Advertise on podcast: Josiah Venture Stories

In a world full of endless possibilities and constant distractions, how do we decide what matters most? As the Josiah Venture team has prayed and sought God's direction for the next four years, one priority has risen above the noise: becoming more like Jesus. In this episode of Josiah Venture Stories, guest host Rob Chestnut, Director of the International Communications Team, sits down with Josiah Venture President Dave Patty and EVP of National Ministries Ben Williams to unpack JV's "*Like Jesus" 2030 Vision. Together, they explore what it looks like to narrow our focus from the latest trends and endless streams of information to the ancient truths found in the life of Jesus. Dave and Ben share the heart behind this new vision, why becoming like Jesus is essential to the future of Josiah Venture, and how it will shape the way we make disciples, love the local church, and participate in God's movement throughout Central and Eastern Europe. This isn't simply a vision for an organization—it's an invitation to every follower of Christ to ask: What would it look like for my life to become more like Jesus? Join us as we look toward 2030 with a simple but transformative goal: *Like Jesus.

We are excited to share the main talks from Spring Conference 2026, which was "Divide and Conquer: Reclaiming Lost Ground when the Enemy Turns Allies into Adversaries." Every year, we focus on a theme that addresses current needs in youth ministry across Central and Eastern Europe. At Fall Conference, the topic was "Victorious," with a focus on standing strong in the Spiritual fight. Our Spring Conference took this theme even further, exploring a particular tactic the enemy uses in families, friendships, teams, and churches. We learned how to recognize, resist, and regain ground when facing these challenges, and now we invite you to do the same. We're not meant to fight each other— we're meant to fight together. The movie of your life needs to anchor the melody of grace with Jesus saying, "Keep calm, I've got your back." In this episode, entitled "Guarding Unity and Peace," Dave Patty talks about how we will not always be successful at bringing peace, restoring relationships, and shepherding restoration and healing, but because of Jesus, there is grace upon grace. 2 Peter 1:2 "May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." Thank you for tuning into this last teaching episode of the podcast for this "Divide and Conquer" series. Watch this episode on our website! Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Review & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

We are excited to share the main talks from Spring Conference 2026, which was "Divide and Conquer: Reclaiming Lost Ground when the Enemy Turns Allies into Adversaries." Every year, we focus on a theme that addresses current needs in youth ministry across Central and Eastern Europe. At Fall Conference, the topic was "Victorious," with a focus on standing strong in the Spiritual fight. Our Spring Conference took this theme even further, exploring a particular tactic the enemy uses in families, friendships, teams, and churches. We learned how to recognize, resist, and regain ground when facing these challenges, and now we invite you to do the same. We're not meant to fight each other— we're meant to fight together. Clarity is kindness, and truth will set you free. In this episode, entitled "Taking Back Lost Ground, The Battle Around You," Dave Patty shares that there are four key battles around us that we must win. The battle for initiative, for compassion and love, for truth, and for healing and restoration. Galatians 5:15 says, "If you bite and devour each other, watch out, you will be destroyed by each other." May we be people who address the four battles around us. Thank you for listening to this teaching episode of the podcast. Watch this episode on our website! Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Review & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

We are excited to share the main talks from Spring Conference 2026, which was "Divide and Conquer: Reclaiming Lost Ground when the Enemy Turns Allies into Adversaries." Every year, we focus on a theme that addresses current needs in youth ministry across Central and Eastern Europe. At Fall Conference, the topic was "Victorious," with a focus on standing strong in the Spiritual fight. Our Spring Conference took this theme even further, exploring a particular tactic the enemy uses in families, friendships, teams, and churches. We learned how to recognize, resist, and regain ground when facing these challenges, and now we invite you to do the same. We're not meant to fight each other— we're meant to fight together. There is a battle with the serpent, and there is a battle with self. In this episode, entitled "Taking Back Lost Ground, The Battle Inside You," Dave Patty shares that there are four key battles we need to deal with within us: Pain, threat, debt, and judgment. If we do not deal with pain, it will control us, and if we do not deal with fears, our threat triggers will hijack us. If we do not deal with debt, it will imprison us, and if we do not deal with judgment, we will be unable to see clearly. True forgiveness is not possible without Jesus. We are rich because we are forgiven. Thank you for tuning into this teaching episode of the podcast. Watch this episode on our website! Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Review & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

