In this enriching episode, we explore the power of saying ‘yes’ to God’s call with Josh and Holly Newel. From the vision of translating the Bible into every language by 2033 to their personal and professional challenges, the Newels share their commitment to breaking down language barriers and spreading the gospel worldwide. Dr. Chrysandra Brunson delves into their love story, faith journey, and the exciting new project to animate the classic Jesus film for the next generation.
00:24:03 Encouragement for Dreamers and Upcoming Projects
00:26:28 Getting Involved and Supporting the Mission
CHRYSANDRA :
Welcome, everyone, to The Calling’s radio show to all the dreamers. I’m your radio host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson, and it is such an honor to be with all of you today. You know, at The Calling, we have realized that so many people are afraid to go after the dreams that Jesus has placed inside each one of our hearts because they are afraid, and they are afraid to fail. And that is just plain wrong because if God has given us a dream and we’re not living it out, we are wasting it and we do not want to die with regret. That’s why at The Calling, we love to inspire, empower, and equip people to, after God’s calling on their lives, to reap the best kind of eternal legacy possible to have immediate impact on ourselves and our families. We love to do this through so many different avenues from custom tools and programs, workshops, seminars, but especially through this radio show where we bring on world-renowned guests who share how they’re going after God’s calling on their lives and how you can do the same. You guys, today is no exception. We are in for such a treat. We have the one and only Josh and Holly Noel. And Josh and Holly, welcome to the show.
JOSH NEWEL :
Thanks, Chrysandra. It’s really great to be with you. And we were so excited when you mentioned the opportunity to come on your show to just talk to your listeners about going after a calling with Abandoned.
CHRYSANDRA :
We love that. And Holly, that both of you guys were able to get on here is very special.
HOLLY NEWEL :
Well, thank you for the invitation. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I love your vision. And you’ve told me about your listeners and they sound like amazing people that we want to hang out with.
CHRYSANDRA :
Oh, well, I have to agree. I think you’re going they’re all going to fall more in love with both of you and just see you guys as family. Can you just share, you know, people are tuning in. They’ve heard your name before. Tell us where they may have heard you from and some of the leadership roles that you are currently leading throughout humanity.
JOSH NEWEL :
Well, for sure. I’ve had the privilege of leading Jesus Film Project for the last seven years. My wife and I, Holly, and I have been doing this together, actually. So we see our common purpose as a married couple being lived out in the context of the mission of Jesus Film Project. And so for 26 years, we’ve been together, married and on full-time staff with Jesus Film Project and Campus Crusade for Christ.
CHRYSANDRA :
That is remarkable. And Josh and Holly, just for those that may have a little bit, they have a little bit of an idea of what the Jesus Film Project or Campus Crusade for Christ is, but not fully. Can you just tell us the vision and mission of the, it’s the largest evangelistic ministry in the world. Is that correct?
JOSH NEWEL :
Well, let’s just say we’re one of the largest. Campus Crusade for Christ was started in the 1950s, now known as CRU in the U.S., but it’s all around the world. It’s almost in every single country. And from that broader ministry of reaching students everywhere, the Jesus film was birthed in the 70s. So now we’re 45 years old as a ministry. to reach everyone in their heart language. And so what we do at Jesus Film Project is take a movie about Jesus from the gospel of Luke and translate it into different languages so that everyone can hear about Jesus in his or her heart language, no matter where they live, no matter how old they are, no matter what language they speak or what background they come from, because everybody deserves a chance to know and follow Jesus.
HOLLY NEWEL :
Yeah, and it’s been a 45-year project. And by God’s grace, we have the Jesus film in over 2,200 languages. And so that can access 98% of the world’s language speakers. And they can hear Jesus say, I love you in their own heart language.
CHRYSANDRA :
It is so, so powerful. And, you know, I had the extreme blessing of being able to be with you guys just recently at one of your incredible just events and just being able to see the mission and vision personally. Did you say that there would be an opportunity for us to be able to have the Bible translated into all languages, perhaps in our lifetime?
