This past Saturday, we were invited to Donny's house for breakfast - along with a number of his friends, who came to hear us talk about our passion for young people in Eastern Germany. Donny served a German inspired breakfast with yummy breads and rolls, cold cuts and even some sausages, Nutella, and lots of fruit and other sides. We were blessed by all the effort he put into this breakfast but even more by the opportunity to tell a new group of believers about our plans.
We always enjoy meeting new people and telling them about what God has called us to do. A breakfast like this gives us a chance to expand our support base beyond the people who are already in our lives. This is a great way of helping us in the fundraising process!
So, if you eat breakfast and have friends, why not imitate this idea and allow us to share our plans with another group of mission-minded believers.
If you don't eat breakfast, we'll come for lunch or dinner, too...
And if you don't have friends, let us know and we'll invite you to the next breakfast to have you meet some new people :-)
Please, contact us if you would like to arrange a similar gathering with your friends. We are willing to travel for this also!
Contact Joel at jhopkins@josiahventure.com
or me at ehopkins@josiahventure.com
Thank you!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
A Chance to Share
After a few days of recovery, we entered back into our normal
routines here in Carol Stream. For all of you who have asked about my
well-being: I am doing just fine and so is the baby. We needed a few
days to relax but are back to normal. Thank you for your concern.
This past Sunday, we had a chance to share our mission plans with the congregation of Village Church of Oak Park. Donny, a former co-worker, attends this church and made the connection for us. We were given a few minutes during the worship service, which mainly served as a teaser and invite to a missions-focused breakfast at Donny's house this Saturday. We'd appreciate your prayers that this breakfast gathering would be well attended and that God would stir in the hearts of those He would like to add to our financial support team. On Sunday alone, we were able to hand out 12 support letters as a follow-up to conversations after the service. Please, pray for fruit here as well.
Would your church allow us to speak to your congregation for a few minutes on a Sunday morning? We would really appreciate this chance to broaden our reach to a new group of believers who may be as passionate as we are to see young people in Eastern Germany come to know Christ. And we really enjoy hearing about your church's heart and passion for your community at the same time!
Below a picture of the JV Eastern Germany Team with Dave Patty at the youth hostel in Leipzig. Anyone eager to join us?
This past Sunday, we had a chance to share our mission plans with the congregation of Village Church of Oak Park. Donny, a former co-worker, attends this church and made the connection for us. We were given a few minutes during the worship service, which mainly served as a teaser and invite to a missions-focused breakfast at Donny's house this Saturday. We'd appreciate your prayers that this breakfast gathering would be well attended and that God would stir in the hearts of those He would like to add to our financial support team. On Sunday alone, we were able to hand out 12 support letters as a follow-up to conversations after the service. Please, pray for fruit here as well.
Would your church allow us to speak to your congregation for a few minutes on a Sunday morning? We would really appreciate this chance to broaden our reach to a new group of believers who may be as passionate as we are to see young people in Eastern Germany come to know Christ. And we really enjoy hearing about your church's heart and passion for your community at the same time!
Below a picture of the JV Eastern Germany Team with Dave Patty at the youth hostel in Leipzig. Anyone eager to join us?
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Leaving Encouraged
Our time in Germany is coming to a close as we spend one last evening visiting with my sister in my home town and leave for Chicago tomorrow. Our stay in Leipzig was refreshing, encouraging, and continued to confirm our calling to this area of the world.
Since our last update, we met with a few more churches and organizations who all gave us a similar report: their heart is for evangelism among young people but they struggle to know how to reach them and how to train effective youth leaders. We are looking forward to joining their vision in the future and begin to help with new ideas that worked in similar cultures across Eastern Europe and to provide much needed manpower and leadership equipping.
On Saturday morning, we met with a group of University students who are a part of a missional Christian organization on campus. Our time with them was so fun and refreshing for both us and the Millers and we hope to see some of them again, granted we are able to make the big move before they graduate.
In the evening, we had the privilege of meeting an American family who is working at an International School about 1 1/2 hours outside of Leipzig. We (and I am sure they) would appreciate your prayers as we ask God if He would have us work together in the future.
