Back

November 23, 2017

Thanks For the Harvest

Back when living on farms was common and farmers made up well over half the North American workforce, Thanksgiving was celebrated as a way to give thanks for the year’s harvest. Though I feel far removed from the fields of those farmers and know next to nothing about agriculture, this year I find I’m more grateful than ever for good fruit and our God who blesses us with it.

There are a couple of clear reasons for this newfound appreciation for sowing seeds and reaping rewards. For one thing, Josiah Venture has recently been talking a lot about the spiritual harvest Jesus speaks of in places like Luke 10. Maybe you’ve seen our From the Harvest, To the Harvest videos or social media posts. On top of that, I’ve now lived as a missionary in Europe for over a year and have had many opportunities within that time to see and be a part of how God is moving.

So, in this season of gratitude, and as many JV team members gather at Malenovice this week to eat pumpkin pie and enjoy being together, here are some of the things I’m remembering to thank God for.

Past Seasons

Last year, at JV’s Fall Conference, the theme was Inspire and we explored what we could learn from the Moravians in the 1700s who followed God passionately and spread seeds of the gospel across the globe. I’ve attended a lot more of our organization’s events since then, but I still regularly think about the faith-filled men and women who devoted their lives to the harvest in the past.

The fact is not lost on me that those Europeans, from right around the area I live in now, sowed the very seeds that grew into the “Great Awakening,” shaping not only the UK, but also the North American church, which led to my personal faith in Christ today. As I walk down cobblestone streets here, I see traces of the legacy they left. This place echoes with praises from the past. These fellow Christians, as well as the many around the world, both before and after them, labored for the sake of the gospel and now we get to enter into their worship. This inspires me, making me wonder what people in the future will say of our legacy, and leaving me thankful for godly examples of those who worked in the fields before we got here.

The Fields

Which leads me to the fields that Jesus says are “ripe for the harvest.” This year, I am also thankful for the opportunities God has given Josiah Venture and myself to be involved in His harvest through working in the fields. For us, the field we focus on is in Central and Eastern Europe. Revival was real here in the days of the Moravians, but communism changed the atmosphere, and those who know Jesus personally are now harder to find.

In Romania this summer, I noticed a teen at the mall wearing a t-shirt with big, bold letters that read: My life is only mine. That kid, like so many of his postmodern peers, doesn’t realize the joy, hope, and purpose that’s found in living for more than yourself; being a part of something bigger than you could have dreamed up on your own.

I pray that this would change. That someday, that guy and his friends would get the chance to live for God instead. This is why JV does what we do –because the fields are here, right in front of us and they are ready for growth. I’m thankful that this is the case.

The Workers

Another thing I’m thankful for is that we get to serve Christ together. You, who read this blog and pray for JV and give toward our ministry and come on short-term teams and internships, are as much a part of fueling this movement of God as those of us who are full-time JV employees. We are thankful for all of you who make it possible for us to be here impacting the Kingdom of God and who believe with us in our mission, vision, and core values.

Besides all of you, I get to work alongside an amazing group of full-time staff who are committed, creative, compassionate people who love Jesus and others well. Every day, I am challenged and encouraged by the dynamic community I get to be a part of and feel so privileged to get to see God work in and through the members of the JV team.

More and more, we are also seeing God raise up young leaders across this region; disciples making disciples, from the harvest, to the harvest. As I get to travel a lot for work and sit down often to hear stories about what is happening, these nationals are some of my favorite people to connect with and the ones who get me the most excited about things to come.

The Fruit

While I spend a lot of my time communicating the need for a movement of God here in Europe, this article wouldn’t be complete without remembering that God is already producing a lot of good fruit.

This summer, we put on 120 evangelistic camps through local churches in 13 European countries. Around 2,800 young people heard the gospel and almost 600 of them made professions of faith in Jesus Christ. Our evangelistic activities across JV’s ministries continue to expand and this year over 12,500 unbelievers heard the gospel through these events, around 1,870 making a profession of faith in Christ as a result. On the discipling and training front, our JV staff have led over 7,350 people in disciple-making activities this year and have trained over 5,600 young leaders at conferences and other events.

