BREAKTHROUGH: The Life of James O. Fraser and the Lisu People

OMF International personnel in several countries worked together on the video production of a docudrama about James O. Fraser and his work with the Lisu people. The first of several production trips took place in Northern Thailand in late August (2007). An English version of the film was completed in September 2008. Translations have been completed for Mandarin, Cantonese, German, Korean, Lisu and Spanish versions which are distributed through OMF International and Vision Video.

James Fraser was only 22 years old when he left his engineering career and went to China. From the very first time he saw the Lisu tribespeople of Yunnan Province, he was filled with God’s love for them. He spent the rest of his life laboring to bring them the gospel. Breakthrough came only after his partners back home took up the challenge to pray. “I am not asking you just to give ‘help’ in prayer as a sort of sideline, but I am trying to roll the main responsibility of this prayer-warfare on you. I want you to take the burden of these people upon your shoulders. I want you to wrestle with God for them.” The Lisu now have a strong body of believers who are also sending out workers to other groups around them.

One of OMF International’s leaders in East Asia comments, “Many have not heard J.O. Fraser’s inspirational story. Pioneering work is still needed among other unreached peoples in the same area. His life shows what kind of people we are looking for to go to these unreached peoples. This is a good historical story that may be shown in various settings.”

Fraser’s story is told as a 30-minute docudrama--long enough to provide true inspiration, but short enough to be viewed in a small group or Sunday school setting. Because there are very few images of Fraser, and virtually none that tell his story, about 80% of the video was re-enacted with actors and extras on location in East Asia and elsewhere. The team created this video in time for the 100th anniversary of Fraser’s arrival to China in 1908.