Last Blog for 2010

Dear Friends,



So we ask the time worn question: "Where did this year go?"



THE JONATHAN PROJECT has been perking right along.

• As of this writing we are closing in on our goal of seeing 5,000 churches planted during this year among the least reached people groups on the planet.


• There were International training sessions of JONATHANS.


• We held our first American training session this past August in America.


• We have partnered with a number of other organizations all committed to seeing that the Gospel is carried to the least reached people groups.


• If I told you that trained JONATHANS are headed into the Afghanistan/Pakistan border and are in refugee camps in the West Bank for example, and that we have a very solid invitation to train in the middle east, you would begin to get the idea of what we are trying to do in preaching the Gospel to the least reached people groups.


• We are organizing to accomplish these goals and objectives so we have people moving and new assignments handed out. (I am being rather clandestine in my speech as we do not want to jeapordize any of our workers unnecessarily!)


• We have started a new support team for all of these efforts called HEART AND SOUL90. This entire concept will be rolling out over the next few weeks.

All in all it has been a busy year and one we see as a building block for even further expansion of the preaching and teaching of the Gospel to the least reached people groups on the planet.

Let me remind you that when we began this ministry God gave us a goal of 100,000 churches among least reached people groups within a five year period. As the 5,000+ started this year explode exponentially the goal the Lord has given us is well within our reach...as long as it all is confirmed as being in HIS reach as well!

We pray a prosperous and incredibly wonderful 2011 as together we work in the Lord's Vineyard!

Graydon and Judy Jessup

graydon.jessup@gmail.com

714.488.7922

Finishing the Task

Dear Friends,

I wrote about Finishing the Task in my last blog. What an event it was. Convened by Paul Eshleman, with Campus Crusade, I was able to join in with about 38 other men and women who are all committed to the task of carrying the Gospel to the least reached people groups on the planet. The information and the insights were truly amazing. Here are just two examples:

• A recording of the Jesus Film can be made in the heart language of an unreached people group, even though that particular people group does not have a written language!
• The nation with the most people groups, and the most unengaged, unreached people groups is India! (India has 1,132 distinct people groups and 89 are left who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.)

There are three agencies who keep comprehensive global people group lists.

• World Christian Database/WCD www.worldchristiandatabase.org/wcd/
• IMB/CPPI http://www.peoplegroups.org
• Joshua Project/JP http://www.joshuaproject.net

You can click on to any one of these web sites and see what we are seeing- lists of least reached people groups around the globe. Between the three you can easily gain a world wide perspective of what is happening within the various people groups. Once you see the trends you can begin to plan strategically to carry the Gospel to all peoplle who have such great needs...in Christ Jesus!

We live in exciting times. This is not the time to hide under a rock. Rather this is the day and hour that God has given us to stand up and be counted for him.

Just so you know, one of the JONATHANS has had tremendous impact in a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank and another JONATHAN couple, along with their 10 month old daughter, are leaving for Afghanistan and the Punjab people. The amazing "exploits" of these modern day Apostle Paul's can be told over and again. God is at work...big time!

We pray an Acts 4:24-31 "holy boldness" on all JONATHANS as well as on all who are carrying the Gospel to the least reached people groups among us...right now!

Judy and I wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And though we do not know what 2011 holds in store for any of us, we do know the Lord Jesus Christ...and ultimately He is the only ONE we need to not only know, but with whom we also need personal relationship.

Prayers and blessings,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

graydon.jessup@gmail.com

714.488.7922

BIG Week

Dear Friends,

This is a BIG week for THE JONATHAN PROJECT!

Last spring I had been invited to attend a meeting called, FINISHING THE TASK which would be held December 8/9, 2010. The meeting is being convened by Paul Eshleman who has been with Campus Crusade all of his career. He is the developer and marketing strategist for THE JESUS FILM, the most watched film in the history of the planet! Just a few years ago he handed the responsibilities of THE JESUS FILM over to others and he has dedicated the rest of his life to getting the Gospel out to the least reached people groups. The result: FINISHING THE TASK.

About 30-40 individuals and mission agencies who have the same passion- to get the Gospel out to the least reached people groups- will meet to do three things:

• Review what God has done this past year
• Where are we right now, today?
• What do we hope to accomplish in the future?

I am looking forward to these two intense days for a number of reasons. First and foremost I will have a front row seat for what is happening around the world with the least reached people groups. Second, I will be able to better position THE JONATHAN PROJECT and our new ministry HEART AND SOUL90 to fit in to what God is doing with everyone else! And finally we all will leave with some specific marching orders for 2011. Pretty exciting I would say!

Blessings,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

graydon.jessup@gmail.com

714.488.7922

National Missionary Convention

Dear Friends,

This week (Nov 18-21, 2010) the National Missionary Convention of the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ will be held in Lexington, KY. (http://nationalmissionaryconvention.org/) My friend and colleague, Lee Bridges, will be leading a number of JONATHAN PROJECT worshops on site. I highly recommend these workshops as they will give you an understanding of what is happening in the world wide picture of carrying the Gospel to the least reached people groups on the planet...and how you might become involved!

I will not be attending the Convention this year...but will be at the Convention in Atlanta, GA, in 2011!

My next very important event will be in South Orange County, (California), with a group called "Finishing the Task." (www.finishingthetask.com) I will be partnering with about 30-40 other Mission Agencies and Organizations who are all dedicated to this global initiative- taking the Gospel to the least reached people groups on the planet! This is the first time THE JONATHAN PROJECT has been invited to this meeting. We are blessed and encouraged that we will be linking up with others who are dedicated to this world wide objective. I will have more to say about these meetings in future blogs.

I was very happy with the article written in the Nov 21/28, 2010, CHRISTIAN STANDARD, (Vol CXLV, Num 47) about the JONATHAN PROJECT! As we get this story out, more and more people are wanting to get involved...and that is a good thing. If you want to know more and/or become involved you can contact me personally at the email below. I can put you in contact with least reached people groups AND with modern day JONATHANS who are either already on the field or who are going into a very difficult area to preach the Gospel.

