Journey to Jesus
Care and Support for Immigrants and Refugees
Meeting the physical and spiritual needs of your refugee and immigrant neighbors can be a great way to show them the love and light of Jesus. However, it can be challenging for those working with immigrant populations to find effective resources that point to the gospel.
Journey to Jesus provides you with a range of tools and curated ministry resources in one place. While this journey is designed specifically for North African and Middle Eastern people groups, it can easily be adapted for any people group.
The journey is organized into four scopes that allow you to address different physical and spiritual needs. Please note that this journey is not a linear process. You may begin at any of the four scopes as you discern the needs that you are addressing. If you are unsure of where to begin, prayer is always a good starting point.
Meeting Physical Needs
Starting life over again in a foreign place can be overwhelming. You can begin building relationships with your immigrant and refugee neighbors by helping meet their basic physical needs. Showing and providing authentic care can lead to deeper, more spiritual conversations.
Practical Help
This resource highlights specific ways newcomers may need assistance. This guide also provides links to helpful resources so you can be well informed as you reach out to those who are adjusting to new life in the United States.
Inviting Into Community
We can deepen relationships with our refugee and immigrant neighbors by inviting them to share meals, traditions and community events. We can also provide opportunities for non-native English speakers to learn and practice English.
Window to the World Curriculum
This digital version of the “Window to the World” book combines a 12-lesson English curriculum with clips from the JESUS film to provide English-language learners with a structured format for exploring new vocabulary through Jesus-related stories.
Conversational English Using Short Films
This guide helps promote English proficiency with non-native speakers. Simply screen any of the 18 free, conversation-focused short films listed. Use the provided discussion questions to ignite spiritual conversations and foster relationships.
Connecting Through Holidays
This informative resource provides suggestions for building connections and encouraging deeper conversations on Western holidays, as well as a list of significant Middle Eastern holidays and celebrations.
Nurturing Spiritual Curiosity
As always, we expect the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us as we interact with our refugee and immigrant neighbors. Jesus Film ProjectⓇ offers a variety of interactive tools to facilitate conversations when opportunities arise to discuss faith.
Host a Multi-Language Outreach Using Magdalena
Reach women with the life-changing message of Jesus’ love and forgiveness through this one-time outreach event. Magdalena (available in over 200 languages) portrays Jesus’ tender regard and compassion for women. The Multi-Language Outreach Guide will help you prepare and host your event, as well as train volunteers.
How to Host a Short Film Festival
A short film festival builds on the power of film to provide a fun and relational way to spark spiritual conversations. Whether your event is in-person or virtual, How to Host a Short Film Festival provides a complete guide for hosting this type of outreach.
Soularium
The SoulariumⓇ tool can help start meaningful conversations. Use the 50 original, photographic images and five simple questions to engage with others on topics surrounding life and God.
Short Film Strategies
You can use short films to spark conversations, encourage discussion and surface interest in Jesus and Christianity. We offer several short films that feature little or no dialogue, as well as many short films in Arabic.
Building Up New Believers and Those Who Are Spiritually Interested
Jesus Film Project offers Bible studies and discussion aids to help new believers build a solid Christian foundation, and to encourage those who struggle with doubts or have questions about faith in Jesus.
Do You Ever Wonder…?
Do You Ever Wonder…? is an animated, eight-part video series that addresses common questions both seekers and new believers may have about the Christian faith. Each video is accompanied by discussion questions for conversation and study. Find related reading plans for this series on the YouVersion app.
Reflections of Hope and Rivka
We want to help women everywhere get to know Jesus. The films and Bible studies for women on this page are designed to help women grow in their spiritual journey and to bring the story of Jesus to women who do not yet know his story.
Cru Follow Up
This series of webpages from our parent ministry CruⓇ helps new followers of Jesus grow in their faith. Beginning with the topic “Your New Life in Christ”, this simple tool provides an outline of the foundational concepts of Christianity. It also includes a leader’s guide at the end.
Basic Bible Study Tool
This basic Bible study tool consists of five clips from the JESUS film and one from the LUMO series, along with general follow-up questions. The strategy allows you to guide both new and seasoned Christians to take a deeper look at some of Jesus’ miracles as described in the New Testament.
More Resources
Helpful Websites
- Answering Islam
- Crescent Project
- I Found the Truth (YouTube)
- International Conversation Cafe
- Nabeel Qureshi
- Stories of the Prophets (Global Church Movements training materials)
- The Immigrant Guide
- FreeJesusFilm.org