Final Post for 2009

Dear Friends,
This is the final post for 2009. For those of you closely following this weekly blog I DID NOT make an entry last week...on purpose. It was intentional. I knew I would be writing today, December 21st. And I know I will NOT BE WRITING December 28th! So, this is it for 2009!

We began this new journey with STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT, (SI/JP) April the 6th of this year, 2009. It has been a great ride! Bottom line, we connected some churches with some GLOBAL JONATHANS who were connected with unreached people groups (UPG's). And now because of the "sowing of the message" we are ready to connect many more in 2010! Essentially this is what we do: Connect churches (1) with UPG's (2) and with JONATHANS (3) who are trained and ready to go. This triad is what enables us to do accomplish this task the Lord gave us, "To go into ALL the world...."

1. We identify UPG's of 100,000 or more people
2. We connect churches with a UPG from the list we have prepared
3. We train JONATHANS who are entering that UPG we have connected with a church(es) to plant multiplying churches within that particular UPG.

Now obviously it is a little more detailed than the three easy steps above...but you get the point. Right now we have churches praying about the UPG's they are going to adopt for five years. We want to be sure that there is a relationship with all three- Church/UPG/JONATHAN! This is not some black hole "out there" but rather these are real people with real needs and a real hunger to hear the story of Jesus as told by real modern day JONATHANS. I can get excited about that kind of relationship and I know you can also! And that, among other reasons, is why we are in this CONNECTING position! It is great to see God at work among people who have never heard the story of Jesus...ever! People are transformed. The story of Jesus becomes a burning passion for so many of the people. Whole villages are transformed. The Lord Jesus does HIS work and you and I have the privilege to be a part of this eternal "Jesus Movement" with UPG's around the world.

So we are on pins and needles looking with anticipation and eargerness at what the Lord is going to do through STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT in 2010. Let me make sure you have our contact information.

Graydon and Judy Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc graydonandjudy.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Judy and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year in 2010 that exceeds all of your expectations and anticipations!

With prayer,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

P.S. I give this next information with a certain amount of hesitation. But people have been asking and so I need to humbly respond. People have asked, "can we help you and Judy in the telling of this story by not only praying for you but also in helping you along financially as we know you are serving in this position by faith?" Our answer is "yes, and thank you so much for wanting to partner with us." If this is your heart desire, (and not taking anything away from what you are already doing financially) you can send contributions to:

STADIA

P.O. Box 19700

Irvine, CA 92623

Include this information on the check registry: Jessup 6-805

Once again thank you so much! Graydon and Judy Jessup

Moving the ball towards the goal line!

Dear Friends,

I know, I know! "Moving the ball towards the goal line," does not sound real spiritual. And the question could be honestly asked: "What does 'moving the ball towards the goal line' have to do with reaching unreached people groups?" Hey...I am glad you asked!

This past weekend (this could be used in a Trivia game) we learned what Universities were going to play important football games in a variety of Bowl Championship Series games. (That is "BCS" for those of you not interested in U.S. Football!) Many people were happy...and many others were angry...angry because their team was not selected for the most prestigious BCS game, or at least a high level BCS competition. The fans will be upset, sports writers will write many column inches of pros and cons, sports talk radio will debate forever about who should have been invited and who should not have been invited and the BCS "stuff" will continue to move forward no matter how angry or happy anybody happens to be! What a national diversion!

And so "we move the ball towards the goal line!" In the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT realm we use that expression of speech to help us understand that we are connecting unreached people groups (*UUPG's and/or UPG's)with church groups/small groups/families/individuals, through GLOBAL JONATHANS, who are prepared and ready to carry the Gospel into the hard places...or...who will actually be "moving the ball towards the goal line!" By making those "connections" the Gospel is being preached, Jesus is being exalted, lives are being transformed, and we are moving closer to the ultimate objective of Jesus Chrst- when all will have had the opportunity to have heard the Good News about HIM!

As I see it we are involved in the biggest, most eternal BCS of all! Ours is not just a temporary win at the end of a long football season. The BCS we are playing in is for keeps! We are not limited to a parade and a moment of fame on the TV (High Def...of course!) on the first weekend of the New Year. The parade we'll be in is eternal...it never ends! The band will play forever! The Marshall of the parade will always be the Marshall...the Grand Marshall...the Ultimate Marshall...none other than Jesus Christ. HE is the star. In the middle of the parade the TV announcer will not announce the NEXT BIG THING coming up on Channel so and so in such and such a city! There will be NO "next big thing!" The BIG THING will be taking place in front of our eternal eyes- we'll be there simply because we accepted the terms for getting to the parade as set out by the Grand Marshall...Jesus Christ! We want the WHOLE world to know that story, those terms, and have the opportunity to make that choice to choose to attend this Game of all Games- eternity in heaven with Jesus Christ.

And so we happily say, "we are moving the ball closer to the goal line" when another unreached people group (*UUPG and/or UPG) is adopted by a church, or a small group, or a family, or an individual! I invite you to consider being a part of this team. I visited with two churches this past week- one in Arizona and the other in Nevada. Both are jumping into the mission with us. Among the many wonderful things they both are doing they have determined, "we want to be involved in moving the ball closer to the goal line." They will be adopting either *UUPG's and/or UPG's and in partnership and in teamwork we will together, purposefully work at "moving the ball closer to the goal line!"

Please be in contact with me if you would want to know more about joining this growing team!

Merry Christmas,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

*UUPG "Unengaged, unreached people group." To the best understanding of those who study and track these situations, people living within a UUPG have NEVER heard the Name of Jesus Christ and they have NEVER heard any word from the Bible. We believe that there are over 500,000,000+ people currently on the globe who fall into the UUPG category.

Christmas is in the air!

Dear Friends,

You can feel it can't you? Christmas is really in the air- you can just sort of sense it, see it, feel it. And it is a good thing. Jesus Christ was born! What an amazing story! I just never get tired of living out the story of Christmas. In story, in song, in drama, the greatest story ever told is repeated and repeated! And it is a good one, a true one, a life changing story!

In fact as I was pondering the story once again I thought to myself, "the story is why I am in STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT!" I want people who have never heard the story to hear. SI/JP gives me a method, a platform, a detailed opportunity to make sure that people who have not heard...hear! Even though I live 2,000 years this side of the point of origin of the story I still get to tell it, to describe it, to paint word pictures for people so that they also see it and get it! And that is exactly what happens when unreached people groups (UPG's) hear the story for the very first time. They catch it all through word pictures.

Did you realize that over half a billion people on the planet have never even heard the name of Jesus Christ. They have no idea that the only Son of God was born in a lowly manger in a stable in Bethlehem. They don't even know that there is a Bethlehem. This is not to demean anyone. This is just simply a reality in our world. The half billion plus people who have never heard essentially live in "oral cultures." That is, they do not have a written language. They therefore do not read nor do they write. What they know they have learned "orally!" Somebody tells them a story. They hear the story and then they repeat that story. The stories are handed down from generation to generation. Then one day one of their own people, or at least somebody who can communicate in their language or in a common language such as a trade language comes and tells them this amazing story. "There is a God who loves you. And He sent His one and only Son to live on this earth...." And the story goes from there. People hear the story. They believe the story. The Person they hear about becomes real in their lives. Transformation takes place. An unreached people group has been reached...for the purposes and the plans of Jesus Christ.

As I think about all of this this Christmas I get very excited. We are involved in a huge undertaking. The objective is to tell "the story," to those who have never heard! Thanks to all of you for your prayers, your thoughts, your emails, your support. And I pray that for you and your family and your friends, that this Christmas is the very best ever! I imagine "you can feel it also!"

With prayers,

Graydon Jessup

Back Home...Again!

Dear Friends,

It was a fast and furious trip to the National Missionary Convention, held this year in Peoria, IL. You know the drill: You work like crazy to get ready to go somewhere, you go, and then when you return you work like crazy to get all caught up! I can tell...you have been there too!

The Convention was everything I expected it to be. I met many, many friends and made many, many new friends. Our objective: Get the story of STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT out so that others know about this incredible opportunity, to impact for eternity, an Unreached People Group (UPG) somewhere in the world!

A very fascinating piece of this kind of "get together" is that you also learn what others have been called to do in terms of ministry within the Kingdom of our Lord! God's plans and purposes are HUGE! Many, many different people have been called into a kaleidoscope of ministries...all over the globe! As you listen, ask questions and talk with people in their "booths," you immediately discover that you are not in this Matthew 28:18-20 project alone! What a team! And we all get to be an active part of this team. A fun aspect is that no one gets to sit on the bench...we are all players. That was driven home to me once again as I was in Peoria last week!

Remember the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT objective: Connect churches, individuals, small groups, etc., with GLOBAL JONATHANS who are prepared and ready to plant multiplying churches in very difficult Unreached People Groups. So that was my goal and purpose while in Peoria.

We are discovering it takes about three visits before a church or individual commits to adopting a UPG. Spending time at the Convention was one of those "first" visits. We will be following up with those first contacts and those interested in global outreach especially as it relates to the UPG's of the world! We have our hands full but that is really what ministry is all about...right?

