New Friends

To our "Old" Friends and our New Friends!

Be careful there- not "old" like you were thinking because none of us is getting older! Right? The children all grow up and get old...but not us! So I mean "old" as in "we have been friends for many years!" No matter how you cut it though, it still comes out "old!" Well, maybe I had better start this little post all over again!

As we travel we have had the unexcelled privilege of meeting and making, new friends! There are wonderful people all over the place who are faithfully serving the Lord Jesus Christ. And in their sphere of influence they are making a difference! I believe that is what the Lord is asking of all of us- make a difference. Well Jesus said it a little differently. He said "...bear much fruit!" In fact as you read John's Gospel, chapter 15, you get the clear picture of what Jesus meant about making a difference!

These new friends come in all shapes and sizes. They come from large churches and from house churches...and everything in between. Their backgrounds are as varied as one can find. And they all have a story, not only personal stories but also ministry stories! And are these stories ever fun!

• Some are serving faithfully in feeding the poor...not only around the world but right here in America.
• Some serve in churches as Elders, or Deacons, or Musicians or Artists or Teachers of Children.
• Some have traveled the world serving others.
• Some have barely made it out of the county in which they were born and they are serving the Lord with great sacrifice right there!
• Some are living paycheck to paycheck- really, by faith.
• Others are living out retirement dreams as they serve the Lord.
• Many if not all, have been on some sort of a short term mission project- somewhere around the world.
• Some have been followers of Christ since they were tiny.
• Others have made that choice to follow Jesus just recently.
• Some know the Bible inside out.
• Others have a difficult time knowing the difference between Genesis and Concordance!

Here is the bottom line though. They all love Jesus and they want to see His Kingdom advanced. They want to know that not only are they learning the Gospels, and not only do they know the Epistles, and not only can they navigate the Old Testament, but most importantly what they are doing in the Name of the Lord counts for eternity! When you love Jesus, you have the values of eternity in mind!

One passionate young man told me that if Jesus was so driven to choose to come and live among us, and if He was so committed to our salvation that He was willing to die on a cross, then he wanted to give that same dedication and extraordinary commitment back to Jesus Christ! When you meet people like that...people who "get it," you just get pretty excited about what this entire "Jesus venture" is all about! It is not "just a ride!" It is an "adventure!!!"

Well, we are meeting some great folk. And we hope to meet you. I am speaking at different places about STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT and it is a real joy to see "OLD" friends and it is equally wonderful to meet "NEW" friends...all in Jesus Christ!

Prayers and blessings,

Graydon Jessup

August 22/23 Missions at Mission Viejo Christian Church, Mission Viejo, CA

September 1/2 Prayer Walking Salt Lake City, Utah

September 13 Dedication of LifeSpring Christian Church, Beaumont/Banning

Sep 28-Oct 10 JONATHAN TRAINING, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Oct 18, 25, Nov 1, 8, Alaskan Churches

Nov 19-22 National Missionary Convention, Peoria, IL

January 2010 India

The Bottom Line

Dear Friends,

So, for STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT, what is the bottom line? Here it is: "STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT identifies, assesses, trains and releases/empowers, Global Jonathans (I Samuel 14:6) to plant multiplying churches in difficult unreached people groups, within the context of who they are and what they have without the long term support of American dollars."

As you read the statement above you discover FIVE Bottom Lines:

1. We identify Jonathans- "Global Jonathans" which means these Jonathan types, according to I Samuel 14:6, can be from anywhere in the world. Once identified we assess them- "are they truly Jonathan material?" You are asking, "what is Jonathan material?" Good question. We use I Samuel 14:6 as our model: "Come, let's go over to the outpost.... Perhaps the Lord will act in ourbehalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whetherby many or by few." Modern day Jonathans do not talk about what they cannot do, or what they could do if they had this or that. Rather, they take what they have and by God's grace they move forward even as Jonathan did. We are looking for modern day Jonathans- those who will move forward with boldness and confidence in the Lord. We train these Jonathans and then they are sent to unreached people groups.
2. We train Jonathans to "plant multiplying churches." These are all multiplying house churches because the "difficult unreached people groups" are difficult and unreached for a number of reasons. The main reason for this "difficulty" is that the situations these people live in are not sympathetic to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So we train people who in turn train people who in turn train people. (II Timothy 2:2)
3. "Difficult unreached people groups" are in this category due to geographical location, or maybe the nations they live in are violently opposed to Jesus Christ, or the political situation is such that being a Christian is also being an outcast...in that particular people group.
4. Since we are not building church buildings nor are we emphasizing numbers for numbers sake, we teach the people how to do church with what they have and with where they live. Once again, these are house churches, or churches meeting in other spaces where they can be secure yet faithful.
5. We are teaching the Jonathans to live within the context of what they have and who they are. All of us in STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT live by faith. We teach the Global Jonathans how to live by faith- right where they are. Consequently we are teaching the leaders and the churches how to exist and thrive without the long term support of U.S. dollars.

