relationship with God, all a person needs to do is . . . • T rust that God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.
Right now our European field partners are preparing for our biggest Port Cities Project ever! Starting this spring, our evangelism teams will be reaching into closed countries of the Middle East and North Africa with the life-changing truth of the gospel.
• Understand that all of us sin and our sin has separated us from God.
We need to raise $232,200 by March 31 to produce and ship 30,000 Christ-centered resources, including More Than a Carpenter, in time for outreach events that launch this spring. All resources will be translated into both Arabic and French — the languages of those who will receive them.
•B elieve that Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin. • R eceive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord by trusting in Him
Every $7.74 you give provides one dual-language copy of More Than a Carpenter translated into Arabic and French for a man or woman from the Middle East or North Africa so they can learn about Jesus!
The Christ-centered resources you provide today could be the first step in someone starting a relationship with Jesus.
Please GIVE TODAY to help reach as many people as possible with the gospel!
Josh McDowell
THREE EASY WAYS TO GIVE NOW
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Give by mail: Return your gift with the enclosed reply form in the envelope provided.
Give by telephone: You can also give your gift by calling 1-855-833-6897.
Give online: Make an immediate impact by giving securely on our website at give.cru.org/JoshPortCities