Nelson Mandela once said, “If you seek advice from a person in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you seek advice from him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
Mandela’s quote resonates deeply with our vision at Jesus Film Project, where we aim to translate the JESUSÂ film into the center language of each community. Our hope is for everybody, in every single place to come across the gospel and embrace Jesus as Savior.
There are roughly 7,000 languages spoken across the globe. Just 23 account for over half of the world’s population. An individual’s heart language is usually the primary language she or he is exposed to; it is the language through which we predict, dream, and pray. That’s why communicating in someone’s heart language is more meaningful and compelling to them than in a secondary language. Sharing the gospel with someone in a heart language moves beyond sharing a story; it expresses respect, recognition and value.
In cultures where most individuals share a standard language, it could be difficult to completely appreciate how language helps shape someone’s personal and cultural identity. The elements of culture we predict of first, comparable to food, clothing, customs and festive celebrations, are all tied along with the threads of language. More than a approach to communicate, language is a crucial tool through which we express our values, beliefs and traditions.
In a nation like India, where there are 121 languages and lots of more regional dialects, or in Nigeria where over 500 languages are spoken, an individual’s heart language also represents geographical and family ties. This is true although many individuals in each countries speak two or more languages.
When it involves sharing the gospel, we align with Jesus’ heart once we prioritize heart language – he died and was resurrected for people from every tribe, language and nation. And no medium is more powerful to share Jesus with people than a movie based on His life from the Bible. This is true regardless of the community or culture – the true story of Jesus in someone’s heart language is compelling.
In a rustic known to be difficult for Christians, a person named Jassa* began a journey that might eventually lead him to Jesus. In Jassa’s home country of Yemen, nearly all of his countrymen and ladies are from a unique religious background, making it difficult not only to study Jesus but to listen to about him in the primary place. Jassa desired to know God more deeply and was determined to hunt after Him.
Jassa’s seek for God led him to Saudi Arabia, the seat of his religion. After driving a 1,600 mile round trip, he didn’t find God, and the emptiness inside his heart was greater than when he began his trip.
Back in his home country, Jassa had a dream one night. In it, he found himself in a church on a high mountain. He saw Jesus, who stretched out His hand to him and said, “Follow Me, I’m your Saviour. I’m the start and the top.”
The memory of that powerful dream stayed with him, but Jassa didn’t know what it meant.
Eventually, Jassa needed to flee the turmoil of his country, searching for refuge in Europe. There, some local believers he had met invited him to dinner and a movie. These believers showed him a movie about Isa, “The Great Prophet.” Jassa could hardly imagine it! The man from his dream was within the film. Jassa watched the person, Jesus, perform miracles, and he heard the Word of God, Jesus’ words, exactly as written within the New Testament Gospels.
The God whom Jassa had whole-heartedly sought was before him, portrayed on the screen — in love and power — speaking the language of his heart. Finally, he had found the One he sought.
Within days of selecting to follow Jesus as Saviour, Jassa was baptized and commenced his journey of discipleship. The ministry caring for Jassa has shared that he’s so courageous and faithfully shares Jesus with others from his country.
People like Jassa are why we proceed to do the work we do. There are many more like him who’re searching for the God who speaks their language.
Last yr, Jesus Film Project announced that the 1979 JESUSÂ film had officially been translated into 2,100 languages. But we aren’t stopping there. In 2025, we plan to release a re-imagining of the JESUSÂ film. This animated family production will reach recent generations for years to come back.
Everyone, in every single place deserves a probability to know Jesus’s teachings of their heart language. As we press on toward our mission, you possibly can keep a watch out for our upcoming animated family film, JESUS, at our website, Jesus.film.
*name has been modified for confidentiality
Josh Newell is Executive Director of Jesus Film Project.
