Life To The Full In Jesus Christ

2012 NIU UBF Annual Report

John 10:9-10                                                           By P. Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

 A.  Overview of God’s work in the chapter

This year has been a year of struggles and also a year of breakthroughs. It has been a year of struggles in that God was leading us into a paradigm shift in regards to ministry. For many reasons, in 2011 I felt friendless and all alone. Julie was lonely and stressed. The kids were struggling with the world. I realized that simply teaching the Bible 1:1 and keeping Sunday Service as a single family house church, was not going to bring about the FULL life in Christ that Jesus talks about. