November 29, 2016

A Hand to Hold - Escape Conference

Out of Pain

“When I came to know Jesus, it was out of deep pain from my own life.”

Years ago, when Iwona Eifling was 15, she says she was searching for a hand. “Life is this maze of possible turns and by then, I knew that I could easily end up in the wrong place, where I wouldn’t be happy. I thought, I wish there was a hand –somebody that would take me by my hand and lead me through life to a place where I could say at the end of it that it was a well-lived life, and I was happy. But I didn’t know whose hand I should be holding.”

Coming from a broken family, while facing her own pain and questions, Iwona heard a Christian speaker quote Jeremiah 29:11 and say that God wanted to take her by her hand and lead her according to His good plan.

Now, years later, Iwona has not only grabbed onto God’s hand, but also wants to help other lost and hurting people do the same. That is the vision behind Project 29:11, a ministry through Josiah Venture Poland, serving young women dealing with life’s pain.

Teaching at Event in Poland

Through Fear

A couple weekends ago, Project 29:11 put on their fifth WYJŚCIE (Escape) Conference, what Iwona likes to call “emotional and spiritual first-aid.” Around 120 girls, including 40 or so national leaders volunteering at the event, gathered for three days to explore personal stories of suffering and to find ways of healing and reasons to hope, many hearing about Jesus’ love for the first time.

But Iwona says it didn’t start out like this. In 2009, the ministry began as a few leaders meeting with small groups of girls struggling with parent divorces.

A few years later, God made it clear to Iwona that it shouldn’t stop there. But Iwona had hesitations. “I felt very comfortable with the topic of divorce. I didn’t feel very comfortable with all the other messes out there! That was really at the bottom of it; I didn’t know if I was qualified.” She says it was like walking into fog and that she felt like Moses at the burning bush. God just kept telling her to walk in faith and that He had seen the misery of His people and wanted to do something about it.

The first Escape conference had 20 total attendees, 38 including the leaders. Iwona says that she learned a lot through the process. “I thought I carried a burden for the broken. But God carries it way more.”

Since then, things have grown, but pain is still a messy topic. The workshops offered on subjects like addiction, unhealthy relationships, depression, and abuse and main sessions that Iwona says are meant to “unwrap the box of pain” and help people see that it’s even worse than they think are at times difficult to hear. Small groups and personal reflection times cause plenty of tears.

No wonder Maja Kowalczuk, a full-time employee with Project 29:11 and worship leader at the conference, says the leaders need a lot of prayer for “wisdom from the heart of God because brokenness is a very delicate aspect of life. We need a lot of Jesus!”

women group photo

Into Hope

Although fear inducing at times and definitely emotionally heavy, God has faithfully moved in the hearts of girls who have attended conferences and many have joined the team in serving others to bring hope.

One such woman is Noemi Kubas, the MC at the most recent conference, who says that the more she takes part in these events the more passionate she gets about the vision of Project 29:11. “I know God makes miracles –I’m a miracle myself. But sometimes the miracle is that this or that girl just happens to be there, at the conference. And then the Holy Spirit uses us. That’s just amazing! That we can, that I can, be used by Him and be a witness of dust turning into diamonds!”

Natalia Starkowska, the conference director, feels similarly, saying, “I’m honored by God’s grace and love, and amazed every day by His blessing.” Her dream is to help develop more Escape conferences in various locations in Poland “so these weekends of recovery from pain to hope may be more accessible for girls, because this is a weekend for every girl.”

And Maja says that what she’s seen is that “in brokenness God will glorify Himself.” She says people shouldn’t be “scared to go to the dark places and to the brokenness, because if you’re following Jesus, He will provide. We are no longer slaves of fear, we are children of God. Fear is not our bondage anymore. In Jesus we have everything.”

Through it all, Iwona explains that every single attendee, even when in “the pits of disfunction” would say they want a happy life, much like she did back when she was 15. “But many of them are blinded by the fact that they are in a maze and it’s not going to take them to a happy life if they continue to go the way they are going.” They need a hand.

Escape conferences are just one of the ways girls in Poland can be introduced to this guiding force in life. As Iwona says, “Pain is trying to scare, intimidate, and overwhelm us, but when God comes with His touch, He’s all people can think about after.”

