Not every opportunity is a call.

We live in an age of endless opportunities. A world of information is at our fingertips, and a myriad of voices compete for our attention. How does one stay focused and decide what is most important in the face of so many options?

When Jesus gathered his disciples for their last instructions before he returned to the Father, his call was profoundly simple. “Make Disciples.” Those disciples were to make other disciples until the world knows the saving power of Christ.

Though his instructions are simple, they are not easy. In fact, it is hard for most people to know exactly what disciplemaking means until they experience it. That is why our Poland team put together a year-long program called “Plan A”, with a relentless focus on Christ’s first-choice plan for changing the world.

This year, 23 young leaders between 17 and 29 across Poland participated in “Plan A.”  Each of them had a “Paul” who built into them on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, and a “Timothy” they invested in with the same regularity.

Digging into Bible studies that developed character, identity, walk with God, and disciplemaking skills led them into lasting transformation through the basics of following Jesus.

To keep the momentum strong, the entire group met three times a year for a full weekend of training and accountability at various locations around the country.

“I had the privilege last year of seeing the two girls I led grow in their involvement in various initiatives in the youth group,” said 25-year-old Justyna, one of the “Plan A” participants. “They became eager to lead new activities for those who didn’t know Christ, becoming mentors and devoting their precious time to their ‘disciples.’

But the greatest blessing was watching God push them out of their comfort zone. They did things they would never have chosen to do on their own, such as street evangelism and telling others about God in an authentic way, despite the fact that this absolutely contradicted their personalities. Their attitudes towards life have changed, and now they look at every aspect of life through the lens of God.

This was only made possible because someone invested in me.”

Young leaders like Justyna are transforming youth ministries across Poland as they come to understand that their main responsibility is not to plan and run programs but to pour their lives into others in reproducible ways, like Jesus did.

Thanks for helping us make disciples who make disciples. This one command is changing countries.

Thank you,

Dave Patty
President, Josiah Venture