Many years ago some people came to these shores looking for the opportunity to worship God the way they believed they needed to be worshiping Him. They had fled the oppressions of Europe to come to this "new land." Upon arrival it was not easy...but were they ever THANKFUL! And so the tradition of THANKSGIVING began as an expression of thanks to a Heavenly Father who had given them this time and place where they could worship freely. My word to you this Thanksgiving is be thankful for everything you have. But above all, be thankful to your Heavenly Father for His gracious gift to each one of us...Jesus Christ, and that we can worship Him freely!

Have a great Thanksgiving!
Graydon and Judy Jessup
P.S. Here are some speaking dates:

• November 29th, Mission Viejo Christian Church, Mission Viejo, CA
• December 27th, Mission Viejo Christian Church, Mission Viejo, CA
• (For your info: www.mvcchome.org will give you times and location of the church)

Our contact info:

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

National Missionary Convention

Dear Friends,
This week, November 19-22, the National Missionary Convention (NMC) of the Christian Churches, is being held in Peoria, IL! (Bradley University is located in Peoria! Just thought you would want to know!!!)
The NMC draws people from all over...the world! This is an opportunity for those from within the States to connect and reconnect with those who are serving in a variety of Mission efforts from all over the globe. The speakers and workshops are the best. The convention hall is filled with booths representing world wide ministries. People who attend the convention walk away with their arms filled with brochures...DVD's...flyers...ministry/mission opportunities in every kind of possibility- preaching, teaching, language translation, medical work, educational work, justice efforts, ministry to children and women, ministry to the poorest of the poor, construction opportunities- you name it, there is a global ministry for it! (May not be the best sentence but you get the idea!)
I will be "working the crowd" who will be passing by the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT booth! We have new publication pieces explaining what this ministry is all about! And I am very excited about the opportunities to meet college students, young adults, those who are retired and anyone else for that matter who are looking for that possibility, that open door, that answer to prayer, that challenge to step out of a comfort zone and step into the Lord's comfort zone!
Remember what JONATHAN is all about! Some are Jonathans and take the impossible hill; others are the Armor Bearers who are supporting the Jonathans "...heart and soul" as they (the Jonathans) go after the hill! (I Samuel 14:7)
What is our entire objective? STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT exists to train and release global Jonathans to plant multiplying churches in very difficult unreached people groups within the context of what they have and who they are without the long term support of U.S. dollars. That is it in a nutshell.
Sent with prayer,
Graydon Jessup
P.S. You may not be attending the NMC, but perhaps you know someone who is! Give them a call or send them and email and make sure they visit us at the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT booth!

Flying home!!!

Dear Friends,

It has been a good "run" but a long "run!" Judy and I left for Thailand September 24th. That was a great trip. I landed home for a couple of days then headed out for Alaska. I am returning today, November 9th. Essentially from the 24th of September to the 9th of November I have been living out of my suitcase...and it all has been good!

Here is the deal. When you are doing what you believe God has called you to do the days and the miles all run together and you really do not notice! You don't notice that you are living out of a suitcase- until maybe the day you head home...like today! And then you notice. But then that is only for a day and then you are home!

This Alaskan trip has been over the top. The only way it could have improved was if Judy had been able to make the trip with me. I was so warmly greeted everywhere I stopped. It hardly seems like seventeen years have passed since we lived in this "Great Land!" The Body of Christ- that is, the part I visited, is doing amazingly and wonderfully well! Churches are growing. Peoples lives are being changed. A view for the world is evident in the lifestyles and the choices of the people. And folks are being impacted all the way from local cities and towns here in Alaska to around the world. I was truly blessed.

As I shared the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT story, people were moved. Planting multiplying churches in very difficult unreached people groups truly resonates with the Alaskan mindset. I anticipate much fruit from the efforts of these past three weeks as people begin to pray and adopt unreached people groups around the world.

Last post I spoke of 100,000 house churches started over these next five years. I am even more energized by this very real objective as people join the team in prayer and support. Once again if you would like further information please be in contact.

That is all for this post as I head in to Anchorage to catch a plane and return to Southern California.

Blessings,
Graydon Jessup
714.488.7922
gjessup@stadia.cc
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

100,000

Dear Friends,

Greetings. Here is what you will read in this blog:

• 100,000!
• The breakdown of how to establish 100,000 multiplying churches among unreached people groups in the next five years. (UPG's)
• 100,000 by God's grace and within His purposes and power
• P.S. An additional note!

That is right, 100,000!
When I wrote that number last week I gulped! 100,000! "So what's that all about?" "100,000 what?" That is, 100,000 multiplying churches planted in the midst of currently, unreached people groups (UPG's) over these next five years. These churches (all house churches) would be planted in the context of who they are and what they have without the long term support of U.S. dollars. Allow me to break that down just a little more:

• That is 100,000 house churches in a variety of currently unreached people groups.
• The House Churches are planted within the context of what they (the local people) have and within the context of who they are. (The local people once again.)
• These House Churches would be "jump started" with American funds or financial support from other nations. But then there are some specific things the financial support would not do:

1. There would be no purchase of property
2. No church buildings would be built
3. Now if the local people wanted to purchase some property and build a building they could do that within what they have and who they are. That is their decision, not STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT!
4. Our observation is that the governments where we are planting these churches would be forcefully opposed to any and all church building construction and would probably "torch" them if they were built. Thus, the House Churches!

• There would always be an exit strategy in place within a five year mark for American Churches and/or individuals who were financially supporting these church plants. In other words, the Gospel would be preached, House Churches would be planted, and the ministry would continue with the funds from within the unreached people group after the five year mark for each group. Churches and/or individuals who were supporting these ministries for a maximum of five years would be able to step aside knowing that the churches had been planted, that people were being saved and that the Gospel would continue to march forward, all without the financial aid of the American Churches.
• These House Churches would be planted to be multiplying House Churches.
• Within these Churches there would always be a prayerful watchfulness for other potential JONATHANS who would be assessed and trained then released to take the Gospel to other UPG's.

With all of this in mind you can see why 100,000 multiplying House Churches in UPG's over these next five years is a possibility...with God in it! We all know, none of this is possible, even remotely possible, without the Lord in it!

This is a simple prayer and a simple request...with eternal consequences. Would you join us in prayer and pray that over the next five years 100,000 multiplying House Churches would be planted and that they would explode into a global movement that could only be ordained by God?!

Thanks ahead of time for joining the Team with your prayer support!

Prayers for 100,000!

Graydon Jessup
P.S. To get more information you can email me at gjessup@stadia.cc or give me a call at 714.488.7922.
P.P.S. This weekend, November 7/8, I will be speaking at Faith Christian Community Church, formerly Parkside Church, the Church Judy and I led for 22 years while in Anchorage, Alaska. What a great opportunity and privilege to tell the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT story to FCC! We'll be reconnecting with many friends. If you are in the area I hope you are able to come to one of the three services. http://www.faithak.com/

In Alaska, October 2009

Dear Friends,

"I am a day late and a dollar short" but we are getting this blog out today- Wednesday the 28th of October! This journey throughout Alaska these past few days has been awesome! Let me explain:

• I have met with people who became our friends in 1969/1970 when we originally moved to Anchorage.
• I have met with people who became our friends over the 22 years we spent serving Parkside Church in Anchorage, Alaska.
• I have had the privilege of speaking in churches from Fairbanks to Homer and points in between. (For those of you who do not know the geography of Alaska, Fairbanks is at one end and Homer at the other end of the highway system! In round numbers they are about 9-10 driving hours apart!)
• I have had the privilege of telling the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT story everywhere I have traveled.
• The people in Alaska tend to be world travelers and so they have a "feel" for what is happening in unreached people groups worldwide.
• I have discovered that the people I have met in this state want a "hands on relationship" with the unreached people groups.

There are other things I could say but these will need to suffice for the moment. Needless to say, we are building and rebuilding relationships for partnering up in the future. As churches and individuals consider this opportunity- to impact an unreached people group for eternity- their hearts are filled with optimism and possibility. And that really is the bottom line: People who have never heard the Gospel story are hearing. And as people in America hear and understand that the Gospel is moving forward into unreached people groups, they, then, are moved to pray and financially support the preaching and teaching of the Word to that unreached people group.

In the next five years we are praying for a "Movement of God!" We want to see the 1,000 churches that were planted in the past 12 years jump to 100,000 over these next five years! This is a God sized vision and goal- but when you follow Biblical principles it can happen. Remember II Timothy 2:2. When people train people who train people who in turn train people, the Kingdom of God begins to expand exponentially! When that happens you have a MOVMENT on your hands- not led or directed by anyone...other than God the Holy Spirit! "God Movements" are Acts 29, or they are beyond our comprehension. Let's get excited about doing something beyond our comprehension and understanding and control! Let's let God be God in the hearts and lives of the unreached people groups of the world.

Prayers for the exponential growth of the Kingdom of God in our generation!

Graydon Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

From Thailand to Alaska and to Colorado

Dear Friends,

Judy and I just unpacked our bags from Thailand and then we repacked them to travel two different directions. Judy is in Colorado for about ten days with our youngest daughter and three of our twelve grandchildren. Matt, our youngest daughter's husband, is on his way with some others traveling to Brazil, SA to check out some strategic mission opportunites there. I headed North and I am traveling throughout Alaska the next three weeks telling one and all this STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT story. This past weekend October 16-18, I was in Fairbanks, AK. I was able to speak seven different times over the weekend! Made me feel like I was back at Eastside Christian Church preaching and teaching a full weekend. It was a real joy to be with friends I have known for many, many years. And it was further joy to meet brand new people who are pursuing the heart of God in the living out of life following Jesus...in Fairbanks, AK

So why are we doing this ministry and this travel?