We are excited to share the main talks from Spring Conference 2026, which was "Divide and Conquer: Reclaiming Lost Ground when the Enemy Turns Allies into Adversaries." Every year, we focus on a theme that addresses current needs in youth ministry across Central and Eastern Europe. At Fall Conference, the topic was "Victorious," with a focus on standing strong in the Spiritual fight. Our Spring Conference took this theme even further, exploring a particular tactic the enemy uses in families, friendships, teams, and churches. We learned how to recognize, resist, and regain ground when facing these challenges, and now we invite you to do the same. We're not meant to fight each other— we're meant to fight together. How do allies become adversaries? In this episode, entitled "Anatomy of Divide & Conquer," Dave Patty shares how it's hard to think logically when we are hurt. Pain in one area of life will travel to others. Sometimes we cause the pain, are caught in it, and sometimes we watch it and don't know what to do. Listen as Dave unpacks the areas where civil war can occur, how to become aware of our battles, and asks the question: What would be the result if lost ground were reclaimed? Thank you for tuning into this teaching episode of the podcast. Watch this episode on our website! Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Review & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

We are excited to share the main talks from Spring Conference 2026, which was "Divide and Conquer: Reclaiming Lost Ground when the Enemy Turns Allies into Adversaries." Every year, we focus on a theme that addresses current needs in youth ministry across Central and Eastern Europe. At Fall Conference, the topic was "Victorious," with a focus on standing strong in the Spiritual fight. Our Spring Conference took this theme even further, exploring a particular tactic the enemy uses in families, friendships, teams, and churches. We learned how to recognize, resist, and regain ground when facing these challenges, and now we invite you to do the same.We're not meant to fight each other— we're meant to fight together. God made us in his own image- Satan seeks to do the same. In this episode, "Divide and Conquer: Unmasking the Enemy's Plans," Dave Patty discusses how the enemy seeks to conquer us by dividing us. God's garden is profoundly good…but there was a serpent in the garden. The Serpent and our response to him can destroy God's good garden. Friends, let's fight, but let's fight the enemy and not each other. Thank you for tuning into this teaching episode of the podcast. Watch this episode on our website! "Captain America: Civil War" clip mentioned in the episode! Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Review & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

Meet Jonathan Norton, a former 2003 Josiah Venture summer intern and current short-term mission team member to Latvia. His church, Red Mountain Community Church, has been involved with the ministry in Latvia since 1998 and has sent multiple short-term mission teams every year for the past 15 years. He lives in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife, Karyne, and their four children: Silas, Garrison, Lydia, and Charlotte. He serves as an elder at his church and volunteers in the High School ministry. He loves walking alongside students and pointing them towards Christ. He describes preparing mission teams for trips to Latvia, cross-cultural moments, bilingual worship, and camp highlights such as students engaging deeply with the "Outside The Box" curriculum and a gospel-focused Labyrinth night. Jonathan explains how his internship experience shaped his view of discipleship and full-time ministry, though he did not become a full-time JV missionary. He also encourages anyone considering serving on a short-term mission team to just go! "Thinking about a mission trip? You get to know missionaries, support them, and build relationships with them. There are so many positives and reasons to go, so if the Lord is nudging you, like you just gotta go." -Jonathan Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Review & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

