Dear friends:Today someone sent me an amazing letter from Jim Green, Executive Director of the The JESUS Film Project, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.
Below is an excerpt, describing physical healings taking place as the film was being shown in Africa!!!
The interesting thing about this is that Campus Crusade for Christ is definitely not a charismatic or Pentecostal ministry. In fact, based on their denominational traditions, and like their home churches, most of the U.S. staff are opposed the modern-day manifestations of the Holy Spirit. What blesses me about this is that it demonstrates that we cannot box in the Holy Spirit with our dead doctrines. He will break out wherever He pleases! It also blesses me that the indigenous workers in Africa showing the film are open to the Holy Spirit and His power, and proclaim Him.
This also proves the old axiom I once heard: "Jesus shows up according to the way He is preached. If we preach Jesus as Savior, He will show up and save; if we preach Him as healer, He will show up and heal." It happened here, thanks to the bold Jesus film team members in Africa. (Jesus simply responds to His Word.)
By the way, the Jesus film is the most translated film of any type in history -- now in 944 languages. Number 2 is Gone With the Wind in only 35 languages (a Web source says only 28). The film has been used to bring over 5 billion exposures to the gospel in 238 countries.
Jim
_________________________________From Jim Green, of the Jesus Film Project:
Is anything too hard for God? Clearly not, for He is drawing people to Himself even in the most difficult circumstances.
That's why I want you to hear this amazing report from just on of the more than 1,500 churches and agencies who are using (or have used) the JESUS film-many are planting churches and beginning movements of discipleship the world over.
An evangelist was leading a team into difficult regions of Africa, taking the JESUS film to people who had never heard. Despite the initial resistance, he saw people coming to Christ in very large numbers. Here is his dramatic story....
Our team was doing about six outreaches a week in the bus (in a very tough location). We were headed for a large village and sent a co-worker ahead to arrange a meeting with the chief, to ask his permission and announce the showing of JESUS.
When I arrived, the worker was trying fruitlessly to persuade the chief. He wanted nothing to do with JESUS and declared, "I am a Muslim, I am a Muslim leader. I lead the mosque and I'm the chief of the village. Since this village has existed we have never allowed any other religion. You will do nothing here!"
With the Holy Spirit as my guide, I respectfully replied, "We are coming here to show you and your people the JESUS film, preach the Gospel and heal the sick." He responded, "What did you say? Heal the sick?....Really? Is that possible?" "Yes, if you allow us to show the JESUS film and preach the gospel."
He looked at his second-in-command and fell silent. There was a pause as he thought. The chief turned back to me and said, "Really!?, Heal the sick....Okay, we want to see this." With his permission, the film team went to work at a large soccer field. They unloaded the projection equipment, generator, threaded the film, set up the screen, speaker and lights. Then, they went about announcing the film.
Around 5,000 people came that night and filled the soccer field. It was standing room only. Something was happening. As the projector started I went to the car and prayed, asking God to give me a word for these people when the film concluded.
They were deeply moved by the JESUS film. So much was literally foreign to them, yet so wondrous. They were stunned by the life of the good Man. His crucifixion and resurrection. (He is describing the power of the Word of God on which the film is totally based, a message that penetrated deep into their souls.)
The people were listening in a way I've never seen in all the outreaches. I felt like the Holy Spirit was hovering over the entire soccer field and village, calling them out of darkness. His presence was so strong.
Over the microphone I called out, "How many here recognize a need for a Savior?" Almost everybody raised his hand. There was a group of young people on my right. Some raised their hands and voices, "We want our sins to be forgiven!" Then others on the other side cried out, "We want our sins to be forgiven!"
Everyone began crying out to God for mercy. So, in that moment, I led the entire group of 5,000 in the prayer of salvation.
Then I spoke to the crowd, "This Jesus is not only a Savior, but He is a Healer, and today He wants to heal anybody who is sick. Bring your sick forward." So, one by one, they came-first about 12 men and women with back problems. He healed them all, instantly. They brought a young deaf boy, about 8 years old. The Lord healed him. People kept coming, and kept being healed. God was at work affirming His Word and His Son! It was simply incredible.
On my right stood the chief, the leader of the village and the mosque. Now I turned to him and said, "Do you see what is happening?" He answered, "Yes. Can I say something to my people?" I gave him the microphone and he stepped forward.
To the 5,000 he spoke: "What you have just seen is real because there is no man who can do what you have seen unless God is with him, and with these people who have come to us. The Lord is with them. Now, bring all the sick from the village!
Go home now and bring them here!As I continued to pray for the people, a father came running. He was holding his daughter. She was 7 years old, born totally blind. He pleaded with me, "Please pray for my daughter." I said, "Do you believe Jesus will heal her?" He answered, "That's why I brought her!" I prayed and then moved my hand across her face. She started to move, and followed my hand. She was able to see.
She moved her head to the left, to the stage and lights. She was just amazed by the lights and everything she was seeing. Still in her father's arms, he asked her, "Do you see? Do you see?" She turned her eyes to him, and looked on her father's
face for the first time in her life. She knew his voice but had never seen his face. The look on both their faces was amazing.She answered, "I can see you."
Our God is so wonderful! That day the people saw the gospel lived out before them through these affirming miracles, and through the JESUS film in their own language. They experienced the living Word of Go that reached into their hearts, the Word that the Holy Spirit used to open their hearts to know God.
.... This last story comes from another country where the work of proclaiming Christ is difficult. This country in West Africa has been in the throes of civil war now for six years.
A JESUS film team felt led to reach out to the army. They approached a military commander and showed him and his officers JESUS. As a result, a number of officers became followers of Jesus and were actually trained to use the JESUS film. Amazing! The soldiers then took the team behind enemy lines, transporting them and their 16mm equipment. The soldiers provided protection as the JESUS film team proclaimed the gospel to 30,000 people! The result was that 15,000 people indicated decisions for Christ!
End of excerpt.
For Christ and His Kingdom,
Jim Green, Executive Director
The JESUS Film ProjectFor more information about the Jesus Film and how to be a part, go to http://www.jesusfilm.org/