Back

December 20, 2022

The Real Deal

As I sit at my desk tonight to write this blog post, there are sounds of carols coming from outside our apartment building here in Bucharest, Romania. Christmas is coming! The carolers are starting their journey earlier and earlier each year, with hopes of finding good cheer and kind generosity from people who sometimes throw money or candy from their windows.

I am listening closely tonight. It is beautiful. So perfect and harmonious! But then I notice something: it is a recording; they are not singing live. Like yesterday’s carolers, and like the ones before them, they have a large boombox that plays the songs, while the carolers only walk and smile. I have to confess that I am a little disappointed. I remember the days when, together with our youth group, we used to go from house to house and proclaim the Good News of Jesus through songs and Bible verses. I remember the pain in my throat at the end of the night (we stayed up until almost sunrise) and my aching feet, but this did not matter at all. The cost was little compared to the gain of having shared about Jesus with so many people in my home city, on the other side of the country from where I live now.

Together with my husband, I live and serve in the capital city of Romania, whose population contains over 375,000 young people aged 14 to 22. Less than 1% of these are followers of Jesus, and many of them still do not have a colleague at school or a friend that can share Jesus with them. The need is real. The need is overwhelming. It is easy to get tired or discouraged here. My husband and I are often asked by Romanians living in other parts of our beautiful country why we are still here. In all honesty, my reply is that I sometimes ask God to change our calling away from this big, energy-draining, needy city that takes six years off of its inhabitants’ lives, as some statistics show. But he keeps saying, “Stay. I want you here.” He is gentle with me. He is kind, even in this response. When I struggle, it just so “happens” that I get a message from one of my girls from our youth group who shares a picture of her collection of fun bags, or I am tagged in a fun photo from an outing with our teens. It is then that I understand why God wants us here. The reality is that I also want to be here because I have ended up loving those young people that God entrusted to us with my whole heart, and I can’t imagine leaving them.

What is God calling you to in this season? How is your heart responding? Be honest.

 

At the beginning of 2022, I was very discouraged with our youth group. Our youth ministry was so successful before the pandemic then lots of changes and circumstances made things difficult. We found ourselves needing to start almost from scratch. We barely had any teenagers in our church of mostly young adults. These few teens were busy, and Bucharest constantly offered too many interesting things that we could not compete with. On top of that, this disheartening war started just across the border, and three million refugees—mostly women and children—came in or traveled through our country to find shelter and safety. All our energy and resources were directed there, understandably. Our little initiatives towards the youth felt like the boombox-caroling that I am hearing these days. They were lacking in power and real joy.

And then, in June, God stirred our hearts and gave us a fresh vision and eyes to see possibilities—again. So we gathered a new team from our former youth group—young people who they, themselves, benefitted recently from this ministry. Together, we organized an Amazing Race through Bucharest that was absolutely fantastic! We had 28 new teenagers. Some of them we invited in the malls and parks, and others heard about us on Instagram—kids who had never been exposed to the Gospel. Then we continued with Aliaj Games (Aliaj means Alloy; it is the name of our youth group). We did a series called Money Talks this fall because when we asked them what questions and concerns they had, many said money and finances. What a great topic because Jesus and the Bible have a lot to say about it! Our group solidified, the relationships deepened, and trust was built. And then, at the end of November, we went on one of the best trips with a youth group that I’ve been on. We spent four days together, with little sleep, but with much connection, depth in conversations, honesty and transparency, fun, and familiarity. This fall and winter feel like the real deal. This is like the kind of caroling that gave me a sore throat and aching feet, but it also gave me the biggest smile on my face and the purest of joys.

As this year is coming to an end and you are getting ready for 2023, what are the areas where you need fresh vision or a re-fresh altogether from the Lord? Are there things that he is inviting you to stop doing and others to start doing? This is not an opportunity to add to the pressures that you might already have been feeling. Our God is gentle and kind, and he is gentle and kind towards you, not just towards others.

Have a Merry Christmas! May your house be filled with cinnamon and orange smells and with people that you love! And may you follow God in 2023 as he directs your steps toward the Real Deal.

Diana Anton

Related Posts

Read Story

Discipleship, Evangelism, Stories

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
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.