There is nothing like sharing a good secret.

Dear Friends,

There is nothing like sharing a good secret.

Last weekend we gathered about 100 graduates of our training program in the Czech Republic together for three days of intensive Bible training. It was a sweet time of reunion with students whom we shared life together for nine months in our internship program. Now they are out in the trenches serving the Lord in all kinds of amazing ways across the country.

I taught through just four chapters of the book of Philippians but it took twelve hours. That may seem like a lot, but in spite of that students kept urging me to skip the breaks and keep teaching – they didn’t want to miss anything!

Did you know there is a depth of joy available to a believer that few tap into? Here are some of the secrets of joy I shared with them.

1. The secret of joy in difficulty - seeing your problems not as obstacles, but as opportunities to share Christ, show Christ and know Christ. (Phil 1:12-30)

2. The secret of joy in relationships - taking on the attitude of a servant. This allows us to have joy no matter how others treat us. (Phil 2:1-11)

3. The secret of joy in a fallen world - focusing on personal transformation, rather than on changing everything around me. This gives us joy no matter what the surroundings. (Phil 2:12-17)

4. The secret of joy in the Lord - losing to gain! If we really knew Christ, we would see that the best that we have in ourselves is just dung. (That is the word Paul uses, by the way!) Just thinking about Jesus would give us joy. (Phil 3:1-11)

Students were surprised to find that the actual reason Paul wrote the book was to thank them for a financial gift, and for sending one of their key members, Epaphroditus, to help Paul. It reminded me of these monthly letters that I write to you. You see, you have been like the believers at Philippi to me and to others on the Josiah Venture team.

Thanks for being one of the secrets of our joy. (Phil 4:16-19)

Dave Patty
President, Josiah Venture