Global Partners
JFP Net Casters Newsletter
Stories and Testimonies from Global Partners JESUS Film Teams
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Important New Offer
If you have a smartphone, iPad, or tablet, you can now be a mobile missionary. The JESUS Film Project has developed an app to allow you to stream or download the JESUS film in all 1,164 languages, along with all their video media. Go to www.jesusfilmmedia.com or search JESUS Film Media in your app store. You too can become a mobile missionary!
Equatorial Guinea, Africa
An important man in the government was seriously ill, and it seemed like death was near. Someone told him that he should call Rev. Damian, national superintendent of The Wesleyan Church of Equatorial Guinea, to come and pray for him. So in desperation he called Pastor Damian. Pastor Damian prayed and the Lord miraculously healed the man.
Later, the man called Pastor Damian to come visit him. He wanted to do something for him. Pastor Damian said that he did not pray for him expecting anything in return, but the man insisted. So Pastor Damian told him that if he wanted to do something, he could possibly help the church. He told the man how they had tried unsuccessfully for a long time to secure land for a church. So the man arranged for land to be deeded to the church.
Today, they are building a new church on a large piece of beautiful land. Since they have received the land, the area around the church has been developed and continues to see growth in housing and business. Pray for this church as they continue with this significant project. Contact GP missionary Rick West at lamerica@wesleyana.org if you have interest in helping this powerful church complete their project.
The church in Equatorial Guinea is experiencing growth and has a vision to plant many new churches. They dream of when they can send missionaries into surrounding countries like Gabon. Today, there are 17 Wesleyan churches in Equatorial Guinea. With the start of a JESUS film evangelistic team, they believe God is going to help them to realize their goals and vision for Kingdom building in their country. Will you agree to pray for our National Superintendent Rev. Damian and our JESUS film team of Alberto, Tomas, and Antonio?
Costa Rica, Ibero-America
The Wesleyan Church of Costa Rica has trained a group of volunteers as JESUS film evangelist. Their goal is to reach indigenous Indians and other unchurched areas with the gospel utilizing the JESUS film. Earlier in May, Director John Croft, Dr. John Connor, and Rev. Steve Bradley traveled to Costa Rica to do the training. We enjoyed the experience of worship with this vibrant church and the many opportunities to teach and preach, plus the JESUS film team training.
The Wesleyan Church of Costa Rica receives wonderful leadership from National Superintendent Luis Azofeifa. He has a contagious evangelistic spirit that has motivated many to give themselves to evangelism and service. Mercedes Vargas Corrales will serve as the JESUS film ministry leader. Merce, as she is known, is a lovely, Godly lady that will be responsible for organizing and sending out the teams each weekend to targeted locations. Please pray for these incredibly passionate people as they seek to see many come to know Christ as their Savior and to see new churches planted.
Campaign 300 Review
Our Campaign 300 goal is 30 teams showing the film to 3 million viewers resulting in 300 churches planted over three years (by June 2015). Through the generous giving of many, we have surpassed our goal of teams. With the training of our team in Equatorial Guinea, we now have 34 teams serving in 20 countries. We are so grateful to our many donors and prayer supporters. You, through the grace of God, are the driving force behind this ministry. Thank you for being faithful in your generosity.
Prayer Requests
- Director John Croft will travel to Panama on May 22-27 to train national leaders in using the JESUS film as an evangelistic and church planting tool
- New developments in forming JESUS film teams in Northeast India and Bangladesh
- New JESUS film teams getting started in Costa Rica and Equatorial Guinea
In His Grip,
John Croft
Director of the JESUS Film Partnership of Global Partners
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STORIES FROM THE FIELD
SIERRA LEONE
With donations from two generous donors, the JESUS film teams of Sierra Leone gratefully received a new Toyota truck for the work of the teams. Mr Steve Ullom, retired director of Finances of GP and former GP missionary to Sierra Leone was very instrumental in getting the truck at a great price and getting it imported.
The director of the JESUS film for Sierra Leone reports: It is also good to report that at recent meeting held with both teams on Wednesday, we have assigned the period (June-October) as a follow-up period. The raining season has commenced, with hardly any outdoor activities. Rains do come with heavy breezes, backed by thunderstorm. New areas were also mapped out for new showings after the rains.
