International (MNN) – In closed countries, the Gospel must be brought in with undercover methods. In remote areas, it must be mobile.
For the Jesus Film Project, this could’ve introduced a number of problems, but technology has helped their work evolve in recent years and provided ways for them to share the Gospel in closed and remote areas.
Ministry in a Backpack
“If you can imagine the Jesus Film being shown back in the day with a generator, a big sound booth, a truck traveling into a rural area — now [that] is all comprised in a 17-pound backpack,” the Jesus Film Project’s Kari Kennedy says.
“Everything is contained in the backpack, and it’s a very simple tool that’s basically helping accelerate ministry all around the world.”
The Jesus Film Project purchased the backpacks from Renew Outreach. Kennedy explains the backpack contains a solar panel that can recharge the battery, which connects to the projector. It also comes with screens, poles, cable chords, and speakers that reach an audience for up to 200.
The indigenous worker who has been equipped with the resources can request up to eight languages that fit on an SD card which will have a number of different Jesus Films in those languages.
“They can then show those films out in a rural context to where people can understand it and hear Jesus in their own heart language,” Kennedy says.
Accelerated Ministry
The backpack initiative started in 2014, and Kennedy shares it has grown progressively.
“At the beginning, it was like 500 had gone out and then 1,000, and I think this past year, we looked at about 3,000 for 2017 plus and then we’re exceeding those numbers.”
Kennedy says partners or Christian leaders often get involved by word of mouth. A current partner may mention someone who’s hoping for the Jesus Film or the ministry may meet with leaders at conferences who then request a backpack set.
From there, the ministry will give the backpack to a leader in the United States who will be going to the country, or the Jesus Film Project will connect with partners to give the backpack. This ensures safe delivery of the backpack and the films.
The backpack has helped the Jesus Film Project in mobilizing the Gospel in 1,600 heart languages and they’re seeing entire communities giving their lives to Christ.
“We’ve seen how ministry accelerates if someone has the backpack because it enables them to show it not just from their phone on the Jesus Film app or even on a tablet or downloaded from a computer, but then, they can set it out on a large audience for people to see and hear who Jesus is in their heart language.”
The Jesus Film Project has witnessed a number of communities completely transformed after watching the films.
Kennedy shares that one village in East Africa had offered child sacrifices to a python. After watching the Jesus Film, people began coming to faith, and they eventually killed the snake.
(Photo courtesy of Jesus Film Project via Facebook)
Another partner was in an area and helped to provide water filters. After providing for the people’s physical needs, the believer was allowed to show the Jesus Film through the backpack set.
Stories like these show the Jesus Film Project how God is working through their ministry and even through the backpack project.
The Jesus Film Project recently received a request for more than 250 backpacks that will be strategically placed around the world. Join the ministry as they share the Gospel in heart languages by donating to this fundraiser.
Also, pray that God will continue blessing and providing the resources for this work.