Journey with us through 14 years of impactful ministry as Urh and Doroteja Kolar share their emotional farewell to Fusion Celje. Urh and Doroteja both grew up in Slovenia, but in very different families. Neither of them believed in God growing up, but came to know Jesus through Josiah Venture's Summer camps. Their paths first crossed at a Fusion Camp in 2013, and two years later, they served together as interns in Celje, Slovenia, and continue to serve there to this day. Married in 2018 and now parents to two daughters, Iva and Mila, they are living on mission together as a family. Deeply grateful for how God transformed their own lives, they count it a privilege to help students in Slovenia discover the hope of Jesus for themselves. In this episode, they share what drew them to Fusion—music, acceptance, and genuine care—and describe Fusion Celje's impact, including a former student returning to faith after years away and two young women discipled through church community who remain active believers. They recap this year's Fusion Camp and discuss ending Fusion Celje Camp after 14 years. Tune in for an inspiring episode as Urh and Doroteja recount their journey with Fusion Camps. Hear about the lives changed and the hope they continue to sow in Slovenia! Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

"The Lord used prayer to open my heart to Ukraine." Discover how a heartfelt prayer journey led Kendra Patty to make an impactful difference as a full-time missionary. Kendra, a missionary kid who grew up in Slovenia with Josiah Venture, studied economics and international relations at Wheaton College. She moved to Ukraine after the 2022 invasion prompted a year of daily prayer, which led her to a Josiah Venture internship and then to full-time ministry. Now living in Irpin, Kendra leads the internship program in Ukraine and serves as a youth leader, carrying both grief and joy while trusting God's work amid war. She shares how being a third-culture kid shaped her identity in Christ and her heart for Europe, describes recruiting interns despite wartime barriers, and celebrates having 14 interns from five countries. Kendra highlights bonding through the Amazing Race and Intern training, and asks for prayer for an end to the war, encouragement for weary leaders, and for many young people to come to faith. Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

Growing up wasn't easy for Daniel Harcar, but choosing to believe in Jesus led to a life dedicated to making disciples.  "I want to make disciples. I want to see the fruit of my ministry, but I want that fruit to last." -Daniel Daniel accepted Christ as his Savior when he was 16 years old. A year later, he began serving at his local church in Prešov as a member of the youth group, and soon became a leader of both the high school youth group and the English camp outreach ministry called KECY. In 2013, he passed the leadership role of the local youth group to the next generation and later joined the Training Center Kompas (Josiah Venture's partner organization in Slovakia), where he now serves as the KECY coordinator. He married his wife Denisa in the fall of 2012. Together, they share a heart for making disciples who make disciples. They currently live and serve in Drienovská Nová Ves, Slovakia, along with their daughters, Luna and Mila. Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

Summer ministry is underway across the 16 countries where Josiah Venture serves, and this episode introduces several of the 2026 summer interns (Rachel Langley-Slovenia, Vince Johnson-Czech Republic, Aaron Connors-Ukraine, Anya Mediakovska-Ukraine, Isaiah Jackson-Latvia, Ryan Kepler-Estonia, Talitha Bowman-Ukraine, & Masha Horova-Ukraine), who are stepping into a season of service across Central and Eastern Europe. Hosted by Julia Budd, this episode features conversations with interns serving in Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Latvia, and Estonia. They share how God led them to Josiah Venture, what they learned through the Amazing Race and Intern Training, and what they are hoping God will do in and through them this summer. From returning interns continuing relationships with students, to Ukrainian interns serving their home country in the midst of war, to young adults discerning long-term missions, each story points to a shared desire: to make Christ known and serve the local church. We invite you to pray for all the interns as they begin summer ministry — for bold gospel conversations, unity in teams, strength for Ukrainian leaders, wisdom in cross-cultural ministry, physical endurance, spiritual rest, and students across Central and Eastern Europe to take steps toward Jesus. Specific prayer requests for each intern can be found in our Online Prayer Room, linked below. Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