In this Thanksgiving season I am truly grateful for all who are partnering with us in this huge undertaking. What an exciting time to be alive!!!

Blessings,

Graydon Jessup
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Great News

Dear Friends,

Greetings to all of you from Boulder, CO. Judy and I are moved in and we have started an Interim Ministry with Boulder Valley Christian Church for six months to one year. (www.bvchristian.org) We are looking forward to the adventure. It has already been established that this move for us really is a "God-thing" in some pretty amazing ways. Our current plans are that we will continue our move North to Alaska once our assignment here is completed.

While here we will continue our global ministry with THE JONATHAN PROJECT as well as the developing ministry of HEART AND SOUL90, which is the energizing support base for THE JONATHAN PROJECT. As I have mentioned in other places, our five year goal is to see 100,000 churches planted among the least reached people groups of the world. Our first year goal was to see 5,000 multiplying churches planted among the least reached people groups. From the various reports we are receiving we are on our way to meet that goal for this year!

Many of you will have the opportunity to read the article I have written in The Christian Standard (www.christianstandard.com) That article has generated a lot of discussion- all good I might add. We are working hard to get this word out that there are specific ways to connect modern day JONATHANS with unreached people groups. It is our objective to see that all people hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that they are able to make that personal decision of receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior and as their Lord! If you would like to know more about the possibilities of getting connected- send me an email: graydon.jessup@gmail.com We will connect you with an unreached people group and with JONATHANS who are trained and ready to carry the Gospel to the least reached on the globe! You can make an eternal difference in the lives of those who have never heard!

Let's be in contact and let's see where this might all lead us!

With many thanksgivings!

Graydon and Judy Jessup
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

P.S. If you pass through Boulder, CO, look us up: www.bvchristian.org We would love to see you!

We are on the move!

To all of our Friends,

Yesterday (October 28,2010) we moved out of our home in Placentia, CA, and loaded up the U-Haul truck to begin the journey North to Alaska.

As many of you know the Lord had different plans. We will take a little 6-12 month side trip through Boulder, CO to serve as Interim Pastor with Boulder Valley Christian Church. We are looking forward to serving and helping this church in this season that they are without a Sr Pastor. Once that assignment is complete we will continue North to Alaska.

For most of you reading this blog you are wondering if our work with THE JONATHAN PROJECT and HEART AND SOUL90 will continue. The answer to that is YES! In fact that was part of the discussion as we prayed and considered this short Interim position with BVCC. Our heart is for planting multiplying churches among the least reached people groups. We have not lost our passion nor our vision for those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This blog will continue to tell the story. Once in Boulder we will bring all of you up to date. Currently we are on target for the planting of 5,000 new churches this year- all among those who are considered "least reached!"

Since we are on the road...literally...this blog entry will be brief. We'll "catch you up" with more info in a week or so. May the blessings of the Lord be with each and everyone of you!

Graydon and Judy Jessup
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Continuing BIG story for the Jessups

Dear Friends,

We have one more hurdle to clear in escrow- will the appraisal be in line with what we sold our house for. (Bad English but you get the idea!) That should be completed this week. So by the next blog you will know what we know!

On another front we received our 501(c)(3) IRS exemption for HEART AND SOUL90 just this past Friday. That is great news as it is this vehicle that will financially support THE JONATHAN PROJECT and the ministry to least reached people groups. (We have been working on this project on the side.)

Whatever the case, the months of October and November promise to be huge for the Jessups.

Thanks for your prayers ahead of time! See you next week.

Blessings,

Graydon and Judy Jessup
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
714.488.7922
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

ONE BIG Change for the Jessups

To all of our Friends scattered everywhere:

After much prayer and some fasting, we have made the decision to move from Southern California back to Alaska.

1. Seven of our twelve grandchildren live in Alaska!
2. We can do our JONATHAN Ministry from anywhere in the world- which would include Alaska!
3. When we realized those two realities, we made the decision to move forward.
4. We put our home up for sale and it sold in 18 days- unheard of in this economy!
5. The inspection of our home revealed three very small corrections. Our Realtor mentioned that she had never seen something this quick and/or easy.
6. Everything being equal our 30 day escrow should be completed October 21, 2010. We should be packed up and on the highway immediately after that date.

Here is a very important thing to remember: We will still be doing THE JONATHAN PROJECT...yes, from Alaska! Our momentum is in full swing and over the next year or so we will see this ministry continue to expand and explode. With technology and air travel, we can do this ministry from anywhere in the world. We will not be slowing down.

I wish I could have told everyone personally, but that was an impossibility. So we will need to rely on "technology" to get this word out.

We will keep you all posted!

Blessings,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

graydon.jessup@gmail.com

It is already happening!

Dear Friends,

I mentioned in my last blog that we had trained some amazing people! Guess what! Fruit is already being born by those trained.

I cannot mention the nation nor the people group due to increased violence and mayhem! All of you reading this understand. I wish I could specifically write names and places as you would be so amazed and overwhelmed. But since I cannot be specific then you will have to be "amazed and overwhelmed" by an act of faith...in what I am telling you!!!

A key component of our training is to help GLOBAL JONATHANS get their arms around the concept of small groups. The geographical places where we plant multiplying churches are violently opposed to anything that would even suggest a "church" or to anyone who might use the name of "Jesus Christ!" This story is brief and short so hang on!

So one of our students returned to the nation God called him/her to serve. Within one week twelve small groups were established where worship would happen and teaching Jesus would take place...every week! This happened in one week. These groups will multiply and the witness of Jesus Christ will go forth from the nationals in that nation. If I told you the place and the people you would "praise the Lord!" HE works in the difficult places and this place is difficult!

This was a testimony to me of what can happen when the Gospel is preached, when Jesus is exalted, and when messengers love the Lord more than life itself!