The work in the south/eastern region has more premium and focus. New church planting areas have been identified. This would greatly be achieved with the coming of the film truck. All team members and national leadership are deeply grateful for this timely donation. Indeed, it would go a long way to promote the Sierra Leonean harvest. Thanks for your good work!
NEPAL
Witchdoctor’s Son: At one place where we showed the film, an adult man came who was a Hindu witchdoctor’s son. He had a disease which his father was powerless to cure. He had heard from others that people were often healed at the showings of the JESUS film, so he came specifically for that reason. He didn’t know anything about Jesus; in fact, he had never even heard the name “Jesus” until we came. After watching the film and listening to our message, he testified to his faith in Jesus and his belief that one day he would be healed. We also prayed for him and his family. We returned from that place, but later we heard his disease has been cured. We really thanked God for His blessing in this man’s life.
Mother’s Milk: We have been blessed this month with many crowds numbering 60-70, and in one place we had 353. After one of the showings, we were still praying and working with people, even though most had gone home. However, we noticed one very worried and sad young man within the group still there. We inquired why he was so sad. He told us that he had been married for three years, but he had only recently had a child that was born before full term. The baby was weak and didn't take the mother’s milk, so they were worried. They had taken the baby to the hospital, but they were unable to afford the cost of treatment. They were very sad and had lost hope, so he told us he had come to watch the JESUS film hoping God would know him and cure his child. We encouraged him and prayed for his child. We also asked him to take us to his home. He took us to his home the next morning, and we saw his wife and baby. We prayed for his baby and family and told them that God is the only doctor who can cure his child, but in return he should accept God. He and his wife accepted Christ. We taught them to pray and gave them a Bible and returned. After one week we heard his child started to take the mother's milk, and we thanked God for his great work in this life and family.
MOZAMBIQUE
Today in my local church, a Muslim woman came to convert. After I preached she received Jesus Christ as her Savior. Praise the Lord! –Abel Nove, JESUS film team leader in Nampula
At Eduardo Mondlane the chief received us. He took us to three places and asked us to plant a church in this area because they don’t have a church nearby. God continues to give our team favor with leaders and villages. –Pedro Wate, JESUS film team leader in Massinga
On April 11 at Nhagoh, many people received Christ. Two women came who were demon possessed. They were screaming and making a commotion. We prayed for them, and they were delivered. We give God all the glory! –Isec Sande, JESUS film team leader in Beira
BURKINA FASO
The first report out of Burkina Faso shows they had three showings with 612 viewers and 20 responding the gospel message. They have started three new cell groups with these new believers. Burkina Faso is a largely Muslim country (77%). Pray for this JESUS film team as they get established.
PHILIPPINES
I was able to visit the new church planted through JFP ministry in the village of Maligaya, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. The population of the community was mixed Muslims and non-Muslims (“Christians”). The JESUS film was shown in the village on the night of March 12, and there were 60 viewers with 20 respondents. No Muslim came forward that night, according to JESUS film team leader, Pastor Dennis. But the usual hostile Muslim people in the area became friendly after the showing and welcome Pastor Dennis every time he visits the place for follow-up. There were two families as nucleolus of the new church. The community leader provided us a 600 square meter church lot for free where we are going to build the worship center. Let us continue pray for this new church that they continue to grow and thrive for the Lord.
Note: This is a new team, and they report planting two new churches in the month of March.
Can the JESUS film change a village?
On March 16, 2013, one of our JESUS film teams in Mozambique showed the JESUS film at the Maganaga village in the province of Niassa District of Cuamba to more than 900 viewers. More than 600 people responded to the invitation. Ali Acabar, the village chief, invited the JESUS film team to show the film after listening to the testimony of the chief of the neighboring village of Rimbane. One year ago the JESUS film was shown in Rimbane with a very positive impact. Abacar, a Muslim since childhood, hoped for similar results in his village, so our team went to Maganage to show the film.
When the team arrived, there were many people waiting to see the JESUS film in their mother language, and most of them were Muslim. After the showing of the film, many Muslims accepted Jesus Christ and received Him as Savior. Today, the Maganga village is changed for the glory of our Lord. Our team started a new church in Chief Ali Abacar’s home with 20 new converts! Thank you for praying for us. –reported by Abel Nove of Nampula, Mozambique
Villages, towns, and cities are being changed around the world for the glory of God! In 2012 our Wesleyan JESUS film teams showed the film 1,095 times, 324,125 people saw the film, and 126,871 people responded to the invitations that followed the showings. As a result of the labors of these faithful and effective teams and the grace of God, there were 82 new church plants in 2012.