Please join with us in praying for the many girls who just attended the Escape conference. Pray that the messages of hope and life that they heard would sink down deep into their souls and that the result would be lasting change in the midst of pain. Pray that God would continue to speak to them through follow-up activities taking place in the coming weeks. Pray also for wisdom and protection for the leaders and insight into how Project 29:11 can expand to include guys and other countries in the future.

Amy Nickerson

Related Posts

Read Story

Evangelism, Stories

When we say “Yes”

Dear Friends, What happens when we say “yes”? Ermal was obsessed with soccer as a child and headed to university in his home country of Albania with the dream to become a famous professional player. He never quite made the top level of performance required and was deeply discouraged. At the same time, he was growing in his relationship with God under the disciplemaking care of a local pastor. Hearing God’s call into ministry, he said “yes” to a major life change and returned to his small village to shepherd a local congregation of just 35 believers. But his passion for young people–⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and for soccer–⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠never left. So, when our JV Albania team approached him four years ago with the invitation to join JV and develop a sports ministry in his church and throughout his valley, he heard the call of God and said “yes.” In just a few years, Ermal had started Edge Soccer teams in six villages with no prior evangelical witness, reaching over 60 young people every week. A part of every practice was a short Bible study, and the young boys were relationally shepherded to faith in Christ. After a time of prayer in early November of 2024, Ermal came to his wife Nertila with an outlandish vision. “I believe God is calling us to share the gospel with 1000 young people before Christmas.” “Are you kidding me?” his wife replied. “I was thinking like a human,” she later shared. “How can we reach 1000 kids in such a short period of time?” “I don’t have any ideas,” Ermal said, “but I think God is calling us.” “I was very challenged,” Nertila reflected later, “and didn’t know how to handle that pressure. But then I said, ‘Here I am God, if you want to use us. Let your will be done.’” Then, out of the blue, a call came from Operation Mobilization, who wanted to send 6 people from Moldova to help with whatever they wanted. Ermal said “yes.” Next, Ermal had an idea to request 1000 Shoebox gift packages from Samaritan’s purse. It was an unusual request, but they said “yes.” He contacted six schools and asked if he could share the story of Jesus at Christmas.  Albania is historically Muslim, and the directors are not allowed to do anything religious in the school building. “Would you be willing to talk to our students outside?” they asked. He said “yes.” It was a simple program. Two songs, a 15-minute message about Jesus, and heartfelt testimonies from the Moldovans. And, of course, some shoebox gifts. But the students were very open, and many asked to hear more about Jesus. Others gave their addresses and wanted to join the youth activities. The director of the largest school is now meeting regularly with Ermal for Bible study.  When Christmas came, they counted the numbers and realized that over 1000 young people had heard a clear gospel message in just a few short weeks. A simple “yes” to the call of God brought miraculous fruit. This month, you also said “yes” through your gifts and prayers. Thank you.

