The Lao HOPE - Used by God, Even in Death!
- Posted: 2019-08-15
Some HOPE versions have been pulled off by a lone missionary. Others, like the Lao HOPE, involve many partners over much time. In 2016, missionaries, Tom and Gayle Silkwood, began The HOPE in Lao, the primary language of Laos. They intended to use it in their ministry and as a bridge for creating several tribal versions for smaller pockets of people within the country. But then Tom passed away suddenly. And though Gayle felt committed to their vision, God sent our partners at School to the Nations to help complete the project.
In the Spring of 2019, Christian leaders from across Laos were invited to a premiere screening at a Church. When it became apparent that local authorities intended to raid the event thereby harassing and possibly arresting attendees, the premiere was called off. But God had another plan.
Through the ministry of that Church, a homeless man had recently come to faith in Christ. He prayed that God would use him, not knowing that he would pass away within days of the previously scheduled premiere. Leaders in the Church recognized that God had provided the perfect cover for a large gathering that would not be questioned by the authorities...a funeral. The premiere was quickly rescheduled. A memorial service was held on the first floor and the premiere was held on the second floor. In the man’s death, his prayer to be used of God was answered.
The Lao HOPE did not come easy. But, when images from the movie illuminated the screen, the Laotians were filled with joy seeing their own people in a glorious presentation of God’s redemptive story.
Both The Lao HOPE movie and the 167-page, in-depth Study Guide were completed and released. These new resources for the more than 7 million Lao speakers in Laos and SE Asia are available on www.thehopeproject.com, and in the Mars Hill store for download. A Facebook page has also been set up: https://www.facebook.com/Hope4Lao/ for social media ministry. Share this with missionaries you know in that part of the world.
Mike Goggins and a group from his church in California like to create opportunities to share the Gospel by renting kiosks in local malls on certain weekends and engaging people that walk by with a survey regarding their thoughts about spirituality and God. In the past, they have given out DVDs of The HOPE as well as other literature to anyone who was interested in learning more about what the Bible has to say. 
Multiple times a year The HOPE is broadcast throughout the Middle East in Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish. Each of these broadcasts goes out to tens of millions of households. Our broadcast partners have secure methods to respond to viewers who have spiritual questions and prayer requests. Sometimes these satellite programs and responders are the only contact that isolated believers have with other Christians.
Medical and dental missionaries in Cameroon Africa obtained DVDs of The HOPE, both in French and in English with African Storytellers, to show in the hospital's waiting room. The doctors told us that one of their greatest joys is to talk with the patients about what they saw in The HOPE. They also acquired the rights to distribute low-resolution download copies that are suitable for viewing on smartphones. They give these copies to people who are interested in watching the movie again and also to people while making house calls. 
April of 2018, in a remote Bankariya village in Nepal, one of our ministry partners showed The Nepali HOPE on a solar-powered movie projector. The Bankariya are an unreached people group of about 500 people. Their heart language is Awadhi, but they speak Nepali as a second language. They live in scattered small villages in the Chure mountain range of Nepal.