Thanks for all of your prayers and support!

Graydon Jessup
THE JONATHAN PROJECT
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

A New Day

Dear Friends,

It is a new day as we head into the Fall. Judy and I have two ministries we are working on: THE JONATHAN PROJECT and HEART AND SOUL90. Both are directly focused on reaching the least reached for Jesus Christ.

I just returned from an incredible experience in Kentucky, with men and women who we were able to train in the JONATHAN principles of planting multiplying churches among least reached people groups. These amazing folk are headed into some of the most politically/religiously explosive areas currently on the planet. These modern day PAUL'S are carrying the message of love, grace, forgiveness and truth to men and women who have never heard the story! Their lives will be on the line...literally.

As I said in my Face Book post, if you would like to know more specifics I would be happy to send the info to you via email. You just need to hit me with that request.

I'll keep you posted.

Blessings,

Graydon
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Next preaching dates:
August 21/22, THE ROCK, Fullerton, CA http://www.gototherock.com/
August 29, Mission Viejo Christian Church, Mission Viejo, CA http://www.mvcchome.org/

It has become very REAL!

Dear Friends,

I am sure you have read the news: "Aid Workers Murdered in Afghanistan!"

As I mentioned in my last blog we are training people right now who are called to go to Afghanistan. In fact these people (one couple with an eight month old child and another single man) have all lived in Kabul and surrounding areas. They are preparing to return...in the face of murder and persecution.

That gives you a little insight as to the people we are working with. They are chosen of God and fully committed to HIS purposes as those purposes are worked out in their own lives.

Our training was always serious- "We are training global Jonathans to plant multiplying churches in very difficult unreached people groups within the context of who they are and what they have." All of a sudden it becomes even more serious!

Keep us in your prayers.

Graydon and Judy Jessup
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com

P.S. I'll be preaching at:

• The ROCK in Fullerton in all weekend services, corner of Lemon and Orangethorpe, August 21/22
• Mission Viejo Christian Church in all services, August 29

Louisville, Kentucky

Dear Friends,

I am in Louisville, KY, participating in the FIRST training of JONATHANS on American soil. For the past ten years our training has been offered in the Philippines, SE Asia and India. These two weeks we are located about 20 miles out of Louisville, KY, training leaders of Team Expansion the JONATHAN principles. This is a HUGE step for us as we exponentially train others to plant churches among very difficult unreached people groups.

I will keep you posted as this continues to unfold. We are in for quite a ride!

Blessings,

Graydon Jessup
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
714.488.7922

August 21/22 preaching at THE ROCK in Fullerton, CA
August 29 preaching at MISSION VIEJO CHRISTIAN CHURCH, Mission Viejo, CA

July 2010

Dear Friends,

Judy and I both pray you had a wonderful celebration over the July 4th weekend. We certainly did. It was a little different in that it was so quiet for us. But with the rescent travels and all we were glad for the down time. This week finds us back at the helm and ready to go- or at least as ready as you can be when you come off of a four day weekend!

HEART & SOUL90.... In my last post I said I would explain this more, so what is this all about?

As we traveled around last year for THE JONATHAN PROJECT, it became clear to us that we needed to provide some way a busy person of 2010 and beyond, could connect with the reality that nearly 2 Billion (That is a "B") people have never heard the Name of Jesus Christ. They just do not know who He is! That can be pretty overwhelming. In fact it seems so impossible that people often just throw their hands up and think to themselves, "What can I do that will make any difference at all?"

So we asked ourselves a whole bunch of questions and out of those questions and conversations came this idea. Let's provide an opportunity for people to be supportive of the JONATHANS of the world by identifying with Jonathan's ARMOR BEARER who said in I Samuel 14:7: "DO ALL THAT YOU HAVE IN MIND...GO AHEAD; I AM WITH YOU HEART AND SOUL!"

I want to give credit where credit is due. The original idea was created by our daughter Carolyn Sessom. She lives with her husband Jody and their three children in Wasilla, Alaska. Her thought was, "I am a busy Mom. How can I get involved in something so huge?" And out of her thinking came this concept- HEART & SOUL90. I bought in to the idea- hook, line and sinker (as the fisherman says!) Essentially this whole ministry will be web driven. Currently we are getting our paperwork in order- which means, Articles of Incorporation, Filing a 1023 with IRS, satisfying the requirements of the State of California and putting together some Bylaws and other such details. All of our paperwork is in the process of going through "the system." The STADIA folk have been incredibly helpful as they walk through this process with every new church plant. We should have all of our approvals sometime this summer- depending of course on how quickly the paperwork goes through the governmental system.

Once we are approved I'll spell out the details to one and all. The end result: Busy people can be involved and they can make an eternally significant difference in the spreading of the Gospel to the "least reached" among us!

This whole concept- H&S90, is designed to support THE JONATHAN PROJECT and the planting of multiplying churches in very difficult unreached people groups within the context of who they are and what they have.

Stay tuned as this only gets better. I'll be seeing you next week.

Blessings,

Graydon Jessup
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Speaking opportunities:

• July 11th, Life Journey Christian Church, Bakersfield, CA
• July 18th, Life Journey Christian Church, Bakersfield, CA
• August 1st and 8th, Team Expansion, Kentucky (Teaching during the two weeks there)
• August 21st/22nd, The Rock, Fullerton, CA
• August 29th, Mission Viejo Christian Church, Mission Viejo, CA

A Little Break

Dear Friends,

We had a great time with Heart and Soul90 and the JONATHAN PROJECT two weeks ago. We unveiled H&S90 and I will write more about this innovative ministry for the least reached people groups in my next writing.

