What a week!

Dear Friends!

"What a week!"

I tend to not spend too much time looking backwards! But today, for just a moment, I must! Last week was simply over the top. I had the incredible privilege of spending three days with about 3,500 global church planters in Orlando, FL. These men and women are burning with desire to see the Kingdom of God move forward...with clarity, with intentionality, with power and all in the Name of Jesus Christ! I watched as this next generation took front and center stage and spoke with intelligence and conviction. It was an awesome sight to behold! I wish every follower of Jesus Christ could have been there to witness this new generation of leaders. You would have felt and sensed, encouragement. In spite of very current dire news, frightening forecasts, wars and "rumors of wars," you would have caught what I caught: In the Body of Christ there is a fresh wind blowing and it is all about Jesus Christ! There is a new leadership "arising!" I was able to see it and share in it this past week in Orlando.

Coming out of that week I have discovered that our hands are full of work to be accomplished. This new structure of ministry, STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT is poised for "such a time as this!" Church planting in the USA and church planting globally is becoming the heartbeat of this generation. You cannot miss it. It is right there in front of your eyes.

Here is my simple prayer: "Lord, give us eyes to see what You want us to see. Unplug our ears so we hear what You want us to hear. May we have Your heartbeat for the world...not our heartbeat but YOURS! And Lord when we "see" and "hear" and possess your "heartbeat," may we move forward with purpose and power. Lord, keep us from inaction. Keep us from just sitting around and talking about Your power. With conviction, with a sense of urgency and with great love for YOU and humanity, may we be and do what YOU want us to BE and DO!"

What a profound prayer...a prayer that could change hearts and redirect personal agendas; a prayer that would set churches ablaze; a prayer that would send and support "global missionaries" across the street as well as to the far corners of the earth.

With Jesus Christ, we are in for a great ride even in the deep midst of unsettledness, instability, the changing of the political guard around the world, the rise of stringent opposition, and the rejection of a world essentially set on secular humanism. This is NOT a time for the church to be fearful. This is NOT a time for believers to hide in a cave. This is the time for the Body of Jesus Christ to be at the forefront of the charge carrying the message of redemption and transformation to a world seeking something and someone who supercedes position, politics and power. And just who is that "someone?" JESUS CHRIST! It really is all about HIM!

Prayers for the current AND the new generation,

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: 10 AM. This will be followed by a lunch after which Judy
Jessup will speak on the theme of "Mothers!"

May 24, 2009 New Day Church with Ed Moreno, Pastor, Norco, CA (Worship times and
address in next blog!

April 20-24, 2009

To our many friends who read this blog!

Thanks for keeping up with Judy and me. We covet your prayers as we continue to dig more deeply into STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT!

And speaking about "digging more deeply," I will be in Orlando, FL this week with about 3,000 other folk who are committed to seeing the Kingdom of God expand- first in the USA and then around the world. The 2009 National New Church Conference has been the meeting point for ministries, parachurch organizations, churches, authors, you name it, to gather together to share insights and strategies in planting churches anywhere and everywhere.

You have read what I have written earlier: This church planting movement is huge! I am just beginning to get my arms around it all. If you would like to check out this Conference go to: www.exponentialconference.org and then click on the "2009 Exponential Program Book." As you scan the book, prepared and online for this Conference, you begin to understand what I am writing about.

I will be at the Conference with many of the leaders and church planters from Stadia as well as the Jonathan Project. A Conference like this is exactly what our mutual vision and strategy is all about! We will be able to exchange ideas, hear new concepts, meet potential collaborators in global initiatives and generally hone our ministry skills to be the most effective possible.

Please understand! The reason for all of this is Jesus Christ! This is not merely an opportunity to spend four days in Orlando! I can think of many other places I would rather spend four days- not that Orlando is a bad place because it is not. But you get my drift. We are gathering in Orlando because of what Jesus Christ has done in our hearts and lives...and we want to tell that story to as many people as possible. It is acknowledged that the best way to grow the Body of Christ is to plant new churches- nationally and internationally. And that is exactly what our vision and mission is all about at STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT.

Let me repeat our vision: "STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT identifies, assesses, recruits, trains and releases global Jonathans who will plant multiplying churches in difficult unreached people groups, within the context of who they are and what they have, without the continued, long term financial support of American Churches."

I ask you to keep the Stadia/Jonathan team in your prayers this next week. My prayer is we come away from the four days full of God's Spirit, empowered by His love and tremendously energized to accomplish the vision into which we have been called! If all of that happens it will not only be a "good week" but really, it will be a "great week!" My prayer will continue to be that what we do in the future will be anchored in what we will have heard and experienced in this week in Orlando!

Prayers and blessings,

Graydon

Any progress yet?

