Women on Mission - March 2026
March 2026 Update
Brenda McCalley shared about the "Jesus" Film Ministry and CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) when Women on Mission met Monday, March 9. CRU's motto is "Reaching Everyone Everywhere," and much of its ministry is done through the showing and distribution of the "Jesus" film.
This film has been translated into 2,207 languages and is the most widely translated film in the world. Brenda noted the world currently has more than 8 billion people, 5.4 billion of whom do not know Jesus, and more than 1 billion of those have never heard his name. Two billion of these are illiterate, she said, so the "Jesus" film is perfect method for reaching out to them. She added that 75% of the world's unreached people live in 12 countries.
As of Monday, 11.8 billion people have seen the film in more than 230 countries — making it the most watched film on the planet — and some 679 million people have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
Brenda has been in ministry for 46 years, and her first assignment was in California. She moved to Orlando, Fla., where CRU is headquartered, four years ago and her focus is the "Jesus" Film Project. The film was the vision of CRU's founder, Bill Bright. It premiered in 1979 and was seen by more than 2 million people in its first year. The first translation was Tagalog, a dialect of The Philippines.
The CRU ministry "Jesus Speaks" equips the body of Christ to go anywhere people need Jesus, Brenda continued. Its major focus is equipping church-planting partners. Working within today's digital technology space allows interaction with people who are searching, she said. Through this ministry, people are not just viewing something; they are interacting with people who respond when they hear the gospel in their own heart language — the language in which they speak, dream, and read.
The "Jesus" film can go places digitally where missionaries cannot go physically, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, Brenda noted. The "Jesus" Film Project has developed portable WIFI hotspots and an app that provides access to the film and a means of sharing access to the film via text and email throughout the world in the viewer's own language. She told a story about a film team kidnapped on their way to a remote village and forced to transport weapons to save their lives. By the end of the ordeal, the kidnappers were watching the "Jesus" film on a WIFI box.
An interactive map developed by CRU allows one to identify the indigenous language at a particular site and email a link to the translated "Jesus" film to a person at that site. The "Jesus" film app, searchable by word, language, or country, allows access to the full "Jesus" film catalog.
In addition to the feature-length film, CRU has developed short-length films, such as "Magdalena," which tells Jesus' story through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, and animated features. Animators are presently working on a full-length animated story of Jesus aimed at reaching people age 14 and under.
This film has been translated into 2,207 languages and is the most widely translated film in the world. Brenda noted the world currently has more than 8 billion people, 5.4 billion of whom do not know Jesus, and more than 1 billion of those have never heard his name. Two billion of these are illiterate, she said, so the "Jesus" film is perfect method for reaching out to them. She added that 75% of the world's unreached people live in 12 countries.
As of Monday, 11.8 billion people have seen the film in more than 230 countries — making it the most watched film on the planet — and some 679 million people have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
Brenda has been in ministry for 46 years, and her first assignment was in California. She moved to Orlando, Fla., where CRU is headquartered, four years ago and her focus is the "Jesus" Film Project. The film was the vision of CRU's founder, Bill Bright. It premiered in 1979 and was seen by more than 2 million people in its first year. The first translation was Tagalog, a dialect of The Philippines.
The CRU ministry "Jesus Speaks" equips the body of Christ to go anywhere people need Jesus, Brenda continued. Its major focus is equipping church-planting partners. Working within today's digital technology space allows interaction with people who are searching, she said. Through this ministry, people are not just viewing something; they are interacting with people who respond when they hear the gospel in their own heart language — the language in which they speak, dream, and read.
The "Jesus" film can go places digitally where missionaries cannot go physically, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, Brenda noted. The "Jesus" Film Project has developed portable WIFI hotspots and an app that provides access to the film and a means of sharing access to the film via text and email throughout the world in the viewer's own language. She told a story about a film team kidnapped on their way to a remote village and forced to transport weapons to save their lives. By the end of the ordeal, the kidnappers were watching the "Jesus" film on a WIFI box.
An interactive map developed by CRU allows one to identify the indigenous language at a particular site and email a link to the translated "Jesus" film to a person at that site. The "Jesus" film app, searchable by word, language, or country, allows access to the full "Jesus" film catalog.
In addition to the feature-length film, CRU has developed short-length films, such as "Magdalena," which tells Jesus' story through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, and animated features. Animators are presently working on a full-length animated story of Jesus aimed at reaching people age 14 and under.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Project
WOM Director Nancy Brock offered thanks to those who brought in sheets, blankets, and pillowcases for children's beds in support of the local "Sleep in Heavenly Peace" chapter. The donations ensure "that the children served not only receive a bed of their own, but also the comfort and dignity of clean, warm bedding. Because of [WOM's] generosity, many children in our community will sleep more comfortably and securely." The chapter's mission is "No kid sleeps on the floor in our town."
Further donations of bedding are still being accepted by Nancy Brock and Cathy Powell.
Further donations of bedding are still being accepted by Nancy Brock and Cathy Powell.
Coming in APRIL
Jerry and Liz Claxton will be the guest speakers when Women on Mission meet April 13.
After retiring from a U.S. Government position in 1994, the Claxtons opened a Christian bookstore in Savannah. In 2000 Jerry was called to fulltime Christian ministry by Southside Baptist Church in Savannah, and from there he and LIiz were called to the mission field by the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board.
The Claxtons spent seven years in Israel and a total of 12 years in the Middle East, counting government time. Since retiring from fulltime ministry in 2016 they have returned to Israel a number of times either to work or to lead tour groups.
The WOM April meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a covered-dish luncheon in the Buchanan Hall, followed by the speakers' presentation at noon.
Ongoing Activities
WOM also supports Hope House of Union County by collecting personal hygiene items such as shampoo, body wash, deodorant, etc., which are distributed free of charge to Hope House clients. Through offerings collected monthly and budget funding from First Baptist, WOM are supporting the following ministries:
- Cowboy Church of Jerusalem to purchase food and new boots.
- Pure Love Pure Water for more filters to be sent to missionaries.
- The Clarkston After-School Ministry, which provides a meal for the children and to purchase supplies for the children.