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May 13, 2021

One by One

Dear Friends,

Like much of Europe, Poland has been in some form of lockdown for over 12 months now. Much of that time, the restrictions prevented normal youth group meetings, leaving youth leaders lost and discouraged. In many locations, youth ministry simply stopped functioning.

Yet, through all these limitations, it was still possible to meet one on one. Realizing this was an open door that needed more attention, the JV Poland team came up with a creative plan to drive innovation in youth ministry and re-engage youth leaders one by one.

With help from an education specialist, they developed an interview protocol for getting to the heart of this young generation. After this, they equipped fifty youth leaders to conduct two to four-hour interviews one-on-one with members of their youth group.

One hundred conversations and three hundred hours later, they compiled their research findings and came up with seven themes that describe what Polish young people are currently experiencing. Issues like massive tension with parents and lack of closeness to peers came to the surface, along with a love/hate relationship to the internet and a longing to be free again and spread their wings. Many expressed a deep desire for someone to lead them spiritually, since the lack of regular youth meetings and fellowship has left them drifting without spiritual direction.

Now, JV staff are teaming up with these youth leaders to develop specific experiments to address each of the seven needs in a way that brings the insights of the Bible and the resources of Christ to the thirst young people are experiencing. The insights learned from these innovative responses will be gathered together, along with the findings from the research, and shared with youth leaders across Poland.

In many ways, this is a triple win. Along with gathering valuable research insights to share, our team is equipping youth leaders to go deep into one-on-one conversations and directly shepherding many hurting young people. One youth leader shared that she had always wanted to meet one-on-one with the young people in her youth group but didn’t really know how. Planning to do just a few interviews, she continued on to meet with everyone in her group because of the impact it was having on them and on her.

Another youth leader shared that he had learned more about his youth group members in a two hour conversation than he had in the last two years.

Since the effects of this pandemic will likely be felt by young people for some time, this focused care for youth leaders and their young people will have deep impact on the future health of the church.

Sometimes the best, and only, way forward is one by one.

Dave Patty President

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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