Back

July 22, 2017

JV Summer Survival Tips

JV’s Amazing Race and intern training, Media Academy, evangelistic summer camps, JV kids camp, and plenty of follow-up events make summer in Central and Eastern Europe awesome. But let’s be real. With around 130 camps in full-swing this summer that means miles of travel for short-term teams and interns, tons of late night dance parties and early morning leader meetings, hundreds of attempts to remember and pronounce new names, hours spent teaching English, sports, or music, all while serving God in a country that’s not theirs with a culture they don’t fully understand and with people they probably just met. While there’s no doubt that summer ministry is incredible here, it can also be super tiring and difficult.

Here are some of our best tips we give our short-term teams, interns, and staff members for how to not only survive the packed summer of ministry, but come out of it having seen God work, ready to do it again next year.

Be a Learner

You may have the role of teaching a workshop or two or speaking during evening program at camp this summer, but make sure you also put yourself in the position of a learner. Travel is a fantastic teacher if you’re willing to let it be and camp is a great place to gain new information and experience. Be open. Observe. Ask good questions. Listen. Get out of your comfort zone and try some different things. You never know when God may want to show you something you’ve never seen before. Teachable people are guaranteed to come away changed.

Engage in the Small Things

When you want to sit on the sidelines during the thirteenth time through the camp dance or are tempted to tune out completely when the evening discussion switches into a foreign language, remember that the small things matter. There’s a reason why God has you here and sometimes it may not be that glamorous. Sometimes the reason you’re here is to lay out napkins and cutlery on the table so the campers can eat. Sometimes it’s to be present and pray when you don’t understand the conversation going on around you. And sometimes it’s to be a teen’s partner in what seems like a stupid game. Whatever the task at hand, and however small it may feel in the moment, engage anyway. It’s purposeful. And you’re here to help further the movement of God among the youth of Central and Eastern Europe. Even the seemingly small things are big when you think about the lives that could be transformed through meeting Christ at camp.

Remember It’s Not about You

This is about serving a movement of God. We’re confident He’s already at work here and that He doesn’t need us to do anything in order for Him to continue to move. However, He has graciously invited us to participate in His plan, to have a front row seat to witness the redemption and restoration He’s bringing to the lives of young people here in Europe. Having that mindset as you serve will keep you humble and unified as a team, when pride, differing opinions, and stressful situations start to interfere with the peace.

Treat Yourself

Although the summer is not about you, you are in Europe! Make the most of your time here. Don’t be afraid to act like a tourist for a day. Go see those castles or art museums when you have the chance. Take a nap during free time at camp so that you can be fully present when you’re awake and with people. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself and getting enough time to rest, so that you can also care for others well. And take the time to slow down, enjoy, and eat some gelato. It’s good here!

Be Ready for Anything

While we hope your summer is even better than you expect, we can also guarantee it won’t be exactly what you expect. Overseas ministry is an adventure and you’ve got to be ready for anything. There will be missed flights, cars that break down, visa issues, basement floods, technology problems, sickness, hospital trips, and bad weather. All at exactly the worst times, maybe even all at the same time. But there will also be unplanned trips that lead to the best stories, friendships with people you never thought you’d meet, deep conversations where you feel God at work, memories made that you wouldn’t have made otherwise, sacrifices that lead to blessings, lessons learned in tricky situations, and opportunities to step out in bold faith and rely wholeheartedly on God. Be flexible, hold things loosely, and always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have.

Fight Like This is a Battle

In both the fun and the trials, this is ultimately a spiritual battle. Young people’s lives are on the line because they don’t know Christ. They don’t know that His love can literally change their eternity. Yet they deserve to know that truth, because He died to save them. The stakes are high and there is an enemy that would like nothing less than to make us forget that. Be ready to fight. Put on the full armor of God. Make sure you’re listening to the One who is commanding it all. His is a battle worth fighting and that’s why we do what we do each summer.

If you want more info about our summer ministry and how you can get involved check out our other recent blog posts or pictures on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Related Posts

