"Jesus"

is coming to your mailbox in October.

The

"Jesus" Video Project intends to mail

the dramatic story of the Saviour of mankind to

every household in Fayette County, thanks to a

coalition of Christian leaders, pastors and local

churches. They have raised $75,000 locally to

mail out the award-wining portrayal of the life

of Jesus to Fayette residents, part of a

multi-county mailing this fall.

"We're

hoping our area will be an example for others to

follow," said Mary Frances Bowley, who is a

member of First Baptist Church of Peachtree City

and a key organizer for the project.

The

group's goal is to see every home in Georgia

receive "Jesus," an 83-minute video

filmed in 1978-79 at more than 200 locations in

the Holy Land. The video is available in 530

languages and has been in circulation in 230

countries and viewed by more than two billion

people.

The

full-length film, based on the New Testament's

Gospel according to Luke, from which the video

was taken, is a Warner Brothers production done

a Shakespearean actor from England.

The

Jesus Video Project took off here back in

February with the collection of donations at

approximately 37 county churches of all sizes and

denominations.

Coweta

County churches will distribute their videos the

same time as Fayette, Bowley added. A prayer walk

through various neighborhoods in the county is

scheduled for Aug. 22, about 40 days prior to the

video's release, Bowley said.

"Prayer

walking is a way to pray for God's blessing for

our neighbors," she explained.

The

Campus Crusade for Christ will run the address

labels for the mail-out, which is estimated to

cost about $2.70 per video. The difference

between the money raised and the actual price of

mailing out 100,000 videos will be covered by an

anonymous donor, Bowley reported.

Campus

Crusade for Christ instigated the idea of sending

out the video in the U.S. based on its use as a

powerful conversion tool in foreign countries.

Churches in Alabama have completed their mailing,

along with those in Texas and Ohio.

Inside

every package is a response card which asks the

recipient to contact a church, or send in the

card for more information, if they have been

"touched by the comforting and encouraging

words of Jesus."

While

it is difficult to document, project volunteers

say that millions of people have responded with

professions of faith to the message of hope

contained in "Jesus."

Bowley

said a phone number will be publicized as well,

and phone banks will follow up with calls to

video recipients asking them simply if they have

watched it and what reaction, if any, they had.

"This

is a gift," said Barry Odom of Braelinn

Baptist Church, referring to the video. His hope

is the same as all the pastors and church

volunteers participating, to have the viewers

"develop a relationship with God."

celebration luncheon will be conducted for all

pastors in Fayette County Aug. 12 to discuss ways

the community and congregations can prepare for

receiving the gospel.

The

event is sponsored by J93, the Joy FM, The

Citizen Newspapers and Sonrise Bookstores.

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