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making a difference
Inappropriate Freedom
Typically the grocery store was a place where I rushed through the straight aisles like a rat searching for its cheese reward at the end of a maze. But this day was different. The coolness and mellow lighting was soothing to me as I leaned on my cart, hoping it would support my tired self. I turned into another aisle when I saw him. I didnt know his name, but I had seen him before in the local grocery store. He was a young man who looked about 30 and had mental and physical disabilities. He seemed to always be with the same caretaker, trudging along behind her. But as I said, today was a different kind of day. As I came closer to where he stood, he lifted both arms straight up in the air, looked me right in the eyes and shouted, HE IS RISEN! Although I didnt raise my arms and shout, my knee jerk response was the very answer that we give in our church on Easter morning, He is risen indeed! His smile back at me was remarkable. His caretaker was disturbed and seemed not to know who to silence, him or me! However, she told him to be quiet and leave people alone. Posturing back to his usual trudge, he put his head down as he continued to walk along. I kept trudging too. It had happened so quickly. I was asking myself, Did that REALLY just happen? Then I was ashamed that I had not affirmed his joyful and impulsive act of faith. So I quickly went back to the aisle where they walked and came close with my cart. I looked at him and said, What is your name? He told me. I called him by name and said, Jesus IS risen, and you gave me a good day when you said it right here in the store. Thank you. He beamed at me. His caretaker politely nodded and said, We are trying to teach him not to have outbursts. My point? This man was free. He may not have been free in his body, but he was free in his soul and his spirit. I believe that the Spirit of freedom can often recognize it in another. Some are more open and perceptive than others. Im sure I did not appear very free as I tiredly pushed my grocery cart. However, I am freeeven when I dont feel it. So are you. Now, I am not suggesting we all go out and raise our hands and shout in public places. Then we would be accused of having an outburst, and of course we dont want that. We are too civilized for that. But even in the middle of July, we can celebrate the Easter source of our freedom. It is the RISEN Christ. Like my perception of the grocery store, some of our days are perceived as an endless maze of details and decisions and hot-and-tired trudging along. This earthly life can be a rat race and, of course, we are the rats. But thank God for those free people who startle us as we trudge in the numbing quest for our personal cheese! They spontaneously raise their perspective arms and shout, HE IS RISEN. We can choose to join them with the glad agreement that freedom gives, or we can inwardly scold them for having an outburst that is inappropriate. We can keep trudging or thank them. We can let them be separate from us, or we can choose to join them. Are you free? You can be. Despite circumstances or relationships, you can be free. Why? Because true freedom takes a second glance past the disabilities of life and of others, and even of ourselves, and shouts, HE IS RISEN! Yes, He is risen indeed.
Darla France is the Executive Director of Life Touch Ministries. www.lifetouchmin.org

It had been a long, hot July day for me as the air conditioning in our office was not working.

by Darla France

Issue 7

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MAgdalena in Action
This Is Freedom
hether writing a song, a Bible study or a book, Karyn Williams is acutely aware of the power of words and devotes her life to using them to uplift and encourage. Karyn explains, Music has a way of healing in a way that sometimes nothing else can. Karyns unrelenting trust in God provides the foundation for her life and is woven throughout her songs. This Is Freedom, found on Karyns debut album, Only You, fits perfectly with the message of freedom in Christ found in Magdalenawhich features biblical women whose lives were dramatically changed by Jesus.Thats why the Magdalena Team decided to partner with Karyn to produce a new music video. As people watch the video, pray they will grasp the true meaning of freedom. You just never know how God is going to use your songs, says Karyn. All we can do as songwriters is pour out our hearts and leave it up to Himlet go of it and then trust God with the results. For more about Karyns music, visit www.KarynWilliams.com. T o view the music video, go to www.MagdalenaT oday.com.

The Justice Conference

T he Justice Conference draws justice workers, students and
learners from all over the world, promoting dialogue about justicerelated issues such as human trafficking, slavery, and human rights. Seeing a great need and a great opportunity, Magdalena representatives set up an exhibit booth at the conference held in Philadelphia this year. They explained to ministry leaders and conference attendees how they could use the Magdalena movie and Reflections of Hope Bible study to bring a message of hope and freedom in Christ to people in need. Jeanne, who directs The Samaritan Women, a Christian restoration home for victims of human trafficking, shared this story a few weeks after the conference: One of our survivors was having a rough day and I gave her the Magdalena DVD. She watched it alone and said she wept during the stoning scene. This resident is pretty special. Shes had a hard life since age 12 and yet whats coming out now is a wildly creative and hopeful spirit. As a result of the film, shes inspired to write her own playan interplay between the story of Jesus casting the demons out of the woman [Mary Magdalene] and her own experience with being delivered from all the demons (johns) in her life. This gal is really quite talented; Im eager to see what she creates! Who knowsyour next movie? As He wills it will be. Thank you so much for the work that you do and the impact it has.

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Magdalena Milestone
into its 100th language, Malagasythe language spoken by most people indigenous to the island nation of Madagascar. Here are some of the first fruits of this endeavor. On Saturday, April 20, Magdalena premiered in the Malagasy language at three churches in Antanarivo, the capital of Madagascar. The first showing, a dedication, had many local church leaders in attendance. At another showing, about 250 people attended, and 45 people indicated a desire to follow Christ. The next day, a large church hosted an evening showing of Magdalena. More than 2,400 people from the congregation attended. After the showing, women had the opportunity to sign up for training to learn how to share Magdalena with friends, family and neighbors. Most of the women raised their hands to commit to the training. Over the next week, the congregation hosted more than 1,000 small group showings of Magdalena. About a week later, Magdalena premiered on the local TV PLUS station. Then, in early May, Magdalena played on three other TV stations in Madagascar. People all over the country and neighboring islands had the opportunity to see one of the very few movies in their own language! It is estimated that more than 2 million people viewed Magdalena in less than a months time!

A few months ago, Magdalena was dubbed

Magdalena showing in Madagascar

Most of the women at a large church showing raised their hands to commit to Magdalena training.

this story with us.

Recently Jo Ann of Orlando went to Russia to visit missionary friends. She shared

T o Russia With Love

A few days before I left for my trip, I thought it would be great to take with me a copy of the Magdalena DVD in Russian . . . but I did not know how I could get a copy on such short notice. The Sunday before I left, I saw a friend of mine in church who works for The JESUS Film Project. I told her about it [wanting to show the film], and she said that she had a copy with her in her car that day. I was so thankful to God! I gave the DVD to my friends, and while I was there they showed it at their weekly soup kitchen to a dozen seniors. Irina told me that some of the seniors had tears in their eyes as they watched the movie. I was thankful again that God enabled me to assist my friends in their ministry by bringing them the Magdalena DVD.

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The JESUS Film Project A Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ
100 Lake Hart Drive, #3100 Orlando, FL 32832
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