IMM Training in Romania

Next month, a team from IMM will be heading to Oradea, Romania to provide an advanced level course in video editing to the media students of the Eastern European Bible School.

The EEBC in partnership with IMM is developing the second of their dual track of training for there students: Pastoral training and Media training. Seeing the importance of preparing their new leaders with an understanding of the power and workings of media, they have launched what they call "the only Christian media school in the country."

Our goal, at IMM, is to assist these young students to become highly qualified developers of media programs in their own language so that they are prepared to take advantage of the exploding opportunities to communicate the gospel via video and television in this fast developing nation.

Pray for our team.

A New Website for IMM!

We at IMM are proud to announce a brand new website design. We have the same web address, www.imm.edu, but a completely different look. Hope you enjoy it!

Leadership Transition

After nine years of tireless and faithful leadership as directors of IMM, John & Ruth Merrell are stepping down. John will be coordinator and liaison of the partner ministries involved in Open The Bible. His goal is to form a viable partnership in this enormous new effort to make the GOOD NEWS, in a media format, available for the world. God has raised up new leadership to direct IMM - Jerry and Gwen Gibson. The Gibsons have been missionaries with Assemblies of God World Missions since 1989. They spent eight years in Mexico City focusing on youth and student ministries. Also Jerry has served as the Director of Special Projects for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Gibsons currently live in Los Angeles where they direct International Student Friendship Ministries with Chi Alpha, USA. If you would like to know more about them, check out www.jerryandgwen.com. Jerry and Gwen look forward to taking the helm at IMM in January of 2009. Until then, current IMM missionaries, Michael and Dawn Marie Helin, have been named as Interim Directors. Pray for all the team as we transition with great expectations for the future.

Open the Bible Project

This is a generation which listens through its eyes, but for many people the Bible is difficult to understand. The best way for people to understand is through video which makes the Bible come alive in its original culture and also explains its spiritual message for us today. Open the Bible Project. The proposal is for IMM to produce a video library of dramatic biblical re-enactments to be used by several AGWM ministries partnering to create this project. Enough material will be produced in this video library to create 13 half-hour programs suitable for broadcast or DVD. The programs can be viewed individually or as a series. The approach is broadly chronological. For example, the letters of Paul will be placed within the context of his missionary journeys, so the viewer will understand where and why they were written. The programs will be a library of ready-made video material for the partnering ministries. The concept of this video series brings together the ideas and experience of numerous Assemblies of God World Missions ministries such as Global University, Life Publishers, Network 211 and IMM. The ministries will use these incredible video tools for purposes such as Global University interactive courses, Fire Bible inserts, Network 211 internet video streaming, IMM broadcast and podcasting, and Book of Hope follow-up discipleship materials. Languages other than English would be produced via a virtual studio. Major languages under consideration are English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Russian and French. Northern Asia also wants this product and envisions its widespread use. The Pilot: The Gospel of Matthew. It will be a half-hour television program anchored by a presenter, with dramatic re-enactments. This will ensure a visually rich presentation that will attract not only those already interested in biblical studies, but also a general audience. Imagine someone watching either a DVD or Christian broadcast of a segment of Open the Bible. Suddenly the Bible comes alive with vivid images. It’s not just a movie, but it’s a systematic overview of the New Testament. Biblical places and events are shown and dramatized with actors in the right settings; the whole flow of the New Testament comes together. The pilot cost is partially subsidized by the use of dramatic biblical footage already produced by IMM. The remaining production cost of the pilot is $80,000. The pilot will serve as a tangible demonstration of the wide-reaching scope of the entire Open the Bible project.

IMM Ministry Center Dedication

On the 20th of May, the IMM Ministry Center was officially dedicated. We had nearly 100 guests from all around the globe arrive to celebrate with us! AGWM executive leaders, IMM friends and alumni all participated in a day to mark a new season in IMM history. For the first time in over 20 years, IMM has a facility that was designed and built specifically to meet the media needs of our ministry. John Bueno, executive director of Assemblies of God Word Missions, graciously traveled to Spain to oversee the dedication. We are so honored and blessed at what the Lord has done for IMM in providing us with a beautiful building through which to spread His Gospel! Thanks to all who gave to make this a reality. We couldn’t be here without you!

Series 1, People Who Met Jesus in North African Arabic

Series 1, People Who Met Jesus has been licensed by a new IMM partner. They have completed the production of all eight stories in Arabic for a North African country and will distribute 10,000 DVD copies in the summer of 2008. This is a new language making 26 languages for the Bible Series Video Project.