Renew’s Origin Story
In 1998, David Palusky and a small team of missionaries set out on a journey that would forever change the course of their lives and the lives of an entire tribe. They piled into a boat and traveled deep into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, navigating the winding rivers and dense rainforest to reach the Urarina tribe. Their mission was simple: to share the Gospel with a people group who had never heard the name of Jesus.
The Urarina welcomed them with curiosity, and before long, deep friendships began to form. Yet, as David spent more time with the tribe, he was struck by the harsh realities they faced—disease, malnutrition, and the constant threat of early death. So, naturally, he asked how he could help. The chief’s answer, however, would set the course for a journey of its own:
“Bring me God’s Word in my own language.”
Determined to answer the chief’s challenge, David and his wife, Stephanie, reached out to Ron Manus, a Wycliffe Bible translator who was working on translating the Bible into the Urarina language. Together, they realized that communicating the Gospel to this tribe would require more than just words—it would require context. The culture of the Bible was so foreign to the Urarina that even basic concepts were difficult to transalte. But Ron had a powerful suggestion: why not record the JESUS Film in their language?
David and Stephanie agreed to partner with him, and soon the film was completed. With a renewed sense of purpose, David returned to Peru with another team, eager to share the film with the Urarina.
A Miracle in the Jungle
The night of the first screening, something extraordinary happened. The Urarina, who had never seen a film before, sat riveted as the story of Jesus unfolded on the screen. As the film played, the Holy Spirit moved in a way that left everyone in awe. The tribe, who had never encountered many of the biblical references, suddenly understood them: they knew what a donkey was, they understood the role of the angel in Mary’s life, and they saw the hypocrisy of the Pharisees clearly. But it was the crucifixion that truly shook them.
Tears streamed down the faces of the normally stoic Urarina people as they witnessed the suffering of Jesus. For the first time, the Gospel message wasn’t just being told—it was being understood. David and the team marveled at how the JESUS Film, a simple digital media tool, spoke Truth more clearly and efficiently than any of their previous attempts.
The joy of seeing the Gospel in their own language was almost palpable, but as soon as the film ended, a deep shadow fell over the tribe. Their beloved chief, who had been present for the screening, became gravely ill.
David immediately set out to find help, even if it meant traveling twelve hours through the jungle to reach the nearest doctor. As the team prepared to lower the chief’s unconscious body into the boat, they paused to offer one last prayer. The Urarina people gathered around their chief and joined in prayer, just as they had seen in the JESUS Film. Suddenly, the chief leapt to his feet, startling everyone around him. He began to dance, shouting with joy:
“This Jesus has come, not just for the Hispanic or the white man, but for our people as well!”
With uncontainable excitement, he continued to dance, proclaiming:
“And this is how He wants us to worship Him!”
The tribe was astounded. What had just happened? The chief, who had been on the brink of death, was now alive, dancing, and filled with a new, unshakable joy.
This miraculous healing sparked a movement within the tribe. One by one, the Urarina people began to follow Jesus, and soon they were eager to share the Gospel with other villages. But David and his team faced a new dilemma: how could they continue to spread the message of Jesus in such a remote region? The only tools available to show the JESUS Film at that time were reel-to-reel projectors and generators that weighed a ton. It was impossible to load an enormous projector and generator into a dugout canoe. There had to be a better solution.
A “Solar-Powered” Gospel
David knew they needed a new way, something, that could bring the Gospel to the farthest corners of the Amazon without the need for bulky equipment. With his background in electrical engineering, he created a solar-powered audio/video system—a portable, rugged, “movie theater in a backpack” designed to present the Gospel without relying on electricity or internet access.
This innovation led to the birth of Renew World Outreach, a ministry dedicated to equipping the body of Christ with the tools, technology and strategies to reach the hardest-to-reach parts of the earth.
David and his team quickly began distributing these solar-powered projection systems to the Urarina tribe. These devices allowed them to continue showing the JESUS Film and other Gospel media, bringing the hope of Jesus to even the most isolated villages. But the tribe faced another challenge: most of the Urarina were illiterate, and even those who could read preferred to learn orally.
To address this need, David and his team developed the Papyrus—the solar-powered audio Bible. The Papyrus was designed to facilitate audio Bible listening groups, allowing the Urarina to hear the Word of God in their own language, wherever they gathered.
The results were immediate and powerful. One of the first to share his experience with the Papyrus was Segundo, a former drunkard and violent man. He shared that before hearing the Gospel, his life was marked by constant fighting and bitterness.
After receiving an audio Bible, Segundo began gathering a small group of neighbors to listen together. Every few days, the group would meet, and as they listened to the teachings of Jesus, Segundo’s life began to change. He said, with emotion:
“I never knew love. I never knew forgiveness. But now, I have learned about love—and about forgiveness. Something is happening to me. God is changing my spirit. My heart aches for the others in my village who haven’t heard this. I want them to know what I have found. I want them to hear what I have heard.”
The Unreached—No Matter Where They Are
Since that time, Renew’s mission has been to reach the most remote, unreached people groups—those with no access to the Gospel in their heart language. The unreached may have many faces: some in isolated, tribal areas, and others in modern cities where political or religious barriers prevent them from hearing the Truth. Regardless of where they are, they all need to hear about Jesus.
Renew exists to develop and provide the strategies and tools to make this possible. Whether in jungles, mountain villages, or cities, we equip those who are willing to go, ensuring that everyone has access to the Truth, our King and Savior, Jesus.
