International (MNN) — It’s time for something new to better engage this generation with the Gospel message.
Geoff Peters with Jesus Film Project says he recently heard the State of the Great Commission Report from The Lausanne Movement. You can watch the report presentation here.
(Screenshot photo from presentation of the State of the Great Commission Report 2024, courtesy of Lausanne Movement via Youtube)
One graph in the report depicts the percentage of global Christianity in relation to the world population over the past 120 years. Most of the graph lines for major Christian denominations were flat, showing little or no growth.
Peters says, “What that tells me is that when we look at everything we’ve done – the global missions movements, the incredible efforts that have been to reach into least-reached communities and disciple people around the Bible and Christianity for over 150 years effectively – we’re still at a flatline.
“New approaches have to be taken if we’re going to actually see that trend line begin to climb upwards [and] to see Christianity actually increase as a percentage of the global population.”
To reach today’s generation, Jesus Film Project is producing a new animated movie, Jesus, based on the original 1979 JESUS film. The movie is scheduled to be released in December 2026.
Jesus Film Project is also connecting with Christian leaders in different countries to figure out how each culture can use this new movie to reach more people for Christ!
Ministry leaders in Australia meet to discuss use of the new Jesus animated film. (Photo courtesy of Geoff Peters)
For example, Peters was in Brisbane, Australia this week for an event to discuss the new Jesus movie.
He says, “We’re pulling together 400 ministry leaders from major denominations and major ministries throughout all of Australia in a series of four separate city-to-city events where we will actually begin to hear from them. How could they see utilizing a tool like this? What does that mean for them?
“Then based on how they want to utilize the tool, that tells us how it needs to be distributed. Should it be theatrical? Should it be streaming platforms? Should it be handed to people on SD cards? It’s probably some formulation of all the above. But we need to be able to hear from them first before we make our plans for how to bring this tool out there into the world.”
As Jesus Film Project continues to meet with Christian leaders in various countries, pray for supernatural wisdom. Ask God to open doors so the new Jesus movie would spread the Gospel to a new generation and spark a global spiritual revival.
Learn more about the new animated Jesus movie here, and be encouraged about what God is doing!
Header photo courtesy of Chuttersnap/Unsplash.
