How one film changed everything

Dr. Tariku Fufa has never forgotten the night he brought his three friends to a showing of “JESUS.”

Nearly 10,000 people stretched in every direction over the Ethiopian countryside, all eyes fixed on a single glowing screen.

He knew the story. He already believed. But he had no idea how God was about to move.

“The moment the film started … we all cried,” Tariku remembers. “When Jesus spoke Oromo (the local language), literally, we thought that was Jesus and that was His voice … It was [a] very powerful time.” 

Everyone in attendance — including Tariku’s three friends — knelt down on the dusty soccer field and decided to follow Christ. 

It was the first time he saw how God could use the “JESUS” film to draw people to Himself, and it would not be the last. That experience left a deep impression on Tariku. He is now a missionary in Harare, Zimbabwe, serving as the director of Cru®'s Global Church Movements for Africa. 

Tariku came to know and follow Jesus at age 13. Being one of the few Christians in his hometown at the time, he faced persecution and suffered for his faith in Jesus — even at the hands of his own father. Still, Tariku pressed on in his faith. 

While attending university, Tariku took advantage of every opportunity to share his faith through the “JESUS” film. 

“I used the ‘JESUS’ film when I was on campus for four years, showing it every week in the nearby church,” shared Tariku. “At the time we had … 1,600 students coming every Thursday evening for that. Hundreds [of] thousands of students over the period of four years — their lives were impacted, changed. They came to know the Lord. It was so fulfilling.”

After graduating, Tariku returned to his alma mater years later as campus missionary staff with Cru. In this role, he continued to use the “JESUS” film to reach students with the gospel. 

“[The] ‘JESUS’ film, again, was my best evangelistic tool, discipleship tool, leadership development tool,” Tariku said. “The ‘JESUS’ film was part and parcel (an essential component) of my ministry.” 

Tariku later decided to show the “JESUS” film in his hometown, where most still followed a faith that was not Christianity. On the evening of the event, local mosques were empty — everyone went to the film showing instead. Around 2,000 people in Tariku’s hometown watched the film that night, and hundreds made decisions to follow Christ as a result — including Tariku’s father. 

“After that, he became my best prayer supporter and he led a lot of people to Christ,” Tariku said. “The ‘JESUS’ film played a key role in my spiritual development, in my ministry and then [in] bringing my own dad to Christ.” 

His story is one among countless others that demonstrate how God can use a tool like the “JESUS” film to change lives. Download the Jesus Film app today to learn more about how you can see a similar impact in your community.