At the start of 2012, we had 18 teams in 10 countries. At the start of 2013, we had 30 teams. We have since added two more teams. On April 9-18, 2013, GP JESUS Film Partnership Director John Croft, along with GP missionary Dr. John Connor and Rev. Steve Bradley will travel to Costa Rica to train a new JESUS film team. It is the vision of the Costa Rican Wesleyan Church to go into the jungles to reach indigenous Indian people groups that have not yet been reached. On May 1-6, 2013, Director John Croft will travel with GP missionary Rev. Rick West to Equatorial Guinea to train another new JESUS film team. Equatorial Guinea is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa.
Those of us working with the JESUS Film Partnership are often asked, “What are the current needs of the GP JESUS film ministry?” The greatest need is for solid commitments towards regular giving for the ongoing support of our international teams. There are a number of teams operating without full partnerships. New partners are needed to fill in these gaps. There are some teams that do not have any partners. These teams are operating out of the general fund and are reliant upon that fund being healthy. If you are interested in partnering with an existing team or with a new team, I want to hear from you right away. Please contact me (John Croft) at croftj@wesleyan.org. I can get you started!
There are other outstanding needs as well. Several teams need motorcycles. There is a need for two motorcycle trucks: one for our team in northern Ghana, Africa, and one for our new team in Burkina Faso, Africa. These are estimated at $3,000 each. Also, there are always needs to replace equipment or to make upgrades, and a number of our teams need funding for printed materials. Interested? Want to help? Write to me at croftj@wesleyan.org, or you can go online at http://www.wesleyan.org/gp/jesusfilm and follow the links for giving. For some, you still like to send a check. Send your check today to Global Partners, PO Box 50434, Indianapolis, IN 46250. Make the check out to Global Partners and write “JFP” and what you are designating it for on the memo line (for example: Memo: JFP – Motorcycle Ghana).
Over the course of this next month, I ask you to be in prayer about the following items:
- The many new teams trying to get started in their ministries
- Upcoming training for new teams in Costa Rica and Equatorial Guinea
- Continued participation in giving towards our Campaign 300 to see 300 new churches planted over the next three years
- For smaller projects like motorcycles and printed materials to be funded
If you would help us, please share this list and newsletter with your church, small group, Sunday school class, or a friend. Follow the GP JESUS Film Partnership on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jesusfilmpartnership.
In His Grip,
John Croft
Director of the JESUS Film Partnership of Global Partners
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Cameroon
More Than a White Man: After watching the JESUS film, an older woman came to us surprised that Jesus could speak her language fluently. She said that since she was young, she had thought that Jesus was just a white man; now she could see that He was more than a white man. She gave her life to Christ on that day.
Power Source: At one village the people began to shout ridicule at us [the JESUS film team] when the generator failed. Some shouted that Satan was the winner over Jesus because the equipment would not work properly. The team gathered some of our Christians around. We prayed fervently and then the equipment worked. As the film began, the critics were silent in the presence of God’s power!
Ghana
Power Over Alcohol: During a showing of the JESUS film, a man named Adams began crying bitterly saying, “Jesus save me. Jesus save me, for I am suffering. I will die if you don’t save me.” He came forward and explained that he has been an alcoholic for over ten years. He has nowhere to go for a solution, but as he watched the JESUS film, he was touched by the way Jesus delivered so many people. He even went to the extent of explaining to the crowd that “Jesus even raised the dead.” He said he now knows that Jesus is the only one who can help him overcome his addiction. The team prayed for him. By God’s grace he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal Savior. He is now a faithful member of Asitey Wesleyan Church. We thank God for his deliverance!
Knocked Over by Light: Abla was 43 years old. At the end of the showing, she threw herself prostrate on the ground and began to scream out, “I am dying. I am dying.” This lasted for about 30 minutes and was very disturbing to the team. The team was fervently praying for her, so they asked her to come forward. We asked the woman what her problem was and she said, “I am possessed by an evil spirit, and we are many in the village. We normally use our bad spirits to cause the Christian equipment to cease operating and fight against any church that comes for a program like the JESUS film or crusades.” She went on to tell us that she had tried to touch the generator, but was stopped by the vision of a light coming out of heaven followed by a heavy blow. Thereafter, she began to shout. She was prayed for but could not make a bold decision to accept Jesus. The team will follow-up on the woman to see if she will decide for Christ. Pray for Abla.
