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"Our film evangelism among extremely backward tribal groups in India is proving stunningly effective," said a source at Campus Crusade in Bangalore, who asked not to be named.

He cited the case of the Bhils, a 90,000-strong tribal community living in villages of Gujarat and Rajasthan states. Bhils, an illiterate community, are stereotyped as crime-ridden, substance-abusing animists. In 1996, Campus Crusade India dubbed the Jesus film into the Bhil language and took it to their villages. Soon, 21 churches and 185 small fellowship groups sprouted.

"Now we have with us testimonials from opinion leaders of Bhils who say alcoholism and crime fell dramatically after the screening of the Jesus film to them," he said.

Many film evangelists do not just roll up the screen and leave after the show but stay for follow-up. "So far OM has launched around 390 fellowships to instill faith among new followers, and many will gradually turn into full-fledged churches," Swamy said.

All this success comes with a price in Hindu-majority India. Many Christian film evangelists across the country are facing abuse and death threats. In June 2000, Ashish Prabash, a full-time film missionary with Campus Crusade, was found stabbed to death in his home in Punjab. The killers are still at large.

Gospel for Asia reports that Titus, a missionary, was brutally beaten up earlier this year for attempting to show Ocean of Mercy in Jharkhand, a predominantly tribal area. Film ministries face the greatest hostility from Hindu militants in Bihar and Rajasthan states. "[The] threat is real and standing. We risk our lives while going into these villages with projectors and videocassettes," said one ministry leader.

Film evangelists reported at least 16 cases of assault this year. One attack took place in July in Sirsi village in Karnataka. Unnamed assailants beat up a local pastor who worked with a film team. They confiscated tracts used in the outreach and burned them.

"The day is gone when one could easily show Jesus films or distribute tracts," said Oliver D'Souza, south zone convener of the All India Christian Council. "These films leave a lasting impression on non-Christian viewers. It works like magic, and the Hindu extremists are left red-faced."

Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, whose militant followers attack Christian film evangelists, share a political agenda with the Bharatiya Janata Party, India's ruling political party. In recent months, Hindu elites have moved to curtail the right to conversion.

In the midst of opposition, Christians in India are grappling with how to use this tool most effectively. OM workers, when not starting new churches, funnel new believers to existing local churches. Dayspring says workers have started 2,000 churches since 1979. Such claims are hard to verify, as long-term, independent studies do not exist.

Everyone involved agrees that local churches are key. Joseph D'Souza points out that long-term discipleship of new believers depends more on local congregations than on the efforts of film evangelists alone. "The church has to further utilize the effect of Jesus' story on the masses. Some churches in India still have a shallow view on this. They have to chalk out well-thought-out strategies for spreading discipleship."

Tom Steffen, a professor of intercultural studies at Biola University in southern California, agrees. "Films are most effective when connected to an ongoing church-planting movement," Steffen said. He also said most audiences should have some understanding of the Bible and the film medium. Otherwise, conversions of enthusiastic people who come forward may not last.

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December 2003, Vol. 47, No. 12