This note will be of a more personal nature. Judy and I are taking a break from our normal routine. We are in Nome, Alaska, with our son Wesley, his wife Cynthia, and their four children. We planned this trip for a few months and we could not have timed our arrival in this town on Norton Sound any better. The 4,000 residents celebrated the summer solstice this weekend with a parade, a staged bank robbery from the history of a real bank robbery many years ago (with Wyatt Earp an actual participant in that original bank robbery), and we watched about 100 people jump into icy Norton Sound to join the Nome Polar Bear Club. I mean, I was standing there with a vest, a felt jacket and then a winter coat and I was still cold. It "hurt" to watch the "Nomites" jump into the frigid water! Because of the celebration we were able to meet many of Wesley and Cynthia's friends as well as many of the people they work with. As if the celebrations on Saturday were not enough, the locals have an annual float trip on rafts- down the Nome River. These rafts are "rafts" which means they are glorified flat boards- all decked out with signs, etc. The race- if you can call it a race- takes about two hours for the winners, with the slower rafts taking up to four hours to complete the course. Let me say this: These people are way tougher than I am. It was 45 degrees with wind and light rain. But the participants were in and out of the water, spraying each other, and as the the boats went under a major bridge people were dumping large buckets of water on the folk below on the rafts! Everyone was having one grand time...and I was freezing! Our granddaughter Judith, was on one of the rafts! Let's just say we have had a great time here in Nome. Our kids are well and busy and they have many great friends here in the town.

Tomorrow, June 22nd, we head down to Wasilla where Jody, our daughter Carolyn, and their three children live. We will be there for a week spending time with them. We are looking forward to our time there with our kids as well as we'll be seeing other friends while in the area. The timing of this trip was for Judy. She will be celebrating her 50 year High School reunion from Anchorage West HS, when it was the only HS in the town! I know many of her classmates from the 22 years we lived in Anchorage. Judy has been reconnecting with many classmates via emails, etc. She is certainly looking forward to the weekend- and I am also!

We return home June 28th when we will be jumping back into our responsibilities.

One sidenote, while in Anchorage I will be visiting with some folk about JONATHAN and H&S90- connections from the past as well as connections from last fall when I spent time in Alaska visiting many churches and friends about JONATHAN.

Thanks for your friendship, your support and your prayers,

Graydon and Judy Jessup from Nome, Alaska
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Future speaking dates:
July 11th, Bakersfield, CA, LifeJourney Church
July 18th, Bakersfield, CA, LifeJourney Church
August 21/22, Fullerton, CA, The Rock

Heart&Soul90

Dear Friends,

We are about to go public with an entire new ministry to support JONATHAN- Heart&Soul90. All taken from I Samuel 14:6-7 we see a powerful connection between the JONATHANS of the world and the ARMOR BEARERS of the world.

We will be talking about all of this in depth this Sunday evening, June 13th at 6 PM. We have three groups coming together- and you can be a part of this story if you would like. But we need to know you are coming so you could hit me with an email at graydon.jessup@gmail.com and we would make sure you had a spot. At that time we would give you the location, etc.

This really is a result of our first year with JONATHAN and continues to establish the base of operations for reaching the least reached people groups on the planet! It will be ONE fun evening and if you can come just let us know.

That's it for this week!

Prayers,

Graydon Jessup
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Memorial Day Weekend

Dear Friends,

I am writing this early. I head out for Northern California in an hour or so and will be at Adventure Christian Church in Rocklin, CA, for both of their Sunday morning services tomorrow, May 30th. You can check church location and service times on their web site.

As many of you know, when I am in town on Saturday, I gather with some others for an early morning prayer time. This group has been doing this for about 4+ years. We pray every Saturday of the year, from 6 AM to 8 AM. The regular attenders are: a Korean Pastor, a Chinese Pastor, an Egyptian Pastor, a Latino couple headed out for a mission assignment and myself. (For the first three years we had a Messianic Jew who joined with us each week. He and his family moved to Israel but whenever he is back in town he joins up with us!) As I look at the group I recognize that the prayer of Jesus in John 17 is being answered.

This morning we had five more Chinese meet with us as well as a couple from Khazakstan. The Chinese lead about 20,000,000 believers in unregistered house churches in China. The Chinese leader who was with us is highlighted in the book, "The Heavenly Man." The couple from Khazakstan led a church of about 3,000 people and in the past twenty years the church they led started approximately 275 other churches- mainly in Khazakstan but also throughout Central Asia.

We all were blessed in the prayer meeting this morning. All of the people have one focus in mind: see the Kingdom of God expand until Jesus comes a 2nd time!

I am thrilled to be a part of such a movement of God. Be encouraged! Sometimes it can seem like we are in a negative free fall- and in many instances that would be a true observation. But ever remember, God is on HIS throne. He is Soverign. His Son Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords...and He will return...sooner than later!

May the peace of the Lord be with you all,

Graydon Jessup
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

A New Week

Dear Friends,

This week continues to be a travel week.

• I'll be speaking to a Mission's group at William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA this Monday evening the 24th. It is a great opportunity to talk about the JONATHAN PROJECT.
• I'll be back in So Cal during the week.
• The weekend of May 30th I will be preaching at ADVENTURE CHRISTIAN CHURCH in Rocklin, CA, in all of their services. You can check their web site for service times.

This JP is multiplying and expanding. If you would like to know more be in contact. I would be blessed to come speak at your place or to any people you would have for me to meet. If you are interested in world change- especially to the least reached people groups on the planet- then we need to talk because you CAN make an eternal difference in ways you possibly do not even realize.

That is it for this post! I look forward to hearing from you.

Prayers,

Graydon Jessup

graydon.jessup@gmail.com

714.488.7922

Singapore

Dear Friends,

This morning I leave for one week in Singapore. Purpose of the meeting: To meet with global Jonathans who are coming to Singapore from all over the world. This meeting happens once every two years. The basic purpose is to assess the past two years and then to plan strategically for the next two years.

One of the commitments THE JONATHAN PROJECT has made is that those involved will be brutally honest in assessing and re-evaluating all facets of the ministry. The ministry with the least reached people groups of the world demands that there be no territorialism, no hidden agendas, no personal pride. People come to the table as clean slates before the Lord and with one purpose in mind: How can we make sure the Gospel is preached to the very least reached folk of the world? This is one reason why I am so drawn to the JONATHAN PROJECT.

