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