The Unheard Story: Recent Episodes
The Unheard Story
This podcast, presented by Jesus Film Project, features previously untold stories about how the Gospel is advancing around the world.
“By the Grace of God.” Join Lara Mellema on this special bonus episode of “The Unheard Story,” as she interviews Pastor Jeremiah at the premiere of JESUS in Zoe. Having grown up in Burma, Jeremiah watched JESUS as a child, but never imagined that one day he would voice Jesus for the film in his heart language. He also shares the story of his journey to the United States, where God called him to start and pastor a church of Zo speaking believers in Fort Worth Texas. Download our app to watch Jesus Film in Zo and 2,100+ other languages.
In this special bonus episode of “The Unheard Story”, Joe and Lara Mellema interview Joe Mayers who shares the vision behind his ministry, Think Forever. Joe hosts the Think Forever podcast and regularly offers live performances of The Bema Live. The Bema is a theatrical, one-man show that explores a powerful yet seldom discussed Biblical truth: Christ’s reward and judgment of believers at the end of days. Don’t miss this inspired interview and be sure to check out to check out Joe Mayer’s ministry website: ThinkForever.org
In this previously unreleased bonus episode recorded in October 2022, Lara Mellema sits down with Dr. Mang Sing at the premier of JESUS in Zo to discuss his role in it’s creation. Dr. Sing not only narrated but single-handedly translated the script from English to Zo for what is the film’s 2,000th language translation! He shares powerful stories from the Sing family —three generations of pastors including His grandfather, the first Christian in his village- and how miraculous events shaped his mission to reach Zo people in the United States and Myanmar (Burma) with the gospel. Download our app to hear JESUS in the Zo language and 2,100+ other languages.
On this special bonus episode of The Unheard Story, Lara Mellema interviews Rachel, an international recordist for Jesus Film Project. Listen as she shares her story about traveling into the farthest corners of the planet to reach unreached people groups. Using oral script translation, Rachel and her team effectively cross cultural boundaries, delivering the gospel into the heart language of many. Jesus Film Project is currently looking for recordists. After listening to Rachel's story, if you feel inspired to get involved, visit jesusfilm.org/recordingexpansion
“We asked the Lord for Germany, and He gave us Europe.” Listen in as Joe and Lara Mellema speak with Andreas Sauter, founder of Elijah21 Ministries in Germany.
One million refugees a year arrive in Germany each year, many of whom have never heard the story of Jesus. Andreas and his team have a unique strategy to use dinners, JESUS in heart languages and their love to welcome and help refugees heal from trauma. You’ll hear how they partner with YWAM, over forty-one cloistered abbeys and many denominations to reach the hurting. Visit Elijah21.org to subscribe to their newsletter, apply for an internship, and join in praying for trauma healing workshops happening across Europe.
Want to hear more from Andreas? Check out Andreas’ Unheard Story - Part 1 and 2 from season 1.
Join Lara and Joe Mellema as they sit down with Evangeline Vergo and Samson Usmael the Digital Strategy leader for Great Commission Ministry Ethiopia and how they are revolutionizing cell phone technology and using it to spread the gospel to hard to reach people and places. They are creating it right where they live for the people they live with and getting to see and hear miracles happen in their own backyards. Don't miss this exciting episode!
Join Lara and Joe Mellema as they sit down with Seth Swindle, Director of Global Expansion for Filters of Hope, who is bringing clean water and hope of Jesus to the least-reached areas of the world. Hear how the pandemic opened the opportunity to empower nationals in challenging areas to share clean water and the love of Jesus with their communities. Working in partnership with local churches, utilizing the latest technology from Jesus Film Project, Filters of Hope is seeing people drink from the living water and receive clean water filters. Don’t miss Seth’s story at the end as he shares Noddy’s story of hearing Jesus speak in his heart language.
Global hunger is spiking, and the body of Christ is responding. Join in as Holly Newell, a regular contributor to The Unheard Story, interviews Al Goff, CEO and president of Unto, Cru's humanitarian aid ministry. Al shares how you can join him in responding to global hunger during this challenging moment for our world. Don't miss the story of Al's friendship with a refugee and the church planted in her community. Check out Unto here and learn more about Ship4hope, Unto's partnership with Jesus Film Project.
Hosts Joe and Lara Mellema interview Dale McFerron who tells the story of how more than two million people in the language group Zomi, from Myanmar, now have the film JESUS in their heart language as 5,000 from this people group have migrated to Tulsa, OK for religious freedom. When the language version premiered in Tulsa more than 3,000 Zomi came to the premiere, welcomed by members of the Christian Motorcyclist Association clad in leather. Like so many, there were some Zomi people who were not initially interested in hearing about Jesus, but were interested in seeing a movie in their heart language, so they came and experienced Jesus through the film. Dale says it best, “You have an instant friend in Jesus when He speaks your language.”
If you want to connect with a local immigrant community using one of our resources, email us at info@jesusfilm.org and mention the podcast.