Since I have not attended such a meeting before I am going with eagerness and anticipation. This meeting will set our course for the next two years plus. We will build on the past but we will also engage all tools and skills for the future. And ALL of this will be in the context of seeking the very heart of God for anything and everything that we do!

I'll be back at you next Monday!

Prayers,

Graydon Jessup
714.488.7922
graydon.jessup@gmail.com
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Midstream adjustments

Dear Friends,

I trust all of you are doing well. Judy and I have made some "midstream adjustments" in how we function with STADIA and with the JONATHAN PROJECT.

• We have changed our status with STADIA. Rather than work FOR STADIA, we are now PARTNERS with STADIA
• This enables us to be PARTNERS with other various church planting/global initiative organizations more easily.
• For example, we are currently in PARTNERSHIP with these three agencies:

1. STADIA www.stadia.cc
2. TEAM EXPANSION www.teamexpansion.org
3. OMF INTERNATIONAL www.omf.org

• As we enter other PARTNERSHIPS we will add names of organizations, etc.

It is important to note: We are still doing exactly what we were doing before this adjustment in organizational structure. We are still connecting people and churches with JONATHANS who are working with the least reached people groups on the planet. (UUPG's and UPG's)

For those of you supporting us financially you will still send your contributions to the same address and post number. We are keeping that system in place. Your gifts are all tax deductible and they will still come through STADIA offices and STADIA accounting offices. Do not change anything until we give you the green light! STADIA has been so gracious to work this arrangment at this time.

This past year has given us a clear direction of what we sense we need to be doing. JONATHAN is huge and we want to be sure that organizationally we can do all we believe we need to be doing...not only with STADIA, but also with any other Christ centered ministry carrying the Gospel to the least reached.

We will keep you informed...you can count on that.

There are two huge objectives currently on our plate:

1. I will be in Singapore, May 3-9. This strategic meeting is critically important to the overall direction and ministry of JONATHAN. I will give you more details upon my return.
2. We are doing the JONATHAN TRAINING for the very first time on American soil- August 2-13. The introduction of JONATHAN to American Churches is part of our foundational development for this global ministry.

What we are discovering is that we are training and teaching leaders of leaders. This ministry will be multiplied exponentially as we follow that course. And that is what we want to see happen- a true "movement of God" among the least reached people groups on the earth!

Thanks for your prayers and for your support. Any questions- be sure and be in contact via the info below.

Blessings,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

Notice the email address: graydon.jessup@gmail.com

LAX

Dear Friends,
I am sitting in LAX waiting for my flight to Louisville, KY. JONATHAN is on a new venture in that we will be introducing this concept of church planting among the least reached to mission agencies and churches in the USA. This is a major breakthrough. All of our training has been done internationally. We are setting the stage, though, for our first full fledged training session which will be held in August. The trip this week is to lay the foundation for the Training in August.
Our team will be teaching for three days (Wed-Fri) and then on the 10th we will be opening the door for anyone who is interested to come and get a "full day preview!" Sometimes you wonder how many people will show up to an event like we are planning on the 10th! But this isn't just any day of "come and see what is happening?" This event on the 10th will be held in a 20,000 member church and hosted by one of the largest Mission Agencies in Christian Churches. In other words we have the possibility of 50, maybe 100, maybe 200, maybe even more who will come on the 10th to hear what is happening with the JONATHAN PROJECT.
Please keep me in your prayers this week- and keep our team in your prayers. This is a HUGE opportunity and open door for us. I'll write more when I am back home next Monday. In the meantime know that we are hard at work in this JONATHAN PROJECT!

With prayers,
Graydon and Judy Jessup

I Corinthians 15:17

Dear Friends,

What a glorious week in the history of mankind! We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! The entire story is a revelation of the heart and mind of God. The miraculous story of His Son coming to earth, His thirty three years of life, His death, His burial and then His resurrection form the rock solid foundation of, and for, living lives of faith in HIM!

When Paul wrote the statement in I Corinthians 15:17, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins," he was in the middle of his defense for the validity and authenticity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus was raised from the tomb of burial and death, our faith is NOT futile and because we have personally received HIM as Lord and Savior we are NOT still living in our sins!

The reality of the resurrection is why we carry this Good News about Jesus to all people- and especially right now to those people who have never heard about this Jesus- the One who is the Savior of all humanity...if they believe in HIM! But, before they can believe they must hear. That is our mission...our purpose...or goal...our vision!

Thank you for your prayers and your support as together we accomplish this global mission of "going into all the world and preaching the Gospel to all nations!"

Have a great celebration!
Graydon and Judy Jessup
714.488.7922
gjessup@stadia.cc
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Partnerships!

Dear Friends,

I trust this post finds you well and looking forward to Easter and Spring! The hills in Southern California are an incredibly beautiful emerald green. The trees are just beginning to bloom. Birds are singing. You can sense the newness, the birth, the opportunity. I watched a small House Wren busily looking for food this morning. If you have ever watched a Wren you know what I mean- they are flitting, looking, jumping, hopping, always on the lookout for some tasty morsel which is usually some unsuspecting bug!

Without getting into the "bug analogy" too deeply I would like to think the Body of Christ is like that little Wren. The Church, busy, looking, jumping into places that you would not normally think to jump into while looking, always moving, eager...ready and responding to whatever you might find! The Body of Christ has a mandate to "ever be on the lookout" in all things and that would be especially true in the spread and propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That is why I believe "partnerships" are so important. We can be busy like the little Wren, but we are able to accomplish much more when we are a team, a partnership, sharing the same intensity and desire of "searching" as that little Wren does individually. So we ask, "what does a partnership look like and what are we searching for?"

