Dear Friends & Partners,

An epidemic of sizeable proportions has tipped the scales of our world—oppression. Not only is oppression one of the largest problems in the third world countries, but it is a way of life for millions around the globe.

I traveled for almost two days back to the USA this week from remote parts of Ethiopia. There I experienced first-hand what centuries of oppression can do to a country and its youth. I also saw that we have an answer that changes oppression to hope.

In the southern part of Ethiopia in a small country village, nine of us traveling in two vehicles pulled up to a big screen. Hundreds of people waited under a full moon, many having stopped with their donkeys overloaded with farm goods, to see what was about to happen. At the right moment (when it was considered dark), a generator was turned on and the Jesus Film began to roll. The children and farmers hushed as the story of Jesus unfolded—seated on the ground or standing around the screen (both sides) were 1,500 people longing to hear a message of hope, being freed from oppression.

Satan was not happy. Storm clouds darkened the moonlit sky in the distance until the very moment that Jesus was being crucified on the big screen. A huge gust of wind blew in and at that moment the sky over us turned solid black. Our team gathered in a circle calling upon Jesus to stop the rain from coming until the people had an opportunity to accept Him into their hearts. One hundred people came forward to accept Him into their hearts. Jesus arose from the dead (in the film). Within 5 minutes, just enough time to put all the film equipment away, the rain poured so hard you could hardly see. Oppression had been blocked and hope had been given. I cannot explain the joy and victory I felt in my heart.

The next night the Jesus Film was down the road at another village. They had tried to show the Film here before, but stones thrown at the screen and team had stopped it. The Pastor had spent five months in jail. But on this night 10,000 village and country people showed up to see Jesus and 1,000 accepted Him into their hearts—going from oppression to hope and the peace of Jesus.

Now I had heard about miracle stories like this, but to experience it was unbelievable. I asked a few of the assessment team members traveling with me what their thoughts were of the Jesus film experience. Here is what they said:

	Larry Wiest – “Amazed at how it drew people in—I believe this was a result of prayer! God set the stage to draw a crowd of 10,000. It amazed me how God moved a great harvest as a result of prayer.”
	Pam Farrimond – “It was the first time I had ever seen it. It didn’t bother me that it was in another language. The people were so interested…really watching it. I saw what I had heard for many years. It was a beautiful experience. I feel connected to the Ethiopian people. It personalized missions for me!”
	Bill Downer – “I was amazed how people were willing to stand through the whole Jesus Film showing, dropping loads, some sitting on them. The power of the Gospel grabs people’s attention and changes lives! When the crucifixion scene was on the screen I sensed the need to intercede! A little boy asked me how many cars I had. When I answered, ‘Two,’ he responded, ‘You are rich!’ I told him, ‘You are only rich when you have Jesus in your heart.’”
	Toby Wiest – “I had the distinct privilege of sitting next to Pastor Zacharias and countless children during the showing of the Jesus Film in Arbra Minch, Ethiopia. Pastor Zacharias is very respected for his righteousness and his stance on holy doctrine during the dark years of the communist regime. He was moved to tears during the film. The children around me as well as the adults behind me had similar reactions as Pastor Zacharias. The response was so great that night of the film that an estimated 150 souls came to Christ. I too was humbled to the point of tears by the experience.”

Just one year earlier the Westminster Church of the Nazarene in Westminster, Colorado, had purchased and delivered the film equipment used in those two showings. They didn’t know that it was still being used a year later to bring Jesus to over 11,000 people on those two nights. They didn’t know that over 1,100 people accepted Jesus into their hearts in a two-night period. Their commitment to telling the whole world about Jesus continues today as pastors and laymen use that equipment to bring hope for the oppression that has been in these villages and this country for years. In fact, since they paid and delivered it, during a nine month period of time, the equipment has been used to show Jesus to 287,516 people and 21,205 of those people accepted Jesus into their hearts. Those numbers do not include the two showings which I have just shared with you.

I would be doing you a disservice if, after telling you about my experience this week, I did not tell you about the great opportunity. You may or may not be able to actually deliver the equipment; however, we need 200 more videos, big screens, generators, and projectors to either replace worn out reel-to-reel ones or to add new locations at $6000.00 each.

You may be asking what you or your church can do just as the Westminster, Colorado, church did over one year ago. The equipment costs $6,000. You can make out a check to Jesus Film for $6,000 and send it to Jesus Film Harvest Partners, 720 South Rogers Road, Olathe, Kansas, 66062. Please write in the memo of the check, Jesus Film Equipment N0504. If you cannot afford to pay for all the equipment, $100, $500, or $1,000 or any amount will help continue to show the story of Jesus just like I saw happening in Ethiopia.

If you, your Sunday School class, or your church would like to deliver the equipment to a mission field, please indicate that either by emailing or calling us. Six thousand dollars is not much considering that long after the film equipment arrives in some small village somewhere in the world, thousands will be able to view the life-changing story about Jesus. Thousands will accept Jesus into their lives, changing oppression to hope--the hope that only Jesus can give regardless of a person’s living situation.

As always, thanks for your support, your prayers, and for being a part of the Jesus Film ministry around the world.

Blessings,

Chuck Watson
817-864-9003
chuckwatsonusa@yahoo.com