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.