• We believe that this is the calling of God upon our lives at this time.
• We believe that what we are doing has eternal consequences.
• We believe that what we are doing is an answer to the prayers of the Eastside Christian Church Elders when they prayed over us a year ago as we entered this new chapter in our lives- namely, THE STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT and all of the possibilities wrapped up in this global ministry.
• We believe that with the years of our Pastoral experience under our belts, we have a platform from which we can speak and influence others in regards to preaching the Gospel in very difficult unreached people groups.
• We believe firmly in the vision- from the heart of Jesus Christ to the implementation of that vision- "to go into all the world and preach the Gospel."
• We believe that the next few years of our lives can be used to make an eternal difference in many, many lives- specifically, the lives of men and women, boys and girls who have never heard the Name of Jesus Christ.

So, we travel and speak. We pray and we work. We never forget who our Commander is. We read and reread the Word of the Lord. We strategize. We plan. We dream. We implement. And as we move along we invite any of you to join this unusual parade!

I invite you to be in contact with us. Can we come alongside of you as you purpose to come alongside others who carry the Gospel to the far reaches of the planet? This JONATHAN model of ministry is the training of others from anywhere in the world, who will train others, who will in turn train others, so that indeed, a God sized Movement is unleashed and like a snowball gathering speed down a slope, the Gospel gains speed as it moves through the very difficult unreached people groups of the earth! We believe that God is up to some pretty BIG activities in the hearts and lives of many, many people. These people wear many different kinds of hats- some are like JONATHAN and some are like Jonathan's ARMOR BEARER. Many are in difficult unreached people groups. Some people are in churches in America and are waiting to be challenged by a God-sized global vision. Others are living in other places around the earth and they are looking for significance in serving Jesus Christ as their Lord and King! It takes all kinds of people from many, many different backgrounds who will team up together to accomplish that great mission and vision of the Lord- "...go into ALL the world and preach the Gospel."

I invite you! I implore you! Be in prayerful contact with me. As we talk together I know the Lord of All will open doors of possibility for you in some capacity, in some way, to impact some very difficult unreached people group for eternity! I look forward to your call or email.

May the blessings of the Lord be upon you!

Graydon and Judy Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

P.S. I will be speaking at:

• Homer Christian Church, Homer, AK, October 25th
• Baxter Road Bible Church, Anchorage, AK, November 1st
• Faith Christian Community, Anchorage, AK, November 7th and 8th
• I'll be attending the National Missionary Convention, Peoria, IL, November 19-22

Thailand- there and back!

Dear Friends,

OK! So you are wondering where we have been? Well we have been to Thailand and back! Took us around 17 flying hours to get there...on three different planes and just an hour or two less overall, on three differnt flights, to return home last night- Monday the 12th of October!

And what did we do while in Thailand? Bottom line, we worked hard and in the process met some great people in the Kingdom of our Lord!

• We had 10 and a half days of intense lecture, training, writing, praying, singing, conferring and dreaming...about HOW to accomplish the various VISIONS we each had for our section of Kingdom work! This was what the JONATHAN TRAINING was all about.
• We met folk from some pretty unusual places- sections of Turkey, the Tibetan Plateau which is located in China, from the mountain areas of the Golden Triangle- the central spot for growing much of the world's opium, from the high plains of Nepal to the crowded cities of central China.
• All of the folk we met had a common objective: they were, and are, committed to telling the story of Jesus to people who live in some pretty difficult areas! Almost all of the people in these areas have NEVER heard the Gospel story.
• So the stories we heard and situations that were described by our new missionary friends are not your usual stories of the advance of Christianity as important as that is. Rather these stories reflected the difficulties of the Vision: loneliness; frustration; fear; inability to sleep at night; isolation; weariness and perplexity to name a few of the "difficulties."
• But in the "difficulties" there was this "grace of the Lord" that was so present on all.
• "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." (II Corinthians 4:7-10)
• We were so blessed by students and instructors alike. All were not only able to discuss the "theories of reaching the unreached, " all were to some degree or another seriously and heavily involved in reaching these who have never heard of Jesus!" In my book that is and was pretty amazing.
• In fact Judy created a line that will become one of our "lines!" "Linking the REACHED with the LEAST REACHED until ALL ARE REACHED!" That sums up our personal story of what we are attempting to do in this global outreach of STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT!

There will be other stories that will come out of the two weeks we spent in Thailand, which you will hear from time to time. One of the most dramatic though was of a "Living Buddha" who read his way right out of his Buddhism and into faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Actually the person who led him to Jesus Christ was a Chinese woman who kept a little shop he would frequent from time to time. Because this 28 year old was identified as a "Living Buddha" his "Saul/Paul" transformation to Jesus Christ has led to death threats and persecution, even as was the case with Saul whom we read about in Acts 9. When this story was told at the Training there was not a dry eye in the room in Thailand and in fact the entire group ended up in prayer and the laying on of hands for the three missionaries who are working so faithfully in this very difficult field. Two of the three have an intimate working relationship with this 28 year old. His story will be told but right now it is in only one language! God is at work in BIG ways in the difficult areas of the world where people have never heard, and those in power do not want them to hear!!!

Well as you can imagine, we are thrilled to be involved in something this wild, this crazy this BIG! You can be involved also through prayer, through financial support, through encouragement. You too can be part of this global move of God!

In the meantime we send our love and prayers,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

Next travels: In Alaska: October 15 - November 9

National Missionary Convention, Peoria, Illinois, November 19-22

Three Days and Counting!

Dear Friends,

We are "three days and counting" to lift off to Thailand. Tickets are purchased. Seats are reserved. Rooms in Chiang Mai are reserved. All of the homework we were to complete is completed. We are in contact with very special friends in Chiang Mai whom we will be able to see and visit with on the weekends when not in class. In other words, "all systems are GO!"

Here are some things we are anticipating in this journey:

• We will be meeting brand new friends who are also involved in the telling of the Gospel Story to unreached people groups.
• We will be meeting "global" Christians- others from around the planet who will also be in Chiang Mai for THE JONATHAN TRAINING.
• As mentioned above we will be visiting with some very special friends we have come to love and appreciate over the years.
• We will be meeting people who serve those who are preparing to tell the Gospel Story to unreached people groups.
• In some of the free time we have (and we do not have very much "free time,") we will be meeting people who live in Thailand and who have been called there to serve the Lord in some way.

As you can see all of the bullet points above refer to "relationships." We are discovering over and again that "relationships" are so critical to the shared responsibility of telling the story of Jesus Christ. If I know somebody and I know that you and that "somebody" are involved in similar ministries, I can mention that. The two of you then get together on the basis of your shared knowledge of "relationship" with me. I have discovered that this has happened over and over again these past years, but especially in this past year. It is amazing to me how the Kingdom of God expands- person by person, village by village, city by city, people group by people group!

This is a significant week for Judy and me. One year ago this week we were saying "good bye" to all of the wonderful people at Eastside Christian Church! By God's Grace the baton of leadership for Eastside was handed over to Pastor Gene Appel. God is using him and the church in amazing ways to impact North Orange County for the heart of God! We are so blessed as we continue to hear the reports of the "fresh wind" blowing over Eastside in this season. Our lives are filled with many good things and one of them is the answer to the prayer of the Eastside Elders as we transitioned from the leadership of Eastside into this new role with STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT! Simply stated, the Elders prayed that this chapter of our lives would transcend anything we had done or had been involved in, in our prior years of ministry. We believe firmly that God indeed is answering that prayer as we are so deeply involved with STADIA INTERNATIONAL in the training and sending of Global JONATHANS into the very difficult unreached people groups of the world! It truly is an amazing story!

With prayers of thanksgiving,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

The Countdown Begins!

Dear Friends,

We were able to watch the blastoff of the most recent Space Shuttle. What an incredibly awesome manifestation of power. I have never gotten tired of watching those blastoffs! And what do you hear as you watch those last few seconds before the earth rumbles as the jets fire up and the craft is launched into space? You hear the countdown: "Twenty seconds and counting!"

Judy and I are in "countdown" mode before we take off to Thailand, October 24th. I have been to Thailand before. But this is a new venture for Judy. We are both excited that we will be able to take this trip together and experience the JONATHAN TRAINING as a couple. This Training is a critically important piece of the puzzle. In fact it is the cornerstone for JONATHAN. Here is the progression:

1. Find and identify "Global Jonathans!" Remember that a "Jonathan" is an individual who has the character temperment of the Biblical Jonathan- I Samuel 14. The Biblical Jonathan moved forward when all odds were against him. But he moved forward in the power and strength of his trust in the God of the universe! So first and foremost, we are looking for modern day Jonathans.
2. Once identified and challenged we train those Jonathans in a two week intensive.
3. Once trained the Jonathans then move into the unreached people group they have identified and prayed over. Remember that these "Global Jonathans" do not consider what cannot be done...rather they prayerfully prepare to take the "difficult hill" through their faith in God. In partnership with the Lord, they believe that as they do their part, God will do His part in "taking the hill."
4. With that faith they move forward to "take the hill," or that would be, to preach and teach the Good News of Jesus Christ to a difficult people group previously untouched by the Gospel.
5. As soon as people come to faith, they then begin to tell the story of Jesus and as they tell the story they are also "trained" to take the Gospel to their circle of friends and family. Bottom line- people who had never heard about Jesus, hear about Him. Lives are changed! Eternity comes into view! The Gospel moves forward per the instructions of Jesus Christ!

