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October 2, 2014

Not At The End

Dear Friends,

Gabe looked to his left, and then surprised us all with his comment. “Next time I expect I will be standing in the middle and not on the end.”

As you probably know, this year marks the 20th anniversary of Josiah Venture. We’ve been celebrating since January, but the high point was our Fall Training Conference the last week of September. At our Thursday celebration we told the story of God’s faithfulness for the last 20 years, praising God and thanking key groups of people along the way.

As I showed pictures and shared stories of the first days of JV missionaries in Czech and Poland, I was overwhelmed with memories, since my wife Connie and I were one of the first two couples. Moving through the years we added more countries to the timeline as the work expanded. Finally I asked all the country leaders to come to the stage and stand in order that matched the timeline.

Gabe leads the JV team in Bulgaria, the most recent country to be added to JV. He and his wife Melissa are passionate about bringing the gospel of Jesus to young people and full of vision for what God can do in the next generation. But when I asked the country leaders if they had any comments for the crowd, Gabe didn’t say anything about the young people of Bulgaria. Instead he raised his arm into the space to his left. No one stood there, since he was the last in line.

“Next time I expect I will be standing in the middle and not on the end,” he said, a big smile on his face. Everyone immediately knew he what he was referring to. We’ve been giving focused prayer to 11 more countries, places like Macedonia and Bosnia, Belarus and Lithuania, all nations where we would like to see JV teams serving the church and sharing the message of Jesus with young people.

It was amazing to me to look out and realize that almost 300 people now serve full time on the JV team. But I love the fact that their eyes are pointed into the future, toward what God wants to do in the next 20 years to build his kingdom and expand his church.

Thanks for believing God with us,

Dave Patty, President, Josiah Venture

Dave Patty President

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Sajmir just wanted to belong. As the youngest son in a Muslim family of eight children, he was expected to serve everyone. Sajmir’s family was oppressed in Albania because they were dark skinned Gypsies. On top of that, during the difficult time after the revolution, his father began drinking and beating his mother. “My father never beat me,” Sajmir said, “but he never showed me love. He never hugged me or kissed me. I never saw a father figure. I was afraid of him. Also, outside in the city, people were not very close to me. I spent most of my time alone, playing soccer alone, or basketball alone.” There was only one soccer field in his village, and when Sajmir tried to join a game, the other kids would kick him out. One day, a group came toward the field and Sajmir began to back away, sure they would ask him to leave. “Will you play with us?” they asked. “You want to play with me?” Sajmir replied. For the first time in his life, someone invited him in. After the game, they invited him to church. “What is a church?” he said. Running home, he asked his parents if he could go. “Don’t go to church,” they answered sternly, “you will shame us.” But the next day was Sunday, and he snuck out when no one was looking. “When I stepped into the church, at the door, someone gave me a hug for the first time in my life,” Sajmir said. “They put me in the first row. I felt like a celebrity. Then I heard the story that someone loves you just as you are, that is, Jesus—as I was, dark skinned, rejected. But still, there is someone who died for me.” “I ran and told my family, but their response was: ’If you go one more time, we will tell your brother to beat you up.’ I went again. My brother beat me up. For three months, I was beaten every week. I was loved and accepted in church, while suffering and being beaten in my family. Then my mom said, ‘Let him go.’” Filled with joy, Sajmir fell on his knees and said, “God, I will serve you wherever you want me to.” That was 25 years ago, and today Sajmir and his family are part of our Josiah Venture team in Albania. Through youth ministry, he recently planted a church called “Mosaic,” which has grown to over 100 people. Every day, young people come after school and in the evening for tutoring, children’s meetings, youth meetings, small groups, discipleship groups, and a very lively Fusion choir. The church is open every day, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, and there is always something happening. “Our building is a daily home for everyone; it’s a family,” says Sajmir. “I always remember what God did for me in my youth. My heart is burning to see more young people come to Christ and find that they are loved and belong.” During this Advent season, we remember how Jesus left his home to make a home for us. He was sent to find us, where we play our games alone, and to invite us into his family. He found Sajmir, and you, and me. Thanks for helping us share this good news with young people who are still without a home. Dave Patty President, Josiah Venture