It is our longstanding tradition at SMI to partner with our friends at Jesus Film Project® (JFP) on GivingTuesday to help bring the Gospel to thousands of people who have never heard it, and this year is no different.
Once again, we invite you to join us in this worthy endeavor. And once again, every dollar you give will be doubled through a match by SMI Advisory Services (SMIAS) — the separate but affiliated business that manages the SMI mutual funds and SMI Private Client.
The SMI Advisory match is available for up to $20,000 of donations. So, if SMI readers contribute $20,000, a total of $40,000 will be sent to help more people hear the Gospel.
A life changing, eternity shaping tool
Through the powerful medium of film, Jesus Film Project vividly depicts the life and ministry of Jesus. Since its release in 1979, The JFP film, simply called “JESUS”, has been translated into over 2,100 languages and has been viewed some 11.1 billion times, whether online, in remote villages, or in towns and cities throughout the world. According to JFP, since 1979, more than 665 million people have placed their faith in Christ after watching the film.
“Film brings the story to life in ways that transcend written communication,” JFP says. “This is true especially in oral cultures — places where written communication is scarce. When people see the life of Jesus portrayed on screen, it is life-changing.”
More than a movie
Jesus Film Project missionaries follow a “prayer, care, and share” strategy, going to rural villages in the morning, helping provide for people’s physical needs by bringing food and medicine, and then asking if they can come back in the afternoon to show a film in their language about Jesus. Many say yes.
Funds raised in this year’s GivingTuesday campaign will be used to reach people with the film and plant churches in South and Southeast Asia, including the countries of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. According to a JFP leader in one of these nations:
“There is growth of the kingdom here we have never seen. These workers just need more video tablet sets for use in the cities, towns and villages. They need these tools to reach and disciple, make the Gospel real, and help the people grow in their faith.”
Thoroughly equipped
If we are successful in raising $20,000, which will be doubled to $40,000, that will be enough to buy:
75 tablet sets ($530 each) that include a 10-inch tablet and Bluetooth® speaker. Each set can be used to show “JESUS” to groups of up to 30 people at a time.
Each Jesus Film Project team that is equipped with a tablet set will show “JESUS” at least 50 times a year. If each showing draws an average of 30 people, 75 tablet sets will allow teams to reach approximately 112,500 people per year with the Gospel. The teams will then use the tablet sets to regularly follow up with and disciple new believers.
Bringing the Gospel into all nations
For many years now, the SMI family has participated in the Jesus Film Project GivingTuesday campaign, generously investing in the spread of the Gospel. As it did last year, SMI Advisory Services (SMIAS) will match this year’s donations dollar for dollar up to $20,000.
We hope you'll agree that funding the spread of the Gospel in South and Southeast Asia will be a great way to begin your celebration of Advent and Christmas! After all, Christ came to save a lost world, and He has given us a similar mission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
To learn more about this project and then give as the Lord leads, click here. To have your gift doubled by SMIAS, be sure to use that link. Also, you don't have to wait until Tuesday. You can give right now! Thank you!
