How many movies do you suppose you’ve watched in your lifetime? Even in the last year? Some clever punchlines or visuals of intense scenes probably stuck in your mind, but there’s a good chance you haven’t thought back to many of the movies.
It’s quite a different story for many people in Asia who attend a film show hosted by Gospel for Asia supported workers. For many, that simple movie night ends up changing the course of their lives.
But even if you loved a certain movie, would you risk your own safety to organize a movie night?
Rajak did.
Rajak, a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported worker serving on a film team, and his team members drove to a village they had not visited before. They approached the village leaders to get permission to show a film on the life of Christ, but the men denied their request and sternly warned them not to ask again. That day, Rajak and his teammates had to leave the village without being able to do any ministry.
Three months later, the film team happened to drive through the same village. On their way out, they stopped at a house and asked for some drinking water. Irshaad, the owner of the house, had a long conversation with the brothers and heard about the love of God and the film the brothers were showing in other places.
Wanting to see the film, he told the brothers, “No matter if the village leaders did not permit you to screen [the film] in the village, you can screen it at my house. If something happens, I will handle the problem.”
That evening, the film team prepared for an outdoor film show on Irshaad’s property. To their surprise, 110 people showed up and watched the movie with great interest. Irshaad and others were deeply moved by the story of Jesus, His love for people and how He healed the sick, how He suffered and died on the cross, and then how He rose again.
During the movie, the brothers explained why Jesus was arrested, beaten and crucified. They made sure the villagers understood that it was not because of His own mistakes, but that He suffered for all of us and sacrificed His life for our salvation.
Leaving the village that night, Rajak and his team thanked God for giving them this open door and for His protection throughout the film show when ministry in this village seemed impossible.
Three days later they received an invitation from Irshaad to come back to pray for him and his family. The team gladly visited Irshaad, encouraged him from God’s Word and prayed for him and his family.
Understanding the love of God, Irshaad and two other families decided on their own to trust Jesus as their Savior. With the help of the film team, they started a small prayer fellowship in their village.
Film ministry is incredibly effective, but it comes at a price. Film team members endure the hardships of the road and constant travel. Far from home, they camp out at believers’ homes, church building floors or the sides of roads. They spend hours inviting people to film shows, answering questions and praying for serious needs late into the night. They bear persecution and opposition from communities that may not want to hear of God’s love.
Why do men and women like Rajak lay aside their safety and comfort to show movies through film ministry?
As Dr. K.P. Yohannan writes, “Choosing inconveniences, choosing difficulties, choosing the rough road because we love Him—this is the way of Christ.”
You see, these men and women love Jesus so much. And they see how movies on the life of Christ, like the one Irshaad saw, are one of the most effective ways to help people—especially those who know nothing about the Bible or are illiterate—discover God’s love for them. They also have opportunities to help meet practical needs by showing additional films that highlight essential and often unknown principles of hygiene or the dangers of alcohol and drug addictions. In short, these films change lives, and that’s why we at Gospel for Asia support men and women who choose inconveniences and difficulties to show these films.
Because film teams long for permanent transformation, Rajak’s team introduced Irshaad and the other new believers to a pastor who could take care of them. They are now equipped with the knowledge of God and can grow in their personal relationships with Him, even though Rajak and his team moved on to show their films in another community.
Irshaad’s story of transformation is powerful and specific to his life, yet it is being repeated in mountainous villages and in valleys, in dry desert communities and in tea gardens. Each story is unique, but they are many.
The next time you sit down to watch a movie, rejoice over the many people who are discovering the depths of Christ’s love for them at life-changing movie nights in Asia!
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