Ukraine Ministry Video

Passion Revealed

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."' Matthew 28:18-20

This is my heart, my passion. I remember being in Prague, Czech Republic on my second mission trip. It was the end of the trip, and we were all (meaning all teams that had come over to work in CZ, all nationals, and JV staff) at a meeting center talking about our English camps, singing songs, and praying for the country. It was beautiful. As we sang this last song (Czechs, Slovaks, Americans, etc.), I started crying. I looked around at everyone that was there, I felt so much love and purpose and joy. Never had I been so happy. Truly. It was at that moment that I knew this was exactly what I was meant to do, exactly where God wanted me to be.

After that trip I started pursuing going on staff with Josiah Venture. I went to Ukraine for three months the next summer, which sealed the deal. I then applied for the two-year staff position and was accepted. Here I am now, raising support to do full-time youth ministry in Ukraine for at least two years.

Missions in general is my heart. Working with youth is my passion within my heart. I love high school/early college-aged students!! One, they get my humor...a big plus, but two because it's just such a pivotal time in one's life. It's a period of life when a student is making some big decisions: do I go to college, where do I go to college, who am I outside of my family, can I make it on my own, to go or not to go to church, what do I really believe? This is when a student forms his or her true beliefs and decides, "am I going to church because my parents make me or because I have a true desire to?" Their personal relationship with Christ, or lack there of, is tested and affirmed. I LOVE being a part of this stage. I LOVE being someone that can help that her/him to see that Christ is the only Way, and is the only One that knows the Way. It's a beautiful thing.

The Purpose and Vision of Josiah Venture Ukraine

Why Ukraine? No it's not the largest tourist destination in Europe, by any means, but it captured my heart and is in need of our Savior. Ukraine is home to the fastest growing church in Europe. The younger generations are especially open to the Gospel. Often the local church faces a challenge of clashing cultures as young and old struggle over forms in the local church. Josiah Venture has a strategic opportunity to help by modeling healthy discipleship of young people through the local church in a culture that is responding to God’s call. It's so exciting! People are coming to Christ, but there is no growth. That is where we come in...Discipleship.

I will be a two-year staff member with Josiah Venture in Ukraine. This is a new ministry, so I am super excited about being a part of it! I will be living in Lviv, Ukraine with my JV teammates (Jay & Cameron Hughes, Ben and Kristy Williams, and Valentyna Stohova). I will be working with a local church there in Lviv to help build their youth group through discipleship and leadership training. I also hope to teach English in some sort of setting. Another major role of mine will be to help with the summer English camps. I will co-lead intern teams, who set-up and lead the English camps with local churches in several cities throughout Ukraine. We are there to be a bridge between the local church, new believers, and nonbelievers in the community. Our vision is "to see a movement of God that finds its home in the local church and transforms society."