A generation awaits...
Josiah Venture 2X3 Campaign

Czech Republic – In September when the campaign team was preparing the material for the capital campaign program I was rushed to select the perfect song that we wanted to end the Vision Night program each evening. I was listening to music for days reading through lyrics and listening to melodies. It needed to be perfect. It was going to be the last impression and I wanted the music to tell the story of Josiah Venture’s ministry throughout 15 years. I would find a song only to hear one line that didn’t fit into our story and I would have to start over again. Frustrating!

JV’s annual Fall Conference was days away and Dave Patty, JV President, wanted me to create some short video clips for the staff to see what to expect at the evenings. The music video was scheduled to debut at the conference and I was feeling pressure to lock in the “right’ song. I kept coming back to the song “Mighty to Save.” It was the right message, giving God the glory for all the work that He is doing and it was clear and memorable. It totally moved me. I rushed to produce the video in a day for the evening program at conference. It wasn’t perfect that night but it communicated the story of JV and stayed in my mind. I really liked the song and thought, “Ok, this could be the song for the tour.” I still was remaining open to other options.

Well there are almost 10 different versions of the song on iTunes. I had picked one version by Joanna Martino because it was clear, it was a singular voice, it wasn’t overly produced, it was simple and beautiful. I needed to get Joanna Martino’s permission to use the song so I got on her website hopeful to find her management contact. She didn’t have any contact information. Bummed, I was poking around on her site and started to look through her photo album. I came across this picture that had the caption, “Me and my class after winning the Amazing Race in Slovenia.”

Weird, I thought. Josiah Venture does the Amazing Race with our English classes in Slovenia. I emailed the country director and found out that Joanna Martino, the American Idol finalist and singer that I had selected from the list on iTunes had come over to Slovenia two years before and served with Josiah Venture!!! I was totally stunned.

Well – I got the permission that I needed from her to use the song. But I also learned that she had recorded the song Mighty to Save because of her time in Slovenia working with the youth there! God had used it to show her his power and purpose there. I was floored. This was totally the confirmation that I needed to know that this was God’s song and he wanted this to be the song for the program.
Each night I watched the final program and listened to the song with tears in my eyes. The faces of the youth in so many countries that don’t know Jesus Christ as their personal savior…I was inspired, motivated, humbled. It was such a blessing to know that this was exactly what the Lord had planned for this, that I wasn’t alone in the planning but God was in each detail and logistic. Best part?…

From Chicago/Oak Brook

Joanna came to sing the song live in Chicago, our final stop on the tour. She drove down from Indiana with her husband and came to sing Mighty to Save live for our program. This time there were not only tears in my eyes, but all over my face. God was so sweet in this for me and I felt loved and covered. Joanna was an absolute joy to meet and an absolute beautiful singer. It was the perfect way to end the tour and all the hard work that I struggled through took a backseat on this final night. God is in the details and seeks to bless his children!

Lauree Austin
Capital Campaign Manager

From Chicago/Oak Brook

What a strong finish it was in Chicago last night!

With over 400 people in attendance, it was our largest gathering of all. And this too was a “hometown” crowd as many JV staff have roots, friendships, supporters, family and churches here. What a delight to share the evening with them!

We didn’t get started on time…too hard to end conversations and sit down at the lovely tables waiting for us! But finally Mel Ellenwood came onstage and the evening began.

While it’s been wonderful to hear the news of each night, there is simply nothing like being there. It was purely joy to watch the program start to finish with my own eyes. And I already know what JV has done and is doing!

Testimonies were powerful, the video captivating, Dave’s vision for the future compelling. While people were having a moment to respond, my daughter leaned over and asked me, “What are YOU going to do?” I smiled and said, “GO! BACK! HOME!” Yes, that’s where my heart and passion is. It’s an honor to serve the Lord with JV and be a firsthand witness to all that HE is doing in Eastern Europe.

The program ended with a special addition…a live performance by Joanna Martino, the girl who has sung the song “Mighty to Save” at the conclusion of each evening.

I listened with tears streaming down my face, captured by the words she so powerfully sang: “Savior, He can move the mountains, My God is mighty to save, mighty to save. Forever, Author of Salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.”

I believe you can find Joanna on iTunes singing that song…that’s how we found her! Then, amazingly we later found out she had been involved with us in Slovenia one summer! Amazing!! She blessed us by traveling to be here on our final night, in person, singing this powerful song that captures our heart, and more importantly, the Lord’s heart for the young people of Eastern Europe.

We know God can and does move mountains…and that His heart beats for these young people to know Him.

So we will press on to bring the message of salvation to them, in whatever ways He allows us to.

Thank you with all our hearts for joining us at these vision nights, for praying, and coming, and giving, and loving. We are all in this together and couldn’t do it without you.

Okay…I have a secret. Wanna know??

Each night when Dave Patty would finish up at a vision night, he would return to his hotel room and faithfully call home to the Czech Republic, where it was morning, to share the news of the night. On the other end of the line was his wife, who was following the news with much prayer and anticipation for what God had in store for this historic tour of sharing the fruit, heart and vision of JV.

She would take notes, join him in thanksgiving for what God had done, and then hang up and….write the blog!!

Yep…it’s been me, Connie Patty, at home in Czech writing these blog updates! I tried to write them in a way that felt like you and I were both there. I know many of you were able to attend, but some were not there just like me. Yet I wanted you to feel the joy and excitement of each evening as if you had been there. I hope I succeeded in giving you the feel of having been at each one of the vision nights.

