June 16th, 2010 by Zac

English, fun and truth. They make a great mix! That’s why the camping ministry in Josiah Venture bears more fruit than any other effort. In Slovakia, we’ll spend a week with 400 to 500 high school students over the course of the month of July. 6 American church teams will join teams from 9 Slovak churches to carry out 8 camps around Slovakia.

This years theme is “Redeem” and will focus on our need to be “bought back” from our slavery to sin and death. Our whole family will be attending the camp organized by a local church in Bratislava (our capital city).

Will you please pray with me that God will open the eyes of hundreds to their need for a redeemer.

June 16th, 2010 by Zac

I could tell by the way the students stared at their diplomas that they were impressed with the way it looked and that they were proud of what they had accomplished. Likewise, I could tell by the way the students said goodbye, that what we had accomplished together this year had left a deep impression on their hearts.

On Sunday, the last day of May, 20 students traveled back to their homes from graduation, probably better equipped than 90% of Slovak church members. Pray with us that God will mobilize them in the years ahead to pour themselves out into the lives of those around them.

Our school for youth leaders is an investment. It is a serious investment of time, money, influence, experience, wisdom and knowledge. And it’s all for the strengthening of the church in Slovakia.

June 16th, 2010 by Zac

There is a certain part of me that wakes up when someone is crying. It awakens a desire to help, to rescue, to comfort. And when there is something that keeps me from responding, I feel really helpless and trapped. I guess that is partly the man in me and partly the parent instinct inside.

Now that it’s warmer outside, we have the windows at our office open all day. Just behind our building is the city hospital. Often we can hear the children in the hospital crying and screaming. It’s not a good feeling to hear this and not be able to help or calm or comfort or care.

But I have been taking it as a reminder that there are thousands outside, beyond our office walls that are crying out for help. Crying out because they don’t know the meaning of life, because a sinful world has cruelly punished them, because they are alone, because they don’t have hope.

God help me to find those who are crying out and need you and the joy that you offer.

April 17th, 2010 by Zac

This is a question that is frequently on my mind these days. I’m not worried about IF the church will survive. Church has been around here for centuries. And I believe it will be perpetuated in its current form. But my interest is in the FORM in which the church will survive in the future. The historical church has become so institutionalized and heavily structured, that renewal seems complicated at best. And its not only here in Central Europe that many are speculating about these ideas. The church everywhere is facing challenging times.

Recently our staff at Kompas training center, along with some other church leaders from around Slovakia attended a conference on healthy reproducing churches in the Czech Republic sponsored by our mission Josiah Venture. The guest speaker was Alan Hirsch. Alan is the author of  “The forgotten ways” and “Re-Jesus”. His ideas that take us back to the principles of the early church have radical implications for the way church is done in this part of the world.

Everyone who attended came away extremely challenged by his teaching and asking God how we can be a part of nurturing a church movement for this generation. Please pray for the church in Central Europe and church leaders in Slovakia. The church will survive, but how will she look?

January 30th, 2010 by Zac

Thanks to your generous year end gifts, we are no longer in minus figures in our ministry account at Josiah Venture! In a previous post, (see previous post) I had explained that the global financial crisis had forced some supporters to reduce their monthly giving – creating this shortfall.  So, we would like to say a word of deep thanks to all of you who gave extra or gave special gifts to Josiah Venture in December to bring us to this place. We sincerely appreciate your personal sacrifice and investment into God’s kingdom through us. It certainly made for a happy new year!

At the same time, I have to be honest and say that our debt free status may not last long. In the last year, we have only added one new monthly partner to our support family, from the ten partners (we have mentioned so often) we need to shore up our financial needs. Also, in this condition, we have NOT been able to add back  the $500 salary reduction that we imposed on ourselves last year.

So, please pray for us in this situation. We  really need God to bring those additional 9 monthly partners to us soon.

January 29th, 2010 by Zac

It’s usually the same every week. On Sunday afternoon, “Mr. Jay”, as we’ve nicknamed him, calls me (Zac) on on my cell phone to make sure we’re at home, and within 30 minutes he’s knocking on our door. All the kids run to greet him because they know what this means for them – PLAY TIME! He sword fights, plays computer games, chases, tickles, laughs and jokes. And at some point in the chaos, candy of some kind (usually chocolate) comes out from his pockets for each of our kids.

Dinner together usually follows, prepared with love by my wonderful wife. Then me and Jay find a quiet room for focused time in God’s Word and for prayer.

For some months, Jay has been coming closer and closer to our family and to God. He also is enrolled in our school for youth leaders at Kompas. So, there is always lots to talk about – from theology to Bible study to relationships to ministry.

At present, he is working in his father’s business and is asking God to show him the next steps for his life. He wants to finish his college education and serve God wherever he leads.

It is obvious that God has His hand on Jay and that he has great plans for using him here in Slovakia.

Please pray that Jay will keep growing in God’s wisdom and grace in the days ahead.

November 25th, 2009 by Kim

For the last 6 months we have faced a growing deficit in our financial support. Primarily this is due to the financial crisis in America, which has forced some of our major supporters to decrease their giving. Over these months this deficit has grown to now $5000. Josiah Venture graciously continues to pay our normal salary each month in spite of this growing debt, but the debt still accumulates on our account.

We have tried to be proactive in reducing our monthly salary by $500 per month, and this has certainly helped. But we still have to find additional supporters to replace our losses. So, we are asking God to provide us with 10 new supporters at $50 per month (or 20 at $25). This would bring us back up to sufficient support. However, we also have to repay the $5000 debt we have accumulated over these past months. (And just in case you are wondering, this debt has accumulated from our normal, fixed, monthly salary expenditures. We have not been overspending or buying anything new. It’s simply a matter of a financial support shortfall.)

If God would lead you to begin partnering with us monthly or to help in our situation any any way we would be very grateful. All gifts are tax deductible when given through Josiah Venture, which offers the following options for how to give.

* Mail your monthly check (our name attached on a note) to Josiah Venture at:
P.O. Box 4317
Wheaton, IL 60189-4317

* Create a monthly electronic bank transfer by clicking here and following the instructions.

* Use your credit card to give, by clicking the same link above.

We are grateful for you who faithfully stand behind us here in Slovakia and who have a global view of the kingdom of God.

If you have any questions, please e-mail us (zshepperson@josiahventure.com) or simply pick up the phone and call us at our US number -  864-335-9388.

March 7th, 2009 by Kim

You may have noticed over the last month or so problems with our website. We just recently discovered the problem and are working on it trying to get it back up and working.

Unfortunately, it is taking longer than we anticipated. Please don’t give up on us! We’re going to keep working on it til we get it right!