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
1 comment:
Thanks for this GOOD report, GJ. Very exciting! And thanks for the reminder to pray for our brothers and sisters...and also for ourselves. That we would be able to stand firm and boldly proclaim Christ when our hardship comes. And in the meantime, keep proclaiming and loving. Yes, thank you for this good word. Blessings on you and Judy! Hugs, Jax
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