I hope your summer is off to a good start. We have an exciting next month planned and would be grateful for your prayers.

We plan to drive from Florida to Wisconsin starting this weekend, visiting friends along the way. Once there, we expect to spend the July 4^th weekend with Michael and Bethany, then attend Cru’s staff conference in Milwaukee. We’ll be away from home for three weeks.

Before leaving, my job as a project manager had me looking beyond this summer. I’ve focused on December, as I’ll serve as project manager for Cru’s online Christmas material. Beyond that, I’m looking toward 2026 as I’ll be project manager for online communications surrounding Cru’s 75^th anniversary.

One thing I’ve enjoyed in preparing for the anniversary is the progress of the “JESUS” film. The film was finished in 1979. As a college student, I saw it in a theater. Since then, the film has been translated into more that 2,000 languages so people can hear it in their “heart” languages.

When we lived in Asia and reported about Cru’s work, we saw the film dozens of times in a variety of languages. (I took this photo in a village in Bangladesh in 1991.)

Two related stories stand out in my memory. In 1986, I visited a village on the Indonesian island of Java and saw a showing of the film in Indonesian, the national language. People were interested, and many came to the village square to watch. But the sense of excitement and interest was much greater when Anne Marie and I went there together in 1991. By then, the film had been translated into Javanese. Almost everyone in the village came out to see the film and to hear it in the language they spoke at home.

Over the years, the process for translating and distributing the film has changed. Recording new languages on computers rather than on tape reels has sped up the process. Offering the film to people on video tape, then CD, and now digitally has greatly improved access to people around the world. You can download the free Jesus Film app and share the film with anyone you meet.

The “JESUS” film department has created an array of items, including a version of the film for children, one especially for women, and they’re working on a fully animated version. Their newest “product” is a five-episode fantasy adventure audio drama for the whole family based on the parable of the prodigal son. It was produced by Jesus Film Project and FamilyLife. Go to “The Road to Kaeluma” to learn more.

Please pray that the audio drama will help thousands of listeners grow in their faith. And as you think of us this summer, please pray for health and safety as we drive north (June 28-July 2) and back home (July 19-22), and as we visit with people and attend the conference.

Sincerely in Christ — Mark

As we’ve taught writing classes and coached individual writers over the years, we’ve often pointed them to sections of the Bible for inspiration. I was reminded of one of my favorite examples over the last two weeks as our Sunday School class is ending our study of the Gospel of John.

At the end of the second to last chapter, John explained his reason for writing the book.

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

— John 20:30-31 (English Standard Version)

Then the final chapter ends with these words, “This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” — John 21:24-25 (ESV).

There are several reasons these passages can serve as a model for a writer. First, the passage from chapter 20 is a clear focus statement. Good writing needs a focus. A clear statement will guide the writer as he or she decides what information, anecdotes and examples to include, and which to leave out.

Often, articles that seem too long feel that way as the writer didn’t limit the contents to fit the focus. Usually, the writer will include the focus statement in the document, as John did. But even if it isn’t included, a focus is needed for the writer to use.

Second, the passage from chapter 21 lets the reader know that John was present. It established his reliability as a reporter. Typically, we don’t ask our writers to state this as bluntly as John does. Instead, we ask them to include specific details that they could only know by being present.

Third, the chapter 21 passage also explains why his gospel might read differently from others the reader might have encountered. He chose the contents to only fit the focus stated in chapter 20.

As you think of us, please pray for Anne Marie as she prepares and leads our class in a summary of the whole Gospel of John to finish our study. Also, pray for my continued work as a project manager. I guess I did OK with my part on the Discipleship Pathway book, because I’ve been asked to be the main project manager for our book publishing team. Please pray that I’ll learn their current processes and needs and successfully help them in the future.

Blessing, Mark