The JESUS film offers people a “new” perspective and the people we meet help us catch a glimpse of that as well.

Lillian was a very depressed woman when the JESUS film team visited her village in Zambia. Despite being very resourceful, she found herself a constant target of misfortune. She blamed her misfortunes on God because they began after she joined a church. Here is what she said about her experience:

“Shortly after we returned to our home village for retirement, my husband and I started working on our property. Because we were near a church, we felt it was worthwhile to be involved. We became very active in the church, and we felt we had family. Then tragedy struck when my husband got ill suddenly. We had to spend a lot of time travelling to and from the hospital, which was far from home and so costly. Eventually, I lost my husband, barely a year after returning home. By the time we were done with the funeral and related issues, we had spent most of our money, and I was emotionally drained. … two months later a neighbor’s cattle broke into our garden, and one of them fell into my well.

When the matter came before the elders, I was made to replace the animal. Within six months I had replaced four animals. In spite of the support received from the church during all this, I was so embittered against God because I had not known such misfortune before, until I started attending church.

“When the animals that World Vision had given me as a means to help me build economic capacity died, I was convinced God did not welcome me into the church. I decided to stop attending church, but when the JESUS film team came to our area, I was touched by the teachings of Jesus that say, ‘It is difficult for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom’ and ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ … I was convicted that my reason for coming to church was to use God as a means to gain and not because I had received and appreciated His love manifested through Jesus Christ His Son. That evening, when the altar call was made, I went and gave my life to Jesus. Life has now taken a new meaning, and a peace I have not felt in a long time has come into my heart.”

May we, like Lillian, grow ever closer to God in the good times and the hard, seeing Jesus in a new light.  He loves each of us more that we can ever imagine…

Please Pray for:

• College students returning to campus after their Christmas break back home.

• 10 year old grandson of Jesus Film director, Jim and Nan Green.  Teddy was suddenly diagnosed with a life threatening brain stem and spinal cord tumor.

• The Global Aid Network and outreach going out to the millions of people in Haiti.  If you have been burdened and seeking a way to help, please consider the relief arm of Campus Crusade for Christ – GAiN—already established with local churches in Haiti, it has containers with 1 million meals already on the ground there and 8 more containers with food and critically needed supplies are ready to ship… simply follow the link for Haiti at www.GAiNUSA.org

• [Fellow families who are serving those in need in Haiti…] Esperandieu Pierre, our National Director of the ministry and relief efforts in Haiti, as he continues to meet others’ needs, just received word his own wife and all his children are finally accounted for, but many of our staff and others are yet to be found/ heard from.

So blessed to be serving Him with you,

My alarm goes off at 5:30 A.M. and I’m not ready to get up.  I stumble into the darkness trying not to wake Cindy.  I meet my camera man Paul and get in the car for our drive to set.  It’s still dark out and the air is thick and humid here in Shreveport, LA.

It’s still dark as we pull into set but the area is illuminated with car lights, and the distant walls of the 3 acre city set are just beginning to brighten with the morning light.  I get my radio, shooting schedule, and scene layouts for the day from the Assistant Director and trudge off to breakfast.

At 6:55 A.M. I walk into the walled 1st century city set and down the narrow alleys that are a mix of Styrofoam, plaster, paint, and particle board that looks amazingly like stone.  It’s movie magic at it’s best.  I quietly thank God for this opportunity to serve Him as He has created me to, and the work begins.

As Director of Photography on this Biblical film it is my job to create the visual “look” of the film through the use and placement of cameras and lighting.  I work closely with the Director to plot out the action in the scenes and how best we can capture that to help move the story forward.

The story follows Miriam, a 15 year old girl living in a Roman oppressed Israeli village in the year 70 A.D.  Life is difficult but Miriam, her sick mother, and her sister are Christians who are discipled by Rivka, an older woman who was discipled by Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ followers.

Against this dramatic and turbulent backdrop we see Rivka teaching Miriam about who God is and how to truly walk with Him.  These lessons are very naturally presented as the women go about their lives and work though hardship and joy.

I have a camera crew of 5 and a lighting crew of 8 to help make all this happen and we all get to work preparing the scene.  Cameras placed, lenses selected, lights placed here but blocked off there so only what we want highlighted stands out.  The art and props department place everything in the scene and make it all look as authentic as possible (including sweeping the dirt floor so our shoe prints don’t show).  By about 10:00 A.M. we’re set and the actors arrive for a final walk through and the cameras roll.

We move the cameras and roll again, tweak the lights and roll, hold for a change from the cultural consultants who say she must avert her eyes more when talking to that man and roll, hold for audio as a train or plane passes and roll, “what was my line again?” and roll, “the sun went behind a cloud, wait for it to come back so the previous shots match” and roll.

Somewhere in there our 1:00 P.M. lunch came and went and we’re trying to get our last shots off before  we lose the light.  We wrap at 7:30 P.M., and trudge back to our cars.  I’m home about 8:00 P.M. just in time to kiss the boys goodnight, eat a bowl of cereal for dinner, then go to bed.

It is tiring but I love this so much.  God has been preparing me for this since I was 10.  I love film and have seen how He has guided my steps.  From making movies with my friends in high school to pursuing film production as my major in college, God has shown me how story can clearly communicate to people’s hearts and minds.  And having this opportunity to create high quality discipleship films that communicate God’s Word and precepts in a strong story is beyond what I could have asked or imagined.

Please know that you are helping to reach and disciple an entire generation of new believers in far off lands through your partnership with us.  And we are so thankful to be serving Him with you.

Please Pray for:

• The wife of Mike’s film partner, as she was just diagnosed with thyroid cancer– their family needs comfort, strength, and wisdom as they make decisions for the future.
  

• God to be preparing hearts to receive these films, for staff to seize this unprecedented opportunity to share Biblical truth, and for those in positions of power to welcome these life inspiring stories into their spheres of influence, theaters, and lands.
  

• Our students to take the initiative to effectively share their faith in Christ with others and rely on God for the results of His Spirit working in people’s hearts.
  

• Praising God for continuing good health and stamina to accomplish what He is calling us to do and so grateful to be together as a family around familiar friends and surroundings for a time.

“This is the highest quality Christian production ever filmed in Africa”
-Mike Bamiloye Scriptwriter of Following Jesus-Africa

“These films will not just help a few people, but thousands to understand how to grow in their faith and walk with Jesus.”
Peter Muli—Executive Producer and Cultural Consultant

Thank you so much for standing with us and helping to bring these films to creation so that untold thousands of new believers in Africa can grow in their faith for years to come!  What a blessing to serve our God!
Serving Him with You,

Thank you so much for standing with us and your interest in our work.

More to come very soon!