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April 12, 2018

Changing History

Dear Friends,

This brief command changed the course of history. I’m sure you know it—perhaps by heart. Yesterday, I quoted it with 50 members of our JV team on top of a mountain in Israel, overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) 

The mountain we stood on, Arbel, is significant, because it could be the very place where the disciples heard these words 2,000 years ago. I reminded our team that in the original Greek, there are only two commands in this great commission. The first is to “make disciples.” The second is the word “behold,” or “look” at Jesus, because he promised to be with them always. In other words, the core of Christ’s final instructions to his team was to make disciples and always keep looking to him.

Only eleven men heard these marching orders. Yet this small band spent the rest of their lives in single-minded pursuit of Christ’s call. In one generation, they reached to the far corners of the vast Roman Empire with the gospel. Because of their faithfulness, you and I know Jesus today.

Make disciples who make disciples. Always keep looking to Jesus. For almost 25 years the Josiah Venture team has reached out to young people with a relentless focus on these two commands.

That is why 50 of us are spending this entire week walking in the steps of Jesus, learning more about how to make disciples like he did. Although we work with youth, the ancient instructions of Christ never lose their relevance.

When Stojce planted a new church in northern Serbia he focused on sharing the good news with young people and immediately equipping them to make disciples of their friends. Now pastors from across the country are coming to see how youth can be part of church-planting teams—before they even finish high school.

When Maruška understood the multiplying power of disciplemaking, she resolved never to teach something without also teaching her students to pass it on. Ten years later, she can count over 350 across Slovakia who have been impacted by the young people in her small groups, as they discipled others, who then discipled more. Maruška’s books on disciplemaking have become best sellers among the evangelical community in her country.

Make disciples who make disciples. Always keep looking to Jesus. The great commission is never out of date. Thanks for helping us change history in Central and Eastern Europe.

Dave Patty, President, Josiah Venture

Dave Patty President

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A New Generation of Missionaries

Dear Friends, “I am sending you.” —Jesus At the end of January, I spent a week with 52 new Josiah Venture missionaries at our winter Academy. Talking with them at meals and in training sessions, I was overwhelmed with the quality and passion of this next generation of missionaries. Let me briefly tell you a few of their stories. Klemen (Slovenia) trusted Christ at 16 years of age when his best friend—the son of JV missionaries—shared the gospel with him on a napkin and challenged him to put his faith in Jesus. With so few evangelical believers in Slovenia, Klemen experienced rejection from his friends and is still the only believer in his extended family. Because of his heart for young people, Klemen studied physical science and became a PE teacher but was so outspoken about his faith that the principal didn’t extend his contract. At that point, our JV staff challenged him to join the team, and he experienced God’s call into full-time ministry. Now, he is helping local churches develop outreach programs to reach the lost. Klemen’s vision? That 30% of Slovenia would become followers of Jesus. Gabriel (Romania) grew up in a Christian home as the son of a pastor. At a youth camp when he was 16, Gabe put his faith in Christ. From that point on, he spent all of his free time serving in church. He experienced God’s call into ministry at 18 and spent the next four years in theological study. However, as is typical in Romania, his church was very traditional and inward-focused. When he began to lead the youth group, there were just five attending—all from Christian families. Then, some members of the JV Romania team began to train Gabe on how to reach the lost using the tool of Fusion, a rock/gospel choir that builds community through music. Soon, the entire culture of the youth group was transformed, and unbelievers were drawn in, inviting more of their friends and coming to faith in Christ. The youth group grew to 100 in a church with just 200 members, and the entire community was impacted. Now Gabe has joined the JV team to equip other churches like his to reach the lost. “I would love for all the churches in Romania to experience this,” he said, “that the church can have an impact on the outside and share the gospel in a relevant way. That would change our country.” Kendra (Ukraine) is a second-generation JV missionary, raised on the mission field. After her graduation from Wheaton college in Illinois, she responded to God’s call to serve in a very challenging location—near the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, in the midst of war. It is a dangerous assignment for a young woman, but Kendra feels privileged to bring the light of Jesus to young people in the midst of physical darkness and great uncertainty. She learned the Ukrainian language in just 6 months, and is now experiencing open doors for ministry across her entire city. God is using her bold faith to draw many to himself. I can’t wait to see what God will do through these committed young missionaries! They can be sent because you stand with them through your prayers and generous support. Thank you. Dave Patty President, Josiah Venture
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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
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A Real Man

What makes a boy grow into a real man? Vitalij began the “Wise Carpenter” ministry of JV in Ukraine 8 years ago with a vision of “A new generation of Ukrainian men who aspire to be people after God’s heart and become dedicated to their families, their church, and their country.” He equips men in local churches to invest in boys through carpentry clubs, where they learn to work with their hands and are mentored by Jesus, the wise carpenter. In June, 100 of these boys gathered for a camp with 30 of their leaders. The central theme was “The Way of a Real Man” — how to live a worthy life that will not disappoint. On the first day, Pastor Alexander shared his testimony about how, at the age of 13, he listened to another voice, which led his path for 7 years into drugs, theft, and alcohol. He emphasized how important it was, at an early age, not to go down “crooked” roads but to choose God’s path. Later that evening, drones flew over the camp in the direction of Kyiv. The defense forces could not shoot them down, and they exploded into apartment buildings in the capital, killing 17 people — including the boy whose father is in this photo. The contrast was shocking — men fighting to save the lives of young boys while an enemy was trying to take those lives. The spiritual war and physical war have much in common and become even more intense when they are being waged at the same time. In the evening, all 100 boys, together with their mentors, prayed for the families affected by the attacks, for the military, and for every family that lost a family member that day. Later in the week, a former club leader visited in his wheelchair. He was at camp last year but was later conscripted into the military and wounded on the front lines. His challenge to be courageous and live for Jesus no matter what the circumstances carried special weight because of the price he has personally paid. Every afternoon, the boys worked to construct cars that they enthusiastically raced on the final day. But even more important was the construction going on in each of their hearts as they learned the lessons of God’s Word and the importance of standing for truth, no matter how difficult it is. Thank you for making it possible for us to fight for boys to become real men through your gifts and prayers. Thank you, Dave Patty President, Josiah Venture