JV staff go to prison
Taste … and see that the Lord is good. (Ps 34:8)
Though it started like a classic missionary story, Ben and Kristy Williams did not take the typical path to the mission field.
Their first exposure to missions was as teenagers. Blanchard Alliance, the Williams home church in Wheaton, began to send teams to the Czech Republic with Josiah Venture in the late 90s. For Ben and Kristy it was a challenging and life changing experience to serve in these camps, but both felt led into the business world. After marriage and a lot of study, they ended up with engineering and business degrees and on the fast track up the corporate ladder at Lockheed Martin. Recognizing their gifting and promise, the company paid for both to complete masters degrees.
In spite of business success, the Williams couldn’t get the needs of young people in Eastern Europe off their minds. After much prayer, they decided to step out in faith and leave Lockheed Martin for the mission field. In 2006 they joined Josiah Venture full time.
At first they assumed that God would lead them back to Czech, where God first captured their hearts. At that time, however, JV was expanding into the Ukraine, and they were asked to consider serving in this challenging and needy place.
Now Ben and Kristy are learning the Ukrainian language, and are training young leaders in the city of Lviv. When they were challenged to ask God for increased fruit, they realized that a unique opportunity was right before them. A pastor founded their Ukrainian church in Lviv with a special heart for prison ministry. With great boldness he regularly takes people from his church into the prisons. They share the good news of Jesus and challenge people to repentance and faith. Nearly half of their congregation is formed of ex-convicts who have been delivered by Christ from the bondage of sin.
Ben and Kristy remembered their visits to the youth prison, and wondered if it might be possible to do more extended work there. “What about an English camp in prison?” they thought. “At least the invitations are easy!”
They thought it was impossible, but at least worth a try. Surprisingly, the warden of the youth prison agreed! Now plans are under way to help this church do the first JV English camp behind bars, sometime in the month of July.
God is opening unusual doors as we ask for increased fruit! Keep Ben and Kristy in your prayers as they prepare for this unique event.
