Brian Helstrom, a Nazarene missionary assigned as executive director of Jesus Film Harvest Partners, accepted the Hope Medallion Award from Jesus Film Project of Campus Crusade for Christ (JFP-CRU) on 10 November 2023. Helstrom received the recognition on behalf of JFHP, a ministry of the Church of the Nazarene. 

The Hope Medallion has only been given to seven other people, including the late Billy Graham. 

“This now 26-year partnership has been an exemplary model of collaboration with a Kingdom ministry outside the Church of the Nazarene that shares the same goal to fulfill the Great Commission and to reach the lost for Christ,” Helstrom said. “JFP-CRU creates the film, and we use it to do evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.”

Louie Bustle, former Nazarene Global Missions director, signed the initial partnership agreement with JFP-CRU in August of 1997.

“This has been the most important thrust that the church has endeavored to attempt,” Bustle said. “And to think it is still going strong after 25 years. Many thought it might last for ten years, but God had other plans.”

JFP-CRU has given JFHP free use of the JESUS film in all three versions in over 2,100 languages. JFHP then shares the results of the 1,109 Nazarene teams that have used this tool back to JFP-CRU.

During the last 26 years, there have been 18,861,046 reported decisions for Christ and 130,480 preaching points established (as of 31 October 2023). In 2024, 1,166 teams will be ministering in 65 countries.  

Ray Moats, the longest-serving current board member, says he feels privileged to be a part of the JFHP ministry. 

“Each person (past and present) in leadership, staff, board, donors, and prayer supporters have all been used by the Lord to carry out this work,” Moats said. “We also must be so thankful for those men, women, and youth who responded to the call to be the presenters of the film and disciple new believers.”

To learn more about the JFHP ministry, visit jfhp.org.