Jesus Film Outreach
Discipleship, not hit-and-run evangelism
In 2013, we piloted an idea - why not use the Jesus Film not only to call people to follow Jesus Christ, but as a gathering point to link them to a Bible study group where they could meet regularly, discuss the Word of God, and grow deeper in their new faith?
The idea worked! However, the pilot was done with farmer groups that had been birthed during the time when the Acholi people lived in internally displaced people camps due to the insurgency of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). These groups were being phased out. Some groups continued regardless, but many of them ceased to exist. Meanwhile, a local pastor, Pastor Donato, kept asking Emmanuel International to come and show the Jesus Film in various villages. Michael met with him and said that we are willing to show the film, but we also see that simply showing the film isn't enough. Traditional "hit-and-run" evangelism often results in large numbers of decisions for Christ, but the Church doesn't grow, and the people inevitably fall away for lack of nurturing. Mike then shared the experience from the 2013 pilot, and Pastor Donato got excited.
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"THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED!"
Pastor Donato said that over 300 people had indicated they desired to follow Jesus in outreaches that his church had done over the last 2 months, but the local branch churches had barely grown in number. He said he was the only one who was going back and forth, crossing large distances on a dirt bike, to follow-up with new believers in Sunday services in remote village locations. "This is exactly what we need! More people to be trained to follow-up with new believers!" And so, the Jesus Film Outreach Ministry was officially born and continues to grow and flourish.
From 2016-2019, our team trained leaders from 46 churches in follow-up with new believers and discussion-based Bible study, who in turn trained 500 other leaders in their villages. The film has been shown to roughly 13,500 people in these 46 communities, which include the Palabek camp for displaced South Sudanese refugees - with over 4,000 decisions for Christ. In each of these communities, a thriving Bible study group has been established, and the testimonies show that indeed, if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed!
Trainings began in 2020, however due to COVID-19 restrictions, this ministry went on hiatus. However, we are currently working with community groups to keep Bible study and discipleship groups going again in a COVID-wise way. For now, new film showings are still not being done, however door-to-door evangelism is being encouraged as the tool for gathering new believers. The follow-up and discipleship methods remain the same as before, though in smaller groups!
Pastor Donato said that over 300 people had indicated they desired to follow Jesus in outreaches that his church had done over the last 2 months, but the local branch churches had barely grown in number. He said he was the only one who was going back and forth, crossing large distances on a dirt bike, to follow-up with new believers in Sunday services in remote village locations. "This is exactly what we need! More people to be trained to follow-up with new believers!" And so, the Jesus Film Outreach Ministry was officially born and continues to grow and flourish.
From 2016-2019, our team trained leaders from 46 churches in follow-up with new believers and discussion-based Bible study, who in turn trained 500 other leaders in their villages. The film has been shown to roughly 13,500 people in these 46 communities, which include the Palabek camp for displaced South Sudanese refugees - with over 4,000 decisions for Christ. In each of these communities, a thriving Bible study group has been established, and the testimonies show that indeed, if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed!
Trainings began in 2020, however due to COVID-19 restrictions, this ministry went on hiatus. However, we are currently working with community groups to keep Bible study and discipleship groups going again in a COVID-wise way. For now, new film showings are still not being done, however door-to-door evangelism is being encouraged as the tool for gathering new believers. The follow-up and discipleship methods remain the same as before, though in smaller groups!
We give glory to God for hundreds of people who have decided to follow Jesus during these film showings, and the reports from the local churches that numbers are growing, and that groups are meeting regularly to discuss the Word of God. And unlike in our pilot, these new believers are connected and discipled by a local church, which provides a sustainable structure within which new believers can grow and remain strong in their new faith.
Out of this ministry later flowed the Child Discipleship Ministry, because we realized we were not addressing the multitudes of children that would come forward to give their lives to Jesus. In Uganda, 50% of Ugandans are under the age of 15 years old!
Never heard of the Jesus Film?
Check it out on their official website, and download the movie for free in a huge number of languages!
Out of this ministry later flowed the Child Discipleship Ministry, because we realized we were not addressing the multitudes of children that would come forward to give their lives to Jesus. In Uganda, 50% of Ugandans are under the age of 15 years old!
Never heard of the Jesus Film?
Check it out on their official website, and download the movie for free in a huge number of languages!