The Jesus Film Project, a ministry of Cru based in Orlando, Florida, has reached a serious milestone with the two,2 hundredth language translation of the “Jesus” film. The latest version was released in Bouna, a dialect of the Kulango language spoken in Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa.
The announcement marks a latest chapter for the film project, which began in 1979. According to the organization, the “Jesus” film has been shown in nearly every country, offering opportunities to present the Gospel in people’s native languages and helping fulfil the Great Commission.
The film was previously recognized as probably the most translated film on the earth, having surpassed 817 translations in July 2012.
“To at the present time, it stays the world’s most translated film,” said The Jesus Film Project.
“The story of Jesus has never been more relevant, or accessible than it’s straight away, and it’s about to achieve every last corner on earth,” said Josh Newell, executive director of Jesus Film Project.
“There are some estimates that there are billions of individuals today who’ve never heard of Jesus. And I’m here to let you know that there’s a plan to achieve everyone, in all places in the subsequent decade.”
Newell and his wife, Holly, first travelled to Burkina Faso, which borders Côte d’Ivoire, 25 years ago and witnessed the early impact of the Gospel through the “Jesus” film.
“On our final day, our guide, an area Bible translator, took us to the outskirts of town and together we climbed up a dusty hill beyond where any roads could take us,” Holly Newell said. “‘Look on the land beyond,’ she said. ‘I cannot cross the border and go to those villages, and learn their language. Will you pray with me that at some point God will reach those villages?’”
The couple prayed with the guide but “never could have imagined what God had in store,” the press release said. That “land beyond” is now home to about 300,000 Kulango speakers.
“And that’s what this mission is all about,” said Josh Newell. “We’re about presenting Jesus to everyone, in all places, in order that they will truly follow Him and call others to do the identical.”
One voice actor who worked on the Bouna translation — unnamed in the discharge but identified as a government worker — expressed his excitement in participating in translating the film into his own heart language for his people.
“When you’re communicating with an individual within the trade language … it’s reaching their mind,” he reportedly said. “When I’m listening and speaking in my very own language, it’s reaching my heart.”
According to the ministry, only a small percentage of the Bouna Kulango population are Christians, with most following traditional ethnic religions. The visual nature of the “Jesus” film is particularly precious on this context, as many in the neighborhood are illiterate.
A premiere of the Bouna version is planned by local ministry employees, together with additional showings in the realm within the near future.
Technology has accelerated the pace of translations and recordings of the “Jesus” film the world over. It took 32 years to achieve 1,000 language versions, but only 10 years to double that figure, due to technological advances.
Translation and recording work are carried out by the Jesus Film Project in partnership with local churches, organizations and volunteers who function voice actors, coaches, dialogue directors and review committee members.
The project originated within the Fifties with Bill Bright, founding father of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), who envisioned a movie on Jesus’ life. Cru evangelism strategist Paul Eshleman helped realize that vision in partnership with Warner Bros., and later launched the Jesus Film Project to make use of the film for global outreach.
In a Cru blog post, Jennifer Eshleman Huff — communication coordinator for Cru ministry her.BIBLE and daughter of Paul Eshleman, who died May 24, 2023 — reflected on her father’s legacy.
“This mission to share the gospel with the world through film was a vision my father deeply believed in and dedicated his life to fulfilling. Just because the Shepherd leaves the 99 to look for the one lost sheep (Matthew 18:12), my father believed everyone deserved to listen to about Jesus in a way that speaks on to their hearts.”
“As we have fun the two,2 hundredth language of the Jesus film, it’s clear that the mission is removed from over,” she added. “My father often carried lists of unreached people groups, asking, ‘Who are we missing? How can we reach them?’ He believed deeply within the urgency of the Great Commission and infrequently reminded us that every one matters to God.”
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