Media Tools Through the Years
Filmstrips and Mobile Units
Simon Sithole had heard a radio broadcast by missionaries under the Central Africa Mission. The follow-up program had been coordinated by Robert Mills from South Africa who was 2,000 miles away. Simon told Robert he wanted to become a Christian, so Robert contacted Ziden. In Rhodesia, gasoline cost $4.85 a gallon in 1965. (In todays economy, this would equal $47.68/gallon.) It was 250 miles from the Nutts' home to Mt. Darwin where Mr. Sithole lived, but they made the trip. They found that Simon was an incredible person, and God gave him incredible energy to bicycle 55-60 miles on some Sundays to preach the gospel in three different churches. Ziden asked Simon how he could do this. With great surprise, Simon said, "Why Mr. Nutt, it is God not me."
Simon was later shot by terrorists. Yet in his six years as a Christian, God used Simon to baptize over 2,000 people. Simon Sithole also played the lead role in the first 16mm film ever produced by GNPI.
Ziden, Mike Schrage, and Mary, a member of the Pokot tribe from the Rift Valley of Kenya, worked on a filmstrip for her people. One member of parliament said he had seen missionaries drill wells and give food and clothing to his people, but this project had a greater impact on his people than anything else.
Mobile Units were used in Africa, India, and the Dominican Republic.
Solar Kits
Missionary Robert Morse asked GNPI to find a new way to show filmstrips in remote areas. By January 1978, this challenge led to the development of variations of the Solar Kits and productions in 12 languages.
1983 - Ron and Patrizia Morse took the first completed solar-powered backpack for outreach among the hill tribes of Thailand and Burma (Myanmar).
Seindang Sakram was an Ozark Bible College student who helped produce filmstrips in Rawang. He requested an audiovisual pack from GNPI after returning to his homeland. Seindang had a difficult journey to get the pack, but he said it was worth it all.
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am very sorry that I have been lacking to get in touch with you for over a year. I walked through an area I did not know was restricted and was put into prison. For three months I was at the end of a whip 154 hours a day making gravel from larger stones. It was worth it all because on that trip I got the audio-visual pack. When I used to have preaching, I would have 40 or 50 people and tens of baptisms. Now, since I have the pack, crowds are more like 500 to 600 with hundreds of baptisms. Thank you. May God richly bless you.
Seindang Sakram
As of 2024, nearly 900 kits have gone out to more than 50 countries.
Video Series and Satellite Technology
During the 1980s, one of the most significant projects was videotaping teachers and preachers for English-speaking colleges around the world. US churches also used the videos extensively. The videos were first distributed by mail and later via satellite technology.
Ben Merold, a minister who served in churches, including Eastside Christian Church in CA, and Harvester Christian Church in MO, recorded a few teaching series on Christian leadership.
Boyce Mouton, a local preacher and author, interviewed hundreds of people who shared testimonies of what God was doing in their lives during the 1980s and 1990s through the "Venture in Faith" series.
In this photo, Boyce visited with Steve Saint and members of the Waorani Indian tribe from Ecuador. Steve was five years old when his father, Nate Saint, was killed by the Waorani Indians. Many of the Waorani later became Christians. The story is told in Elisabeth Elliot's book "Through Gates of Splendor" and the "End of the Spear" film.
In 1976, NASA offered churches time to broadcast Bible-only Christian TV programs overseas via Satellite No. 6. Christian leaders from 37 major denominations banded together in a unified effort to present the gospel.
By January 10, 1987, the equipment arrived at GNPI to enable satellite communication as a delivery system for over 1,000 monthly leadership training lessons and over 750 broadcast sites of group meetings, distance learning projects with colleges, and many cable TV hookups. Sixty-five churches and individuals pledged $5,000 each to fund this project.
Senator Richard Webster and OCC President Ken Idleman joined Sam Stone and Mark Taylor of Christian Standard Publishing to dedicate the satellite communication system. The first broadcast was on April 18, 1987.
Internet Technology
Internet technology revolutionized global connectivity. The Internet gave a whole new meaning to distance learning, video streaming, news gathering, data transmission, and best of all, sharing the Good News.
GNPI-India produces Hindi Church Online weekly in partnership with Central India Christian Mission. In 2023, GNPI-India released the Christmas broadcast to an audience of 10 million with over 1.1 million views through social media. Preaching Christ is illegal in India. Yet the government allows it on Easter and Christmas, so broadcasting is one of the most effective ways to deliver the gospel.
"Amazing Stories" is an animated video project featuring 10 Old Testament and 10 New Testament stories. God's been writing this amazing backstory for years. What started as one small book for a few will now tell God's story to children everywhere. As of 2024, the project is available in nine languages and as a Bible plan series on the YouVersion Bible App.
GNPI study plans featuring "The Global Gospel" are available on the YouVersion Bible App in 27 languages!
GNPI content is viewed by people in every country and province of the world except North Korea through our partnership with Free Bible Images.
Related Videos
Fernando's Story (2:26)Fernando Basso, a Christian worker in Madagascar, used this projector to help reach his goal of sharing the gospel in the 500 Bara villages.
The Story Behind Amazing Stories (4:26)It’s now official—all 20 episodes of Amazing Stories in English are finally complete. You have been an important part of this story from the beginning! Join us as we look back at the amazing story behind Amazing Stories.
Everett Forkner Reflections (13:03)President Mike Schrage and GNPI's founding/longtime board member Everett Forkner talk about how GNPI began and grew through the years.
Ziden's History of GNPI in 2020 (4:00)Ziden shares highlights of the ministry of GNPI.
The Source of Privilege (19:26)Growing up as a white boy in a black town and later serving as a missionary in Africa, Ziden Nutt recognizes great privilege in his life. Yet, it might look different than you’d expect. Learn how God has shaped Ziden’s path through these blessings.
Faith Greater than Fear (20:55)When you’ve experienced food rationing during war, other outbreaks like the measles, and remote missionary work in Africa, today’s pandemic can be taken in stride.