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June 16, 2025

Full Circle

Dear Friends,

Small decisions can change the course of your entire life.

When Szabi was a junior in his high school in the center of Hungary, his best friend kept pestering him with the same question: “Why don’t you come visit our youth group?” Szabi was an expert at finding excuses. “My parents won’t let me” (not true). “I have a lot of homework” (partially true). Finally, he got tired of saying “no,” and one time just said “yes.” To his surprise, the youth group was interesting, especially when Rob, the leader, paid special attention to him in a way he had never experienced before. He decided to go back, and then accepted the invitation to a JV summer English camp.

After camp, Rob invited him to McDonald’s. “Do you believe the things we were talking about at camp?” he asked. Szabi nodded yes. Have you ever given your life to Jesus? “No.” “Would you like to?” “Yes.” Simple questions. Life-changing answers.

 

 

The next summer, Rob invited Szabi to do an internship with JV, and then to study the Bible in our three-year bachelor’s program. At one of the camps, he met a cute girl from Wisconsin named Maggie. They began a long-distance relationship, and, several years later, Szabi asked her a really big question: “Will you marry me?” Gratefully, for both of them, the answer was “yes.”

Just a few days ago, I sat with Szabi and Maggie in a room full of interns at our training center in Malenovice, Czech Republic. They both recently joined JV staff, and Maggie is now taking responsibility for summer interns in Hungary.

Sitting at the table with us was Myla, from Louisville, Kentucky, who will be serving under Maggie’s leadership. She is studying sports management at her university, but is giving up her summer to be a light for Jesus in a faraway place.

When I asked Maggie what she had learned in her first summer internship, she said, “God ignited a flame in my heart during those short months. He gave me a heart for the young people of Hungary and a passion for them to know Jesus.”

 

 

Szabi looked over at her and smiled. He has a life partner because of the decision that she made. But even more than that, he has eternal life because his best friend, Rob, and other college students made small decisions that changed the course of his life.

This summer, over 40 interns will be serving with us for three months, sharing the gospel with thousands of young people across Central and Eastern Europe. I wonder what will happen because Myla and 39 others said “yes” to God’s call.

Thank you for making this possible through your support and prayers.

Dave Patty President

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It was truly a time that words can’t fully describe. After the debrief, it was time for everyone to step back into their “real life.” For me, an exciting year lies ahead. I carry with me a wealth of experience and knowledge from the summer, ready to step into a new season. We’re also hoping to gradually grow and develop our church’s youth ministry. We have many ideas and dreams, and I’m excited to see which ones come to life and how this year will take shape. My heart is full of gratitude for being part of JV’s summer internship, for working with such special and diverse people, and for all that God has done. Thank you for walking alongside me through this short reflection and reading to the end. Please keep this new season in prayer–for the year ahead, for the youth in Estonia, and for the Good News of Jesus to reach even more hearts.