Eric Mayer, a 25-year-old extended summer intern with Josiah Venture serving in Estonia, is from Southern California and a Grand Canyon University marketing and advertising graduate with a minor in Christian studies. He shares his background in sports (especially soccer), faith journey, and church involvement. Eric's journey with Josiah Venture began with a two-week Mission Team trip to Ukraine, where he participated in a Fusion Camp. Though not a musician himself, he quickly discovered a passion for building meaningful relationships with young people and sharing the hope of Jesus through conversations, mentorship, and teaching advanced English. Recently, Eric has been focusing on the EDGE Sports ministry in Estonia and will help lead the Estonian intern team this summer. Having played sports his entire life, he loves using athletics, competition, and team-building experiences to connect with students and point them toward Christ. Eric is passionate about creating spaces where authentic relationships and Gospel conversations can thrive.   As he returns for another summer of ministry, he's especially excited to continue growing relationships with students he met last year, step into greater leadership opportunities, and prayerfully discern what long-term ministry with Josiah Venture in Estonia could look like. Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!

From launching youth programs to inspiring leaders, Nadiya Vorobyova's journey amidst the war in Ukraine will move you. Join us for insights on leadership, faith, and the power of community. Find out how she's using music as a tool for transformation in trying times. Nadiya first connected with Josiah Venture in 2008 through an English camp at Christ Fellowship Church in Lviv, Ukraine. After many years of involvement, her heart opened to the youth in her city. Seeking new ideas for ministry, she attended a Fusion camp in the Czech Republic and, inspired by its impact, launched Fusion at her church in 2014. In 2017, she helped JV Ukraine establish the Exit Tour ministry, and, after its success, joined Josiah Venture full-time to support youth outreach in churches and schools. As the Fusion Ukraine country leader, she supports local leaders, provides music resources, and oversees four choirs. She discusses Fusion's impact, stories of students growing into ministry, the challenges of serving during war, and prayer requests and hopes for the upcoming Fusiondary music festival. Learn more about Fusiondary: https://fusiondary.fusionjv.eu/ @fusiondaryfestival Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips   Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!   Sign up for our new Monthly Podcast Newsletter!

Dare to be inspired! Discover how Shelby Halsa Flowers has helped grow Fusion International and the powerful role music plays in spreading joy and faith. Shelby first traveled to the Czech Republic in 2010 as part of a mission team serving at one of the very first Fusion camps. She was immediately inspired by the way Fusion connects young people to the gospel through music, and she never looked back. After serving two summers as an intern, Shelby moved to Ostrava and has lived there since 2014, serving locally and internationally. In 2018, she became the director of Fusion International and has helped to establish and support Fusion choirs across eleven countries. She and her Czech husband, Radek, married in 2023 and serve together at their local church in Ostrava.   Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips   Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!   Sign up for our new Monthly Podcast Newsletter!

"There's no sweeter place than being right in the will of the Father and what he has for you, and I don't wanna live outside of that." Amanda   Discover how Amanda Snyder's passion for music, young people, and missions led her to incredible adventures and leadership roles with Josiah Venture. A must-listen for those chasing their call with purpose.    Amanda Snyder first served with Josiah Venture in the summer of 2012 at the first Fusion camp in Slovenia. During this experience, she developed a strong passion for using music as a platform to share the gospel and sensed a clear calling to invest in the youth of Slovenia. On her third trip, this calling was confirmed, and in 2016, she moved to Celje, Slovenia, to serve full-time. Amanda served on the Fusion Slovenia team for 5 years, including 3 years as team leader. Following this season, she transitioned into broader leadership, providing national-level support for Josiah Venture Slovenia. Today, Amanda continues to live in Celje, where she is actively involved in her local church. She also serves on the National Ministries Division, working alongside the Josiah Venture council to help advance ministry initiatives and support the continued growth and effectiveness of JV across all 16 of our countries, utilizing her strengths in execution and leadership. Connect with Us: Follow @josiahventure on Instagram Learn more about Josiah Venture at josiahventure.com Contact: [email protected] Online Prayer Room Prayer Room App Summer Internships Mission Trips   Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend or on your social media. Thank you, friends, and have a blessed day!   Sign up for our new Monthly Podcast Newsletter!