This is our BOTTOM LINE! Once again let me emphasize that this is not the only way to do ministry globally. There are some incredible ministries going on all over the world. But for STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT, this is what God has called us to in this day and hour.

Blessings,

Graydon Jessup

Future Speaking/Traveling Dates:

August 16 Gover Beach, CA

August 22 Mission's Banquet, Mission Viejo, CA

September 1/2 Prayer Walk in Salt Lake City, Utah

September 13 Beaumont/Banning, LifeSpring Dedication

September 24-October 11 Chiang Mai, Thailand for Jonathan Training

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

Winema Week of Missions 2009

Dear Friends,

I will be spending a week (August 2-7) at the Winema Campgrounds on the Oregon Coast for the annual Week of Missions. This event has been held for many years for the Christian Churches of Oregon specifically and the Northwest generally. The history of the missionary movement out of the Northwest has had a long and historic tradition- and I mean "tradition" in a good way. Many men and women have made decisions to travel the globe telling the story of Jesus Christ as a direct result of this Week of Missions. Many churches and individuals have made decisions to support missions and missionaries prayerfully, emotionally, financially and spiritually as a consequence of the Week of Missions.

I will spend the week with the thousand to 1500 people who will be passing through the campgrounds for the week. Some stay the entire week. Many come for a few days. Others drive in for the nightly services. Designated speakers teach and preach. Various missionaries are highlighted and tell their story. In the main meeting hall many missionaries and mission agencies will have booths set up. As people pass by they hear the stories and learn about the missions.

STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT will have one of those booths. I will be there throughout the week meeting people, talking about SI/JP and what the Lord is up to in our world...from our perspective. It is a great opportunity to connect and that is exactly what we are currently doing in the travel and speaking for SI/JP.

If you would like to know more about this ministry I would be happy to share that with you. Remember what we are all about: "The SI/JP is all about finding, assessing, training and releasing Global Jonathans (I Samuel 14:6) to plant multiplying churches in difficult unreached people groups, within the context of who they are and what they have, without the long term support of American dollars."

With prayers for global ministry,
Graydon Jessup
gjessup@stadia.cc
Preaching dates:
Newberg Oregon, Christian Church, August 9, 2009
Beaumont/Bannning, Life Spring Christian Church, September 13, 2009

Another open door?

"Hey" Dear Friends!

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

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your thoughts, your notes and your prayers. The "bigness" of what God is doing over the face of the earth is overwhelming at times. Good thing He is running the show and not me...or you...or somebody else!

Not only is it summer time in real time, it is also "summer time" in STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT! In the spring time you prepare the soil and you plant the seeds. In the summer time you cultivate, water and weed. In the fall time you reap the harvest. We are in the "cultivation, watering, weeding" season of this ministry! Translated this means we are spending a lot of time with people, building new relationships and strengthening old ties. The end result will be the harvest, which for us is the sending of "Global Jonathans" into the unreached people groups on the planet! Allow me to repeat the definition of this ministry:

"STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT is the identification, assessing, training and sending of Global Jonathans (I Samuel 14:6) into difficult unreached people groups (UPG's) to plant multiplying churches, within the context of who they are and what they have, without the long term support of American dollars."

Over 1,000 churches have been planted in the past twelve years. Over 300,000 men, women, boys and girls have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. In the next three years we see this becoming a "movement" and growing exponentially on all continents- excluding Antartica! The words of Jesus Christ Himself ring in our ears, pound in our hearts and His words move us to action: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...(Matthew 28:18-20,) and as we go we baptize and teach!