We will leave tomorrow much encouraged and excited about the ministry potential in our future. Please, pray for smooth travel back home. My cold is only slowly getting better and I experienced what we believe to have been Braxton-hicks contractions yesterday. While our spirits have been rejuvenated, it seems my pregnant body is under a lot of stress.
Please, pray for us as we get back into our routine at home, fight jet lag once again, and seek to juggle ministry and fundraising as usual. Pray for God to provide the needed monthly financial support in His perfect timing and give us peace about it. The need here is great and we believe we can help, so we are returning home more eager than ever to leave for the mission field long-term.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The harvest is plentiful but...
... The workers are few. --- Jesus made this statement decades ago and it is certainly true here in Leipzig.
Our meetings have been insightful so far and continue to confirm our calling to this region and the need for youth ministry leaders and training in this city. We met with a church plant that started as a kids hour in a home and has grown to a small church building in the most populated part of Leipzig. The church is surrounded by a large number of high rise apartment buildings, which are very typical for Eastern Europe. The teen population is largely from low income and often single family homes. Communist culture valued a woman working and many of these teens likely grew up with little contact with their parents or a close family member. The church itself underwent a painful church split several years ago but is now experiencing some growth - entirely through new conversions, no transfer growth. This is truly a reason to praise God! However, the nature of having many new believers leaves the church with a lack of qualified leaders. Ministry teams have come from other cities to put on camps and other outreach events for youth and the church is encouraged to see that each event draws and reaches youth at a deep level. However, they then lack the leadership to provide consistent youth programming and relationship building opportunities.
Another church plant we met with just purchased a former elementary school and is renovating it to use as a multi-functional church building. Two women already live at the church building, providing a consistent presence on the premises and running a used clothing ministry out of an adjacent building. The congregation does not have a lot of money but the pastor says, "we have our hands." They have been diligent to put many hours into the building, knowing its potential for ministry. An American missionary is part of this church as well. She is a female single missionary and among other things has been offering free English classes to the community, which has been a great draw. The church's leadership has been praying for us for a while and was excited to meet us in person. They do not yet have a youth ministry and are looking forward to how Josiah Venture may be able to come alongside of them in the future. What an honor to meet a congregation that has been fervently praying for us and our arrival without ever having met us! The Body of Christ is a wonderful blessing worldwide!!
Our first appointment of the day was in the center of the city, located in a famous Communist building that is now being used to proclaim the good news of Christ. Praise The Lord! This church has been established for many years and the pastor reported an unusual amount of growth. The church has 150 members with about 300 in Sunday attendance. The pastors decided to offer two services due to the recent growth and are also praying for wisdom on how to keep close-knit fellowship alive in a growing church. They have started satellite locations that are meant to meet as missional communities and they have seen some success. They wonder if some of these may turn into church plants down the road. The church does not have a designated youth pastor and is struggling to maintain a consistent attendance among the youth. The pastor was very interested in opportunities to train his volunteers in youth ministry to strengthen outreach to this age group. The church also draws a large number of College students and is ever hoping to connect them more meaningfully to their congregation. We were encouraged to see what God has already been doing in this congregation and how Josiah Venture may be of help to further their ministry to young people. You may look forward to a video message from this church's pastor upon our return to the US.
What a blessed day and another is just about to begin. Today, we have the privilege of time with Josiah Venture President Dave Patty. And tonight, we jointly visit with another church. Thank you for your encouraging responses to our last post. Please, keep praying for a fruitful rest of the week. Please, pray especially for me (Ellen) to overcome this cold and not get anyone else sick. I've also been struggling most with jet lag and exhaustion on this trip, which is an unusual twist in our family - though I suppose not surprising seen as that I am pregnant! Praise God for His sustaining power and pray I would draw on it when weakest! Thank you for your prayers and support!
