International (MNN) — The most translated movie made just reached a milestone with the debut of the Son of God speaking in Baobab, a language spoken by about 250,000 in Tanzania.
(Image courtesy The JESUS Film Project)
Tennessee residents Bill and Brenda Kreis of Knoxville and Robert Troxel of Bluffton funded the translation–the 1,400th translation of the 1979 JESUS film.
“Most Americans have probably never heard of Baobab, but there are more than 250,000 people in Tanzania who speak it. And now we have the opportunity to begin sharing the Gospel story with them in their own language,” says a worker* for The JESUS Film Project.
The staff works with the organizations on the cutting edge of Bible translation: Wycliffe Bible Translators, Pioneer Bible Translators, the International Bible Society, and others.
“It’s important that we have a good, quality translation; and a lot of times, this will be the only Bible that some people will have. We take it very seriously,” he says. Specifically, he expects to reach the next milestone next year with the 1,500th translation, and his goals are bigger for the film.
“We have big dreams,and we’re trusting God for big things,” he said. “We’re striving to do, by the end of 2025, every language that has 50,000 speakers or more.”
In 2010, they discovered that 865 languages were left in that category. Since then, they’ve completed projects in 200 of those.
If the 2025 goal is reached, he says the Gospel will be available to 99.9% of the people on earth. It’s a goal that requires a lot of teamwork. “We depend a lot on our partners.”
Those partners have helped bring the Word of God to an estimated 5 billion, many of those in isolated villages in far-flung countries.
“I don’t think any other movie has gotten the traction that the JESUS film has,” he says, adding, “We’re thrilled with what God is doing. It’s been remarkable.”
*name withheld for security purposes
Dear JESUS Film Master Studio Team,
Well done!! What a joy to celebrate with you this answer to many prayers and dreams for this film to be translated into all languages.
My participation at the very beginning with Mr. Pierce Barnes as the first dubbing team ~innovator and technician~ was but a glimpse to what has become reality, thanks to the faithful work of so many servants of God. Blessings and peace to you as you continue to partner everywhere to accomplish this task!! Alleluia and all praise to God!!
May the God of all sufficiency touch the unreached, teach the untaught, and translate them into His marvelous light.