So, the countdown is on as we ready ourselves for these two weeks of training, Sep 28-Oct 10. We believe that this "power-surge" can be effectively realized and actualized as men and women from around the world are trained and released to tell the story of forgiveness and love through God's Son, Jesus Christ!

Prayers,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

P.S. We had a great time dedicating the new worship facility for LifeSpring Christian Church, in Beaumont, CA. We were able to reconnect with many Eastside Christian Church folk. LifeSpring is a church plant out of Eastside! It was a glorious day! Dwight and Carol Addelman lead LifeSpring and they are doing a fantastic job!

Labor Day 2009

Dear Friends,
OK, let's be honest for a moment. I mentioned in my last blog, written last Thursday, that I would be making my weekly entry today, Monday, September 7th. This is Labor Day and most everyone is off for the day- off from work and from school and taking this final holiday as the break before the "real school year" begins! But be honest now! When you read I would be writing today did you not think to yourself, "Oh, yeah, sure. GJ writing on this Monday is a pipe dream!" Come on now, you thought that, right? Well here I am all ready to write for a few moments. Miracles still happen!!!

Seriously, so many of you ease up to either me or Judy and you say something like this: "You know, I am following your blog!" That just blesses us. Thanks. Thank you for your thoughts, your effort in reading and keeping up with us, and your prayers.

Judy and I are working hard in preparing ourselves for this trip to Thailand. We leave early morning from LAX on September 24th and return October 12th. We have books to read and papers to write as we prepare for this intense two weeks. We will be spending eleven days in the classroom with about 20 other people as we take THE JONATHAN TRAINING in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This will put the proverbial "legs and wheels" to what we have been talking about since we began this ministry April 6th. Under normal circumstances you are trained before you begin a ministry, or a job, or some project. Because all of the training in THE JONATHAN PROJECT to date, is overseas, we needed to begin working in this ministry but we had to wait for our actual training because it would invlove an overseas trip. So we have been working hard for the past six months, talking about a ministry and all of the possibilities connected with this ministry, without having walked through the training...yet! These past six months have been a whirlwind. With the experience of the two weeks of classroom work I can only imagine how our work will pick up even more dramatically! We both are truly excited for the adventure and we are thrilled that at this season of our lives we get to be involved in some global initiatives that have eternal consequences...namely...seeing that the Gospel is preached to the "difficult to reach," Unreached People Groups of the world.

With prayers of thanksgiving,
Graydon and Judy Jessup
gjessup@stadia.cc
Speaking and Travel Schedule
I'll be speaking two times this Sunday, September 13, 2009
LifeSpring Christian Church, Beaumont, CA
Pastor Dwight Addleman
Church is located at 3rd and Maple Ave in Beaumont
Morning Service 9:30 AM
Dedication Service of the upgraded different facility is at 2 PM

Chiang Mai, Thailand, Sept 24 - Oct 12
Alaska in four different churches on four different weekends, Oct 15 - Nov 9
National Missionary Convention, Peoria, IL, Nov 18 - 22
India essentially for the month of January 2010

Sorry!

To all of our Friends and Prayer Warriors,

This is Thursday AM and Judy and I are in Cedar City, Utah. We will leave in a bit to head home!

We spent this past Sat PM and Sun AM with Roger and Becky Yount and the Summit Christian Church Family. (Sparks, NV) Had Sunday lunch with the Younts, Sr Pastor Steve and Pam Bond and Youth Pastor Bryan and Laura Smith (son in law and daughter of the Younts) and the Smith's two children! What a great time as all of the families have their roots out of Eastside Christian Church!

Judy and I then headed out Sunday afternoon for Salt Lake City. We actually arrive Monday early evening and stayed with Sim and Judie Leslie. Judy Leslie and Judy Jessup have known each other since they were three years old. In other words they are not only some of our "old" friends but they are some of our OLD friends! You get the point.

The meetings in Salt Lake were to pray, listen and plan for the coming Summit meeting October 19/20 in Salt Lake. An incredibly large number of ministries, churches and individuals have banded together to pray over and plan the establishment of six multiplying churches in the next three years in the Salt Lake Valley. To say the least it is an incredibly exciting venture. While there we met some of God's very best- men and women called of God to serve Him in the Valley. We will have more on this expanding, exploding ministry as the next few weeks fly by.

In the meantime, Judy and I left Salt Lake Wednesday (the 2nd) afternoon and we made it to Cedar City. We are leaving this place soon, 6 AM the 3rd, and will be back in our own place full of the good things of the Lord!

Keep us in your prayers. I will post more on Monday the 7th, Labor Day!

Prayers,

Graydon and Judy

Preparation for Chiang Mai, Thailand Sep/Oct 2009

Dear Friends,

As so many of you know Judy and I will be in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in a Jonathan Training seesion, September 28-October 10, 2009. This two week, intense training course is required for all "Jonathans!" We are going to experience and taste in the classroom setting what our Jonathans who eventually will be working with "difficult unreached people groups" experience and taste in terms of classroom training, vision casting and vision setting. We are very excited about this experience.

We have a lot of homework to do in preparation for this Jonathan Training- which training will all be done in English!

• We are reading Garrison's book, CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS (www.churchplantingmovements.com/download.php)
• We are working hard on a "people profile." Every Jonathan who is trained is preparing to enter some specific "unreached people group" that they have identified and for whom they sense a calling of God to penetrate for the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a huge part of the preparation for the two weeks of training. I will tell you the "people group" Judy and I have been working on at a later time!
• We are learning new terms and new methods. I suppose a question we can all ask is this: "Can you teach an old dog new tricks?" The general answer is "no." But when you make yourself available to whatever God is up to, and you lay aside all personal ambition, and you check your presuppositions at the door, and you enter without a hidden agenda, you can learn new methods, new concepts, new principles, new paradigms! Our prayer is that we are able to lay aside the past without laying aside our foundation in Christ, and that we are able to grasp and own the new terms and new methods we are learning in the presentation of the Gospel to unreached people groups. In other words we are praying that "these old dogs (Judy and myself) break the mold and in fact do learn new tricks!"
• Ultimately we want to be incredibly effective in finding, challenging, training and releasing new Jonathans- "global Jonathans," who think of the world as their ministry field.
• And we want to be absolutely successful in connecting unreached people groups with churches, groups, individuals, families- whomever, for the express purpose of sharing Jesus Christ and seeing eternal fruit born and mature in the eternal Kingdom!

Well these are just some of the requirements we are currently working at meeting. As we take these methodical steps we move closer to the goals and objectives of THE JONATHAN PROJECT!

We had a really fun weekend with Mission Viejo Christian Church last Saturday and Sunday. Not only did we fellowship with a great church, we met many, many others who are also engaged in all kinds of ministry within the Kingdom of God. Let me say that there are some very passionate people out there...all happily working in the specific ministry to which they have been called by God. It was encouraging to rub shoulders with these fellow servants of the Most High God! "Thanks Mission Viejo Christian Church for hosting should an excellent weekend and for inviting us to be a part of the experience!"

If there is any way we can be of help to you, or, if you would like to know more about STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT please be in contact: 714.488.7922 or hit us with an email- gjessup@stadia.cc.

In the meantime, we pray the very best for you this week.

Blessings,

Graydon Jessup

Speaking/Traveling Opportunities:

• September 13 LifeSpring Church, Beaumont/Banning with Dwight Addelman. I will be speaking in the morning worship service and then speaking at the afternoon dedication of their new meeting place there in the Beaumont/Banning area. This is a real milestone for this new church!
• September 24-October 11, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Jonathan Training
• October 18, 25, November 1, 8, 2009, Speaking in Churches in Alaska

October 18th Farewell Ave, Fairbanks, AK

October 25th Homer Christian Church, Homer, AK

November 1st Baxter Road Bible Church, Anchorage, AK

November 8th Faith Christian Community, Anchorage, AK

• November 19-22, National Missionary Convention, Peoria, Illinois
• January 2010, India

New Friends

To our "Old" Friends and our New Friends!

Be careful there- not "old" like you were thinking because none of us is getting older! Right? The children all grow up and get old...but not us! So I mean "old" as in "we have been friends for many years!" No matter how you cut it though, it still comes out "old!" Well, maybe I had better start this little post all over again!

As we travel we have had the unexcelled privilege of meeting and making, new friends! There are wonderful people all over the place who are faithfully serving the Lord Jesus Christ. And in their sphere of influence they are making a difference! I believe that is what the Lord is asking of all of us- make a difference. Well Jesus said it a little differently. He said "...bear much fruit!" In fact as you read John's Gospel, chapter 15, you get the clear picture of what Jesus meant about making a difference!

These new friends come in all shapes and sizes. They come from large churches and from house churches...and everything in between. Their backgrounds are as varied as one can find. And they all have a story, not only personal stories but also ministry stories! And are these stories ever fun!