Read Story

Events, Stories

The Right Learning for the Right Person at the Right Time

Stop and think about the times in your life when you grew the most. What were you doing? What were the circumstances? What did you feel? What were you excited about, and what were you worried about? When I look back on my own life, I notice a pattern. Growth usually happens when the challenge in front of us is outside of our comfort zone or outside of our skill level. It happens when we’re stretched. I remember learning this in a very tangible way in college. I took a class called Experiential Learning, and, throughout the semester, we worked through various team-building exercises. At the end of the course, we went to a ropes course, which culminated in a challenge known as the “Pamper Pole”—a towering 10-meter telephone pole. The challenge was to climb to the top, stand on a tiny platform, and then leap to grab a trapeze bar. My professor had seen me go through most of the challenges fairly easily. Just as I was about to climb the Pamper Pole, he quietly walked up behind me, put something in my back pocket, and said, “Just in case you want a little bit bigger challenge.” I reached inside and found a blindfold. And I decided to put it on. I climbed the pole blindfolded, made it to the top, and then jumped. My hands hit the bar, but I didn’t grab it. Of course, I was strapped in, so I didn’t hit the ground, but that moment has stayed with me. Even though I didn’t “succeed” in the way I had hoped, I chose a harder pathway up, and I learned something important: growth often requires stepping into something beyond what we currently know how to do. The missionary life is a lot like that. When Brooke and I first stepped onto the mission field, we were eager and ready to say yes to whatever God put in front of us. We had vision, enthusiasm, and a desire to serve. But looking back, we didn’t realize how steep the learning curve would be or how much God still needed to form in us. Those early years were full of trial and error. We made countless mistakes and learned by trying something, realizing it didn’t work, and trying again. Over time, the Lord shaped us and grew us, but the learning curve was long. Some of the lessons we needed most came through hard seasons, and they didn’t come quickly. The Josiah Venture Winter Academy was established to help provide the resources necessary to give our staff a foundation for healthy, effective ministry that lasts, grounded in Christ’s strategy, and strengthened by shared language, practical tools, and a community that helps them grow through every season. This year, we gathered 52 Josiah Venture staff at our training center in Malenovice, Czech Republic, for a week of discussion, connection, and spiritual encouragement. Every staff member has the opportunity to participate in Winter Academy within their first year on the team (Year 1 track) and again within their second year (Year 2 track). At its core, Winter Academy is about helping our staff build a foundation that will serve them for the long haul, so they can be steady and fruitful through the ups and downs of ministry. Ministry is full of seasons. There are times of blossoming, when the work feels joyful and full of momentum, and there are times of drought, when setbacks and discouragement threaten to parch the soul. Some seasons even hold those highs and lows at the same time. Jeremiah 17:7–8 reads: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” These verses don’t deny hardship; they assume it. But it also points us to the keys to long-term fruitfulness: staying rooted and drawing consistently from the resources we have in Christ. Winter Academy was created to help staff establish those roots early. We wanted to shorten the learning curve so that new staff would be prepared for the obstacles they would inevitably face, and so they could respond with bold faith, with wisdom drawn from best practices across the team, and with perseverance, knowing they would have a team standing with them. Year 1 focuses on the path of a growing disciple. Our first-year staff get grounded in who we are as Josiah Venture and how Christ’s strategy shapes everything we do. They also learn the Five Challenges of Christ in a way that moves beyond theory into real life and real ministry. Year 2 is focused on ministry coaching through the Five Phases. Year 2 builds on that discipleship foundation and helps our staff grow in how they serve and multiply through others. Participants learn how to evaluate ministry health and direction as well as practice coaching conversations that help leaders take meaningful next steps. Once our staff complete Winter Academy (Years 1 and 2), we want them to know three things with certainty: I am not alone. I know who to turn to for help. I look to Jesus as my model for ministry. We’re grateful for what God has done through Winter Academy over the years, and we invite you to join us in praying that this event continues to deepen roots, strengthen faith, and produce fruit that lasts.
Read Story

Stories

Christmas Traditions

Every culture has its own Christmas traditions. Many of us already have our Christmas trees up, have begun playing our favourite Christmas music, and are checking items off our shopping list. In most European cities, Christmas markets have taken over town squares and observe their own unique traditions for Christmas Day. For example, in Poland, families prepare an extra place at the table in case of an unexpected guest; in Bulgaria, the oldest person in the house breaks open homemade bread with a coin baked inside; and in Czechia, children hide a fish scale under their dinner plate for good luck. Traditions are a wonderful thing as long as we remind ourselves why we keep them. One tradition that has meant a lot to my family and me for many years is lighting an Advent wreath. We usually make ours out of fir branches and four white candles, sometimes adding extra decorations like dried orange slices or pinecones. Then on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, we read from the Bible, say prayers, sing songs, and light the candles in an increasing number: first one, then two, then three, and finally four. This tradition has its origins in the sixth century, and many European churches and Christians practice it. But after such a long time, it is easy to forget what it all means. Here is some of the significance. First of all, Advent derives from the Latin word for “coming, arrival.” It denotes the beginning of the year for Christians, who prepare our hearts for the arrival of God, by both remembering Jesus’ incarnation and anticipating his second coming. The circular shape of the wreath signifies the never-ending nature of God’s love for humanity. The fir branches remind us that, even in the dead of winter, God is at work to bring forth new life. And the successive lighting of the candles signals God’s determination to send his light into the world: the incarnation of his son. We love this tradition, but, to be honest, we don’t always keep it perfectly. This year, we had to dig out some old candles to use for our wreath, we have struggled to get through the Bible readings with our young children, and we often forget to light the right candle on the right day. But God is teaching me that this is alright. The season of Advent, along with its many traditions, is not made more or less meaningful by how faithfully I keep it. The season of Advent is made most meaningful because of how faithful God is at drawing near to us. The Apostle Paul summarised it well: “But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son… so that we might become God’s children.” (Gal. 4:4-5, GNT). This Advent, may you find renewed meaning in your traditions. And may you remember and rely on God, who is most faithful to draw near to those who need his light.
Read Story

Discipleship, Evangelism, Stories

Home

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