On a venture, a Josiah Venture!

Well we are through the first few days and this trip has been amazing. Council meetings ended after this morning’s session and now I am able to relax some. The intensity and purposefulness of the meetings, combined with the fact everything was new and I was also trying to build relationships with folks took about every ounce of energy I had.

I am truly amazed by the passion every single one of these people have for reaching the lost. I should tell you that the attendees of the council meetings are the country head and their 2-I-C. Every country has one US missionary and one National missionary. Others that are a part of the council are the JV executive and support staff and a few guests like myself.

They are all amazing but I wanted to share about one country leader Mart. He is a national from Estonia. This guy gets it. He is beyond sold out for Jesus. I know that if somewhat were to say he had to denounce his faith or die. He’d fall on the sword without even batting an eye. I have met very few people in life who have this kind of Holy Spirit fire. He had a couple of countrymen traveled to the US on a fundraising trip.

They intentionally sat in seats apart from each other so they could share the gospel. By the time they arrived in the US, each had shared Jesus and one came away with $450 a month support from someone they had never met before. While in Chicago, their first stop, they went to a pizza place for dinner and led their waitress to the Lord at their table. They are so grounded in the scriptures, they believe that the great commission is what God has commanded them to do and it is serious business to them. You gotta meet these guys.

The people they are ministering to are the first generation not born into communism. Some are very open but open to everything. Many are still caught in oppression that communism caused. There is a youth movement sweeping Eastern Europe. When they see Christ, they become passionate, sold out Christians ready win others to Christ.

Eastern Europe needs capacity in the current evangelical churches in order to discipline them. Church plants are happening at an astonishing rate. New churches are parenting another new church in just a couple years. I can’t wait to share more of the amazing stories of life change that is happening in every country. Now that council is done, we are into the Family Conference. This brings all the American missionaries together for a time of fellowship and to be fed. The JV CEO Dave Patty is the speaker and tonight he challenged us all with some biblical teaching on the “Role of the Fatherhood”. After the intensiveness of the first few days it was cool to just worship and be fed.

Tonight we were able to sit and chat with another couple of missionary couples, one in particular who are new to Slovakia. Again it was so inspiring.I could write much more but I haven’t really slept since leaving Canada and am REALLY hoping I can get at least 5-6 hours tonight.

If you have questions, please ask…

Please keep praying and stay tuned….more to come.