• Some are serving faithfully in feeding the poor...not only around the world but right here in America.
• Some serve in churches as Elders, or Deacons, or Musicians or Artists or Teachers of Children.
• Some have traveled the world serving others.
• Some have barely made it out of the county in which they were born and they are serving the Lord with great sacrifice right there!
• Some are living paycheck to paycheck- really, by faith.
• Others are living out retirement dreams as they serve the Lord.
• Many if not all, have been on some sort of a short term mission project- somewhere around the world.
• Some have been followers of Christ since they were tiny.
• Others have made that choice to follow Jesus just recently.
• Some know the Bible inside out.
• Others have a difficult time knowing the difference between Genesis and Concordance!

Here is the bottom line though. They all love Jesus and they want to see His Kingdom advanced. They want to know that not only are they learning the Gospels, and not only do they know the Epistles, and not only can they navigate the Old Testament, but most importantly what they are doing in the Name of the Lord counts for eternity! When you love Jesus, you have the values of eternity in mind!

One passionate young man told me that if Jesus was so driven to choose to come and live among us, and if He was so committed to our salvation that He was willing to die on a cross, then he wanted to give that same dedication and extraordinary commitment back to Jesus Christ! When you meet people like that...people who "get it," you just get pretty excited about what this entire "Jesus venture" is all about! It is not "just a ride!" It is an "adventure!!!"

Well, we are meeting some great folk. And we hope to meet you. I am speaking at different places about STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT and it is a real joy to see "OLD" friends and it is equally wonderful to meet "NEW" friends...all in Jesus Christ!

Prayers and blessings,

Graydon Jessup

August 22/23 Missions at Mission Viejo Christian Church, Mission Viejo, CA

September 1/2 Prayer Walking Salt Lake City, Utah

September 13 Dedication of LifeSpring Christian Church, Beaumont/Banning

Sep 28-Oct 10 JONATHAN TRAINING, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Oct 18, 25, Nov 1, 8, Alaskan Churches

Nov 19-22 National Missionary Convention, Peoria, IL

January 2010 India

The Bottom Line

Dear Friends,

So, for STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT, what is the bottom line? Here it is: "STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT identifies, assesses, trains and releases/empowers, Global Jonathans (I Samuel 14:6) to plant multiplying churches in difficult unreached people groups, within the context of who they are and what they have without the long term support of American dollars."

As you read the statement above you discover FIVE Bottom Lines:

1. We identify Jonathans- "Global Jonathans" which means these Jonathan types, according to I Samuel 14:6, can be from anywhere in the world. Once identified we assess them- "are they truly Jonathan material?" You are asking, "what is Jonathan material?" Good question. We use I Samuel 14:6 as our model: "Come, let's go over to the outpost.... Perhaps the Lord will act in ourbehalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whetherby many or by few." Modern day Jonathans do not talk about what they cannot do, or what they could do if they had this or that. Rather, they take what they have and by God's grace they move forward even as Jonathan did. We are looking for modern day Jonathans- those who will move forward with boldness and confidence in the Lord. We train these Jonathans and then they are sent to unreached people groups.
2. We train Jonathans to "plant multiplying churches." These are all multiplying house churches because the "difficult unreached people groups" are difficult and unreached for a number of reasons. The main reason for this "difficulty" is that the situations these people live in are not sympathetic to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So we train people who in turn train people who in turn train people. (II Timothy 2:2)
3. "Difficult unreached people groups" are in this category due to geographical location, or maybe the nations they live in are violently opposed to Jesus Christ, or the political situation is such that being a Christian is also being an outcast...in that particular people group.
4. Since we are not building church buildings nor are we emphasizing numbers for numbers sake, we teach the people how to do church with what they have and with where they live. Once again, these are house churches, or churches meeting in other spaces where they can be secure yet faithful.
5. We are teaching the Jonathans to live within the context of what they have and who they are. All of us in STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT live by faith. We teach the Global Jonathans how to live by faith- right where they are. Consequently we are teaching the leaders and the churches how to exist and thrive without the long term support of U.S. dollars.

This is our BOTTOM LINE! Once again let me emphasize that this is not the only way to do ministry globally. There are some incredible ministries going on all over the world. But for STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT, this is what God has called us to in this day and hour.

Blessings,

Graydon Jessup

Future Speaking/Traveling Dates:

August 16 Gover Beach, CA

August 22 Mission's Banquet, Mission Viejo, CA

September 1/2 Prayer Walk in Salt Lake City, Utah

September 13 Beaumont/Banning, LifeSpring Dedication

September 24-October 11 Chiang Mai, Thailand for Jonathan Training

From the foggy, cool shores of the Oregon Coast

Dear Friends,

I don't know where you are in the world today, but as I look out on my world the fog has rolled in over the Pacific and the temps are in the 50's. All sorts of people are traveling Hiway 101 as they move North and South on this ribbon of a road connecting the beach towns of the Oregon Coast! The word is that if it is cool on the coast it is warm in the valleys. If it is cool in the valleys then it is warm on the coast. I have not read nor seen the news yet but it must be warm in the Oregon Valleys!

The Week of Missions at Winema Christian Campgrounds has such a history in this section of the world. I wrote about this fact last week. The Bible Teacher for the week, Dr Mark Scott, Academic Dean of Ozark Christian College, made mention of this fact. He is from the midwest and he had always heard of this week wherever he traveled. Now on the Winema campgrounds he was beginning to catch a sense and a flavor of what happens over these five days. I can tell you it will be good.

We are telling the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT story and it continues to capture the imagination and the heart of people. Interestingly some people do not know what to do with it all. When I tell the story there are those "aha!" moments. People get it. But then they need time to process and pray. "Process" what they have just heard; "pray" because they do want to jump on board without having heard from the Lord. But what we are discovering is that people make these kinds of "support" decisions slowly...and that is OK. It takes time to make paradigm shifts...and that is really what this is all about. Planting multiplying churches is key. Planting them within the context of what people have who are planting the churches is really different. And then making certain that there is not this long term financial commitment from the American Church is something many have never considered. You can see it takes time to process all of this.

Now I recognize that there are many, many wonderful ministries, missions, agencies and services that are accomplishing amazing things for the Lord Jesus Christ. We are cheerleaders for such ministries. Having said that we like the opportunity to lay this new JONATHAN PROJECT concept and practice on the table for prayerful consideration. And what we are discovering is that people are doing the "both/and" part of spreading the Gospel around the world. We do not have the "final say" on how this is all accomplished. Rather in partnership with many, many others we will see the commission of our Lord fulfilled. And STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT is one important component of the story!

Prayers,
Graydon Jessup
Speaking Opportunities:
August 9, 2009 Newberg, Oregon
August 16, 2009 Grover Beach, CA
August 22, 2009 Mission Keynote Address, Mission Viejo, CA
September 13, 2009 Beaumont/Banning, LifeSpring Dedication

Winema Week of Missions 2009

Dear Friends,

I will be spending a week (August 2-7) at the Winema Campgrounds on the Oregon Coast for the annual Week of Missions. This event has been held for many years for the Christian Churches of Oregon specifically and the Northwest generally. The history of the missionary movement out of the Northwest has had a long and historic tradition- and I mean "tradition" in a good way. Many men and women have made decisions to travel the globe telling the story of Jesus Christ as a direct result of this Week of Missions. Many churches and individuals have made decisions to support missions and missionaries prayerfully, emotionally, financially and spiritually as a consequence of the Week of Missions.

I will spend the week with the thousand to 1500 people who will be passing through the campgrounds for the week. Some stay the entire week. Many come for a few days. Others drive in for the nightly services. Designated speakers teach and preach. Various missionaries are highlighted and tell their story. In the main meeting hall many missionaries and mission agencies will have booths set up. As people pass by they hear the stories and learn about the missions.

STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT will have one of those booths. I will be there throughout the week meeting people, talking about SI/JP and what the Lord is up to in our world...from our perspective. It is a great opportunity to connect and that is exactly what we are currently doing in the travel and speaking for SI/JP.

If you would like to know more about this ministry I would be happy to share that with you. Remember what we are all about: "The SI/JP is all about finding, assessing, training and releasing Global Jonathans (I Samuel 14:6) to plant multiplying churches in difficult unreached people groups, within the context of who they are and what they have, without the long term support of American dollars."

With prayers for global ministry,
Graydon Jessup
gjessup@stadia.cc
Preaching dates:
Newberg Oregon, Christian Church, August 9, 2009
Beaumont/Bannning, Life Spring Christian Church, September 13, 2009

Another open door?

"Hey" Dear Friends!

Great way to begin a blog, right?

Judy and I had breakfast with some very close friends from the Ukraine. Misha and Svetna Britsin live and serve the Lord in Melitopol, Ukraine. They have a heart for their city, for the Ukraines and for unreached people groups in their geographical area such as the Tartars- a people displaced years ago from Crimea and who now live in sections of the Ukraine, but as an individual people group. Actually, Grace Church in Melitopol has sent people to the Tartars to tell the story of Jesus Christ. It has not been easy but there has been some fruit borne out of this "mission's effort" by the Church of Grace where Misha is the Pastor! It is a great step of faith by the Church of Grace. They were a "mission" church and now they are sending out their own missionaries!

Pastor Misha and I began to discuss the possibilities of connecting Stadia International-Jonathan Project, some way, with the Church of Grace so that their people could be trained to carry the Gospel through doors others might not be able to enter. What would this look like? How would this work?

