A Militia Fighter Sees Jesus

The “JESUS” Film

In 1945, six years before the founding of Cru®, God gave Bill Bright the vision to produce a film on the life of Jesus. It took 33 years to bring everything together, but in 1979, the “JESUS” film was finally completed, faithfully presenting the Gospel of Luke. Almost from the beginning, the goal was to translate the film into every language, so everyone could see and hear Jesus speak to them in their heart language. Now translated into over 2,000 languages, and in partnership with over 1,000 different denominations and missions agencies, it has become the world’s most successful Christian missions tool, seen by billions of people. Starting with portable reel-to-reel projectors, Jesus Film Project® has continually pioneered new technology to be able to show the film in the most remote, hard-to-reach places. 

Here is just one of the thousands of lives changed through the “JESUS” film.

A Militia Fighter Turns to Jesus

The phone rang. When a “JESUS” film worker answered, he heard a deep voice saying, “I am part of a militia . . . I heard your phone number on the radio.” (He had been listening to an audio broadcast version of “JESUS.”)

Fareed, a militia member, had been sent to target Christians. He and his men were hiding out in a blackened, burned-out church, where everything inside had been destroyed. As they awaited their commander’s instructions, he leaned against a wall, exhausted. With his headphones on, he began listening to the “JESUS” film broadcast and fell asleep. 

“In a dream, the burned-out church began to turn white,” he said. “Color returned. The lights came on. I saw rows of benches. Suddenly, a man in brilliant white was in the aisle, walking towards me.  He touched me on the shoulder and said, ‘Fareed, don’t worry. Follow Me.’” 

Just then, the phone rang and woke him up. “Our commander canceled the mission,” he said, “but all the rage and bitterness inside me was gone. I was peaceful and knew I could not fight anymore. So, I turned in my weapon and came to Baghdad. I’m calling you. What shall I do?”

The “JESUS” film worker explained the gospel and directed him to a church in the city, which he joined and where he grew in his faith. Ever since then, he has been actively sharing about the love and power of Jesus with others and using the “JESUS” film himself. In his latest update about Fareed, the worker said, “I speak with him often and have given him equipment and support to help show the film to many others. He is a transformed man.” 

Like Fareed, many across the Middle East have seen Jesus in dreams and visions and are ready to respond to the gospel. Join us in asking God to protect them, and to use the “JESUS” film in all its various forms to bring them to faith in Jesus and help them grow spiritually.

If you’d like to watch the “JESUS” film, you can view it for free at this website: https://www.jesusfilm.org/watch or download the app here: https://www.jesusfilm.org/resources/strategies/digital/jesus-film-project-app/.