Joe and Lara Mellema interview Donald and Ashley who tell the story of how God brought them to Jesus Film Project and is using their life to bring the story of Jesus to people in their heart language. You can see and share JESUS and other films in more than 1900 language at jesusfilm.org or get the mobile app jesusfilm.org/app. Hear how God is moving through the entire process of creating each language version of the films.
In the final episode of the season, Joe and Laura welcome Marc Vergo. Marc introduces us to the “glocal” movement revolutionizing how people are talking about Jesus in their communities. He shares the amazing way God is reaching millions through YouTube––even in countries closing their borders to missionaries. Marc tags in his friend, Beyong, who talks about his travels into the African bush to show the Walking With Jesus film series to new believers.
Join Pastor Gama, executive team leader for The Message for Mayans, as he shares about the needs of the Mayan population, and the powerful way in which Jesus is reaching people in the most remote villages of the Yucatán Peninsula. Gama often sees firsthand how the gospel changes lives and enriches entire communities. He helped to record the Mayan version of The Story of Jesus for Children, one of the most widely used gospel tools in his community. Hundreds came to understand the love of Jesus for the first time when Gama premiered the film. One woman cried, “This is unbelievable. Wow, Jesus speaks Mayan. Now I know He knows me and hears my prayers.”
In this episode our host, Lara, is joined by Jesus Film Project Development Representative Mark Mayers. Mark shares how he used the Jesus Film Project app one Father’s Day to share the JESUS film with someone in their own heart language.
Episode nine brings us Paul Eshleman and an episode about history of Jesus Film Project. Paul tells us about meeting Bill Bright for the first time and the exciting origins of the film, JESUS. He also discusses, with hosts Joe and Lara Mellema, the unorthodox ways that JESUS is distributed around the globe.
We continue season two with Jim and Pam’s unheard story. Jim shares about a miraculous film demonstrating God’s perfect timing, and Pam discusses using the app on a chance bus encounter.
In this, the seventh episode of season two, we meet Shay Mason. Shay shares her heart for healing from OCD and depression. Hear her astounding experiences sharing the story of Jesus using the JESUS film while on family mission trips in Africa.
https://www.amazon.com/Rest-Weary-Finding-Freedom-Father/dp/1736571508/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=rest+for+the+weary&qid=1629305871&sr=8-1
As Marie and Willie continue their unheard story, they discuss their experiences training women from diverse cultures. Willie explains his original vision for the film Magdalena: Release From Shame and its intended purpose.
In this episode we meet Marie and Willie, who came to faith later in life. They share their story of becoming involved with Jesus Film Project and how they record new languages, including a dynamic story from a specific film showing.
Episode four, hosted by Holly Newell, introduces us to Abigail. God rescued her from a dark place and asked her to “ask for the nations”. A gifted artist, Abigail uses her talents to help Jesus Film Project record new languages. She shares stories from around the globe.
In the season’s third episode, hosted by frequent contributor Holly Newell, we’re joined by David. God called David from a career in Fishing Biology to 20 years in global missions. David gave God his “loaves and fishes”, which have multiplied, touching millions around the world.
In this episode, Lara is joined by Josh Newell (executive director at Jesus Film Project®) for a very impactful interview with David Hamilton. David shares meaningful stories from his time in Africa and discusses specific and powerful ways that Jesus has moved through the people there.
As we welcome you back for the second season of The Unheard Story, Lara sits down with Shannon for a story about how an overheard Zoom video call changed someone’s life forever.
Links
Breathe Short Film:
https://www.jesusfilm.org/watch/conversation-starters.html/breathe/english.html
Magdalena:
https://www.jesusfilm.org/watch/magdalena.html/english.html
Rivka:
https://www.jesusfilm.org/watch/rivka.html/english.html
In another short, we hear a miraculous story of what happened when a man in a refugee camp watched the Jesus film.
Listen to Matt's amazing journey, from having a tumultuous childhood, to being a rebellious young adult, to being talked to by God at a Grateful Dead concert, and is now Head of Development at Jesus Film Project.
In this episode, hosts Joe and Lara Mellema sit down for the first segment of their conversation with Andreas.
In this episode Jesus Film Project staffer Holly Newell joins Lara to interview David Livingstone, a longtime mission vet with a story to tell.
Hear how Erin Hensly came to commit her life to Christ by watching the Jesus Film, and how her and her husband are currently involved with the Jesus Film Project.
In this episode, hosts Joe and Lara Mellema sit down for the second segment of their conversation with John Rinehart.
In this episode, hosts Joe and Lara Mellema sit down for the first segment of their conversation with John Rinehart.
In this episode, hosts Joe and Lara Mellema sit down for a conversation with Holly Newell.
In this episode, hosts Joe and Lara Mellema sit down for a conversation with Josh Newell, Executive Director at Jesus Film Project.
Join hosts Joe and Lara Mellema as they share unheard stories of faith in this new podcast from Jesus Film Project.