Haiti
Rocks in the Road: The JESUS film team’s work is not always evangelism; sometime it turns into pastoral work. Sometimes salvation does not come on the night that the JESUS film is shown. At one cluster of showings where the team spent a week, six local churches were also involved. Most of the people who were converted came to Christ as we followed up leads in the days following the showings. In one of our follow-up meetings, more people attended the meeting than attended the showing. This surprised us. One of the big problems that we discovered was the there were many couples living together, some for many years, who are not married. They feel they cannot follow Christ in this circumstance, so we are arranging some weddings in the months to come. Please pray for us as we try to work through these encumbrances.
Indonesia
Stretched Thin: Our JESUS film team is stretched thin as we try to take care of older church plants, as well as do evangelism and plant new churches in distant new areas. We have been cooperating with some other evangelical churches to try to cover all of the church plants. However, in doing this we often lose the churches we planted. There are also unscrupulous groups who are willing to shell out for buildings and other equipment, which we cannot afford. These are some of the difficulties we are experiencing. But we praise God that churches are being planted and lost souls are coming to Christ.
Liberia
Prayer Answered: 
During the JESUS film team tour in the southeast of Liberia, the team leader met 105-year-old Pastor Sarah Geeteh who is the founder of the Gbalawein Wesleyan Church in Sinoe County. Despite her old age; she praised God for answering her prayer. According to Pastor Geeteh, her prayer had been that one day The Wesleyan Church would bring the JESUS film to minister to her people in their mother tongue before her death. The arrival of the JESUS film team in Gbalawein with the Kru version of the film was an answer to Pastor Geeteh’s prayer. She ecstatically declared, “I praised God when I heard my Lord Jesus speaking to my people in our own native tongue. Then I believed that my prayer and suffering for the church has not been in vain.” One week after the departure of the team, we received news that the Pastor Geeteh has gone to be with the Lord.
Nepal
God above Gods: 
Usually, in Nepal, the size of our crowds are not large, but in one place we had 530 people and 80 accepted Christ. In that same area, a group of 70 assembled at a different showing. One of the people there was a man named Padam. He had heard about Jesus before, but he just thought of Him like one of the many Hindu gods and goddesses. After watching the film, he realized that Jesus came to help people, not to just do His “god thing.” Padam accepted Jesus into his life, recognizing that only Jesus was the God who could save life and give eternal life. Please pray for our team as we continue to do follow-up, move into unevangelized areas, and meet head on the problems of showing Jesus to a pagan nation.
Wandering Drunk: A group of youth from our church went with us this month to show the JESUS film. They helped with invitations and passing out tracts, as well as in the actual service. This was a very positive experience because the youth we were able to do some invitations and do some explanations in some schools. This increased our attendance in the night sessions. A 35-year-old man named Gore accepted Christ in one of these meetings. He was a wandering drunk whose wife had left him some years before because of his drinking. There was a time when he had property, family, and money, but now he was a sorry drunk—alone and broke. We counseled him to stop drinking and directed him to a church near where he lived. Now he has stopped drinking, he is going to church, and even though he is still alone, he has found peace in Christ.
Lost Leg: A woman and her two children had been followers of Christ for about five years. her husband, who was a professional driver, was not a believer and was hard-hearted, ridiculing his wife’s faith, even hitting her when she talked about Christ. He told her that if she didn’t stop pestering him, he would leave her, so his wife gave up. Sometime after that he had a serious accident in which he lost his leg. His wife again tried to witness to her husband, but he declared that if God was so great, she could have prayed for him and he wouldn’t be in this condition. He blamed the God he wouldn’t serve for his accident. His wife could not reason with him, so she continued to pray for him.