• First, I think it would "look" very exciting as Ukrainians and others from the CIS (Confederation of Independent States which use to be the USSR) would prepare themselves to take the Gospel to unreached people groups. (UPG's) That is what the church in Melitopol has already accomplished. They are taking the Gospel to the Tartars.
• I believe that it would "work" the same way it has in other geographical areas where people have never heard of Jesus Christ. Men and women are taught how to "storytell" the Gospel of Jesus. The reason you teach this method is because the UPG's of the world do not have their languages in any written form. Entire cultures only have their "oral histories" and they can tell the story of their people and history, powerfully and accurately. When people in an "oral culture" have the privilege to "hear" the story of Jesus Christ, they remember it and retell it just like they do their own personal historical narrative!

This just gives one little insight as to what God is up to all over the planet. This global ministry is touching people in many, many places, especially in those geographical areas that as of yet have not been opened to the telling and the hearing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I told Misha, "we are flying under the radar." In other words, we don't build church buildings and we don't fill stadiums with people celebrating Jesus Christ. Wish we could do this but we cannot as these people live in "difficult" areas politically, religiously and governmentally. Rather, in a given locality we go from individual to individual, from family network to family network, from house to house, from village to village, telling the Story! As momentum is gained with people receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the dream is that this ministry transitions into becoming a "movement!" But it all began with "one person telling another person" about Jesus Christ, and that kind of "one on one" style of sharing the Gospel continues!

Now this is something I can get all excited about! To see the Hand of God move all over the globe in the changed lives and hearts of "one person at a time!"

You want to be a part of this "global movement?" Get in contact and we can set you up!

With many blessings,

Graydon Jessup, 714.488.7922; gjessup@stadia.cc

Preaching dates:

• July 26th, Mission Viejo Christian Church, Mission Viejo, California
• August 9th, Newberg Christian Church, Newberg, Oregon
• September 13, LifeSpring Christian Church, Banning/Beaumont, California

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your thoughts, your notes and your prayers. The "bigness" of what God is doing over the face of the earth is overwhelming at times. Good thing He is running the show and not me...or you...or somebody else!

Not only is it summer time in real time, it is also "summer time" in STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT! In the spring time you prepare the soil and you plant the seeds. In the summer time you cultivate, water and weed. In the fall time you reap the harvest. We are in the "cultivation, watering, weeding" season of this ministry! Translated this means we are spending a lot of time with people, building new relationships and strengthening old ties. The end result will be the harvest, which for us is the sending of "Global Jonathans" into the unreached people groups on the planet! Allow me to repeat the definition of this ministry:

"STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT is the identification, assessing, training and sending of Global Jonathans (I Samuel 14:6) into difficult unreached people groups (UPG's) to plant multiplying churches, within the context of who they are and what they have, without the long term support of American dollars."

Over 1,000 churches have been planted in the past twelve years. Over 300,000 men, women, boys and girls have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. In the next three years we see this becoming a "movement" and growing exponentially on all continents- excluding Antartica! The words of Jesus Christ Himself ring in our ears, pound in our hearts and His words move us to action: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...(Matthew 28:18-20,) and as we go we baptize and teach!

Here is what happens in the villages and towns where this Gospel of Salvation in Jesus Christ is proclaimed:

1. Whole villages are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
2. Entire UPG's are impacted with the grace of Jesus Christ.
3. Broken relationships in families are healed.
4. The fears of ages old "spirit worship" are removed.
5. Little girls are not sold into the worldwide sex trade.
6. Young boys reject inclusion into radical terrorist organizations.
7. New Believers practice compassion and forgiveness.
8. Believers change their businesses- for example from growing poppies for opium to creative businesses consistent with their new found freedom in Jesus Christ.
9. Education is encouraged.
10. Attitudes towards health issues such as sanitation, clean drinking water and diet all change.
11. A discernable difference is seen between villages- those receiving Jesus Christ and those not yet hearing the Gospel story.
12. New Believers share their story all over the place...and multiplying churches are planted.

This is a true principle: The message of salvation in Jesus Christ changes the individual, the family, the village and the unreached people group. As I said earlier, "It is a good thing that God is running this show!" It is huge...and you can be a part of it! Give me a call or send an email. You can make a difference for eternity...one unreached people group at a time.

Prayers,

Graydon Jessup

Speaking dates:

1. July 26, 2009, Mission Viejo Christian Church, Mission Viejo, CA
2. August 9, 2009, Newberg Christian Church, Newberg, OR
3. September 13, 2009, LifeSpring Christian Church, Beaumont/Banning, CA

Divine Appointments!

Dear Friends,

I love "Divine Appointments!" But before I talk to you about this let me say, "I know that this is July 8, 2009, and NOT July 7th, when I said I would be making my next entry!" Better a day late then not at all, right? Right!

So here I am, minding my own business, working hard when there is a knock at the door! Standing there is a friend I had not seen for 19 years! Really, it was one of those "divine appointments." The questions were asked. What about children? What about grand children? And where are you living? And what has the Lord been doing in your life? You know it always gets around to, "And what is the Lord doing in your life?" I love that question. When it is asked you then have permission to begin bragging on the Lord...at least that is the way I look at it! And so I start bragging! And for those of you who know me, I don't get excited at all!!! NOT!

Our world is pretty crazy right now. Life, values, politics, governments, finances, life goals, long standing relationships...seems like so many very important pillars in life that we have taken for granted are changing at warp speed in front of our very eyes. In fact it all makes some people want to run and hide! But then one of those "divine appointments" happens. And once again I am affirmed and reaffirmed in this truth: The Lord, He is God and He is Good! Life may be a little crazy and unpredictable, but the Lord is NOT crazy and He certainly is NOT unpredictable!

In the concluding chapter of Hebrews the writer is encouraging the Body of Christ. I mean the chapter begins with "Keep on loving each other as brothers." (Hebrews 13:1) Life was "topsy-turvey" in that period of history when the book of Hebrews was penned. Crazy? You bet! Unpredictable? Well that was one quality that was "predictable!" That is, everything would be unpredictable! But throughout Hebrews the writer discusses the various "divine appointments." In fact I challenge you to read the book quickly, like reading a newspaper, with that question in front of you: what are the "divine appointments here?" You will be amazed and impressed. And the reality is the Lord works that way even today. In fact that happened to me earlier today...a "divine appointment!" "Divine appointments" are not something we manufacture in our own strength and wisdom. "Divine appointments" just seem to happen...and when they do, hopefully we see that event for what it is. It is something the Lord put together quite apart from our creative ability and strength of wisdom and manipulation. These "events" are from the Lord!

But let me remind you of something from Hebrews 13. You just might be frustrated, or at least deeply disturbed by what you are witnessing in our world- the craziness and the unpredictability! And yet you are affirmed and confirmed by the "divine appointments" the Lord keeps bringing to your front door. Here is what Hebrews 13:8 says: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." That is a promise you can bank on. And just as the Lord prepared "divine appointments" in the book of Hebrews and throughout Scripture, He is in the business today of making those "divine appointments."

"Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear as well as a heart that is receptive, to YOUR "divine appointments" that you have prepared for us!"

And that is what excites me beyond measure with STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT! God has an incredible number of "divine appointments" He has prepared for us in this "crazy and unpredictable" world. And a large number of those "divine appointments" would be the taking of the Gospel to the unreached peoples of the globe! "Thank You Lord for those "divine appointments!"

Prayers and blessings,
Graydon Jessup
714.488.7922
gjessup@stadia.cc

A "Heavenly list"

Greetings Friends,

As you can tell this particular blog is not being written on Monday. Actually I am writing one blog for two weeks- and this blog will be in the middle of those two weeks- June 22nd and June 29th. My next blog entry will be July 7th. These two weeks I am traveling fairly extensively and I know ahead of time that writing will be next to impossible.

As I travel many people have been asking: "OK, so who DO you work with? Who are some of these 'difficult unreached people groups?'" I have entitled this blog "A Heavenly List." STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT takes the Gospel with intentionality to hard places, to difficult unreached people groups. This Heavenly List is just a small window into some of the people groups we are currently impacting for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Hmong, Black- China, Vietnam and Laos
• Hmong, Horned- China
• Hmong, Sinicized- China, Vietnam
• Lahu, Aga- Laos, China
• Lahu, Na- Laos, China
• Lahu, Na Npeh- Laos, China
• Bouyei, Bouyei- China
• Tibetan, Kham- China
• Tibetan, Amdo- China
• Laos- So
• Zhuang, Dejing- China
• Ahka, Western Hanni- China, Laos, Vietnam
• Karen, Sqaw- Thailand, Myanmar
• Karen, Pwo- Thailand, Myanmar
• Mien, Iu- China
• Phuan, Tai- Laos
• Shan Tai, Long- China, Thailand, Myanmar
• Shan Tai, Nua- China, Myanmar
• Tai, Black- Laos, Vietnam
• Tai, Lue- China, Myanmar, Thailand
• Tai Lue, Han- China
• Tai Lue, Huayao- China

The above "Heavenly List" represents a portion of the people SI/JP is actively engaged with at this time. What that means in very real terms is that we have trained Jonathans on the ground, working with the people, telling the story of Jesus Christ, planting multiplying churches within the context of who these people groups are and what they have.

