As I get closer and closer to May 15, the reality of going back to the Czech Republic sets in deeper and deeper. Yes, God willing, I will be returning to the Czech Republic to do youth ministry there, and this time for seven months.
I will again be leading/co-leading an intern team over the summer, and this summer is looking like quite the roller coaster ride, except that you are blindfolded before you get on, and the blindfold does not come off until you reached the crest of that first thrilling and terrifying hill. Like a new, unseen roller coaster, this summer will have similar aspects to it - camps, intern teams, visiting churches and schools, songs, dance, follow-up, and etcetera - there will also be much that is new - curriculum, interns, churches and camps, schools, cities, challenges, and things I have not even thought of yet.
I will again be leading/co-leading an intern team over the summer, and this summer is looking like quite the roller coaster ride, except that you are blindfolded before you get on, and the blindfold does not come off until you reached the crest of that first thrilling and terrifying hill. Like a new, unseen roller coaster, this summer will have similar aspects to it - camps, intern teams, visiting churches and schools, songs, dance, follow-up, and etcetera - there will also be much that is new - curriculum, interns, churches and camps, schools, cities, challenges, and things I have not even thought of yet.
Josiah Venture (JV)
Josiah Venture (JV) takes its name for King Josiah of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles fame. Using money that had been put into the temple treasury, he had the Temple of God restored and in the midst of its restoration found the Book of the Law (Deuteronomy). Having read it, he tore his clothes and wept for the sin he and his people had committed, and he summoned the people to hear the Book of the Law read, which led to a revival of the people who once again placed the Word of God at the center of their lives. Eastern Europe desperately needs its own Josiahs, young men and women who lead the way spiritually as this young king did.
Vision and Mission
This is the vision of Josiah Venture, to be part of a movement of God among the youth of Eastern Europe that finds its home in the local church and transforms society. Our mission and calling is to equip young leaders to fulfill Christ's commission by reaching and making disciples. More than just conversion, we want to see passionate followers of Jesus Christ, with a vision to reach and disciple their generation for Him.
This is the vision of Josiah Venture, to be part of a movement of God among the youth of Eastern Europe that finds its home in the local church and transforms society. Our mission and calling is to equip young leaders to fulfill Christ's commission by reaching and making disciples. More than just conversion, we want to see passionate followers of Jesus Christ, with a vision to reach and disciple their generation for Him.
The Ministry
My team and I will be involved in leading evangelistic English camps for high school and university-age students. The English camps are a vital tool in bringing the gospel to the youth in a relevant and relaxed environment. We will be promoting the camps, teaching conversational English, building relationships with non-Christians through activities (sports and free time), leading small group evangelistic discussions, and helping lead evening programs consisting of music, drama, games, and testimonies.
When summer is over, I will be living with a full time missionary, Greg Strock, in the city of Tabor. I will be taking 10 hours of Czech a week (Hurray Language!). I will be participating in camp follow-up events throughout the fall. These would be outreach style events meant to continue to facilitate connection and relationship between the church and youth ministry and the other students who attended the camps. I will be helping Greg with any of his ministries and will likely do some teaching in the youth groups. I will also be doing a lot of "contact ministry," which means spending time with students outside of school and church - playing sports with them, getting coffee or going out to eat, and etcetera. I will also be attending the JV fall conference, staff Thanksgiving, and weekly and monthly leadership meeting.
The Family
The people of JV are incredible. It is like one big family. I am so grateful that God has allowed me to be a part of this family. Nate and Emily Hughes are the leaders of the English camp internships in the Czech, and they are amazing. There are people that bring peace. When they visited the camps (they visit every camp for a day for the whole summer), I felt a peace come with them. They are like the parents of the interns, or the wise, caring older brother and sister while over there, and I can't thank them enough for their encouragement and leadership, and these are just two of the many incredible brothers and sisters I have had the privilege of meeting and being sharpened and spurred on by in JV.
Passion
The JV staff is filled with it, and it flows out of them into all those who come in contact with them and their ministry. I love it. Where does their passion come from? The Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-7). The people of Eastern Europe need to hear the gospel, and it is for this reason why I am going there and why those already there still serve (1 Corinthians 9:23; 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 1:1).
"You get better at preaching the gospel by hearing it preached well and preaching it well” (Tim Keller). I get to preach the gospel a lot in this ministry. You live the gospel. You live the truth and defense of the faith. You live the testimony of Jesus Christ – salt and light – your joy makes a statement:
"Though [we] have not seen him, [we] love him. Though [we]do not now see him, [we] believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of [our] faith, the salvation of [our] souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).Your life tells Christ’s story. When you speak the gospel, there is power there (Romans 1:16-17), and when you live as Christ lived, when you love as Christ loved, when you obey as Christ obeyed, when you give grace as Christ has given grace, you tell those watching and listening to and relating with you true things about Jesus. You tell them Jesus loves and Jesus reigns and Jesus lives and Jesus gives grace and Jesus gives Himself for their salvation. You not only preach the gospel in this ministry, just as we ought in life, you live the gospel for the sake of the elect and the edification and encouragement of the brotherhood of believers (Hebrews 10:24-25).
So this is what my seven months in the Czech Republic will be. Thank you to those who were used by God to make my three month internship there last summer possible. I continue in prayer for what this next season holds. I believe God is raising and will raise up Josiahs from the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe. I believe He is going to raise up Moseses and Peters and Pauls and Isaiahs and Davids and Elijahs and Elishas and Johns to bring His gospel to His people.
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