• First, we recognize and acknowledge without a moment's hesitation that Jesus is Lord and that really this is HIS game.
• Second, we know our target. In our specific instance we are looking for the "least reached people groups" living on the planet right now, today! That is who we are searching for!
• Third, we have trained JONATHANS who are ready and eager to go to the "least reached people groups" and tell the story of Jesus Christ.
• Fourth, we have "Armor-Bearers" behind the scenes pulling for the JONATHANS. AB's adopt a people group. They commit to pray for that people group specifically. As they are able to contribute financially to see that the Gospel is preached, taught and devoured by that people group. "AB's" make sure the JONATHAN is able to accomplish the mission, (I Samuel 14:6-7), even as JONATHAN'S Armor Bearer did in I Samuel 14.
• Fifth, we are looking for a five year commitment from Armor Bearer's in these partnerships to carry the Gospel to a least reached people group.

Just like that little Wren, you can see that there are a whole lot of people who are connected together, who are partners, who see that this fulfillment of the Lord's Great Commission to "go into all the world," is really carried out! This spring time if I could come and meet with you, your church group, your global team, your entire church, I would be happy to schedule that opportunity and share with you in even greater detail what this ministry is all about! I promise, I will sit still long enough to tell the story and answer your questions! We only go so far with our Wren comparison!

God's Peace on you all!

Graydon Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Expanding the Vision

Dear Friends,
As many of you know I have been given the responsibility to enlarge the understanding of what this JONATHAN Ministry is all about here in America! Essentially what this means is I am to speak and represent STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT to anybody and everybody. I can tell you that that is happening...all over the place. Let me explain.

• Whenever I speak someplace I represent this global vision and ministry. I wish you could ride along with me as people are very engaged in getting the Gospel to the "least reached" and are very excited when they know they can make an eternal difference in the lives of an unreached people group...an eternal difference! Think about that!
• Conventions are a very important place to meet a whole lot of people very quickly. Our first such convention this year will be in Orlando, FL, where 3,500+ church planters will be gathering. We have a strategy all prepared to end up with all 3,500 attendees giving us their email addresses...happily and gladly! The purpose for securing these emails is so we can send out a regular "email blast" talking about STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT! It is a cool idea we have and once we get back from that Convention I will let you in on the secret! But just think of it: In three days time, 3,500 new names to our email list, reading regularly about SI/JP! Pretty incredible!
• I meet with CPN's. CPN's are "Church Planting Networks." Essentially this would be a group of church planters in a shared geographical area. The Planters get together on a regular basis. I attend those meetings when they get together. Once again, it is telling our story to a group of folk who are decision makers and who have a heart for starting churches. And once their churches begin to think globally, we are there. The DNA that started the church here in America is the same DNA globally! There is a shared vision!
• I meet with individuals. We do this whenever and wherever we can. In a short time Judy and I will be traveling through parts of the USA we have never seen before. We will be meeting with Church Planters we have never met before, telling our story. They then in turn tell others the story and thus it spreads and expands.
• Finally, we are training the leaders of a very large Mission Agency in the JONATHAN model of planting multiplying churches in very difficult least reach people groups. This Agency with over 300 missionaries in 40 different nations around the world also specializes in preaching the Gospel to the least reached. We have a shared vision for the world. In training the leaders in this Agency we are saying, "now you train the rest of your people." That is our overall model: We train people who train people who in turn train people who themselves can train others. That is how the church exploded in the First Century and that is how we want to see the church explode exponentially in our lifetime!

So, there you have it. What I have just written about is what we are doing...and gladly. If you would like to hear the story give us a call and we'll be happy to set a time and share this vision with you, or your Global Team, or your church...you get the point!

Prayers for covering the earth with the message of Jesus,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Great News

Dear Friends,

I like good news just like you do. I have some!

Something exciting is happening in Chiang Mai, Thailand, right now! On February 25th a two week JONATHAN TRAINING comes to a close. Twenty five (25) more JONATHANS are trained and will be doing something very specific because the 25 JONATHANS were all from mainland China. These 25 are heading back to their homeland ready and prepared to engage the least reached people in China. The churches planted will all be under the radar screen of the cultural and political system. These 25 will multiply themselves many times over. "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (II Timothy 2:2-3) This passage of Scripture, along with I Samuel 14:1-23, give us visionary marching orders. We will take hills that look impossible- just like Jonathan did, and we will continuously train people who in turn will train other people in what appear to be the craziest most impossible circumstances. That is exactly what is needed in this hour as we engage the least reached people groupls on the planet with the eternal Gospel of Jesus Christ! And that is exactly what has been happening in Chiang Mai these past two weeks. Visionaries have been trained, equipped, challenged and released to tell the story of Jesus in places you and I have never even heard of! And that is great news!

But you notice that I added one other line: "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (II Timothy 2:3) We in the west really want to be able to do this ministry thing with a certain amount of comfort. If we are fed, clothed, have a roof over our heads and are reasonably safe and secure we find ourselves empowered, so to speak, to be and do all the Lord has called us to be and do. But what happens when it gets difficult? What happens when all the dots do not connect? What happens when we face incredible discouragement? How would we respond if we were thrown into some of the circumstances our Christian brothers and sisters around the world face...on a daily basis?

You are thinking, "Graydon, you started this post with 'good news.' Where did the good news go? I am not really that interested in thinking about 'enduring hardship...'" Ah, but that IS good news! "Enduring hardship" is in direct association with Jesus Christ...who endured "hardship" on our behalf! Faith develops when we are tested and tried...when we "endure hardships." Faith does not develop in the smooth lines of life. And so the good news is that our faith increases and we mature as we "endure hardships" in the process of telling and training others in the storytelling of our matchless Lord and Savior- Jesus Christ!

Our brothers and sisters from China will be returning to a world we do not live in...a world of fear, a world of persecution, and a world of rejection, a world of incredible identification with our crucified Lord, Jesus Christ!

On God's chart I believe that is a GOOD THING, and we get to be partners in this Global project! Thanks for your prayers, your friendship, your support and your enthusiastic response to all that is happening around the world!