Here is what happens in the villages and towns where this Gospel of Salvation in Jesus Christ is proclaimed:

1. Whole villages are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
2. Entire UPG's are impacted with the grace of Jesus Christ.
3. Broken relationships in families are healed.
4. The fears of ages old "spirit worship" are removed.
5. Little girls are not sold into the worldwide sex trade.
6. Young boys reject inclusion into radical terrorist organizations.
7. New Believers practice compassion and forgiveness.
8. Believers change their businesses- for example from growing poppies for opium to creative businesses consistent with their new found freedom in Jesus Christ.
9. Education is encouraged.
10. Attitudes towards health issues such as sanitation, clean drinking water and diet all change.
11. A discernable difference is seen between villages- those receiving Jesus Christ and those not yet hearing the Gospel story.
12. New Believers share their story all over the place...and multiplying churches are planted.

This is a true principle: The message of salvation in Jesus Christ changes the individual, the family, the village and the unreached people group. As I said earlier, "It is a good thing that God is running this show!" It is huge...and you can be a part of it! Give me a call or send an email. You can make a difference for eternity...one unreached people group at a time.

Prayers,

Graydon Jessup

Speaking dates:

1. July 26, 2009, Mission Viejo Christian Church, Mission Viejo, CA
2. August 9, 2009, Newberg Christian Church, Newberg, OR
3. September 13, 2009, LifeSpring Christian Church, Beaumont/Banning, CA

Divine Appointments!

Dear Friends,

I love "Divine Appointments!" But before I talk to you about this let me say, "I know that this is July 8, 2009, and NOT July 7th, when I said I would be making my next entry!" Better a day late then not at all, right? Right!

So here I am, minding my own business, working hard when there is a knock at the door! Standing there is a friend I had not seen for 19 years! Really, it was one of those "divine appointments." The questions were asked. What about children? What about grand children? And where are you living? And what has the Lord been doing in your life? You know it always gets around to, "And what is the Lord doing in your life?" I love that question. When it is asked you then have permission to begin bragging on the Lord...at least that is the way I look at it! And so I start bragging! And for those of you who know me, I don't get excited at all!!! NOT!

Our world is pretty crazy right now. Life, values, politics, governments, finances, life goals, long standing relationships...seems like so many very important pillars in life that we have taken for granted are changing at warp speed in front of our very eyes. In fact it all makes some people want to run and hide! But then one of those "divine appointments" happens. And once again I am affirmed and reaffirmed in this truth: The Lord, He is God and He is Good! Life may be a little crazy and unpredictable, but the Lord is NOT crazy and He certainly is NOT unpredictable!

In the concluding chapter of Hebrews the writer is encouraging the Body of Christ. I mean the chapter begins with "Keep on loving each other as brothers." (Hebrews 13:1) Life was "topsy-turvey" in that period of history when the book of Hebrews was penned. Crazy? You bet! Unpredictable? Well that was one quality that was "predictable!" That is, everything would be unpredictable! But throughout Hebrews the writer discusses the various "divine appointments." In fact I challenge you to read the book quickly, like reading a newspaper, with that question in front of you: what are the "divine appointments here?" You will be amazed and impressed. And the reality is the Lord works that way even today. In fact that happened to me earlier today...a "divine appointment!" "Divine appointments" are not something we manufacture in our own strength and wisdom. "Divine appointments" just seem to happen...and when they do, hopefully we see that event for what it is. It is something the Lord put together quite apart from our creative ability and strength of wisdom and manipulation. These "events" are from the Lord!

But let me remind you of something from Hebrews 13. You just might be frustrated, or at least deeply disturbed by what you are witnessing in our world- the craziness and the unpredictability! And yet you are affirmed and confirmed by the "divine appointments" the Lord keeps bringing to your front door. Here is what Hebrews 13:8 says: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." That is a promise you can bank on. And just as the Lord prepared "divine appointments" in the book of Hebrews and throughout Scripture, He is in the business today of making those "divine appointments."

"Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear as well as a heart that is receptive, to YOUR "divine appointments" that you have prepared for us!"

And that is what excites me beyond measure with STADIA INTERNATIONAL-JONATHAN PROJECT! God has an incredible number of "divine appointments" He has prepared for us in this "crazy and unpredictable" world. And a large number of those "divine appointments" would be the taking of the Gospel to the unreached peoples of the globe! "Thank You Lord for those "divine appointments!"

Prayers and blessings,
Graydon Jessup
714.488.7922
gjessup@stadia.cc