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