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The Jesus Film Project has topped the 1,500-language milestone for translation of the gospel story, this time making the movie available in the eastern African Daasanach tongue.

The movie, first launched in the United States in 1979, was translated into Hindi and viewed by 21 million Indians in 1980. By 1999, the film was available in 500 languages, reaching the 1,000 mark in 2007.

With addition of Daasanach, the film — shown in theaters, on makeshift screens in villages, and available online — can now be understood by people who speak the language in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan.

The Jesus Film Project estimates the film has been viewed by hundreds of millions in more than 230 countries. It's goal — tapping social media, phone and tablet apps, DVD sales, as well as traditional screening options — is to reach 5 billion viewers by 2025.

Bob Mims