JOSH NEWEL :
Yeah, and that’s what is so wonderful about the time that we live in is that we’re living in truly an exponential age, both from a technology standpoint, but in the places that really matter, like with God’s word getting to every single person and every single language. So we’re on that common mission with Bible translation agencies all around the world. Bible has been translated into thousands of languages. There’s still thousands left to do. And yet the rate of acceleration of translation is phenomenal. And by 2033, there’s gonna be a gospel portion available, not gospel, but a Bible portion available in every language, God willing.
CHRYSANDRA :
2023. Oh my, or sorry, 2033. That is, that, I think we’re all just, I mean, everyone hearing that timeline, that is right around the corner. Josh and Holly, what would you say, what is significant about that timeframe?
HOLLY NEWEL :
Well, you know, one of the reasons we’re so excited about the year 2033 is because it’s 2000 years since the birth of the church. And so it’s exciting for us as we meet with different missional partners and denominational partners all around the world. We were just with a group of them in New York City last week. Everyone is rallying around this common moment in history saying, what can we do to work together to put aside our own plans and to share each other’s plans so that we can truly give a gospel presentation to everybody in the world, kind of as a celebration present to the Lord 2,000 years since the birth of the church.
CHRYSANDRA :
That is so, and in terms of scripture and prophecy, with that being laid out, what does that also mean?
JOSH NEWEL :
Well, Jesus is pretty clear about what the quote unquote end will look like, meaning that when the gospel will be preached in Matthew 24, 14, the gospel will be preached to every single nation is what he says. And then the end will come. And. all kinds of believers from different backgrounds have different interpretations of what the end looks like. And I think the most important thing is to focus on what Jesus says will happen, which is that the gospel will be preached to every single nation. And those that I believe those are the times that we’re living in right now, the gospel clearly is available in so many, um, incredible ways when you think about digital or media or traditional ways or just our very presence in our communities as followers of Jesus. Never before in history has the gospel been more available. And yet there are still places where the gospel has not gone at all. And there’s still places where people don’t and have never heard of Jesus. And so that’s the that’s the challenge that we close that gap. and do that according to the Lord’s timeline.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, we have so, we’re so excited to dive into all of this with the Jesus Film Project and crew and everything that you guys are doing. We want to know just personally, both of you, Josh and Holly, just the beginnings of your individual stories and just as little kids, You know, looking back with the different seeds that Jesus may have put inside your heart to now be doing what you are today. What would you say were some of those seeds and how did how did God just start showing that this was what his calling was for you?
JOSH NEWEL :
Yeah, why don’t you go first?
HOLLY NEWEL :
Okay. So, well, I love that the way that you phrase that question is as little kids. So I was a little girl, seven years old, living in the country of Jordan in the capital city of Amman, which is a Muslim country. And my parents were there as missionaries. And I had a little friend who lived across the courtyard whose name was Malik. And I can still picture his face. He was my best friend. And I remember my mom explaining to me that Malik didn’t know about Jesus. Right. And I was crushed. I was devastated because I didn’t one didn’t know how to explain to him about Jesus because he spoke Arabic. I spoke English. And two, I couldn’t imagine that we would not be friends forever and friends for eternity. It was really heavy on my little seven year old heart. And actually, right about that time, I saw the Jesus film for the very first time. The film came out in 1979 and it was quickly translated into other languages. And the first second language it was translated into was Arabic. And someone showed it to my parents and said, here, we can use this film to reach people in the Middle East. And it changed everything about the way that my parents did missions. And it also unlocked something for me that there was a way to share Christ with even my friends in their own language. So that was where the beginning for me.
CHRYSANDRA :
That is incredible, Holly, and that it was actually the Jesus film project that it was that was shown. Wow. Wow. Yeah, pretty neat. So how about for you?