Our meetings have been insightful so far and continue to confirm our calling to this region and the need for youth ministry leaders and training in this city. We met with a church plant that started as a kids hour in a home and has grown to a small church building in the most populated part of Leipzig. The church is surrounded by a large number of high rise apartment buildings, which are very typical for Eastern Europe. The teen population is largely from low income and often single family homes. Communist culture valued a woman working and many of these teens likely grew up with little contact with their parents or a close family member. The church itself underwent a painful church split several years ago but is now experiencing some growth - entirely through new conversions, no transfer growth. This is truly a reason to praise God! However, the nature of having many new believers leaves the church with a lack of qualified leaders. Ministry teams have come from other cities to put on camps and other outreach events for youth and the church is encouraged to see that each event draws and reaches youth at a deep level. However, they then lack the leadership to provide consistent youth programming and relationship building opportunities.
Another church plant we met with just purchased a former elementary school and is renovating it to use as a multi-functional church building. Two women already live at the church building, providing a consistent presence on the premises and running a used clothing ministry out of an adjacent building. The congregation does not have a lot of money but the pastor says, "we have our hands." They have been diligent to put many hours into the building, knowing its potential for ministry. An American missionary is part of this church as well. She is a female single missionary and among other things has been offering free English classes to the community, which has been a great draw. The church's leadership has been praying for us for a while and was excited to meet us in person. They do not yet have a youth ministry and are looking forward to how Josiah Venture may be able to come alongside of them in the future. What an honor to meet a congregation that has been fervently praying for us and our arrival without ever having met us! The Body of Christ is a wonderful blessing worldwide!!
Our first appointment of the day was in the center of the city, located in a famous Communist building that is now being used to proclaim the good news of Christ. Praise The Lord! This church has been established for many years and the pastor reported an unusual amount of growth. The church has 150 members with about 300 in Sunday attendance. The pastors decided to offer two services due to the recent growth and are also praying for wisdom on how to keep close-knit fellowship alive in a growing church. They have started satellite locations that are meant to meet as missional communities and they have seen some success. They wonder if some of these may turn into church plants down the road. The church does not have a designated youth pastor and is struggling to maintain a consistent attendance among the youth. The pastor was very interested in opportunities to train his volunteers in youth ministry to strengthen outreach to this age group. The church also draws a large number of College students and is ever hoping to connect them more meaningfully to their congregation. We were encouraged to see what God has already been doing in this congregation and how Josiah Venture may be of help to further their ministry to young people. You may look forward to a video message from this church's pastor upon our return to the US.
What a blessed day and another is just about to begin. Today, we have the privilege of time with Josiah Venture President Dave Patty. And tonight, we jointly visit with another church. Thank you for your encouraging responses to our last post. Please, keep praying for a fruitful rest of the week. Please, pray especially for me (Ellen) to overcome this cold and not get anyone else sick. I've also been struggling most with jet lag and exhaustion on this trip, which is an unusual twist in our family - though I suppose not surprising seen as that I am pregnant! Praise God for His sustaining power and pray I would draw on it when weakest! Thank you for your prayers and support!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Arrived safely!
Thank you to all of you who prayed for safe and smooth travels. We arrived in Leipzig today and God blessed us beyond belief during our first and long flight. We had four seats to ourselves and behind us was only one woman and she was very nice and even played with Eliana! What a blessing.
Well, after 15 hours of travel, we freshened up and ate a yummy German dinner - currywurst - and are now ready to crash.
Please, pray for us as we have a full day of meetings tomorrow. We are visiting the Freie Evangelische Gemeinde (FEG) Leipzig in the morning and then will see two church plants of the Evangelische Freikirchliche Gemeinde (EFG) later in the day. Josiah Venture President Dave Patty is joining us tomorrow night after our meetings.
We will keep you posted. Please keep us in your prayers:
- to gain a better and standing of the spiritual needs and opportunities in Leipzig
- for health: I started getting a cold the night before we left
- energy while jet lagged
Well, after 15 hours of travel, we freshened up and ate a yummy German dinner - currywurst - and are now ready to crash.
Please, pray for us as we have a full day of meetings tomorrow. We are visiting the Freie Evangelische Gemeinde (FEG) Leipzig in the morning and then will see two church plants of the Evangelische Freikirchliche Gemeinde (EFG) later in the day. Josiah Venture President Dave Patty is joining us tomorrow night after our meetings.
We will keep you posted. Please keep us in your prayers:
- to gain a better and standing of the spiritual needs and opportunities in Leipzig
- for health: I started getting a cold the night before we left
- energy while jet lagged
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)