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A M i n i s t r y o f C a m p u s C r u s a d e f o r C h r i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l

I n s I d e

3 JESUS FilmTM Tour An Inspiring Adventure

4 Monumental

4 Good in God’s Eyes

6 Tigers and Bears Share the Gospel

volume 30 issue 1 2014

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Experiencing GodThrough Heart Languages

Irateandvengeful,theyoungpeoplespewedcausticwordsattheJESUSFilm™team.TheverbalassaultsturnedevenmoreviciouswhentheteensandyoungadultsyelledderogatorynamesaboutJesus.Whatstartedasablue-skydayinEasternAfricawasnowswirlingwithfiercerainandwindsthatonlyseemedtoincitetheyouth.ThosewhocametowatchtheJESUSfilmintheirheartlanguagescatteredforcoverwhenthestormwhippedthroughandhurledthescreenandspeakerstotheground.

Astheinsultsflared,thefilmworkersprayedtogetherforGod’sprotectionandwisdom, then realized a solution: They tied the screen to the pillars of a church.Immediately, the downpour stopped. Eager locals returned to watch the JESUSfilm, but the angry youth railed on throughout the movie until the scene whereJesus calms the storm. Instantly, the troublemakers quieted. At the end of theoutdoorshowing,morethan40peoplebravedtheoppositiontocomeforwardanddemonstrateallegiancetoChrist.

Fromvillagetocity,nationtonation,peoplespeakdifferentheartlanguagesandoften must rely on regional trade languages to communicate widely. “We hear all

thetimefromthosewhoseetheJESUSfilmintheirheartlanguage,‘Jesusspeaksmylanguage,’”

“We hear all the time from those who see the JESUS film in their heart language, ‘Jesus speaks my language.’”

—Tom AxelsonMission 865

VAST accelerates the translation and recording of the JESUS script for non-written languages.

saidMission865DevelopmentAdministratorfortheJESUSFilmTomAxelson.“Onewomanexplained, ‘NowIcanpraytoGodandknowthatHehearsmebecause I now know He speaks my language.…’ When people see the JESUSfilm in their own language, the people are not just watching a film, they areexperiencingGod.”

HelpingpeopleexperienceGodis thecommitmentofMission865,aninitiativeofTheJESUSFilmProjectthatseekstotranslatetheJESUSfilm into the heart language of the 865 language groups of 50,000 ormorespeakers.HearingGodspeakyourprimary language iscrucial intheoralculturesoftheworld,wherethespokenwordisthechiefmeansofcommunication.Manyoftheselanguageshavenowrittenform.

To effectively reach oral speakers with the gospel, the JESUS Filmministry and other mission organizations joined with The SeedCompany™, who originally launched the Video Audio Strategy forTranslation(VAST)program.TheVASTmethodspeedsuptheprocessoftranslatingandrecordingtheJESUS scriptfornon-writtenlanguages.

ForaVASTfilmscriptrecording,ateamofindividualsfluentinthenewlanguagelistenstoJESUSlinebylineinamajorlanguageandthen

offerssuggestionsforthebesttranslation.Next,atechnicianrecordsatranslatorspeaking each agreed-upon line. The collection of the newly recorded segmentsbecomestheaudioscriptofthenewlanguage.Voiceactorsthenlistentotheaudioscript,immediatelyrecordingtheirdramatizedversionofeachline.Next,JESUSFilm™techniciansfinishsyncingthevoicestothefilm,mixthesoundtrack,andproceedwithapprovalsandproduction.

Instead of film translationspreviously taking years tocomplete, many now take onlyweeks. The shortened scheduleadvances the opportunity formore people worldwide to hearof Jesus in their heart language.“We’reworkingonupgradingourprocesstocompleteaminimumof 70 languages a year ,”Axelson said. “The JESUS filmis accelerating church plantingaroundtheworld. It’sacatalyst.Romans 15:21 says those thathaveneverheardwillunderstand.So seeing and hearing—that’swhattheJESUSfilmdoes.”

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“When people see the JESUS film in their own language, the people are not just watching a film, they are experiencing God.”

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ASierraLeonevillagechief summarizes theeternal impactof theMission865Initiative:

Iam76yearsofage.Iwasbaptizedandconfirmedin1953….ImustbehonestwithyouthatIhaveneverseenorwatchedthisJESUSfilmbefore,andIamsurprisedatwhatI’veseenandheardinthefilm,especiallyJesusspeakinginmyowndialect,Sherbro.…ThisfilmhasmademetoloveJesusthemoreandbemorecommittedtoHim.Please,Iammakingthisspecialrequesttoplaythefilmagain.