Last night in Chicago was the last vision night on this 2×3 campaign tour. And blessing of all blessings, I was actually able to be there IN PERSON!

Two weeks ago after my brother had been at the Portland vision night, he called and wrote me on the same day, saying he thought I should not miss sharing in one of these events. It wasn’t that I DIDN’T want to be there…believe me, I did!! But due to a health situation with one of our children, I didn’t feel I could leave and be gone. However, the Lord had another plan…very cheap plane tickets that allowed me to come with all our children at the last minute! A perfect solution I never would’ve dreamed of!

So we arrived just the day before the vision night, and were so blessed to be there last night as a family. I’ll tell you about in my next update!

THANK YOU to all 330 of you who came out last night to be there for the vision night! What a great time it was with all of you!

This was our largest gathering yet, and how wonderful it was to share it with you. For many of us, we had family and friends there that we have known 10, 20, 25, 30…even all the way up to 47 years! (That was for Dave Patty and Laura Hash…his parents and her mom were there!) This is a town of LONG TERM relationships. And it really felt like it the whole evening.

There was such a crossing of worlds between JV staff, Cadence people, numerous churches who have been sending teams and staff to us for years, pastors who have blessed and cared for us, long time friends and of course, family. This was definitely “home town” territory!

Again testimonies were strong, the program went smoothly, dessert was great, service at the hotel was excellent, conversations were sweet, and God was glorified. What could be better than that?!!

Conversations lasted late into the evening, and still there wasn’t enough time to connect with everyone. We all wished it could’ve gone on longer, but are thankful for the connections we had.

And now, it’s off to Chicago in the morning for our last one…hard to believe! It’s going to be a bit sad to finish tomorrow night.

This has been one of the most special and meaningful times that many of us have had in terms of connecting our ministry life in JV with our family and friends. We feel like we have had a great gift in being able to connect with so many of you, our dear friends, family, supporters and churches who have stood with us as we have ventured across the ocean to serve the Lord with JV. We have loved giving you all a taste of what our passion and heart is for the young people of Eastern Europe, and sharing in the vision that’s before us. Thank you for entering into that with us!

And thank you for continuing to pray and stand with us as we press forward to see an even greater movement of God among the youth of Eastern Europe. That’s what our hearts beat for.

To those of you in Chicago….we’ll see you tomorrow night in Oak Brook where we look forward to sharing all of this with you!

First we want to say to all you Minnesotians (is that a word?!) – everyone from airport personnel to hotel staff to your average guy on the street is so warm, helpful, friendly and professional here! We were really struck by that from the moment we landed at the airport. We like your state!

Of course our time together at the vision night was more of the same as we’d already experienced! People were so excited, engaged, and happy to be there…it was a joy to connect with everyone!

There were about 175 at this vision night – a great turn-out! Trevor and Cassie personally had 60 of their friends, family and supporters there! That’s about a third of the audience!

We asked for a show of hands for those who had been over to Eastern Europe with JV to serve in some capacity and over half of the audience raised their hands! No wonder there was such an excitement in the air…you already knew some of the unique things about JV!

Testimonies last night were very strong again – Katka and Ondra from Czech did a fabulous job, as well as Lukasz from Poland, and Trevor. One of Lukasz’s thoughts was especially powerful as he said,“Everything they gave me, I’m supposed to pass on”. Yes! That’s the heart of of our ministry! We don’t want to just put together programs but rather make disciples who make disciples. Awesome to hear from one of our own that he’s doing just that!

Our JV Board Chairman, Philip Vierling, was with us since this is his home turf. It was great to have he and his wife there, and be encouraged by his enthusiasm for JV!

One man and his wife were there who knew nothing about JV coming into the evening! His mission’s pastor was scheduled to come but couldn’t at the last moment so called this man and asked if he could come. He said he quickly “Googled” JV to see what he was getting into as he had no idea. At the end of the evening he came to Dave Patty and said, “That was the best event of this sort I’ve ever been to…if I had a million dollars, I’d give it to JV!” Great testimony! We’re glad that even someone who is absolutely unfamiliar with us caught our heart, vision and passion for young people in Eastern Europe!

We’re getting on a plane now to Denver…Number 10 tonight!! This will be a big crowd – over 300. It’s hometown territory for many of our JV staff so will be another “homecoming” of sorts…can’t wait!

Peoria is definitely Ellenwood and Krupa territory! There were SO many people there on Saturday night connected to these two…it was great!

Amy’s words about the evening were priceless…here’s a slice of what she had to say about it:

“We had the warmest, most intimate time here in Peoria! There were people here who have literally been praying for me and my family most of my life! What a joy it was to let them into my world through this vision night. There were more than a few of my dear friends and family who walked away with a whole new perspective on my life and ministry…and with a few tears in their eyes too! What a special time to share with them.

We stayed late into the evening talking to people, catching up on their lives, and sharing ours as well. So precious! I didn’t want to leave! Of course I had my mom and brother and his family here too so that made it all the more special. I don’t know how it could have been a better night! Thanks to all of you who are praying and standing with us in JV…it means the world to us”.

Set-up for the evening was challenging there due to a number of things…but as usual, the team flexed and made it work beautifully. Way to go team!!! It really was a great night.

We’re already up in Minneapolis now after having had a very early morning flight today. We’ll catch our breath a bit, do some e-mail, and then get ourselves ready for tonight!

We are having so much fun at this…can hardly wait to connect with those who will still join us in the coming nights!!