JOSH NEWEL :
Yeah, well, like Holly, I come from a Christian lineage, I would say. And so I’m a fifth generation Christian on the newel side. And from very early age, growing up in the church, literally in the church, our house was an old restored church. And so I couldn’t escape it. And as a kid, that’s all you know. And there’s so many wonderful blessings about being born into that type of culture. But as a teenager, I certainly didn’t appreciate it. Not to nearly the extent that I do now. So it wasn’t until really college that I really caught a burden for the fact that there are people that are dying without Jesus. In fact, I had heard at that point, this would have been the late 90s, that Most people in the world don’t follow Jesus and that had never occurred to me before because all I knew were Christians. And not only that, but many people have never even heard of Jesus because they don’t have a way to understand who Jesus is because the Bible hasn’t been translated into their language. So if you work backwards from all that, my analytical brain was trying to process all that as a 22 year old and realizing that, oh, if people don’t get involved on that front to translate the scriptures and put it into a way in a format that even people who can’t read or write can understand, then there would be no way for people to accept jesus and so i wanted to be part of that gospel supply chain if you will and just do whatever i could and so that that took me from a career that i was pursuing in broadcasting and journalism into what is now full-time missionary work i thought i’d only be doing it for
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, Josh, we want to hear that transition because this is no small role as any role, but especially just the largest servants, the biggest servants that God wants to use. are the presidents, are the ones with these hefty titles, are the biggest servants of all. How did you how did that transition happen? And I know that that really is a you and you and Holly team. But just even to accept that as a family is it’s a huge yes. Mm hmm.
JOSH NEWEL :
Yeah, that’s a really good question. And it’s not something that we undertook lightly. We certainly, as young people, didn’t have a full understanding of what our yes was at that, you know, at different seasons. But I would say every year we’ve had an opportunity to to put our yes back on the table. And in other words, like, I don’t think our yes really came off the table. I love it.
CHRYSANDRA :
And Josh, I’m going to pause you right there. We need to take a short break. But everyone, you’re listening to all the Dreamers radio show. Can’t wait to hear this story unfold. Tune in. Twist and shout with Lee & Co. They are the premier oldies band delivering the rock and roll vibes you’ve been missing. Great songs, great memories. Book them at LeeAndCo.com. Hi guys, this is Chrysandra Brunson, host of To All The Dreamers. I am so happy to introduce personal training, nutritional guidance, and behavioral change coaching. Healthy, happy, and heavenly for your wellness, spirit, soul, and body. Contact Mimi Kroger at healthyhappyandheavenly.com. Continue to grow in the calling God has for you through ORU online.
HOLLY NEWEL :
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JOSH NEWEL :
ORU.edu slash calling.
CHRYSANDRA :
At Ignite Brilliance Coaching, you will get 34 years of science teaching, a decade of university-level instruction, and over 10 years of instructional coaching to empower educators with the tools, mindset, and confidence to thrive. Contact Ignite Brilliance Coaching on Facebook. We are back. Thank you for listening to all the Dreamers radio show. I’m your radio host, Dr. Chrysandra Brunson, founder of The Calling. And right before break, we were just hearing from Josh and Holly Newell, and they are the incredible leaders of the Jesus Film Project. Josh is the president of the Jesus Film Project and Holly. I think, Holly, you’re right underneath there as well. Yeah. Leading it, and you were just sharing, Josh, what it took to be able to say yes to being part and leading as the president.