As you can see the groups above come from a general geographical area. "People Groups" are not necessarily limited to this nation or that nation. Historically their travels, villages and trade routes go back and forth across nationalistic boundaries. This list is to demonstrate the ministry of SI/JP in one geographical region. Remember SI/JP has other lists, of other areas, where the same thing is happening! Jonathans are trained and are leading men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ in the context of who they are and what they have.

If you would like to know more I invite you to be in contact with me, Graydon Jessup, at gjessup@stadia.cc

In the meantime we keep pressing on until the task Jesus gave us is finished!

With prayers and blessings,

Graydon Jessup

P.S. If you would like for me to come and speak to your church, your friends, or your circle of influence please be in contact. This unfolding story is absolutely amazing and stunning!

What a gift of love!

To all of our Friends...scattered all over!

Through a series of wonderful events, Gene Appel, Senior Pastor of Eastside Christian Church, invited Judy and me to the four weekend services at Eastside Christian just this past weekend,(June 13/14). It was great being back in the church and with the people we had served and loved for the past sixteen and a half years. Everybody was so gracious from Gene to every member we were able to hug and greet. The warmth and expressions of appreciation filled our lives and the weekend. It was truly a celebration!

But there was another very important component. In our ministry with STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT, Judy and I are labelled as "faith missionaries." What that means in very real terms is that our financial expenses- living and ministry expenses- are not paid by either STADIA or by the JONATHAN PROJECT. The Eastside Elder Board, under the leadership of Gene Appel, determined to help us and the SI/JP ministry in a significant way financially...and I mean "significant!" In all four of the weekend services Gene explained what we were doing and what STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT was about, and then he, with the unanimous support and approval of the Elder Board presented us with a check for $50,000 from the church!

Talk about over the top! When Gene had called me earlier to let me know what had been decided and "could Judy and I be in the church services on the 13th and 14th to receive this check of love and affirmation" I was totally overwhelmed. In a very powerful way, the Lord used Eastside to confirm in us what we had heard from the Lord: "I want you two in this ministry of STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT," my children." Among other things, this financial gift cemented that decision in our hearts and minds.

Judy and I are doubly blessed. First, we have the incredible support and love of so many Eastsiders as was expressed to us over the weekend. Second, we were blessed financially in an amazing way. The end result of these blessings will be that the Gospel will be preached and taught in places where the Gospel has never gone- to difficult unreached people groups. People will receive Jesus, churches will be planted, and the story of Jesus will burn in the hearts of many...who up to this time had never heard HIS name!

Now some of you might be thinking to yourselves, "we did not know you were 'faith missionaries.'" One group of people emailed us after this past Sunday morning and wondered how they might become involved with us financially. If you are interested in knowing more about our financial needs and if you are wondering how this amazing gift of $50,000 fits into this ministry and supports us, I would be happy to be in communication with you. As you know we have not said anything about our financial needs and the financial needs of how we do this ministry in this blog. But now that the package has been unwrapped so to speak, you might want to know more. I invite you to be in contact and I'll be happy to explain the whole situation to you.

In the meantime, join us in knowing that the Lord displayed His Hand in an amazing way...once again!

With blessings, prayers and love,
Graydon and Judy Jessup
714.488.7922
gjessup@stadia.cc

A Wonderful Journey

Dear Friends,

What an amazing journey! We connected with a number of people! Some had been friends for a long, long time. Some had been friends for a few years. And some were brand new! It was all good. Most of all we were able to connect and reconnect in personal relationship, all built on the foundation of a mutual love affair with Jesus Christ!

Paul said it this way: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus!" (Galatians 3:26-28)

That is what we personally experienced. The "oneness" that is in Jesus Christ! Did not matter who you were or what you did or where you were from! Those were not the questions. Some of the folk we met were on top of their world. Others were dealing with such deep issues they were reeling from the blows. All knew Jesus Christ! We were ONE in Christ! And all were fascinated to hear the story of STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT! It is very moving when people begin to connect the dots and they fully understand that they can have eternal impact on an unreached people group! When eyes light up and hearts open it makes the travel all worthwhile! But most of all the blessings roll when you know that somebody who had never heard the name of Jesus would hear His name and would be able to make a decision to serve and follow HIM- simply because somebody here was moved to adopt them as an unreached people group! Talk about unity in Christ...that is living the UNITY found in Jesus!

Great news! This weekend in all four services Judy and I will be at Eastside Christian Church! We have been invited by Pastor Gene Appel to make this return and to share in the services. We are so honored. Pastor Gene will very briefly describe our story and then we will be prayed over! That is a high honor and we take it very seriously! Really it is the fulfillment of what the Eastside Elders prayed over us last September 2008 as we transitioned out of the Senior Pastor position at Eastside into this new chapter of our lives! We know we will see many of you this weekend!

Keep us in your prayers,
Graydon and Judy Jessup
P.S. Travel sort of kept me from getting this blog finished by this past Monday...but, better late than never, right!?

The Start of a Journey!

"Happy June" to Everyone!

Time flies when you are having a good time...and we are having a good time!

We begin a little road trip tomorrow that will take us through a couple of states, into meetings with individuals and groups of people, and we will be making new friends along the way!
We are "...Christ's ambassadors..." (II Corinthians 5:20) first and foremost, and then we are "ambassadors" for Stadia International-Jonathan Project. When you are an "ambassador" you must be out meeting the folk on behalf of those you represent. We have had the privilege of meeting some of the nicest people. These people are not only "nice" they are keenly interested in making a difference for Jesus Christ however and whenever they can! We discover ourselves in a wonderful intersection! Jesus is the "main street" (if you follow my analogy) and "we His people" are the "cross streets!" And when and where the two intersect we have all kinds of good things happening.

What are some of "those good things" that are happening?

• As people discover that they can actually make a difference in an Unreached People Group they get excited. And you know the secret...you can make a difference also as you are intersected with Jesus Christ!
• As people understand the healing power the Gospel brings to people who have never heard of Jesus, they want to get involved...someway...somehow! That is an "intersection" with Jesus.
• As people see the fulfillment of the Great Commission they anticipate the return of Jesus Christ! That leads to deeper spirituality. Anything "deeper" with the Lord is an "intersection!"

As we watch all this we are moved! It drives us! The Gospel "compels" us! We cannot help ourselves! So as we travel telling HIS story and our story, making friends, united together in the common project of telling the Good News about Jesus Christ, we are discovering a fulfillment and a peace as together we rest and move in the Lord Jesus!

If you want to know more about what is happening, you can contact us at: gjessup@stadia.cc or you can call: 714.488.7922. It would be our privilege to talk to you about this global venture of getting the Gospel out to the Nations and watching and sharing with you that "great intersection" of relationship with Jesus Christ!

Peace!

Graydon and Judy Jessup

P.S. We had an absolutely fabulous time at the dedication service of Grace Korean's Vision Center this past Sunday, May 31, 2009.

Two days in May 2009

Dear Friends,

One thing I really enjoy about this new assignment is that I have the privilege of meeting brand new people. That was the case this Tuesday when I was able to meet CURTIS SERGEANT.

I had heard about this man and all I had heard was pretty incredible. He was and is a real mover/shaker in the "planting multiplying churches globally," slice of God's Kingdom. He has a vision...but more than that...he is able to take that vision and put some definition to it! Many people in many different arenas of life have "vision." They "see things" and they talk about "what I'm going to do!" And for whatever reason it never gets done; it never sees the light of day; the vision dies for lack of development and application.

There are other people who see the "nuts and bolts" of a project. If somebody can define the "vision" they can develop it, frame it, build it, and accomplish it.

But when you have a person who can wear both hats you have an unusal person. Such is Curtis Sergeant. The vision is very simple: plant multiplying churches globally. Here is how the Apostle Paul said it to young Timothy: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." II Timothy 2:2
The story of Jesus is passed along to four generations as outline in this verse.

1. Paul is first.
2. He taught Timothy.
3. Timothy was to teach "reliable men."
4. The "reliable men" were to "teach others"
5. Paul...to Timothy...to reliable men...to others

What we heard from Curtis "these two days in May" was disciple the nations- teach, release, empower; teach, release, empower! You get the idea!

His final comments to the people gathered at Hope International University were very challenging: "God is not interested in multiplying mediocrity. So, are we living lives that are worthy of being multiplied?" It was a timely word to the gathered folk. It was a word we will not soon forget!

We were blessed as we stopped to listen and be challenged in the work the Lord has called us to!

With many prayers and blessings,

Graydon Jessup

P.S. I will be speaking at the Dedication of the Vision Center, Grace Korean Church, 5 PM, Sunday May 31, 2009, Corner of Commonwealth and Brookhurst, Fullerton, CA.

Special Meetings

To all of our Friends,

We have two very interesting meetings this week. The first is today in San Diego at THE ROCK Church, where Myles McPherson is the Pastor. The second will be tomorrow at HOPE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY in Fullerton. Special thanks to both The Rock and to Hope for hosting these two events.

Rather than write ahead of time of what I think and believe will happen, I am going to write this blog on Thursday and let you all know what actually DID happen. Bottom line: These are people coming together to discuss, strategize and implement the "movement of planting multiplying churches globally!"