That’s just a brief look into some of the numbers, but what is more important is that each one of those numbers represents a person with a name, face, and smile. Someone who has beliefs about life that drive their decisions and behaviors in the day to day. These people were created by God and are extremely loved by Him, whether they think that’s true or not, and this year, they made steps closer to Him. Closer to the Lord of the Harvest who brings everlasting fruit. When I think about that, it’s easy to be thankful.

Related Posts

Read Story

Evangelism, Stories

When we say “Yes”

Dear Friends, What happens when we say “yes”? Ermal was obsessed with soccer as a child and headed to university in his home country of Albania with the dream to become a famous professional player. He never quite made the top level of performance required and was deeply discouraged. At the same time, he was growing in his relationship with God under the disciplemaking care of a local pastor. Hearing God’s call into ministry, he said “yes” to a major life change and returned to his small village to shepherd a local congregation of just 35 believers. But his passion for young people–⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and for soccer–⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠never left. So, when our JV Albania team approached him four years ago with the invitation to join JV and develop a sports ministry in his church and throughout his valley, he heard the call of God and said “yes.” In just a few years, Ermal had started Edge Soccer teams in six villages with no prior evangelical witness, reaching over 60 young people every week. A part of every practice was a short Bible study, and the young boys were relationally shepherded to faith in Christ. After a time of prayer in early November of 2024, Ermal came to his wife Nertila with an outlandish vision. “I believe God is calling us to share the gospel with 1000 young people before Christmas.” “Are you kidding me?” his wife replied. “I was thinking like a human,” she later shared. “How can we reach 1000 kids in such a short period of time?” “I don’t have any ideas,” Ermal said, “but I think God is calling us.” “I was very challenged,” Nertila reflected later, “and didn’t know how to handle that pressure. But then I said, ‘Here I am God, if you want to use us. Let your will be done.’” Then, out of the blue, a call came from Operation Mobilization, who wanted to send 6 people from Moldova to help with whatever they wanted. Ermal said “yes.” Next, Ermal had an idea to request 1000 Shoebox gift packages from Samaritan’s purse. It was an unusual request, but they said “yes.” He contacted six schools and asked if he could share the story of Jesus at Christmas.  Albania is historically Muslim, and the directors are not allowed to do anything religious in the school building. “Would you be willing to talk to our students outside?” they asked. He said “yes.” It was a simple program. Two songs, a 15-minute message about Jesus, and heartfelt testimonies from the Moldovans. And, of course, some shoebox gifts. But the students were very open, and many asked to hear more about Jesus. Others gave their addresses and wanted to join the youth activities. The director of the largest school is now meeting regularly with Ermal for Bible study.  When Christmas came, they counted the numbers and realized that over 1000 young people had heard a clear gospel message in just a few short weeks. A simple “yes” to the call of God brought miraculous fruit. This month, you also said “yes” through your gifts and prayers. Thank you.
Read Story

