The following reports concern the release of Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ" in the Middle East!

Dear Passionate Believers:

Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ, has been released in several Mideast nations this past week. I am copying below portions of two letters from individuals in those nations. They are so encouraged about the possibilities for thousands of Muslims to be confronted with Christ's love and sacrifice. Please continue to be in prayer for the global release of this film and that many additional Islamic nations will allow this movie to be released without censorship. Additional requests are contained in the letters.

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce

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An update from Qatar:

Today very possibly was the most significant day we have seen in nearly 12 years of living in the Middle East. To everyone's shock and surprise, "The Passion" was released today here in Qatar. . Until now we have only been able to show the Jesus film in Arabic to a handful of Qataris in the secret of a home setting. In the coming weeks, potentially 10's of thousands of Arab Muslims will see this powerful portrayal of Christ's suffering and death . In two short hours, more Qataris heard the Gospel than I have been able to reach in nearly 5 years of living here. The Arabic subtitles were completely accurate - they didn't water ANYTHING down or change any language that Muslims would not agree with. All of us watched the film in absolute amazement in what God had done. The Muslims sitting around us were being moved - gasping, crying and reacting with disgust to the brutality that Jesus faced.

Now - if you have heard anything about why the Arab Muslims would want to see the film, you know that it is because they 'heard' it was anti-Jewish and since they hate the Jews, they want to see it. How interesting that God is using this film to communicate the Gospel and the very opposite spirit that might be motivating them to go and see it. The message to LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, and Jesus praying for them to be forgiven while on the Cross would hit the Muslim theatre-goer in a powerful way.

Below is an excerpt from the newspaper article that was run today in the local newspaper:

"INTERNATIONAL blockbuster film Passion of the Christ will have a multiple release in Doha today. Qatar is to be the first country in the Middle East to screen the film..."

We are all still shell-shocked by what has happened and what will happen in the coming days.
Please pray for these urgent requests:
1. That this film will be allowed to be shown for a significant period of time. It is being shown in 3 different theatres, up to 4 times a day. Fundamentalists will surely be in an uproar about this unprecedented event. Just when we thought Satellite television was going to be the most significant way for the Lord to sow the seeds of the Gospel, this film arrives in Muslim nations!!
2. That this film will cause a major shaking and stirring in the hearts of many Muslims leading them to salvation.
3. That God will lead us to men and women who have been/will be impacted by this powerful film.

P.S. Also mentioned in the article today: "Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat watched the Passion of the Christ at a private screening in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday and said it was not anti-Semitic. He watched the film with Palestinian Muslim and Christian leaders at his headquarters in Ramallah."

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A report from Kuwait:

So much has happened I simply do not know where to begin. In all humility, we have to say that in just a few short days, more Arab Muslims have been able to clearly hear (and see) the Gospel in their own language than we would be able to reach in a lifetime of ministry in the Middle East. We are just walking around in our own version of a 'shock and awe campaign'.

- The film is so popular here that they have been canceling the other films to show "The Passion" in all the theatres at the cinema complex. I took a friend on the 2nd night. The film was running in all 3 theatres. I would estimate that well over 50% of the people in the theatre were local Muslims including women completely veiled. I saw one British woman who converted to Islam walking out (I prayed she would find her way back to the faith she abandoned). You could see how this film had impacted everyone. After we saw the film, I looked at my friend and said to him, "Don't you see that Jesus died for YOUR sins". I then continued, "You know, you think that this film is here because of 'freedom of speech' or the 'new openness of your government', but actually God Himself has sent this film to CORRECT your people's total misunderstanding about who Jesus is, and why He came to earth'.

- On the second day, several of the local newspapers had the advertisement for the film ON THE FRONT PAGE.

- It appears that even Saudi Arabia is getting a chance to see the film, albeit through pirated DVD's. There are no movie theatres in Saudi Arabia anyway. God knows what He's doing. I was just reminded what the Apostle Paul writes:

"It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely. But what does it matter? THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IN EVERY WAY (pirated DVDs?), whether false motives or true CHRIST is PREACHED. And because of this I rejoice". (Philippians 1:15-18)

- Timing of the release. The killing of Palestinian Hamas leader, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin happened the morning after the film was released. The Arab response has been a whole new wave of hatred for the Jews, which was illustrated in a large public demonstration/march yesterday. Again, God's timing is so amazing. At a time when the urge for Muslims to hate has been renewed, the Lord has brought THE PASSION telling them - NO, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES! Forgive them! The contrast is staggering.

