Dear Friends and Partners,

Last words have a tendency to play over and over in our minds. Last Sunday evening my new friend Ben told me that while reading the local newspaper two days earlier, he read that his divorce was finalized. He had just invited Jesus into his heart a few weeks ago and was trying to save his marriage and daughter when he read the "official public notice words of divorce." Those words were playing over and over in his mind and his heart. Ben was a broken man. They were the last words about one of the most important elements of his life.

The "Great Commission" was the last words given by Jesus to His disciples--final marching orders just prior to His ascension. For centuries they have rung over and over in the minds and hearts of Christians.

Last month a 17 year-old East Texas boy proclaimed to his teammates in the football locker room, "If God should call my number, I am ready!" Moments later he was struck by lightning on the practice field and instantly killed. Those were some of his last words.

Words like Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Internet, IBM and many others have become household names in parts of the world which most people can hardly find on a map, while the name of Jesus remains a mystery to millions over twenty centuries after His life on earth. Why are these words known better than the name of Jesus? The word and name "Jesus" is so majestic that it fills the earth (Psalm 8:1).

Is it because the product or message is better than Jesus? No way. Jesus is the bread of life and living water and we have the privilege of telling the whole world.

Is it because their advertising budget is larger than the Great Commission budget? Not likely. More than $2 billion are invested in world missions every year.

Is it because the companies who own these names are more committed to their great commission than we as Christians are committed to ours? My challenge to us today is to ponder and pray over the last words which Jesus gave us prior to His ascension.

Ben would do anything to change the last words he read in the newspaper last week about his divorce. The good news is that Ben has changed his heart and is now living for Jesus. He told me that after hearing hundreds of messages about Jesus, the real turning point happened when his cousin, Jason, told him three words "Jesus loves you." The words of that three minute conversation changed Ben's life forever. He accepted the love that Jesus has offered. It lives in his heart.

We thank Jesus daily for the Friends and Partners of JESUS Film Harvest Partners who have committed their words and dollars for making the name "Jesus" known around the world.

One of the JESUS Film Team sponsors shared with me last month that even though he is not very good at telling people about Jesus one-on-one, he feels a peace and very fulfilled about telling thousands around the world about Jesus through the Jesus Film. His words to me when we said goodbye were--"Keep telling the name of Jesus around the world for me." Those words have played over and over in my mind. He has made it possible for hundreds to not just hear the name of Jesus, but to have an opportunity to change their lives for eternity.

Blessings in the Name of Jesus,

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