“I was in complete shock.”
This missionary never expected to have the opportunity to share Jesus with 200 Muslim women.
But she knew she had a powerful tool that could change their lives – a film about Jesus.
“There was a sea of black in front of me, 200 fully covered women packed sitting shoulder to shoulder,” the missionary said. “They were nearly all wives of radical men, jihadists.”
The missionary and her husband had gathered the women together to show them a film called “Magdalena.” It’s one of many movies made by the Jesus Film Project.
The Jesus Film Project is a ministry dedicated to sharing the Gospel story in every language—through the powerful media of film!
“We believe film is the most dynamic way to hear and see the greatest story ever lived,” writes the ministry, “so we are driven to bring Christ-centered video to the ends of the earth.”
The organization has produced dozens of films centered around biblical stories and core concepts of the Christian faith.
The most well-known of these movies, of course, is a film called “Jesus.” It’s a feature-length adaptation of the story of Christ’s life on earth and it’s changed millions of lives around the world.
“When people come face-to-face with Jesus—when they see him smile, when they hear him speak in their own language, with their own accent—they are forever changed,” writes Jesus Film Project. “Film brings the story to life.”
This is especially true in oral cultures and places where written communication is less common. The “Jesus” movie has been translated into over 1700 languages around the world and has been shown in churches, schools, refugee camps, homes, and many more places.
It’s a powerful way to introduce people to Jesus, even in areas that are often closed to the Gospel.
“I feared that when they realized I was about to show them a Christian film, they might kill me,” admitted the missionary, reflecting on her experience with the Muslim women. “And their eyes! They were filled with hate.”
“I fully expected some to bolt, to leave the building angrily. But no one moved. I couldn’t believe it.”
The missionary and her husband showed the film to the room of women, not knowing what the outcome would be. The women watched the film silently, hearing Jesus speak in their own language and seeing Him die for their sins.
The missionary shared, “When the film was over, I again went before them. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I declared, ‘You have seen the God who loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you…Would you pray with me if you want to follow Jesus?”
It’s a decision that has been offered to more than 490 million people around the world since the Jesus Film Project first started its work.
“As I prayed,” said the missionary, “there was much weeping among them…I then asked those who wanted to follow Jesus to raise their hands. Not one, not 20, but ALL OF THEM raised their hands! All 200 decided to follow Jesus!”
The “Jesus” movie often has this impact on audiences. Millions of lives have been changed through the power of seeing Jesus’ love onscreen.
“They began to take off their head coverings,” the missionary shared. “Their angry, hopeless eyes were gone. They were beaming with joy, smiling. They began to hug one another, and me, saying ‘Thank you, thank you…for the first time in our lives we know we are loved.’”
That’s the mission of the Jesus Film Project: to help people everywhere encounter Jesus through seeing and hearing Him on film.
The Jesus Film Project has developed an entire library of Christ-centered films that are suited for a variety of groups and occasions. “Magdalena,” the film that transformed this group of Muslim women, is a version of the original “Jesus” film that has been adapted specifically for women.
Other films in the video library include an adaptation of the Book of Acts, an animated series called “File Zero,” and a group of short films called “Conversation Starters.”
The Jesus Film Project offers training and resources that help believers around the world use these films to share the Gospel in their communities. The videos are effective outreach tools for those in places where Bibles are prohibited but smartphones are common.
The ministry is constantly working to develop and translate more films for use around the world! To find out more about the Jesus Film Project, and to learn how to contribute to this life-changing work, visit the organization’s website.