I'll see you on Thursday!
Blessings,
Graydon Jessup

An additional note to May 27th

Dear Friends,

When you read the blog below you might wonder: "Can I attend this free lunch with CURTIS SERGEANT?" The answer to that is YES! The only requirement: you need to either phone me at 714.488.7922, or email me at gjessup@stadia.cc before Friday, May 22nd. All of the other info is in my regular Monday blog below!
Blessings!
Graydon

May 27, 2009

Dear Friends,

We have an excellent opportunity to impact others in this "global multiplying church planting movement!"

STADIA has asked us, STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT, to host a special luncheon at Hope International University in Fullerton, CA, featuring CURTIS SERGEANT. Mr Sergeant is one of the foremost experts in the global church planting community. We are inviting a small group (20-30 people) to hear this man as well as be able to interact with him. This all takes place, May 27, 2009, from 11 AM to 1 PM on the Hope campus.

If you are interested in what Mr Sergeant is currently doing go to: www.e3partners.org and you can discover what is happening in at least one well known global church planting community. We are truly excited to be able to host CURTIS SERGEANT for this lunch time event.

Some of the key things we are doing is connecting people with people, parachurch organizations with other parachurch organizations, and ministries with ministries! This lunch will provide that opportunity as we have invited representatives from the larger context of the Body of Christ to come and listen in! When people get to know each other and know each other's hearts, all of a sudden a synergy takes place that can only be of the Lord! We know that this will happen May 27th as various people meet on the Hope campus and listen to Curtis Sergeant!

That is all I have for this week. Last week we had great productive meetings with people in the State of California as we shared the STADIA/JONATHAN story. Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts. Remember, if you have any questions at any time you can email me at: gjessup@stadia.cc or you can call: 714.488.7922.

With much appreciation!
Graydon Jessup

P.S. I will be preaching this weekend at New Day Christian Church, 2191 5th Street, Norco, CA. Service times are 8:45 AM and 10:30 AM.

I will be speaking at Grace Korean Church, corner of Valencia and Brookhurst in West Fullerton, May 31st, 5 PM. This will be the dedication service for Grace's new worship center. You will probably want to arrive early.

A little more background

Dear Friends,

I want to give you a little more background this week about STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT. This really is a developing ministry. Two very fine organizations have teamed up to get the Gospel out to difficult unreached people groups. (UPG's). STADIA has a great name and history of planting churches throughout the United States. JONATHAN PROJECT has a great story of planting multiplying churches throughout the world with special emphasis in the Philippines, East Asia and NW India. Over 1,000 multiplying churches have been planted among UPG's and over 300,000 people have come to faith...just in these past 12 years under the ministry of the JONATHAN PROJECT.

Both ministries recognized that they had something wonderful to offer in a global initiative. They asked the question, "How can we partner together to accomplish the task of taking the story of Jesus to 'all the world?'"

• STADIA asked, "What can we do from our position in the States?"
• JONATHAN PROJECT asked, "How can we make a greater impact in more UPG's in the world?"
• The simple answer to these questions was the formation of STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT. (SI-JP)
• That is where I entered the picture. Both ministries came to me and asked, "Would you be the face in the west of this global effort?"

Many of you know that I have had not only a heart for planting churches in the U.S., but I have also had the privilege of traveling the world, preaching, teaching, encouraging and consulting the body of Jesus Christ. This new opportunity with SI-JP seemed to play right to my strengths and passions. Judy and I really believe that this also was a direct answer to the prayers of the Eastside Elders, and many others for that matter, as so many came along side of us in the pursuit of God's heart for the Kingdom and for this next chapter in our lives. We truly believe that we really are right where God wants us to be in terms of ministry and work within the Kingdom of God.

Here is one blessing I want to share with you. This is all local but it has global implications. Our good friends at Grace Korean Church here in Fullerton, will be dedicating their new $40 million dollar plus Vision Center, May 31, 2009. I have literally traveled the world with Grace Korean. We have been so closely connected to this great church. Grace has started over 8,000+ churches around the world in the past 27 years and has grown to 5,000 weekend worshipers. For the first 20 years of their history they did not own any property. They rented space from schools, churches, etc. They were too busy planting churches all over the world to worry about owning and developing their own property. About 5 plus years ago they bought their first propertyand business complex buildings in America, in Fullerton to be exact, to build a church building they would use as the central hub for all of their local and world wide ministries. The dedication of this new space will take place at 5 PM, May 31st, in their brand new World Vision worship center on the corner of Brookhurst and Valencia in Fullerton. Grace Korean Church and Senior Pastor Paul Han, as well as founding Pastor David Kim, have asked me to be the keynote speaker for this dedication service. I count this to be one of those incredibly high honors to be with my friends from Grace Korean Church and together be able to dedicate their absolutely beautiful Vision Center to the glory of the Lord!

I believe this event is part of what STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT is all about. We are working together, with the nations, to accomplish the purposes and plans of God. This is done locally, right here in Fullerton! It is also accomplished globally as we work and pray together, as the Body of Jesus Christ, to accomplish the Great Commission Jesus gave to His disciples to carry the Gospel into all the world!

If you are interested in knowing more, join with others who are calling, seeking and asking-"What is this STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT all about anyway?" I'll be happy to spend time with you to answer questions, to cast vision, so you too can see the supernatural hand of the Lord hard at work not only here but all around the world.

With many prayers,
Graydon Jessup

P.S. I will be preaching May 24, 2009, for Ed Moreno at New Day Christian Church, 2191 5th Street, Norco, CA 92860. Sunday Worship services are at 8:45 AM and 10:30 AM. New Day is one of the church plants from Eastside Christian Church!

May 31st, 5 PM, Dedication of the Vision Center, Grace Korean Church, corner of Valencia and Brookhurst, West Fullerton.

It is a brand new day!

Dear Friends,

I trust you are thankful in the Lord! You know that this is God's will, right? And we DO want to be walking and living in the will of the Lord, right? Read this word from the Word: "...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
II Thessalonians 5:18

That is a very easy verse to read. It is a very difficult verse to put into practice! "Give thanks in all circumstances Lord?" "But Lord, You don't know my circumstances!" Or maybe this is what you have inwardly thought: "Lord, NOBODY has ever walked through what I am going through right now! I am the only one to (you fill in the blank)!" You all know what I am writing about. We just have those moments, those days, perhaps even those weeks where "thankfulness" is not a part of our vocabulary and is not a point of consideration...at any time!

Interestingly enough when Paul wrote these lines to the Thessalonians he did not go into all sorts of explanations. He just wrote it...by the power of the Holy Spirit: "...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Pretty straight forward. Not real fancy. But very, very true!

You are thinking, "get off of this already. I don't need a sermon!" And if you are not thinking that then you just might be thinking something sort of like that! You get my point. We deal with it. We have heard it. We understand it. But living "it" and putting "it" into practice, like I said above, really takes a lifetime of daily, consistent, thoughtful application. It is not easy, but it is very doable. And, it is "the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

What does all of this have to do with STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT? Well I think it is probably pretty obvious. I am attempting to live a life of "thankfulness." I am not always successful, but I am working at it by the grace of God. One of the HUGE parts of my life that I am really thankful for is this ministry: STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT. Here are a handful of my thanksgivings regarding this global initiative:

• I am thankful for the ministry itself- that is, preparing JONATHANS to take the Gospel to very difficult, unreached people groups. Translated- that is preaching Jesus to people who have never even heard the word or name of Jesus!
• I am thankful for the thousands who have received Jesus Christ who had never heard of Him before. That would be over 300,000 in the past 12 years!
• I am thankful for 12 years of JONATHANS, trained, empowered and released to preach the Gospel and to train others who in turn train others in the telling of the story of Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:2)
• I am thankful that over 1,000 multiplying churches have been planted in these past 12 years among people who had never heard of Jesus, or of church, or of forgiveness, or of eternal life and who now not only hear regularly of these eternal truths, but who also are learning to live them out in their daily lives!
• In these 1,000 churches these kinds of things have happened for which I am eternally thankful: (Remember, these were all unreached people groups for Jesus Christ just a handful of years ago!)

1. Families are reunited.
2. Broken relationships are healed.
3. Little daughters are not sold into the worldwide sex trade.
4. Little boys reject being trained in terrorism.
5. New followers of Jesus change their businesses, for example from growing "poppies" (for drugs) to creative businesses that are consistent with their new found freedoms in Jesus Christ.
6. Education is encouraged.
7. Health issues, such as sanitation, clean drinking water, and diet are introduced to the believers and these new practices contribute to a healthier environment for the new followers of Jesus Christ.
8. The above results profoundly affect the quality of village/town life so that a discernable difference is seen between unreached people groups touched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and those yet unreached.

This list could go on! I am so "thankful" to be part of a global initiative that touches the hearts and lives of men and women, boys and girls not only in the physical and current, but in the spiritual and eternal! God is so good...and I am so thankful!

Serving with a Spirit of Thanksgiving,

Graydon Jessup

P.S. Preaching Dates:

May 10, 2009 Mother's Day

Christian Church of Carson, Conrado Montefalcon, Pastor

356 E 220th Street, Carson, CA

Sunday Morning at 10 AM

Lunch will follow the morning worship and Judy will speak on "Mothers."

May 24, 2009, New Day Church with Ed Moreno, Pastor

2191 5th Street, Norco, CA 92860

Worship Times: First Service, 8:45 AM ; Second Service 10:30 AM