JOSH NEWEL :
Yeah, I think there’s been three phases of our lives as I reflect on the last 26 years. The first was the young, married, without kids phase, then early kids phase, and then later kids phase. Those three phases, every one of them needed a significant yes. The first one was easy. We had nothing to lose. We had no money, nothing. we still don’t have money but it feels like we had nothing to lose at that point you know yes easy although it felt very weighty because the the world of opportunity was in front of us as 22 23 24 year olds then when we started having kids the dynamic shifted completely because we had we now have four and Each one of them came with more responsibility. How do we how do we take care of these four precious people that the Lord’s put into our lives? And and as young kids, they need so much from parents, from dad and from mom. And so our yes had to be very important. It had to be very considered. And we even moved overseas during that yes and young kids family or young kids period. And then the third yes that we had to give was when our kids started to get older, do we still see know ourselves putting everything that we can into the to the mission in this new season of life and that’s where we are now having launched two kids into their own families and i would say those yeses are different at different times um each one of them carried a discernment period and we had to talk to each other obviously and and look at that but at the end of the day we kept coming back to what is How do we make our lives count together? And what compelling way that we can see that the Lord has given us, giving our unique blend of skills and experience and relationship. What’s the biggest difference that we can make together? And that’s why we keep saying yes to doing this.
CHRYSANDRA :
We love a good love story. So in that union, how did you guys find each other? And what? Take us back to that story.
HOLLY NEWEL :
OK, so I had just graduated from college and I was working on Capitol Hill and part of my job because I was so high up in the congressional office was to open the door and give tours of the Capitol building. That was my glamorous job. No, but really, it was a great, fun way to start a career. And Holly, what was your degree in? I was a political science and religion major. And because I was a missionary kid, the very last thing I ever wanted to do was be in missions. I wanted to do something entirely different with my life. So I was charting my big career in politics. And I got a call from my uncle saying that he had an intern for the summer and the intern had no friends. And could I please? take the intern around D.C. and give him a tour of the Capitol building so he would have something to do. And of course, I thought, this is ridiculous. I do not want this guy must be kind of nerdy. And from the minute he walked into that congressional office, I changed my mind and I gave a great congressional tour. We spent the rest of the summer together. And at that point, Josh was, you know, he was about to graduate from college. He had a whole plan for his life that involved all kinds of interesting things and did not involve
JOSH NEWEL :
working for the lord so i’ll let you take it from there about how god changed your mind on that one well one thing we have to clean up is i had lots of friends lots of things going on in my life i wasn’t i don’t know i have to talk to your uncle about how he sold this but I really found you compelling in that tour. It was fantastic. Thank you. But it just shows what a great communicator Holly is. Yes! I think 90% of it was made-up facts as opposed to… what really happened in American history, but you sold it very well. And I thought, okay, that’s somebody who can really keep on her feet. So those are some of the things I really love about Holly. But she’s really incisive when it comes to discerning what God’s will is. and can clearly articulate that. So as a young person, you know, thinking about like careers and starting, she would keep coming back to, well, how does that going to impact God’s kingdom? And I mean, like, I don’t know. I just want to join ESPN and be a broadcaster, you know, do that type of thing. She’s like, well, are there other ways that you can see God’s gifts showing up and impacting the kid? And I’m like, who are you? I want to spend more time with you. So we, that began our relationship just kind of on that type of footing. And Holly’s been asking powerful questions ever since.
CHRYSANDRA :
I love those are, that is such a fun story. And is there a book about this love story yet? Not yet. Not yet. But thank you. Thank you for asking. Well, it’s coming. It’s coming because that is that’s very powerful. And really what it looks like to be a team on in the planet to be able to live out God’s calling. Would you guys be able to take us to one scenario where you have had to really overcome that? a giant and a Goliath in your way of just pursuing what God has called you to in these life seasons. And I know that there’s probably a variety of them, but one that first comes to mind, what happened and how are you able to persevere?