Play the JESUS film again. And again. So every person on earth can see andunderstand the gospel—spoken word after spoken word—in the language oftheirhearts.n

Experiencing God continued from page 2

Monumental!“Imagine,aftercenturiesofbeingtaughtthatSpanishistheonlylanguagein which you can worship God, you watch Jesus speak to you in yourheart language, [Eastern Apurimac] Quechua! This is a monumentalaccomplishment for this language group—their first movie, their firstrecordedgospel,andtheirbiggestevangelizationandchurch-plantingtool.”

—PartnermissionaryinPeru

Good in God’s EyesCentral African Republic (CAR) proved to be a hot spot this past year fortheLord’slife-transformingwork.TheministryinCARpremieredfournewversionsofJESUS inMission865languages. Inonelocation500DVDsofJESUS in the Bhogoto language were distributed in one day. The CampusCrusadeforChrist®nationalteamleaderinCARtoldthestoryofaBhogotowomanwhoreceivedaDVDandwatchedthefilminafamily’shome:“Yes,awomanwho[had]neverprayedinherlanguagewent.ShesawJesusspeakinherlanguage,andattheend,sheprayedinherlanguage.…Shesaidthatshedidn’trealizethatherlanguageis…goodinthe[eyes]ofGod.”n

DVDs play a key role in sharing

the gospel.

Peruvians listen to JESUS in their heart language.

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issue 1 2014

WJESUS Film™ Tour

An Inspiring AdventureWhile Orlando, Florida, is known for Walt Disney World and other themeparks, thousandsof touristswhovisit addanotherhighlight to theirmust-enjoy list:The JESUSFilmStudioTour.The free45-minuteweekday toursare interesting for both adults and children. Guests enjoy a fun, interactiveexplorationofhowtorecordJESUS,alookatvintagefilmequipment,avisittoalife-likejungleandastopattheWallofHonor—atributetoindividualsaroundtheworldwhodiedwhileinvolvedwiththeJESUSfilm.

“IhadayounggirlwhocollapsedintoherchairbecauseshelookedupandsawherunclefromAfricapicturedontheWallofHonor,”JESUSFilmTourManagerChrissaid.“Shelookedatmewithtearsgoingdownherfaceandabigsmile,saying,“Myfamilydidn’tthinkanybodyevercared.Thankyousomuch.”

The tour isupdatedas theministry continues todevelopnew tools andnewmedia.“NowonthetourwearedemonstratingthenewfreeJesusFilmMedia™app.Weshowourguestshowtheycanwatchourfilmsinallavailablelanguages,” Chris explained. “One gentleman from Africa gasped, teared upandsaid, ‘Ihaveneverheard Jesusspeakmy language! I can’twait tosharethiswithmycountry!’ThisappisagreatwaytoinspirepeopletoshareJesuswherevertheygo.”

Duringthepast15years,morethan97,000visitorsincludingtourists,schoolclasses,churchandyouthgroups,Biblestudygroups,familiesandindividualshaveparticipatedinthetour.Tolearnhowyoucantakepartinthisinspiringadventure,visitjesusfilm.org/aboutus/visitingorcall(407)826-2300.n

“I had a young girl

who collapsed into

her chair because

she looked up and

saw her uncle from

Africa pictured on the

Wall of Honor. She

looked at me with

tears going down her

face and a big smile,

saying, ‘My family

didn’t think anybody

ever cared. Thank you

so much.’”

Francisco, JESUS Film tour guide, demonstrates new backpack equipment.

Scan with your QR Reader and watch the short Studio Tour video or visit:www.jesusfilm.org/aboutus/visiting

Prayer Impact

An Invitation to Pray

. Pray for the timely completion of

the Mission 865 languages currently

in production.

. Ask God to provide opportunities

for spiritual growth for those who trust

Christ as Savior after watching Mission

865 versions of JESUS.

. Tom and Diane Axelson would

appreciate your prayers as they minister

with the Development department and

Mission 865.

. Praise the Lord for JESUS Film™

tour guides. They share with visitors the

ministry’s vision and global outreach,

while encouraging them with new ways

to personally share the gospel.

. Pray for abused and hurting children

and adults—who receive a Wildlife

STORYTELLERS stuffed animal—to find

comfort, hope and new life in Christ.

We thank you for your prayers.

