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.