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
No comments:
Post a Comment