New Book Gives Renewed Charge to Take Part in Fulfilling the Great Commission

 Jesus Film Project^® Executive Director Dr. Erick Schenkel

releases Everyone, Everywhere June 1

ORLANDO, Fla., June 1, 2017 – Dr. Erick Schenkel, Executive Director of Jesus Film Project^®, today released his newest book, Everyone, Everywhere: Glimpses of God’s Global Work Through People Like You, to provide renewed attention to the Great Commission and encourage people of faith to boldly share about salvation in Jesus.

Throughout the book, Schenkel weaves in personal stories from his own life work – including studying theology at Harvard University, being nearly beaten to death while serving as a missionary in a Middle Eastern country and now leading Jesus Film Project – as well as remarkable accounts from individuals who have embraced God’s directive to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

“Jesus’ Great Commission to His people is to go to every person with the good news that God wants them to be reconciled to Himself,” writes Schenkel in Everyone, Everywhere. “Yet today, only about 2 billion of the world’s 7 billion people have accepted this gift of being reconciled to God. God’s heart is for the 5 billion who are yet to be reconciled to Him.”

Before challenging individuals to take part in the Great Commission, Schenkel explains how never before in history have we had such means to reach every individual. Today, more people in the world own a cell phone than a toothbrush, and it is estimated that by 2020, 70 percent of the global population will have smart phones.

For more than 35 years, Jesus Film Project has been on the cusp of utilizing film and technology, efforts that have resulted in nearly 500 million people making a personal decision to follow Christ. Its most well known film, JESUS, has been translatedinto more than 1,500 languages.

Throughout Everyone, Everywhere, Schenkel shares testaments from Jesus Film Project’s history of individuals worldwide who have encountered the life-changing message of Jesus. Schenkel’s relatable writing style mixes in practical examples of joining in the Great Commission with truly amazing stories of how Jesus’ irrepressible love changed the lives and set free those in bondage to alcoholism, demonic oppression and even Muslim extremists.

“There are more than ample reasons to give ourselves to the proclamation and demonstration of the good news of Jesus: He is the answer to every human, He is the longing of every heart, everyone must have a chance to know Him for time and eternity,” Schenkel writes.

Yet, Schenkel reminds readers that only through multiplication of Christians around the world and cooperation across denominations will we fulfill God’s command.

“The evangelization of the world is inextricably linked to the unity of the church,” said Schenkel. “The world will believe that He [Jesus] was sent from God when His people are unified. The Great Commission was given by Jesus to all of His followers. It is a ‘Co’ mission.”

For this reason, Schenkel concludes with a simple challenge to both the Church, as a whole, and each Christian: “double down” on the Great Commission, clarify our vision, become part of a concrete plan and take action.

“Everyone will have a chance to know Jesus as local believers around the world go to the next village, the next neighborhood, the next high-rise apartment, and the next digital community with the good news,” he said.

Everyone, Everywhereis available June 1, 2017 on the Jesus Film Project website. For more information, go to JesusFilm.org/EveryoneEverywhere.

About Jesus Film Project: The JESUS film was envisioned by Dr. Bill Bright, co-founder of Cru, and was produced in cooperation with The Genesis Project. JESUS is the most watched film according to The Guinness Book of World Records and as of this year is available in 1,500 languages, with the latest translation in Daasanach. Jesus Film Project continues to carry out Bright’s vision of showing this film to people in every country of the world. For more information on Jesus Film Project, go to http://www.jesusfilm.org.

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Note to Editors: To arrange an interview with a Dr. Schenkel or to request a review copy of Everyone, Everywhere, please contact Heidi McDow at 972.267.1111 or [email protected].