- Just today a couple local women asked me, "Do you have the New Testament in Arabic"? "Me and ALL my friends want to read it"! Another asked about where to get the Arabic Bible on the internet. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED! The film is generating so much interest in Jesus and the Scriptures. Every Christian we are talking to seems to have a story of two just like this one. May it continue to increase .

There have been several articles in the paper, all positive and surprisingly silent in terms of emphasizing the Islamic belief that Jesus did not die on the cross. People are talking about wanting to go and see it. Pray that many would watch this movie and that it would spark an interest and hunger to know more of Jesus and the Bible. Pray that hearts would be drawn by the love of Jesus. Pray that believers would make the most of this opportunity to talk with their friends, to be available for those who will be impacted by what they see.

You can also go to: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=9343 for an article on the movie's release in Qatar.

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The "Passion" - No Shallow Cross
-by Ashanti Davis.

I saw the Passion of the Christ. I wept through the whole movie. It preached "Christ and Him crucified" better than any church sermon I have heard in a long time. I also believe it was a rebuke to the church, the Body of Christ...

This "secular" movie was more biblically correct than anything I have seen by TBN, and really made most of the messages we hear on Sunday mornings seem very shallow. How can we continue to "preach prosperity messages", and messages that do not teach us to "deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him", "to make no provisions for the flesh", in light of this movie?

In one scene, Jesus EMBRACES the cross looking to Calvery because that WAS His purpose, goal, and deliverance, not only for Him, but for the whole world. The man helping Him, says..."He embraces His cross" [or something like that], and I thought - "but WE never do!"

We are taught as though the Lord serves us, and if anyone suffers, they don't have enough faith, so we don't deny ourselves anything. In fact, we feel that the Lord should gives us whatever we want, and instead of taking up our cross, we reject our cross, and are taught to make EVERY provision for the flesh because surely "the Lord would not want any of His children to suffer, or to be uncomfortable because He died so we could be happy". But He allowed His ONLY begotten Son to go through ALL of that for a GREATER purpose.

I have read many accounts, and most seem to be "disturbed" because the movie was so "bloody", even some Christians are saying they would not recommend it because of this. I was surprised at first because with all the horror movies that come out and the bloodshed that is shown, that remark seems sort of "hypocritical" even coming from the world, but then I rejoiced. This is the first time the "Passion" has been shown in all it's "bloody glory" because it was the BLOOD that defeated satan, it was the BLOOD that saved us, because WITHOUT the shedding of BLOOD, there is NO remission of sins....Hallelujah!!! Even some Christians want a bloodless Calvery, but Jesus had to shed BLOOD, for the Lord said "when I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you" -[bypass you with My judgement]. The BLOOD needed to be shown, for everytime the enemy of our souls sees the BLOOD, he knows he was, and has forever been defeated!!

If we want "rabbit hole" salvation, running from home to church, and back again, not touching anyone in between with the Gospel of Christ. If we want to "preach to the choir" continually, and create "spiritual storehouses" for saints where we recycle saints, and our "harvest" is OLD members from other churches who come to be NEW members in our church, and no real NEW harvest... If we will continue to lift up man, and stroke personalities in our pulpits instead of lifting up Christ, if we want to continue a "sugar coated" Gospel, that is politically correct, instead of preaching CHRIST, the Lord will allow us to, but He will get His true message out, and if HE has to use a secular medium to do it, SO BE IT!!!

When I went to see the movie, the theater was packed, even young people, and couples were there. Everyone went out very sober, reflective even, and I believe the Lord will use this movie to win souls to Himself. I also believe Jesus is soon to come, sooner than we think because the Lord is using any and every thing to win souls. Scripture teaches that the worst sort of people will "make it in" before the religious ones, and I see this coming to pass. Some will leave from a "movie seat" to go on and be with the Lord, while others will be in a "church seat" and remain right there...

Mel Gibson made the movie when it was risky, unpopular, and used his own money when others rejected it. I believe he did it for the Lord alone.