October 13, 1999
Layman wants all Texans to see 'Jesus'
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___DALLAS--By next Easter, everybody in America should have the opportunity to see Jesus, Alabama layman Bob Cosby believes.
___Cosby already has done his share to make that vision a reality. He's contributed almost $3.5 million and three and one-half years to distributing "Jesus," the film biography of Christ, to every household in Alabama.
___The "Jesus" film, produced by Campus Crusade for Christ, has been translated into 500 languages. More than 1.5 billion people have seen the film worldwide, Cosby said.
___And half the viewers have made professions of faith in Christ, said Dustin Etheredge, national coordinator for Campus Crusade's "Jesus" video project.
___The "Jesus" film provides "a wonderful opportunity to share our faith with people who need to hear the gospel," noted Gary Cook, president of Dallas Baptist University, where Cosby and Etheredge spoke on a "barnstorming tour" to promote nationwide home-by-home distribution of the video.
___Cosby, a Presbyterian physician from Birmingham, left his medical practice more than four years ago to heed the call of Bill Bright, president of Campus Crusade, to place "Jesus" in every household in the nation.
___ In 1997, Cosby offered up to $2.7 million in matching funds to distribute the film across Alabama. But only one $100,000 gift--from his accountant--materialized.
___At first, Cosby was discouraged, he admitted. "But as my back was turned, God continued to work," he added.
___Years ago, Cosby invested in an airline whose stock had appreciated. He calculated that if the stock reached $65 per share, he could sell 50,000 shares and fund the Alabama "Jesus" project himself.
___He was tempted to sell when the stock hit $63 per share but decided to wait. Then, it fell to $57. "I had to remind myself that the Great Commission is God's idea, not mine," he recalled.
___The stock turned around and rose to $65, and he directed the stock to be sold. However, the sell order didn't execute, and he had to wait until morning.
___When he awoke, the stock had climbed to $65.50. He waited awhile longer and gave the sell order at $66.75. By the time the stock actually sold, it reached $67.50, high enough to fund the Alabama project.
___The film went out to 1.8 million households in Alabama at Easter of 1998.
___Cosby visited Texas as part of a nationwide trip seeking other financial supporters for the nationwide distribution.
___Nationwide, the film only has been distributed to less than 5 percent of the population, but national distribution is feasible, he reported.
___In Texas, 8.3 million copies of the video will be needed to reach all the households, Etheredge predicted. At a cost of $2.70 per video for production and mailing, that means $22.4 million will be required for statewide distribution in Texas.
___For more information, contact: "Jesus" Video Project, 275 W. Hospitality Ln. #315, San Bernardino, Calif. 92408. Etheredge can be reached by calling (800) 29-JESUS or e-mailing dustine@jesusvideo.org.
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