First, let me say "hey" to everyone out there!

Somebody asked me a very good question: "So, what have you actually accomplished for STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT, so far?"

• On the surface it does not appear like much!
• Below the surface there has been a whole lot of "turning dirt" and "getting things in the pipeline!"
• Working with a project you do all the preparation behind the scenes and at the appropriate time everything comes together and you see the fruit!
• This morning as I started on my day I had 21 line items I needed to take care of. All 21 (except for this blog) were pretty much work behind the scenes...but which will bear fruit at the right time!
• My days right now are filled with emails and phone calls and meetings. On the surface it looks like busy work. But the objective is that all of this "behind the scenes work" will produce fruit- changed lives for eternity!
• Remember Galatians 4:4: "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son..." There was a whole lot of history that had to flow beneath the bridge before Jesus came to the planet we call earth!
• In no way am I comparing any earthly ministry to the heavenly project God unveiled in His Son Jesus Christ.
• I am suggesting that Jesus came at the appropriate time. And we know that there are those "seasons," those "decades," those "years," those "days," that are appropriate for us in our work. That is what I am speaking about.
• I believe THE STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT will be taking shape in "days" and that the "years" and "decades" will bear fruit way beyond our wildest imaginations.
• Somebody asks, "you think that 'fruit,' (changed lives of men and women in unreached people groups) will be harvested even in this world wide condition of unrest and faltering economy?"
• Absolutely and YES!
• I believe more people than ever will be ready to hear about Jesus Christ. I believe that the world situation provides incredible opportunity for the Body of Christ. Our world is coming to realize and experience, literally, that nothing is "forever" as far as what the world has to offer. That is why people will be turning to Jesus Christ!
• As Jesus said in very difficult times so many years ago: "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Luke 10:2. We believe that the harvest is plentiful. And by God's grace we will pray, and pray and pray for workers. That is why we are so involved in STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT. "And why do you believe that?" you ask.
• Because added to those prayers is this key action component in STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT: it is the identification, the assessing, the training, the empowering and the releasing of global workers, missionaries if you please, in the Body of Jesus Christ, to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus to the peoples of this earth!
• If you would like to hear more, be in contact: graydon.jessup@gmail.com or phone: 714.488.7922.

Yours for the Kingdom of our Lord!

Graydon Jessup

P.S. If you are in the Southern Cal area I have two speaking dates coming up:

• April 26, 2009. Greater First Christian Church, 4915 Emerald St, Torrance, CA 90503. Services are at 10:45 Sunday morning. Host Pastor: Michael Starks
• May 24, 2009. New Day Christian Church, 2191 5th Street, Norco CA 92860. Host Pastor: Ed Moreno (We'll include times of the two morning services next week)

Easter 2009

Dear Friends,

Judy and I wish you an Easter remembrance, 2009, that is over the top. The key to all we do is grounded in the belief and reality that Jesus Christ was in fact raised from the dead. We join the Apostle Paul who wrote these words: "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." I Corinthians 15:17. There are many other insights Paul writes about in I Corinthians 15 and specifically, 15:12-19, which I would encourage you to read and think through this Easter 2009. The question Paul asks in that verse has an answer: Absolutely! Jesus was INDEED raised from the dead! Our faith is NOT futile! We are NOT still in our sins, IF we have received HIM as our Lord and Savior! There is a resurrection from the dead...no matter what anyone else says! There are many other words that could be written, but as you read all 58 verses of I Corinthians 15, you receive the imparted word of the Lord as penned by the great Apostle and you come to understand and receive the extraordinary teaching and insight about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And in that teaching you also come to realize that you are a part of the story, HIS-story, and that your resurrection is secure because of what happened to Jesus and because of your choice to follow Him as your Lord and Savior!

We live in a day when the entire story of Jesus Christ is under incredible attack. It is not unlike the days of the Apostle Paul when he and others of faith were villified and attacked because they not only believed Jesus was indeed the Son of God, but that God did in fact raise Him from the dead.

You might be thinking to yourself, "that is kind of strong isn't it Graydon? To write that the entire story of Jesus is under attack...in America?" This spring let me ask you to do something if you don't think that is true:

• If you are a student...at any level, just stand up in the classroom and at the appropriate time in front of the teacher/professor and other students say, "I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and I believe God His Father raised Him from the dead. And I also believe that the only way back to God is through His Son, Jesus." Remember, what you just said is all from Scripture: Romans 10:9-10; I Corinthians 15:20; John 14:6. Sit back down and watch the class, the school, the school board, the administration, one and all come unglued! Be prepared to be expelled either from the class or from the school. It will not be a pretty sight! (If you want real time proof, I encourage you to get on the PACIFIC JUSTICE INSTITUTE web site (www.pacificjustice.org) and sign up for their FREE emails by clicking on the "Stay up to date" button, top right hand side of their home page. You will see and hear what is happening specifically in the State of California in regards to the rights of people of faith!)
• As a co-worker, make that statement in the lunch room to your fellow employees.
• As a member of a good social organization- say those words in a public meeting.
• As a member of the PTA, make that statement to a group working on a school project.
• Mention it at a coffee time in your neighborhood.
• See what kind of response you will get in any one of those settings and all of a sudden you will realize in a very real way that in "this so called Christian nation..." the story of Jesus Christ is under attack...BIG TIME!

