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 4th 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 75th 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