Evangelism, Events

The Fog is Lifting

The fog was relentless. It engulfed the city, delaying flights, forcing reroutes, and leaving hundreds stranded. One plane circled Kraków Airport 27 times before finally diverting–an unofficial record. This was not how I imagined the start of the Revive Europe Conference when I agreed to help organize it. Our team spent two years planning this gathering of thousands of young believers from across the continent, yet we still felt unprepared to handle the haze that greeted us the first day.  I must confess, at times, I feel as though all of Europe is in a fog. Once a place where church bells rang with certainty, Europe now seems lost in a haze of spiritual confusion. It’s one that muffles sound, obscures vision, and leaves many wandering without clear direction—making it easy to believe this gray uncertainty is all there is. Yet, after Revive, I am now more convinced than ever that God is not done with Europe. These students didn’t just come with longing; they came with expectation. Throughout the week, hundreds knelt in surrender, responding to the call for repentance, forgiveness, and consecration. Some might dismiss this as youthful idealism or a fleeting emotional response. But this generation is not naive. They have known suffering, loss, and longing, and still, they believe. Their faith is not blind; it is bold. I saw this depth displayed in my Ukrainian friend Nastya. As we counted down to the New Year, worship resounding around us, she stood with tears in her eyes. A release of soldiers in captivity had just been announced, and her friend’s name was not on the list. She turned to me and whispered, “I had hoped… I really thought he would be free by now.” Like many others, she hadn’t expected the war to last this long.  So we spent the first moments of 2025 in tears and fervent prayer. And then, as the final “Amen” was spoken, Nastya lifted her hands in worship, singing with the crowd: “Bless God, for he holds the victory. Bless God, for he’s always with me. Bless God, for he’s always worthy. Every chance I get, I’ll bless your name.” Like Nastya, the crowd was aware of how deeply broken Europe is. We all felt the weight of the task before us. But we were also aware of the power of the cross. We know the Great Physician, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace. And we believe that he has a desire to see Europe restored. Therefore, this is not a time to settle for small victories. It’s a time to seek God’s presence, to cry out for revival, and to pray his promises into reality. We are already seeing glimpses of renewal breaking through. The hunger for God’s Word is growing in Bulgaria, with a surge in Bible distribution over the last few years. In Romania, churches are uniting across denominational lines in unprecedented ways. Ukraine now has the fastest-growing church in all of Europe. We know that revival is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive. However, scripture shows that revival begins with us, broken and surrendered, crying out for God to do what only he can do. This is what I saw displayed over New Year’s.  Perhaps you, too, are in a season of waiting—longing for a breakthrough, clarity, and the fog to lift. Take heart. The same God moving in Europe is moving in your life.  Will you join us in praying for revival? Let’s cry out together, trusting that the Spirit is at work, lifting the fog and bringing light where there was once only gray.  
Read Story

Evangelism, Spotlight

Exit Tour Romania

Dear friends, How does a local church restart their youth ministry? Agora Christi is an innovative church plant in the university city of Iasi, in northern Romania. They don’t own a building, but a rented room in the mall serves as a meeting space on Sunday and a vibrant network of small groups helps to make disciples during the week. In spite of this purposeful outreach, their youth group has declined to just a few teenagers in the last several years, as former youth became adults. This is a perfect challenge for our Josiah Venture (JV) Romania Exit team, which specializes in opening doors for churches into schools. They arranged with four local high schools to do a series of lectures in classes, offering practical help in areas like managing stress, digital addiction, and preventing bullying among students. Additional seminars were offered for teachers on relevant topics like preventing burnout or understanding the teenage brain. Our team has been able to acquire official accreditation for this program, and their experience and credibility take them places the church could never go alone. During just three days in November, they were able to be face-to-face with 1600 young people, as well as a number of teachers. This provided a context for building a bridge of relationships since 12 volunteers from the church joined them in each of the settings. During the lectures, the teens were invited to a pizza party sponsored by the church, occurring immediately after school that same day.. Almost 10% of the students, over 150 young people, attended these creative events. A series of games and competitions helped create a fun environment and build relationships, and the gospel was presented through several testimonies. At the end, students filled out contact cards with a list of their interests, which gave the church an open door to connect with them in the future. At the end of the party, the teenagers were invited to learn more about God through a youth club and individual meetings with members of the youth team. That same week, 42 new young people showed up for the first youth meeting. Our Exit team provided a packet of 6 weeks of follow-up meetings for the church, and many young people are already meeting for individual discovery Bible study using an innovative phone app JV has developed called “Seek.” Throughout the week our team had many long conversations with hurting young people, often dealing with great pain in their homes. One girl grew up fatherless after her biological father abused her mother and then abandoned her. Another shared how her father, a terrible alcoholic, created such conflict in the family that she was placed in a foster home. Adina, one of the members of our team, was able to share the good news of a heavenly Father who loves them, and who is also able to redeem what is irrevocably broken through the power of his resurrected Son. In just one week so many lives have been transformed, and a vibrant local youth ministry reborn. Every month our Romania Exit team takes local churches and the Gospel to the front lines of students in schools. As we enter the Christmas season, I am especially thankful for your gifts and prayers that make this possible.