Jesus Film for Native
Americans
As found In Day 11 of the G.P.D.
By Jean Smith
11—JESUS Film for Native Americans
quote: “We want First Nations to hear the Good News in a
voice that is comfortable and familiar, and to recognize that
there are Native people who have found faith in Jesus.”
Jesus has a new voice! The
JESUS Film has been translated into hundreds of languages
and dialects, and has proved effective in introducing people all
over the world to the love, forgiveness, and life Jesus offers.
So what is new about another new voice for
Jesus? There is a new one in English, but it is different. It
is called the “Native North American Version.”
Many native people of North America speak only English, not with
a second language accent, yet still with a distinctive voice.
They will pick up on it and recognize that this is the voice of
their people. Phil DuFrene, working with the project, says, “We
want First Nations to hear the Good News in a voice that is comfortable
and familiar, and to recognize that there are Native people who
have found faith in Jesus.” 
All but one of the voices used were Christian Lakotas. The voice
of Jesus is a Lakota pastor. The JESUS Film has long been used
to reach Canada’s First Nations in various dialects, and
other versions are still in progress. Pray for accuracy as the
JESUS Film Project translates the film into other Native American
languages. Pray that God will motivate Native American Christians
to share the Native North American Version with friends and neighbors.
Pray that this effort will open many closed hearts to Jesus.—JS
“On this mountain
He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet
that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The
Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces….
In that day they will say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted
in Him, and He saved us.’” Is. 25:7-9
The book of Isaiah has been called “the Bible in miniature,”
and rightfully so, for its 66 chapters present the person, work,
and commission of Christ in a manner representative of the 66
books of the Bible. Isaiah here portrays the heavenly banquet
in which men and women from every nation will rejoice in the goodness
of God. Though Christ’s death has conquered the power of
death for all who put their trust in Him, His return will banish
the presence of death from the redeemed of every nation. How tenderly
the Sovereign Lord will wipe tears from faces upturned in joyful
praise!
Wonderful Savior, we eagerly look forward to that day. Lead us
on until we see You face-to-face!
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