Josh Newell Executive Director Jesus Film Project Cru Campus Crusade Global Missions Financial Finish Line Podcast
Finish Line Podcast Episode 45

Josh Newell, Executive Director of the Jesus Film Project, on the Impact of the Most-Watched Film of All Time

You may care deeply about the Great Commission and still wonder what meaningful part you can play when billions of people remain separated from the gospel by language, geography, culture, or access.

When the task feels far bigger than any one person or ministry, how might your generosity become part of a wider effort bringing churches, missionaries, translators, technology, and believers together to reach everyone, everywhere?


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Meet your guide

Josh Newell, Executive Director of the Jesus Film Project, a ministry of Cru, has served with the organization since graduating from Indiana University in 1998. What began with translating the JESUS film into new languages eventually took Josh across North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and other regions, giving him a broad perspective on global evangelism, Bible translation, church planting, and unreached people groups.

Josh explains how the Jesus Film Project works alongside organizations such as Wycliffe Bible Translators, Seed Company, church planting networks, and Finishing the Task. Translation partnerships help people encounter Jesus in their heart language, while local churches and indigenous leaders provide the discipleship and long-term relationships that follow evangelism. New technologies, digital media, artificial intelligence, and online ministry are creating additional ways to reach both remote communities and connected populations.

Throughout the conversation, collaboration emerges as essential to finishing the Great Commission. By the end, you may see your generosity and participation as part of a much larger body of believers working together to bring the gospel to everyone, everywhere.

What you’ll gain

  • Why heart-language media can make the gospel more accessible
  • How ministry partnerships accelerate Bible translation and church planting
  • Why evangelism must connect with long-term local discipleship
  • How technology is expanding access to unreached people groups
  • Why collaboration matters for completing the Great Commission
  • How your resources can participate in global gospel expansion

Inspired? Take your next step

Try the Game of Life Simulator

Step into a four-minute interactive experience and see what unfolds as you decide how to manage your resources.

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Inspired? Learn how to partner with ministries well.

A compelling ministry story can inspire you to respond. But wise partnership often begins with better questions.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Focus

What is the ministry really seeking to restore?

Learn to look beyond visible needs toward people, context, relationships, and flourishing.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Fruitfulness

How do you recognize meaningful impact?

Consider how ministries learn, evaluate their work, and pursue lasting change.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Faithfulness

What does genuine ministry partnership look like?

Explore how to foster trust, alignment, and shared mission in your giving.

In our Intervention Series on the Applied Generosity Podcast, we’ll help you become a more thoughtful, discerning, and faithful partner.

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Quotes to Remember

  • “I find it humbling to be a part of a project that can be a catalyst to see cross-denomination cross-traditions work together in a way that is collaborative and to see spiritual fruit.”
  • “We want to be creating a faithful translation of the Jesus Film that accurately reflects the Word of God in a given people group. And to do that, you need to work with bible translators.”
  • “For us, the mission hasn’t changed. It’s all about getting the gospel to everyone everywhere.”
  • “If the map of where the church needs to go has remained the same for nearly 2000 years, why hasn’t it gone?”
  • “The Spirit of the Lord seems to be moving is such a way to bring about collaboration on a radical level where churches and organizations are throwing everything into the middle of the table and saying ‘We’re all in’ to reach everyone everywhere. It doesn’t matter who goes, let’s just make sure that we do!”
  • “We get to be a catalyst for partnership.”
  • “Where is the task and what will it take to get us there?”
  • “About 75% of the 6 billion unreached people live in just 12 countries.”

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Use Our
Free Guide

Have you considered the ways you are uniquely called into generosity? We’re not all called into the same adventure.
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Enter your information below and we’ll send you our free PDF guide to explore the specific adventure you were called into.
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