Read Story

Evangelism, Events

The Fog is Lifting

The fog was relentless. It engulfed the city, delaying flights, forcing reroutes, and leaving hundreds stranded. One plane circled Kraków Airport 27 times before finally diverting–an unofficial record. This was not how I imagined the start of the Revive Europe Conference when I agreed to help organize it. Our team spent two years planning this gathering of thousands of young believers from across the continent, yet we still felt unprepared to handle the haze that greeted us the first day.  I must confess, at times, I feel as though all of Europe is in a fog. Once a place where church bells rang with certainty, Europe now seems lost in a haze of spiritual confusion. It’s one that muffles sound, obscures vision, and leaves many wandering without clear direction—making it easy to believe this gray uncertainty is all there is. Yet, after Revive, I am now more convinced than ever that God is not done with Europe. These students didn’t just come with longing; they came with expectation. Throughout the week, hundreds knelt in surrender, responding to the call for repentance, forgiveness, and consecration. Some might dismiss this as youthful idealism or a fleeting emotional response. But this generation is not naive. They have known suffering, loss, and longing, and still, they believe. Their faith is not blind; it is bold. I saw this depth displayed in my Ukrainian friend Nastya. As we counted down to the New Year, worship resounding around us, she stood with tears in her eyes. A release of soldiers in captivity had just been announced, and her friend’s name was not on the list. She turned to me and whispered, “I had hoped… I really thought he would be free by now.” Like many others, she hadn’t expected the war to last this long.  So we spent the first moments of 2025 in tears and fervent prayer. And then, as the final “Amen” was spoken, Nastya lifted her hands in worship, singing with the crowd: “Bless God, for he holds the victory. Bless God, for he’s always with me. Bless God, for he’s always worthy. Every chance I get, I’ll bless your name.” Like Nastya, the crowd was aware of how deeply broken Europe is. We all felt the weight of the task before us. But we were also aware of the power of the cross. We know the Great Physician, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace. And we believe that he has a desire to see Europe restored. Therefore, this is not a time to settle for small victories. It’s a time to seek God’s presence, to cry out for revival, and to pray his promises into reality. We are already seeing glimpses of renewal breaking through. The hunger for God’s Word is growing in Bulgaria, with a surge in Bible distribution over the last few years. In Romania, churches are uniting across denominational lines in unprecedented ways. Ukraine now has the fastest-growing church in all of Europe. We know that revival is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive. However, scripture shows that revival begins with us, broken and surrendered, crying out for God to do what only he can do. This is what I saw displayed over New Year’s.  Perhaps you, too, are in a season of waiting—longing for a breakthrough, clarity, and the fog to lift. Take heart. The same God moving in Europe is moving in your life.  Will you join us in praying for revival? Let’s cry out together, trusting that the Spirit is at work, lifting the fog and bringing light where there was once only gray.  

Read Story

Discipleship, Stories

Fruit in Hard Soil

Dear Friends, How does the gospel bear fruit in hard soil? Montenegro is one of the most beautiful countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Sandwiched between Croatia and Albania on the Adriatic Sea, it combines stunning beaches with soaring 8000 ft mountains, rushing rivers, and the deepest canyon in Europe. But this hidden gem has very few evangelical believers. Out of a population of 600,000, less than 300 believers attend a few tiny evangelical churches. How do you make progress in such a difficult place? When Josiah Venture staff Noah and Jill Ellenwood moved to Montenegro in 2020, they immersed themselves in the local language and culture and took every opportunity to build natural relationships. Following the instructions of Jesus in Luke 10:6, they prayed that one of these new friends would be a “person of peace,” a trusted insider who would open the door to others. Noah met Slavo while playing soccer with a group of guys and invited him over to their apartment for board games. Slavo asked if he could bring his friends, and what began as a small gathering quickly grew into a weekly tradition with more than ten people attending. Slavo was always the catalyst, inviting new people while consistently building relationships. During this time, Slavo was on a personal spiritual journey. He openly shared his exploration of various paths for inner peace, including Hinduism, Buddhism, individualism, and Christianity. Noah and Jill had many candid conversations with him, sharing their own stories of God’s transformation in their lives. Still searching, Slavo embarked on a six-month backpacking trip through Europe. Along the way, he encountered people from all walks of life—Muslims who invited him to join their mosque, those who dismissed Christianity as fake, and others who loved him unconditionally. Throughout the trip, Slavo sensed that God was calling him, though he wasn’t sure what it meant at the time. When he returned, Noah spent 10 months studying the Bible with him, focusing on themes such as identity in Christ, being adopted into God’s family, and understanding sin and how it separates us from God. During this period, Slavo began experiencing dreams that seemed to be God speaking directly to him. One day, Noah received a call asking to meet on a hill where they often walked and talked. There he was greeted by a joyful Slavo, who exclaimed, “I want to do it—I want to follow Jesus!” Sitting down together, he prayed to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Slavo quickly became passionate about studying the Bible. He would often cancel plans just to keep reading, feeling unable to put the Word down. His transformation impacted his family so much that they started joining him for church services. This fall Noah had the privilege of baptizing Slavo as he publicly proclaimed his faith in Christ. Perseverance, prayer, relationships, God’s Word, time, sacrifice, and commitment—each of these is needed to bear gospel fruit in difficult soil. But then the transformation is real and spreads to others. Thank you for your part in this movement of God.