Prayers and blessings,
Graydon and Judy Jessup
714.488.7922
gjessup@stadia.cc
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Let the Travels begin!

Dear Friends,
There is an interesting insight about King David in II Samuel 11:1: "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war...." Now we know that the rest of II Samuel 11 tells a sad story but that is not the point of my thoughts this morning. "In the Spring, at the time when kings go off to war," reminds me of what we are doing this spring, 2010. It could be said of Graydon and Judy, "In the spring of 2010, at the time the Jessup's go off to travel..."

Our travel this spring and through the summer is pretty detailed. And what is the objective of this travel? To tell the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT (SI/JP) story everywhere we can. If you have followed this blog you know that the SI/JP story really has developed overseas for the past twelve plus years. Over 1,000 house Churches have been planted and over 300,000 people have come to faith. It has only been within the past year that the story has been told here in the states...that is, told with any consistency. We are on board to tell that story wherever, whenever, and to whomever! We began telling that story last April the 6th. We have met many, many wonderful people along the way. Many are thinking, praying and seriously considering connecting with one of the least reached people groups who have not heard the Gospel.

Remember, this is our goal and objective: We connect trained Global JONATHANS (I Samuel 14:6) with Churches and/or individuals for the purpose of preaching the Gospel to either a UUPG (Unengaged unreached people group) or with a UPG (Unreached people group). We know JONATHANS and we know both UUPG's and UPG's. As we travel and meet Churches and individuals we are able to put all three together to accomplish the purpose of getting the Gospel out to all people groups.

The stories we are hearing from around the globe would capture your heart. Many sound like they are right out of the Book of Acts! It is an exciting day and we are thrilled to be able to do our small part- that is, "...in the spring when the Jessup's begin to travel...!

If you would like to hear this story please be in contact and we will make arrangements to get together with you.

Blessings,
Graydon and Judy Jessup
714.488.7922
gjessup@stadia.cc
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Speaking dates:
Feb 21 Pathway Christian Church, Riverside, CA
Mar 07 Life Journey Christian Church, Bakersfield, CA
Mar 14 Pathway Christian Church, Riverside, CA

Final "Post" for January 2010

Dear Friends,

I cannot believe it! One month is essentially gone...eleven more to go for 2010. And yes we did get our rain last week. It was wonderful! And we are suppose to get more this week...which is also "wonderful!"

Just a handful of days left and we begin living out of the suitcase for 2010! Our travel plans have taken shape for this year...up through August. As I write this I recognize it takes many different people with many different gifts to accomplish all that the Lord has in store for us. I Corinthians 12 is so true! "As it is, there are many parts, but one body." (I Corinthians 12:20) Our part is "connecting!" We "connect" UUPG's and/or UPG's with trained Global JONATHANS and with churches stateside. We have a "three-legged" stool if you please:

1. The first "leg" would be those least reached people groups around the globe.
2. The second "leg" would be those trained global JONATHANS who are ready to go to a "least reached people group."
3. And finally we have you- the "armor bearers" who are supporting the JONATHANS as they "enter the battle," or, as they go into the least reached people group whether that be a UUPG or a UPG!
4. When the three legs are up and running the team is moving forward and moving the ball towards the end zone. (Sorry, I just watched two football games yesterday and the teams that moved the ball over the goal line more times, were the teams that won! I had to go to college to figure that one out!)

All three legs are dependent upon the other. We do not move in our own little world separate from others. We need each other. So our role in this great venture is to "connect" the three legs together so that we can "move that ball towards the goal line!" Our definition of "moving the ball towards the goal line" is seeing multiplying churches planted; seeing people who have never heard the Gospel hearing it for the first time; seeing these people take what they have heard to others who have never heard!

You may be wondering to yourself, "How can I get involved?" Hit us with an email or a phone call and we'll tell you. That is what we are all about- "connecting" UUPG's and/or UPG's with trained GLOBAL JONATHANS...and YOU!

Blessings,

Graydon and Judy Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

P.S. I am preaching this week, Jan 31st, at Greater First Christian Church in Torrance, 4915 Emerald St, Torrance, CA 90503. Morning Worship is 10:45 AM

Feb 7th, I will be speaking at Central Christian Church in San Jose, CA.

It is RAINING in So Cal!

Dear Friends,

We so enjoy the rain! We have needed it here in So Cal and we are going to get it...BIG time! Other than any inconvenience or damage that might be done we are really thrilled that the rain is coming! The forecasters tell us we had our first big rain yesterday, that a second storm is coming on us right now (Tue the 19th) but that the really BIG one is coming tomorrow! We'll take all we can get to fulfill the total 12 inches of rain we need this year.

As I reflected on this I thought of some things. First, we really would like to have a "soaking rain" or a rain that comes very gentle like and falls over a period of time without any of the major inconveniences. The rain falls just enough to be absorbed into the ground without causing any damage, without messing up driving patterns, without flooding. The ground drinks it all in at the speed with which the rain falls.

Second, we do wish that the rain, no matter how hard it would fall, would come at night time when our natural pattern of living would find us at home sleeping away. If the timing was right then we wouldn't have to walk in the rain, drive in the rain or work in the rain. Why, we wouldn't even get wet! Let the rain come but let it come at the right time, preferably night time!

Third, we want 12 inches, no more and no less. Too little rain leaves us dry and too much rain leaves us wet. Twelve inches is what we need, what is normal and is the amount that will keep things green but not overly green nor barren and dry. So we set the mark and hope that is all we get!

Finally, we really want the rain, but overall we really do not want it to mess up our schedules or our lives. Getting all wet is no fun. Driving in it with a thousand other cars on a freeway is always a tension builder. If the kids cannot go out and play but they have to stay inside that might drive us nuts. You mean "it's raining and I might need to leave 15 mintues earlier to get to my appointment?" Ah, the inconvenience of rain...we want the rain but we don't want it to mess up our lives in any way, shape or form!

