Camps Ministry and Mission Teams with Lelde Keice
Josiah Venture Stories
In this episode of Josiah Venture Stories, Gwynne Gardner interviews Lelde Keice from Latvia. Lelde became a Christian at 14 through a youth camp and was introduced to Josiah Venture during high school. She later moved to England to pursue an Applied Theology and Youth Work degree at Moorlands College. Called back to Latvia in 2015, she now serves as the Camps Director for JV Latvia and coordinates mission teams. Gwynne and Lelde discuss the impact of Christian camps on youth, Latvia's spiritual climate, and mission teams' role in local ministries. Lelde shares personal anecdotes and...
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"Real Life" Story with Lee Humerian
Josiah Venture Stories
In this interview, Lee Humerian shares his journey from rock star to full-time missionary in Ukraine. Lee and his wife, Katie, led mission teams to the Czech Republic and then to Ukraine, which sparked their passion for youth ministry, leading them to join Josiah Venture in 2017. They have been deeply involved in various ministries, including Exit Tours and music camps. Due to the war in Ukraine, they have also led trauma-healing retreats. Lee now leads the evangelistic ministry programs team, while Katie handles human resources. They focus on supporting local church leaders and organizing...
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Inside the Summer Internship with Rosie and Inita
Josiah Venture Stories
Summer is one of the most exciting seasons across the 16 Central and Eastern European countries where Josiah Venture serves. Local churches are gearing up for camps, short-term teams are arriving, and perhaps one of the most energizing parts of the season—our summer internship program—is officially underway. This program welcomes college students and young adults passionate about spreading the gospel. Interns share their experiences, starting with their Amazing Race team-building exercise and subsequent training in the Czech Republic. In this episode, interns Rosie Kaminski...
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Summer Intern Insights with Julie, Isaiah, and Adele
Josiah Venture Stories
Summer is one of the most exciting seasons across the 16 Central and Eastern European countries where Josiah Venture serves. Local churches are gearing up for camps, short-term teams are arriving, and perhaps one of the most energizing parts of the season—our summer internship program—is officially underway. This program welcomes college students and young adults passionate about spreading the gospel. Interns share their experiences, starting with their Amazing Race team-building exercise and subsequent training in the Czech Republic. In this episode, interns Julie Weeks, Isaiah Martin,...
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Extended Summer Intern Spotlight: Aidan Carson
Josiah Venture Stories
Get to know Extended Summer Intern, Aidan Carson, in this episode. Originally from Chandler, Arizona, Aidan majored in civil engineering and worked as an engineer before feeling called to intern. After interning last summer, he’s back for another season, eager to continue building friendships with students and missionaries, make new connections, and help others become disciples of Jesus. Aidan shares his desire to grow in understanding the Czech language and culture, as well as his passion for supporting Edge Sports leaders as they use ultimate frisbee to reach young people who don’t know...
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LAUNCHED "Jesus Stories" Teaching with Peter Mead
Josiah Venture Stories
Jesus was more than just a good teacher or an amazing leader. He embodied all he taught and put flesh on all he communicated. He was (and IS) the Word, Light, Life, and so much more. When people encountered him, they were changed in a manner that was hard to explain. Can we be transformed today in similar ways? The theme of our 2025 Spring Conference was "Jesus Stories: Transformative Encounters with Christ." We were led by Peter Mead, a gifted Bible teacher, author, and pastor from the UK. He guided us through six stories of Jesus from the Gospel of John. This...
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TROUBLED "Jesus Stories" Teaching with Peter Mead
Josiah Venture Stories
Jesus was more than just a good teacher or an amazing leader. He embodied all he taught and put flesh on all he communicated. He was (and IS) the Word, Light, Life, and so much more. When people encountered him, they were changed in a manner that was hard to explain. Can we be transformed today in similar ways? The theme of our 2025 Spring Conference was "Jesus Stories: Transformative Encounters with Christ." We were led by Peter Mead, a gifted Bible teacher, author, and pastor from the UK. He guided us through six stories of Jesus from the Gospel of John. This...
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DRAWN "Jesus Stories" Teaching with Peter Mead
Josiah Venture Stories
Jesus was more than just a good teacher or an amazing leader. He embodied all he taught and put flesh on all he communicated. He was (and IS) the Word, Light, Life, and so much more. When people encountered him, they were changed in a manner that was hard to explain. Can we be transformed today in similar ways? The theme of our 2025 Spring Conference was "Jesus Stories: Transformative Encounters with Christ." We were led by Peter Mead, a gifted Bible teacher, author, and pastor from the UK. He guided us through six stories of Jesus from the Gospel of John. This...
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IMPRESSED "Jesus Stories" Teaching with Peter Mead
Josiah Venture Stories
Jesus was more than just a good teacher or an amazing leader. He embodied all he taught and put flesh on all he communicated. He was (and IS) the Word, Light, Life, and so much more. When people encountered him, they were changed in a manner that was hard to explain. Can we be transformed today in similar ways? The theme of our 2025 Spring Conference was "Jesus Stories: Transformative Encounters with Christ." We were led by Peter Mead, a gifted Bible teacher, author, and pastor from the UK. He guided us through six stories of Jesus from the Gospel of John. This...
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SATISFIED "Jesus Stories" Teaching with Peter Mead
Josiah Venture Stories
Jesus was more than just a good teacher or an amazing leader. He embodied all he taught and put flesh on all he communicated. He was (and IS) the Word, Light, Life, and so much more. When people encountered him, they were changed in a manner that was hard to explain. Can we be transformed today in similar ways? The theme of our 2025 Spring Conference was "Jesus Stories: Transformative Encounters with Christ." We were led by Peter Mead, a gifted Bible teacher, author, and pastor from the UK. He guided us through six stories of Jesus from the Gospel of John. This...
info_outlineHow do you hold onto hope in the midst of war? In this episode, Kristy shares how the team in Ukraine is doing after three years of full-scale, active war. At the end of the episode, she also shares specific ways you can continue to pray as we ask the Lord to bring peace and end the war.
You can also support Ukraine by clicking on the following links:
- Help Ukraine - General Fund
- Get to Know Our Missionaries in Ukraine
- Help a Frontline Worker in Ukraine
- Send a Ukrainian to Summer Camp
Kristy and her husband, Ben, have served in Ukraine for 18 years. Their first introduction to Josiah Venture was when they served as high school students in the Czech Republic at English camps. That exposure to peer evangelism started them on a journey with Josiah Venture to share Christ with the youth of Central & Eastern Europe. In 2002, they served as summer interns in Czech before marrying in January 2003.
For the next three consecutive years, Ben and Kristy led short-term high school teams from southern New Jersey to the Czech Republic for camp ministry. During these summer trips, they felt God calling them into full-time missions. Josiah Venture suggested that they help launch a new team in Ukraine, and in January 2007, they moved there.
After serving as camp directors and in a local youth group for several years, they began leading the Josiah Venture Ukraine team, Epokha, in 2011. Ben and Kristy serve in a dynamic local church, train Ukraine's youth, volunteer with the Department of Education, and teach and equip leaders across Central and Eastern Europe. They live in Lviv, Ukraine, with their children, Marissa and Dylan.
Learn more about Josiah Venture
Social Media: @josiahventure
Contact: [email protected]
Josiah Venture Prayer Room: pray.josiahventure.com
Josiah Venture Prayer Room APP: josiahventure.com/prayer-room-app