I don't say this to be an alarmist. I am saying this to be a realist. I am also saying this because we live in an age when much of the body of Jesus Christ is "asleep at the wheel" while the world changes all around us.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ IS a BIG DEAL! The celebration of Easter 2009 is a HUGE opportunity for the Body of Christ! As all of those who believe in the resurrection celebrate this enormous truth this year, my prayer is that you are overwhelmed with the reality of the One Who not only died, but Who was also powerfully raised from the tomb of death never to die again! Listen to Paul once again: "I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable...we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye..." I Corinthians 15:50-52

STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT exists because of the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! It is the goal and objective of our lives to not only join HIM in the eternal heavens, but to bring as many people as possible, along with us! To KNOW Jesus is to LOVE Him; to LOVE Him is to SERVE Him; to SERVE Him is to bring HONOR and GLORY to His everlasting NAME! The bottom line: TO JOIN HIM IN THE ETERNAL RESURRECTION! No matter what the world or the culture might believe, we believe in Jesus Christ, God's Son, raised from the dead, coming a second time! And we are prepared and eagerly looking for His second coming!

May God bless you, your family, your church, this Easter 2009!

Graydon and Judy Jessup

Central Oregon

To our many friends!

Here are the bullet points of what I have written about this week:

• I "whined" a little about getting this blog out late
• I wrote about "bearing fruit!" (You must read this section!)
• I give the definition of STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT
• This is how you can contact me
  

OK, OK already! I am writing this three days late. Seriously, as I mentioned in our last blog Judy and I have been traveling. It has been good as we have experienced the Hand of God in the lives of the people we are seeing and visiting as well as experiencing HIS Hand in our own personal lives.

One of the key ways I sense God's Hand moving in our lives is not in the geographical travel but rather in the hearts and lives of the people we are hearing from and meeting.

• This past Tuesday, we had a call from a close friend of many years ago. She had a couple visiting her we had loved into the Kingdom over thirty years ago. This couple, just recently retired, have chosen to serve the Lord full time in these retirement years. As Judy and I listened to their story we were overwhelmed with the love of God. Sometimes we do not have the privilege or opportunity to see the "fruit" of ministry. On the evening of March 31, 2009, we heard it all confirmed in a phone call!
• I had breakfast with a Pastor this week, who has been preaching and serving the Lord faithfully for close to forty years. This Easter, 2009, he will be leading the church he has served for over 30 years, into a brand new facility. I suspect over 2,000 people will be in those Easter services. I had this Pastor in a Youth Group I led when I was a second year preaching student- that is 49 years ago! He was in the 5th grade! He remembered those years of ministry relationship, long ago, with great fondness. Ah...more fruit!
• Just last week I had a dinner meal with three wonderful folk- all people I have ministered to over the years at varying levels of involvement! The church these three serve has been numbering close to 2500 in weekend worship services. Amazing...more fruit!
• Don't be fooled by the numbers in the churches mentioned above. God is alive and well in the hearts and lives of people in ministries of 100, in Home Groups, in families and of course in the lives of individual people.
• Remember I Samuel 14:6: "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." (NIV)
  

Why do I tell you these things? Because we must be encouraged and we must never lose sight of the fact that what God is doing is developing people and building ministries all to His glory!

Among other reasons, that is why I am so drawn to the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT possibilities! "Fruit" for eternity will come from these God-ordained efforts. And the "fruit" will be men and women, boys and girls, who will have heard the Name of Jesus for the very first time and who will then have decided to follow HIM no matter the cost!

Let me remind you again what STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT is all about. "The SI/JP is all about training global Jonathan's (I Samuel 14:6) who will plant indigenous, multiplying churches (primarily "house churches") in difficult, unreached people groups, within the context of who they are and what they have, without the continued, long term financial support of American Churches." I know that is a "mouthful!" But that is what SI/JP has been called to do in this generation.

If you would like to jump on board and know more about this global vision, feel free to contact me at 714.488.7922 or reach me through email: graydon.jessup@gmail.com

What an exciting venture!

Graydon Jessup