I thought to myself, "is this how I treat the Lord in my own personal relationship with HIM?" I want HIM, I know I need HIM, but do I only want HIM on my terms and do I only want HIM to fit in to who I am and my own personal schedule...because after all "I do have things to do and places to go!" Think about it:

1. "Lord, I want to SOAK in YOU!" Just don't stretch me. Don't jerk me out of my comfort zone. Only give me what I think, or want, to receive. Be gentle with me in what YOU might ask me to do or be!
2. "Lord, only come to me at the right time." You know Lord I am busy right now, don't ask me to do anything out of the ordinary. "Could you just show up in my life on Sunday mornings when I am in church and then sort of leave me alone the rest of the week?" Sunday morning would be the best time to come to me!
3. "Lord, 12 inches...no more and no less." Do I call the shots on the Lord? Do I put the parameters up as to what I want HIM to do and not do in my life? "Don't overwhelm me Lord, with YOUR power or with YOUR grace!"
4. "In other words Lord, please do not mess up my structured life and what I want to do!" I certainly would not want anyone to think I was "over zealous" or anything like that! I have it figured out. If you do what I am asking then I can live a life free of any personal hassles and discomforts!

Well, the rain caused me to think some of these things. I determined that just as I have no control over the rain, I really have no control over what the LORD may want to do in my life, or what the LORD may ask me to do! And so I will take HIM as HE comes...in all of HIS power and in all of HIS glory just like I must take whatever the rain might bring! Personally I am praying for a FLOOD of HIS love and power to overwhelm me and to carry me away into all that HE has in store for me!

Let it rain!

Graydon Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

Intense travel and visiting stateside churches

Dear Friends,

I will be traveling extensively through the rest of January/February and the first part of March visiting churches in the West. If you would like a visit or you know of someone who should hear the STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT story would you let me know. I will be happy to set up meetings, explain the vision, and answer the questions. Bottom line: we have trained JONATHANS ready to enter UUPG's and/or UPG's. We need to connect Churches with these JONATHANS as they enter UUPG's and UPG's around the world!

• UUPG- Unengaged Unreached People Groups- those who have NEVER heard the name of Jesus Christ!
• UPG- Unreached People Groups- those people groups where 1% or less of the population have heard the name of Jesus Christ.

You could have a significant part in this global vision just by giving us a name(s) of a Church, a Pastor, a Mission's Pastor, a Mission's Committee, an interested Home Group, an interested individual. Do not think to yourself, "oh, that Church, or that person would not be interested in helping some UUPG and/or UPG!" Don't talk yourself out of anything! We can make contact and set up appointments. It is amazing to me that as people hear this global vision they get all excited...and rightfully so!

"STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT is the assessing and training of global JONATHANS and then the releasing and empowering of these trained JONATHANS to plant multiplying churches in very difficult unreached people groups (or, "least reached people groups") in the context of who they are and what they have without the long term support of American dollars."

Everytime I tell this story you can see why people want to get on board.

1. People want to play a part in seeing that the Gospel is carried to all nations and all people groups.
2. People want others to hear just like they have heard.
3. People want to be in on the Great Commission of Jesus Christ when He gave the Commission: "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel..."
4. People sense that the "signs of the times" point to the soon return of Jesus Christ and they want to be part of that "telling/sending" community of believers preparing the way for the Lord!
5. People KNOW the power of the Gospel and the Presence of Jesus Christ...and they really want that gift for those who have never had the opportunity to KNOW the power or to have been able to receive Jesus Christ!

You can help us. Give us names! Give us phone numbers! Give us email addresses! We'll do the rest as we tell this story over and over again!

With many prayers,

Graydon Jessup

714.488.7922

gjessup@stadia.cc

graydonandjudy.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup

P.S. I'll be speaking in Torrance, CA, Greater First Christian Church, Jan 31st and then at Central Christian Church in San Jose, CA, Feb 7, 2010

It is a BRAND NEW YEAR!

Dear Friends,

Here it is a BRAND NEW YEAR and I am already two days late in writing this blog! What a great start! Seriously, Judy and I have been traveling and this past Monday when I should have been writing I was "riding!" We were traveling and I was not able to make the entry. I am thinking that this will not be the last time this happens in 2010!

OK, OK already! Enough whining!

2010 really looks like it is going to have "over the top" possibilities! I am speaking specifically about planting churches among those least reached people groups. Our goal and vision is to see that 100,000 new house churches are planted these next five years among the least reached people groups. Let's make sure we are clear on the definitions:
*UUPG would be an "unengaged, unreached people group." That means that particular people group has never heard the name of Jesus Christ, consequently no one in that group has ever heard the Gospel.
*UPG would be "unreached people group." This definition means that 1% or less of the population of that particular people groups have heard the name of Jesus Christ. In other words, somebody has been "engaged" in that group.
*"Least reached people group," would encompass both UUPG's and UPG's.

Once again, that is 100,000 churches- all house churches due to the inability to build buildings or have open meetings in these diffucult places where these churches will be planted. Our goal and objective is that by December 31, 2014, these 100,000 churches will be up and running.

You are thinking, "OK, Graydon can't even get his post to this blog every Monday so how will there ever be 100,000 churches planted in these next five years?" Great question! The only way this will happen is because God is in it! And we believe He is! We are praying for a "movement!" A movement is something that happens when the Holy Spirit takes over and the organizations and the strategies of men become secondary to the move of God among people. Following the biblical model of training people who in turn train people to the degree that they teach others who also will teach others is the key. And when we are not concerned about who gets the glory...other than that God gets the glory...you can see immediately how this can happen...over these next five years.

Enough for this Wednesday- I'll see you again this coming Monday...hopefully!

Blessings and prayers,
Graydon Jessup
714.488.7922
gjessup@stadia.cc
graydonandjudy.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/graydon.jessup
P.S. I will be speaking Jan 31st at Greater First Christian in Torrance, CA, and Feb 7th at Central Christian Church in San Jose, CA.