On Jan 21, a two person JESUS Film Project recording team from Orlando, Florida arrived to Bribri, Costa Rica to begin the recording of the JESUS Film in the language of Cabecar. The total cost was $38,000 of which JESUS Film Project contributed $19,000. Thanks to the generous donors of JESUS Film Harvest Partners, the remaining $19,000 was raised to record the multiple voice version in the language of the Cabecar people, an indigenous tribe in Costa Rica numbering nearly 17,000 people.
The Church of the Nazarene in the Central District of Costa Rica is working in the area of Tayni where more than 3,000 Cabecar live. There is one organized Nazarene church and one mission church in the area. The JESUS Film in Cabecar will be a great resource for evangelism among the Cabecar people.
David and Shelley Webb, missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene, visited the home of missionary friends with River of God, Inc., David and Lucy Jones, who hosted the team in Bribri, Costa Rica. David Jones grew up as a missionary kid among the indigenous people and speaks the language fluently. He arranged to host the approximately thirty Cabecar readers and made a sound studio in his home for the recording.
Some of the Cabecar people walked six hours to arrive for the recording. Others walked two to three hours and then took a bus to arrive to Bri-bri. Since the Cabecar people are spread out in the region, many of them had not met before. It was wonderful to see the fellowship and hear testimonies of God’s faithfulness among the Cabecar from eleven different communities. These are dedicated Christians who want to see the JESUS Film in their heart language so they can share it with others.
The recording took nine days to complete, working morning until evening. The group enjoyed a time of fellowship together in the evenings. One evening, the Cabecar man who is reading the voice of Jesus, Israel, spoke to the group sharing his testimony.
Israel met David Jones’ brother, Timothy, many years ago as a teen in his village. He was interested in what he said, but his parents were afraid and told him it was dangerous information and that he should not have anything to do with him. Timothy continued to preach and teach, and although Israel would not go too near, he would stand with his back to Timothy and listen intently from afar. The message of the Gospel reached his heart and he received Christ as Savior. He has had a dream for many years of having the JESUS Film in Cabecar since they only can show the Spanish version and not everyone can understand it. To record the Jesus Film in Cabecar is a dream come true for Israel.
David Jones’ parents, Aziel y Marion Jones, moved to the indigenous area of Costa Rica in the 1950s and learned the language. Later, they developed the written language of Cabecar and wrote the first version of the New Testament. The second version of the New Testament was completed in 2013, and the Old Testament is currently in process.
The JESUS Film in Cabecar may be ready as soon as April. Thank you to David Jones and his family, to JESUS Film Project for producing the video, and to each donor who helped make this recording possible. Pray that the Cabecar people would be receptive to hearing and receiving the Gospel as they listen in their heart language.
Information provided by: David and Shelley Webb are global missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene. They are assigned to the Mesoamerica Region and live in Costa Rica.