For more prayer information:

Call (800) 988-7729

Email pray4@jesusfilm.org

Log on to www.jesusfilm.org/prayer

Behind the Scenes5

issue 1 2014

Tom and Diane AxelsonNot every husband would suggest to his wife—after months of planning and anticipation—that instead of celebrating their 25th anniversary in Europe, they join a mission trip to Siberia. Not every wife would wholeheartedly agree! Partners in marriage and ministry since 1968, Tom and Diane Axelson were quickly in sync on the trip to teach Bible-based ethics and morality to Siberian educators. Their decision resulted in a most incredible experience.

In Siberia, Tom was asked one evening to fill in for the emcee at a JESUS film showing to a packed audience of teachers and their families and friends. At the close of the movie, Tom walked onto the stage and gave a simple gospel presentation through the help of a translator. Afterward, hundreds of people came forward to receive a Bible, many of them sobbing. Later that night, Tom learned that while he was on stage speaking, the audience saw a figure of Jesus standing by his side. “There were 250-300 in the auditorium, and I believe that every person accepted Christ that night…,” Tom explained. “No [other] Americans [were] in the auditorium when that happened, but seeing Jesus was for those people, not us.”

Helping people see Jesus has been the passion of the Axelsons since they joined Cru staff in 1967 to minster to college students. Today, Tom uses his gifts of strategic thinking and administration to guide the Mission 865 Initiative which translates JESUS into the heart languages of people groups with 50,000 or more speakers.

“For Diane and me, our passion is getting the gospel to those that have never, ever even heard His name,” Tom said. “Mark 8:35 states, ‘Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the good news will ever know what it means to really live’” (The Living Bible).

For the Axelsons, really living means making Christ known in the United States and around the world. On a trip this past September to South Asia, they were invited to go from home to home to pray with the local people. “Their prayer requests were no different than what you would find with your next-door neighbor—finances, family issues, health…,” Tom added. “Praying with these families was the highlight of the whole trip. You go to these parts of the world, and you’re not sightseeing; you’re with the people. That’s what it’s all about.”

Even if it means skipping Europe for Siberia. n

Tom and Diane’s ministry, like that of a number of JESUS Film staff members, is

made possible by the prayer and financial support of individuals and churches.

To learn how you can personalize your giving, please call (407) 826-2087.

DDoanimalstalk?Yes!AndsomeevensharethestoryofJesus.ThankstoaninnovativeaudiotoolcalledtheWildlifeSTORYTELLER,vulnerableandvictimizedpeoplehearaboutthepeaceandsecurityfoundinJesusthroughthecomfortofastuffedanimal.

Resulting from a partnership between the JESUS

Film™, Global Recordings Network, MegaVoice© andSimplytheStory,eachWildlifeSTORYTELLERconsistsof a stuffed animal with a pocket holding a MegaVoiceaudioplayer.TheMegaVoiceusuallycontainstheaudioadaptationoftheJESUSfilmorThe Story of Jesus for Children and other Bible stories in the recipient’sheartlanguage.

Susan,thevisionarybehindthepartnership,describestheeffecttheWildlifeSTORYTELLERhadonadisabledboyinGuatemala:“Thesecondthechildfeltthetiger’ssoftfur,hisfacelitrightup.Whenhepushedthelittleaudiobutton,thetigerbegantotellhimaBiblestory—inhisownlanguage.”

InSouthAsia,Latha,achildbridewhosehusbandsoldherintoprostitutionmorethan11yearsago,faceddailyabuse.OnemorningChristianaidworkersfoundLathabadlybeatenlyingbesidearoadintherain.Theyquicklytookhertothehospitalalongwithabagofsupplies—includingaWildlifeSTORYTELLERbear.

Dayandnight,LathaclungtoherbearandlistenedtothestoriesaboutJesus—includingtheaudioadaptationoftheJESUSfilminherheartlanguage.Bytheendofherstay,everyoneinthewardknewthestories.Anonbelievingdoctorremarkedthatthepresenceofprayerandtruthinthatdarkplacechangedthelivesofeveryoneatthehospital.

Goodwork,Mr.TigerandMr.Bear! n

To order a Wildlife STORYTELLER: megavoice.com/wildlife.html

Tigers and Bears Share the Gospel

The Update is published by

The JESUS Film Project

100 Lake Hart Drive

Orland o, FL 32832

Phone (407) 826 -2300

Fax (407) 826 -2375

Product Orders (800) 432-1997

Web Addre s s

www.je susfilm.org

Email addre s s

info@je susfilm.org

Pre sident ofCampus Crusade for Christ

Steve Douglas s

Executive Director ofThe JESUS Film Project

Erick Schenkel

Editor

Judy Kirk

As sistant Editor

Sc ott Copeland

Art Director

Kevin Lin

De signer

Steinar Lee

Contributors

Beth Lueders

Aislinn Meyer

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