Just days before we left Belgium for itineration in the US we were asked to participate in shooting four songs in Spanish by Allpa Yuraq, a group of Christian musicians from Peru. Francine was asked to produce, direct and edit the music videos (and Larry supervised the audio), to be part of a program for broadcast on Belgian National Television. The songs were originally to be shot in our studio, but when Francine heard they were street musicians, she convinced the executive producer that an outdoor "location shoot" would be far more artistic. The ruins of an old abbey at Villers-la-Ville, Belgium (c. 967 AD) was selected as the site. Most of what is left standing is ivy-covered walls and a little roof with no windows or doors -- a beautiful setting, open to the elements and offering an awesome backdrop to the videos.
The three or four days previous had been beautiful and sunny, but the day of the taping dawned drizzly and cold (a typical Belgian day!) -- not the best of conditions for an outdoor shoot! After having devotions and prayer at home, we felt we should at least give it a try. We prayed for a second time before leaving the house for the office to pick up equipment and crew.
We arrived at the old abbey in an absolute deluge of rain. Huddled in the van with the crew, we prayed again. Francine located a place inside that had a partial roof and walls to break the wind, albeit with huge window openings. In faith, we set up the equipment. The music group -- a father, his three sons and their neighbor -- arrived with their instruments. Although they were shivering from the cold, they agreed to go ahead. Together we prayed for the shoot, the broadcast opportunity, the weather and the equipment.
The rain lessened to a drizzle as we started rolling tape. The Lord had truly answered our prayer!
As we proceeded through the second take, the sun tried to break through the drizzle. Then our crane, which raises the camera about 14 feet in the air, started to malfunction. It would not allow the operator to tilt the camera, a move vital to the shoot, causing Francine to quickly choose alternative shots.
The sun began to shine through the still-overcast sky, and the chill started to ease as we shot several "takes." While moving the camera to yet another location, one of the camera operators noticed the "18dB" switch had been inadvertently thrown on the camera (this switch is only for very low-light situations and is not used in normal light). Since we had been shooting in partial sunlight for more than two hours, a thrown switch would result in a washed-out picture. We proceeded, silently praying that what we had so far was salvageable since we weren't sure when it was thrown.
Prior to leaving the office for the shoot, Francine packed the Hi-8 camera, thinking that it's "consumer-quality," hand-held images might be good artistic "fill-footage" for the music video style she had in mind. In the end, the Hi-8 images saved the shoot. A great deal of the professional footage had in fact been shot with the switch thrown and all of the sunlit areas in the picture were "burned" white. Francine had previously given some thought to making at least one of the videos in black and white. The decision was made for her -- the only way to salvage some of the footage from the professional camera was to remove all color in the editing process. She produced one of the videos in black and white and the other a combination of black and white and color.
The music videos, plus two more that Francine shot in the studio, interviews of the musicians and a segment about martyred pastors in Peru became part of a program called " The Gospel in Latin America", shown on Belgian national television (RTBF) on Sunday, March 5th at 11 AM. Two of the music videos were shown the following evening at 11 PM. The Videos were also sent to Estonia, where some former IMM video seminar students are producing a 30-minute program aimed at non-Christian youth. They used as the opening song in their premier program, aired in December, "Victoria" -- the first of the two videos shot that cold rainy day at Villers-la-Ville. When we have had time in some of our services, we have shown one of these music videos, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We know God is going to use these videos greatly.
Our trip to Moscow in August 1993 has begun to bear fruit. Our original goal was to provide Russian pastors with a Russian version of International Media Ministry's French children's program "Boulevard des Enfants" for use in Sunday Schools and home evangelism. In our search for a producer and production facility we met with the head of Russia's Animated Cartoon Unit. We were surprised when she told us she wanted to broadcast the finished programs! Francine explained that the programs were very evangelical, teaching Bible verses, songs, and telling of the need for a personal relationship with Christ. "We need this in our country," she replied! You may remember the miracle God did in allowing us to find an excellent translator/producer right in the hotel where we were staying.
The first series of 12 programs plus a Christmas special were completed in July. We have just learned that these are now being aired on at least 9 stations in the CIS and/or Republics. In addition, the Ukraine is televising them and broadcast tapes have recently been sent to Western Siberia. It has also been reported that the programs are being shown in Almaty, Kazakstan and Belgrade, a city in the war-torn country once known as Yugoslavia. We anxiously await reports of changed lives through this simple presentation of the Gospel.
Thanks For New Support!
We praise God for new and increased support that will enable us to return to our work with International Media Ministries.
Thanks to:
Fontana Calvary Assembly
Hanford Glad Tidings Assembly
Lakewood Life Center
Lemoore Assembly of God
Lucerne Valley Assembly
In addition to the above churches are several individuals that have made a new or additional pledge. We sincerely thank you all for your willingness to sacrifice for His work!
New Partners Wanted!
We have been given a period of time in the United States to seek partners that will pray for us and pledge financial support to our ministry. We must raise a substantial amount before we can return to Belgium and our work with International Media Ministries.
We have a "ways to go", however. Our desire is that you would pray about helping us in one of several ways:
1. Some of our partners have never filled out a pledge form and are sending their gift in each month.
Since the Division of Foreign Missions looks at our pledged support to determine our progress, we will contact you to urge you to fill out a pledge form.
2. Some of our partners filled out a pledge form but are consistently sending a larger gift than they pledged each month. Again, we will contact you to urge you to update your pledge.
3. If you have already pledged support to us, would you consider increasing your pledge?
4. If your church has not presently pledged support to us, would you consider helping us meet our goal by doing so?
5. If you are an individual, would you speak to your pastor or missions board about supporting us?
We sincerely appreciate your care and concern for us. We've said it before, but we really couldn't do it without you! May God bless you!
Prayer & Praise Notes
We PRAISE GOD for:
The successful taping of a new children's program at IMM during the past few weeks.
The addition of new ministry partners and the faithfulness of our current partners.
Our safety during long hours on the road.
We ASK PRAYER for:
New pledged support and cash so we can return to our work.
New opportunities to broadcast programs that proclaim the message of Christ.
God's blessing on the recent marriages of our children, Arik and Jody, and Nicole and Gary.
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