Backpacks help show 'JESUS' in Guatemala

Guatemala (MNN) ― A partnership in Guatemala is not only showing "JESUS" to people, but helping them grow in Him, too. The partnership is between the JESUS Film Project and Faith Comes By Hearing.

According to Campus Crusade for Christ's Guatemala Country Director Anibal Duarte, "There are 26 teams showing the film 'JESUS' around the country, working in 10 different languages."

The "JESUS" film is the dramatized book of Luke dubbed and created for 1,129 languages around the world. The drama has been seen billions of times, and millions have come to Christ in every nation on earth.

Team members used to have to carry a heavy film projector, generator, and screen to show "JESUS." Now, through new technology, a single "JESUS" team member can carry the equipment in a backpack. "We have right now eight backpacks. They walk, sometimes hours and hours. Sometimes I hear of teams walking 12 hours."

These backpacks are allowing "JESUS" team members to penetrate jungle areas who may not otherwise hear the Good News of Christ.

The first film team has planted 81 churches going from village to village to share the story of "JESUS." But planting a church is only the first step. These congregations are followed up and grounded in their faith. As these groups are established, Faith Comes By Hearing provides a Proclaimer. It's a digital audio player with the dramatized New Testament in their language.

Sometimes the only pastor they have is the very film team member who showed them the film "JESUS."

However, more "JESUS" packs are needed. Your support of $50 will help reach up to 500 people with the Gospel. Your gift of support will make an eternal difference in the lives of many.

Click here to get involved. 

Backpacks Bring Hope to Haitian Kids

Kids in Haiti need good schooling.
 But in order to get good schooling,
 they need good backpacks and
 supplies.

Haiti (MNN) ― For kids in Haiti, a backpack is more just a fashion statement. A backpack means they can finally go to school. A backpack means they have a way to carry literally all their belongings. A backpack means they have hope.

Orphan Outreach is launching Mission Backpack to bring donated backpacks and the Gospel to the children in Haiti. Backpacks will also be distributed to local kids in Florida and in the Navajo Nation of Arizona. They are partnering with Moody Radio Florida, Moody Radio South Florida and WAY radio for this evangelistic outreach.

Amy Norton with Orphan Outreach says, "We have found, in all of our work internationally, that children have to have a backpack to go to school just like they do [in the U.S.]. And they need school supplies to be able to put in it. [In] so many countries, if they do not have a backpack, they can't go to school."

The children in Haiti are no exception. Mission Backpack is working with World Harvest Missions established in Haiti to distribute donated backpacks. Norton says, "[World Harvest Missions] was so grateful to have the backpacks this past year--after we did the drive in Florida--for the children."

In the wake of tragedy, hope is hard to come by, especially for the kids in Haiti. "Things are desperate there," Norton explains. "People thought that things were so bad after the [earthquake]. But it's gotten so much worse that so many children are suffering from sickness and illness and have no place to sleep, and no parents."

The hope of the Gospel can change lives. While providing backpacks to the needy kids in Haiti, Orphan Outreach is also opening doors for the message of Christ. Backpacks will be equipped with hygiene kits, a Bible, and a stuffed bear from Family Christian Stores.

The team distributing the backpacks, as well as the staff with World Harvest Missions, keeps the focus on Christ as they minister to kids in Haiti. "All of their ministry is done with an evangelical focus as well as humanitarian aid and assistance. So the Gospel message is definitely shared with each backpack that is delivered," says Norton.

There are collections going on both in Texas and Florida. Texas drive sites are already collecting between now and July 31; Florida sites will be collecting between July 25 and August 14. They have an overall goal to have 3,500 backpacks donated by the end of the drives.

You don't have to directly donate a backpack to a collection center in order to get involved. You can go online to the Orphan Outreach Web site and purchase a backpack to donate. The cost of providing one fully equipped backpack is $20.

All backpacks will be collected by the end of August and sent down by container with a team from Florida Baptist Children's Home. The kids in Haiti will get their donated backpacks and supplies by the start of school in the Fall.

Please pray for successful backpack drives for Orphan Outreach. Pray also for the kids in Haiti who will be hearing the Gospel message as they receive their supplies. Pray that God's love would change the hearts of these kids and draw many into His kingdom.