JOSH NEWEL :
That’s good. You want to lead off first? Yeah, for me, I think being in leadership, is is a constant um barrage of those type of scenarios that you’re just bringing up so choosing just one or the biggest one is is kind of difficult because every day feels like oh i gotta really trust the lord today otherwise i won’t make it through and i think that’s the biggest lesson is that in in leadership at any level but in particular when you’re leading a whole organization that Other people are looking to you too, and other external partners are looking to you to provide vision and clarity on. There’s just been so many opportunities to do it in my own strength, and that’s when I am the biggest failure. When all of the anxiety of leadership to the Lord, and I start out every day in a posture of, okay, God, what you’re bringing me today is an exciting adventure to trust you and to learn more to be like you, then that puts everything back into context. And that has helped me have a lot of resilience, or helped me learn how to trust Him for even bigger things. And to the point where uh we’re we’re embarking on one of the largest projects that jesus film has ever uh taken on in its history and that’s animating the jesus film in a high quality way and to be able to you know pull a project like that together is not a solitary effort and certainly is not something that i can claim that i’ve done but leading a team to um to go after that is a huge challenge. And more than that, it’s an opportunity to discern the Lord’s voice together as a team and as a leader serving to see that happen is a challenge.
CHRYSANDRA :
Wow. Yeah. That is, that is so powerful. You guys were coming up towards the end of our show. We don’t know where time goes, but we’re so grateful that we might have you back, which we love. But before we go, we do actually want to hear the details of the animation of the Jesus film project. And also Holly and Josh, we know that people are tuning in and maybe just one listener in particular and And they know what God has called them to, but they haven’t been able to have the courage to step forward or just hesitant. What would you tell them would be the greatest wisdom and encouragement to move full force forward? And then we want to hear all about this upcoming project.
HOLLY NEWEL :
OK, well, let me speak to that listener and then I’ll let Josh talk about the animated project. So I would just say that my life verse has been Exodus 14, 14. The Lord himself will fight for you. You need only to be still. And so I would say that if you feel like the Lord is calling you into something, you don’t have to do it all on your own. Stand with the Lord. He is in it with you and trust that he’s going to fight the battles for you. And watch, just watch and see what will happen. I think you’ll be amazed. That certainly has been the story of my life. Yeah. So good.
JOSH NEWEL :
Well, yeah, a practical example of that is this animated project. We know that the Jesus film has been translated, as Holly said, into almost 2,300 languages at this point. And there’s incredible legacy to Steward. Yeah. And yet it’s a 46-year-old movie, and it’s not always what we would consider to be the most engaging medium or format for next-generation audiences. And so the question is, how do you create something that can both rely on the legacy and the impact of the Jesus film that’s been shown in every single country on Earth and billions of times? How do you take that and make it applicable for the next generation? And so we’ve contracted with an amazing studio out of South Africa called Sunrise, and they have put together a great and amazing.
CHRYSANDRA :
And they just came out with the David film, right? They were just on.
JOSH NEWEL :
They were doing David. They are doing David. And so if you’re watching that, then you’re going to get a sneak preview of the quality care and stewardship of that studio when it comes to the story of Jesus in a few years time. And so we’re going through that journey. We’re just getting started on pre-production. They’re doing an amazing job. Even as they are launching David, they are working hard. And of course, David is the precursor to Jesus. in the Bible and in the film world. And so we really are excited about that. Bill Cunningham is an amazing servant of Jesus and his team are just incredible. So we’re really grateful to be on this journey together.
CHRYSANDRA :
Jesus is so good. They were just on and I don’t think there could be a better partner for this animation. I have goosebumps of just thinking about it and the power of it and I’m so excited. Josh and Holly, Everyone wants to be able to get in touch with both of you personally, as well as get involved within the Jesus Film Project and would highly encourage everyone to be able to financially, prayerfully support the Jesus Film Project in any way that the Lord leads. How can everyone tuning in do that?
JOSH NEWEL :
pretty easy jesusfilm.org is the is the hub for all that communication um i’m sure there’ll be links to bios and social media on your program too so you can follow us um and in those ways but really grateful that you had us on today Chrysandra and it’s it’s just a privilege to be able to talk about what god um has done in our lives and um and be part of his bigger story
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, we love you, Josh and Holly, so much. And highly encourage everyone, if you’re driving, go pull over. Go follow Josh and Holly. Follow the Jesus Film Project on social media. Get involved. Go to their website right away. You’ll find all the tools and resources, how you can reach your community with the gospel. Till next time, dreamer. Keep dreaming big.
