August 1993 Personal Letter

Shalom, Dear Friend,

Our experience at Mount Sinai proved to be the most exciting of the eight TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAINS filming assignments. Not only was it the most exciting but the most beautiful as well.

Kenneth Berg, of Berg Productions and the producer-director of Zola Levitt Presents, scheduled the filming of a sunrise from the summit of Mount Sinai. The Egyptian government assigned Bedouin guides to “keep an eye” on what we were doing as well as prevent us from getting lost in the massive desert wilderness.

Rather than take the regular paved road to Mount Sinai, our guides led our film crew over a shorter and more scenic route across the desert. Have you ever left an Interstate highway to take a scenic side road and were rewarded by what you found in the small towns and villages? This short-cut, however, was more like leaving the highway in Death Valley, California and driving across miles and miles of unmarked desert.

Driving through the desert in a four-wheel drive Jeep without benefit of road, trail or landmarks is definitely an adventure! The ever-shifting sands bogged our Jeep down four times. The guides and film crew had to push the Jeep out of the loose sand each time. On the last “push” the men noticed the water supply was low and neither paved roads nor Mount Sinai were in sight. You can imagine the relief felt when finally arriving at the base of the mountain, the historical site where God gave the Law to Moses!

The climb up Mount Sinai was just as exciting as the desert drive. Ken Berg’s diary describes the experience. “We left base camp and began the climb up Mount Sinai at 2:00 AM. Thanks to a full moon, we were able to see most of the steps that had been cut into the side of the mountain centuries ago. Camels carried our equipment about halfway, then we became the beasts of burden. Our crew reached the summit of Sinai an hour before sunrise. We set up the camera equipment but were not prepared for the cold. We had blankets, but not enough to protect us from the penetrating winds high above the wilderness. I imagined how the glow from the fires of the Israelites would have looked from up here — as they awaited Moses’ return.”

“The sunrise was absolutely spectacular! — worth every anxious moment and every aching step! We captured about 15 minutes of the most beautiful footage I’ve ever filmed in my 18 trips to the Holy Land with Zola.” You’ll see this spectacular scene when we air the second segment of TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAINS in September.

Scripture tells us, “And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire” (Exodus 20:18–19).

From the Exodus to the Cross of Calvary, millions of people, for thousands of years, lived under the Law of God. It was not an easy life as every sin had to be accounted for — to a perfectly righteous and just God. At issue was nothing less than one’s eternal salvation or damnation. The Old Covenant demanded external performance of one’s faith in God. God’s New Covenant, through Jesus Christ, is now written upon our hearts.

In this Mount Sinai segment of TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAINS, I show how the Law, which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, became the foundation for Western Civilization. The most perfect Life, that of Jesus Christ, was guided, step-by-step, by the Law. I’m also able to present the similarities as well as the contrasts between Grace and the Law. I can’t wait for you to see this program in September.

As I’ve mentioned in previous letters, filming TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAINS was a complicated, arduous, expensive and dangerous project. It’s also a project that cost $125,000+ more than what our normal operating expenses are during the summer months!

We are doing our part — we’ve traveled to the Middle East, filmed the sites, studied and taught God’s Word, wrote and performed the musical score, and are now assembling all the pieces into eight segments that can stand next to anything the networks produce.

It’s now time for us to depend upon the committed friends of this ministry to be the tools God uses to fund such a massive project.

I’m absolutely thrilled by the many friends of this ministry who have already sent an extra gift to help underwrite the production costs of this new, fall television series. Several hundred have included an extra gift with their regular monthly support. This news is so affirming, BUT the project has not yet been completely funded through the special gifts I’ve encouraged.

I don’t want anyone to miss out having a direct part in TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAINS and the ministry that will result from this exciting, informative and entertaining series. Of this I’m certain — The Holy Spirit will use the message of this television series in a powerful, life changing way. God’s Word never returns empty!

Your Messenger,

PS: As you send your gift or gifts this month, be sure to request a free brochure for my fall tour. Our group will be leaving for Israel on September 21 — it’s our FALL FESTIVAL TOUR — which includes the glorious Feast of Tabernacles. The best way to learn about any Holy Land tour is from a full-color information brochure that explains where we go and what we do. The extension for this fall tour includes a visit to Germany and the infamous Dachau Concentration Camp. Request a brochure on the enclosed card, even if the thought of a trip is only an “exciting idea” right now. There’s no obligation and we’d like you to be fully informed.