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Nearly
30 years after "The Jesus Film's" debut, the ministry
that created the most translated movie in history is
working to develop more sophisticated tools to reach
western and highly developed countries.
“We are going to make probably more effort because we
don't have the equipment, tools and resources that are
really speaking well to the first world and the media
sophisticated, the U.S. and Europe,” said Greg Gregoire,
senior associate at The Jesus Film Project, to The
Christian Post.
“So we are going to spend a little more focus on
developing tools that work there,” he said, noting
countries and cities such as Berlin, Singapore, and Los
Angeles.
Since "The Jesus Film" debuted in English on Oct. 19,
1979, it has been translated into 1,055 languages and
has been seen by more than 6 billion people from every
country in the world. Out of the billions of people that
have seen the film, there are a recorded 225 million
that have indicated a decision for Christ.
The Jesus Film Project is a ministry of Campus Crusade
for Christ, International, one of the world's largest
nonprofit, interdenominational organizations. Although
the film began as a ministry tool for CCC, it has now
been accepted by many groups in the body of Christ as
their primary evangelistic tool, Gregoire pointed out.
More than 1,500 Christian organizations are using the
film to share the Gospel.
In addition to "The Jesus Film," the ministry in recent
years has created derivative products from the film to
respond to the need of churches. Some of the products
include a film made for children that answers questions
only kids would ask, and a movie about Jesus told
through the eyes of Mary Magdalena.
The film "Magdalena: Released from Shame," released last
year, has received strong positive support from women
around the world. It has been shown in parts of the
world where women face discrimination because of their
gender to communicate to oppressed women that there is a
man who cares for them and wants to extend dignity to
them.
In the short time since it debuted, Magdalena has been
translated into over 40 languages with another 50
translations in progress.
The ministry is also currently working with other groups
to produce a new version of "The Jesus Film." Gregoire
noted that the film is 30 years old and does not
“compete” well in the market place.
Furthermore, the ministry has recently produced several
short films to reach out to youths who are not
interested in watching or talking about Jesus, but are
typically interested in discussing films. The short six-
to seven-minute films are meant to initiate
conversations about spirituality.
There are also plans for an anime version of "The Jesus
Film."
The ministry does not plan to hold any special events to
mark the 30th anniversary of the film's debut, according
to Gregoire. Instead, staffs will gather for the
biannual meeting this summer to pray and remember what
God has used the ministry for over the years.
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