Josiah Venture FALL training conference 2010

This past weekend, nineteen of our Slovak staff and invited youth leaders participated in a week-long conference sponsored by JV. The theme was Grip | Strengthening our hold on the word of God. We reflected on Titus 1:9, “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”

God has especially put Rasto (on the picture standing right over me) from Levice on my heart to spend more time with him over next year. He is one of the leaders we do our English camps with. His church is one of the biggest evangelical church in Slovakia and there are very little young men in leadership role. Over last 3 years God has strengthen the desire for this church to see these young men in leadership. Rasto is definetely one of them.

Exit TOUR Slovakia

This month, our team gets the opportunity to contextualize the gospel to teens through the use of a rock band. We will partner with five denominations, and eight schools to share the gospel to over 1000 high school students in four Slovak cities through the JV EXIT Tour Ministry.

EXIT Tour is an evangelistic outreach where Dizmas, an American band, who has been seen on MTV, will perform a small assembly in each school. Afterwards, we will offer preventative lectures focused on teen issues such as sex, drugs, AIDS, smoking, drinking, etc. In the afternoon, each day, the youth groups will host an activity, such as rock climbing, jam sessions with the band, soccer, etc. to strengthen relationships with the students. At the end of the week, we will host a free concert for the students, featuring the Band who will present the Gospel. Our desire is after the concert, the students will get plugged into an EXIT Small Gorup where they can grow in their newfound faith.

EXIT Tour | Slovakia 2010 from Mike on Vimeo.

Please pray with our team for protection on everyone’s hearts, minds and souls as we put the final details together. We are needing your prayers for the students, teachers and parents we come in contact with next week. For hearts to be opened to accept the Gospel, and for the youth to take bold steps of faith to befriend and follow up with these students. And, that these students will get plugged into an Exit Small Group, which will lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus.

Dates

Oct. 4 - 9 | Zilina

Oct. 15 | Bardejov (KECY Concert)

Oct. 16 | Presov (KECY Concert)

Oct. 18 - 23 | Kosice

Thankyou for your prayers,

Draho

The country I have lived for 17 years needs HELP.

Serbia
Dragan Mitrovcan the director of National youth network (MREZA) has invited me to come to Serbia. He needs help with leading their youth workers conference. He told me that after 10 years of organizing it he has run out of strength and isnpiration and that my 5 years of experience could be well used in Serbia.
As you know I have came from this part of europe 11 years ago. So I still can speak the language and know some people who could be good influence in searching for all the youth leaders in this country.

STATUS: - I am willing to help from Slovakia. Which will mean a lot of time on internet and skype. I also will only be able to help if the Lord allowe by providing the money.

Upcomming Ministry OPPORTUNITY: - Dragan wants me to help him organize their next youth workers conference. This conference takes place in Serbia in the middle of December. I will need to go to visit Dragan for one week in August and one week before the conference. The conference lasts for 4 days.

The NEED: 400 $ for travels + 300$ for food and accomodation. And lots of prayer.

Oli at the childrens camp.

We have took our oldest Son Oliver (8) first time to the camp. This is christian camp. I believe he will gain a lot of great experiences and most of all we pray that he will have even stronger desire to folow and serve God.

Levice KECY camp

Few days ago I have visited Levice KECY team. 12 hours with them has been real joy. Standing over the city and praying with the team has made my heart very happy. I just felt very strong desire of these people to see new kids knowing Jesus. They have 24 unchurched kids. Together with US team and TCK team we will make great 60 people camp.
As you pray for us, pray for:
- openes of their hearts for Gospel
- pray for me as I will be speaking the Gospel on final night
- pray for the health
- pray for good weather

There is one more specific prayer topic:
- This church has lack of MAN LEADERS. Please pray that God would aweaken one strong man who will have desire to lead youth closer to God.

Visiting the Camps.

Summer is the time when we at TCK walk along side the churches by helping them run youth evangelistic camps. It is the time of influencing the local church to get out from building and evangelize, time to grow its leaders, time to find new workes with the passion, time to lead someone to christ, time to play a lot of sports, time to find new friends...
As I write there are 3 camps finishing their first term (Zilina, Liptovsky Hradok, Bratislava). I took my family to visit all 3 of them. On all 3 of these there are around 100 teenagers needing Christ. As the camp is finishing and goodbyes are said pray that each one of these teenagers would continue comming for camp clubs organized by the local church over the whole year.

On our 5 day trip we stayed at tent. To keep the cost down but also for the family experience. We build our tent in the yard of our neighbours (from Zilina) house in Tatra mountains. Through our stay we even celebrated her birthday. It was good fun as she has also 3 children and our kids know each other well. And I have to tell you a story of Viktor.
While we were bilding our tent their small boy (2) and Viktor (3) has decided to go for walk. This is small willage without any dangerous traffic but still there is a small river going through it and there is forest and mountains... well 15 minutes is long time if you can not find your child... but as I was running through the willage and been asking all of the people along my run I soon find that two little boys did walked this path. Very soon I saw them walking down the street with no fear and worrie. It was one of this moments when I just thanked God for protection and care over my family.

Our next step?

We have been here in Zilina for last 11 years. We feel calling for change. Not ministry change but more place within Slovakia. A year ago our calling have got a name "Banska Bystrica". My cousin who is pastoring church in this city has given us invitation to come and help them bridge their churche's elementary school relationship's with the Christ and Church. There are only two such elementary schools in our country and this is one of them.
The second calling I am experiencing in based on this map representing all the participians form last national youth conference. After while you can see some gaps in the middle of our country. I have dream that this middle part of Slovakia would become stronger on number of youth leaders. One of the ways is to go there and live among them. This is where I feel calling.
I would still remind being involved with TCK/JV organization as they are willing to send me out to the field. My task would be to discover these youth leaders and map the need for growth. I would not continue in my role of director of youth conference but I would start to develope new evangleism tool we are offering to slovak churches called Fussion. (I will write more about it as it goes on.)

Pray for us as we are in the middle of our decission making proces. We have already decided to take this direction but there are a lot of things that need prayer and wisdom.
- Pray for timing of this move. End of August 2010 or move next year 2011 in June.
- Pray for Oliver the oldest as he has tears in his eyes when we talk about the move. Even if it is 55 miles away from Zilina where he has all the friends.
- Pray for house or flat for rent. Also the wisdom for our flat that we own here in Zilina.
- Pray for the financial situation for our family. We need to have certain amount to be able to move and at this moment raise up around 500$ montly as to be able to make this new step.