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March 8, 2018

Bold Faith

Support raising, moving, learning a new language, dealing with cultural differences, sharing the gospel, letting go of worldly things, investing in kingdom work.

There is no doubt, it is a challenge for Josiah Venture staff members to commit to full-time ministry. Stepping into who God has made you to be and what he’s asking you to do is never easy. In fact, the path often looks foggy; the ground shaky. That is why bold faith is one of our organization’s five core values.

Here are some of our JV missionaries on what bold faith means to them and what it looks like in their lives.

What does having bold faith look like?

“When I have bold faith, I step boldly into something that I can not accomplish in my own strength. I am putting myself in a complete dependence, where if God doesn’t show up I am in trouble. It is being willing to be in over my head, completely surrendered and utterly dependent. It is knowing that God’s goodness is unchanging, no matter what the outcome. It is praising God now as if it has already been accomplished.” – Juliana Law, Ukraine

“For me, bold faith is being willing to put your hand up, like Isaiah, and say ‘Here I am, Lord, send me’ even if you know that decision will bring into question everything people know about you. The boldest faith decisions I’ve had to face caused people around me to question not only my decision-making, but their own. My bold faith has caused many moments of feeling alone and unsupported by even those closest to me, and yet I can look back at those same decisions and know they were the very best expressions of bold faith and obedience to God.” – Scott Molvar, heading to Croatia

How do you trust God when you feel like everything around you is shakable?

“How I trust God when everything feels shaky around me, is to remember and to expect…to remember the basic bedrock truths about God that my life is built on: that he is sovereign, that he is good, and that he loves me; to remember specifically how he’s led and provided for me in the past; to remember how he’s spoken directly to my need and to my heart through his Word in sync with my circumstances and my community. And then to expect that he continues to love and care for me, and is currently working for my good and his glory even when I can’t see it; to expect him to speak to me by watching for him to “show up” with his guidance, comfort, conviction, presence. I have found him to be an amazingly present and gracious God, and just yesterday he reminded me right when I needed it that he is the one who sustains and restores (Ps.41) and daily bears our burdens (Ps.68).” – Brenda Nickerson, Canada

“People change, but God doesn’t. God is not shakable. So if we invest in getting to know who God really is by learning more about his character, and if we recall what he has already done in our lives, we can freely trust in him.” – Pavlina Bujokova, Czech Republic

What have you seen God do when you have taken steps of bold faith?

“God loves bold faith and never ceases to amaze me in allowing me to see more of him when I boldly trust in his promises. God is doing such amazing and miraculous things everywhere I look, and in bold faith I get to see and somehow be a part of his agenda. When I have taken steps of bold faith, more of myself dies and more of Christ increases. I kick and scream at dying to self, but as soon as I do the lights turn on and I’m absolutely blown away by God and what he can do with such little faith of mine.” – Caleb Patty, heading to Albania

Why is bold faith necessary for you as a Christian?

“Without bold faith, we turn our lives into comfortable Christian bubbles. There is no challenge, there is no room for new people, and there we don’t need to trust God. In this bubble, we know everything we need to know about God and we slowly stop saying truth to each other, because it may cause conflict and discomfort. Eventually, we just walk away from commandments Jesus left us and we have our own Christian good-people-club. Jesus challenges us to have bold faith. If we don’t see it, we might not be listening to what Jesus is saying to us.” – Inguna Raudina, Latvia

“Our commision for King Jesus is to go into all nations and to make disciples under the authority of Jesus and his Holy Spirit. It is his movement. He’s the one providing open eyes and open ears to see and to hear the beauty of the gospel. If I’m just going to accomplish human stuff, that’s very weak. I can’t change Bulgaria. I can’t change even a city. I can’t change one person on my own might, on my own willpower or strength. I can’t. I can’t meddle in stuff of the heart. I can’t make a person believe something they won’t see without Christ opening their eyes. So, bold faith is absolutely necessary, because we believe that God is the one driving the movement.” – Peter Starkey, Bulgaria

What does bold faith mean for you?

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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