One day God sent us to that place to show the JESUS film. Many people were gathered to watch the film and on this day this man also came. We started to show the film, and as it was showing, he began to shout out, “Jesus came for me to wash away my sin, but I didn't believe him. He sacrificed His life for me, but I ignored him. How selfish I am, but today I really want to accept Jesus.” We were happy to hear this so we prayed for him, and he accepted Jesus. He acknowledges, “If I had accepted Jesus before, I would probably not be in this condition. Perhaps by my wife’s prayers I am alive; otherwise, I could have died in that accident.” Now his family is very happy that he has come to Christ and he's happy too. We thank God for such a great work in his life.
Sierra Leone
Head of Initiation Initiated: A young man of 42 years watched the JESUS film in Kasoriya Village (Kabala). He has four wives and 14 children. He served as a top leader in the secret society in the village. After watching the film, he gave his life to the Lord. According to him, he was deeply moved when he saw Jesus casting out demons of all kinds. He realized that there is a supreme power to which he needs to surrender his life. He further testified that he initiates 50 or 60 kids every year. He denounced his position as leader of the group. He surrendered his life and family to God. He is determined to live for Christ who gives true meaning and purpose to life.
Demon Defeated: A 41-year-old woman watched the JESUS film in the Kabala area. She was married for many years but with no child. She had consulted many traditional doctors. She became demon-possessed during this process. While watching the JESUS film, she was confused and tormented by negative voices telling her to leave the film area. She was very determined to stay, especially when she saw the healings and miracles of Jesus Christ. She gave her life to the Lord silently. She later testified that she had a loud voice telling her that he is no more her friend because she has surrendered to a person more powerful than him. She is asking for prayers to keep holding on to her new faith.
Female Initiation Chief: The chief female initiator of the female society in Kotoya village and its surrounding gave her life to the Lord after watching the JESUS film. She has been involved in this act for over 20 years. She initiates 60 to 70 girls annually. Virgin blood was surrendered to demons, which in turn made her rich with cattle and a house. After watching the JESUS film, she came to realize that there is a greater power that exists more than her powers. She asked for prayers. She also realized her emptiness without a Savior like Jesus Christ.
The heat was unbearable, and the dust from the nearby roads and trails filled the air and our nostrils. The team had arrived some time earlier to set up the equipment for the showing of the JESUS film, only to be met by angry Muslims who threw rocks at them in hopes that they would run. However, the team had received the blessing of the authorities to show the film on the playground of the local school. Realizing the team was not going to leave, the mob gave up and left. Would anyone turn up for the showing in this predominately Muslim village? Would the earlier mob scare off those that would otherwise come out? With the local mosque in the background, the team began the film at 7:00 p.m. with about 100 people gathered around the two sides of the screen. There were no further disruptions of the showing, and by halfway through the film, there were more than 250 people sitting and standing in the schoolyard under the millions of stars and bright full moon. 
As a part of our training in northern Ghana, we trained a team for the country of Burkina Faso. This country borders Ghana to the north. Burkina Faso is a mission field of the Ghanaian Wesleyan Church. A couple years ago The Wesleyan Church of Ghana sent missionary/evangelist/church planter Issa (last name omitted for security reasons) to Burkina Faso. Today they have one established church and a vision to take the gospel to this former French colony and heavily populated Muslim country. 
One night we showed the film in a completely new area for our team. Many people were gathered to watch the film, and they were from a different family or tribe. After the completion of the film, we preached for a while. Then one man named Rajkumar gave us water to drink, and we drank it. He then shared, “Everyone in this village lords over me for being of the low caste, and no one drinks water given by my hand. They never let me enter in their homes and never enter into my house, but you all drank the water so I really felt good.” He also asked, “Does God even love the people of the low caste like us? In the film, even God drank the water from the Samarian woman. Will He drink from ours?” We replied to him, “Yes! God loves all of us equally. We all are equal, and no one is of high or low caste to God. He really loves us so that for us He came on earth and died for us so we can have the life of salvation.” 
On our first day of the show, we had great resistance as we competed with the nearby bar for an audience. Our equipment was however louder, so we got the message across. That night only nine responded to give their lives to Jesus. But the second and third days saw greater attendance and responses. Most of those who had responded requested us to start a church. There was a spirit of freshness about in the village. Our first church service was on the grounds where we had been showing the film with an attendance of 83 adults and 167 children. It was from Yambani, with their help and testimony, that we were able to extend our ministry to nearby Tsekwete and Mpando. A people living in darkness have indeed seen a great light! 
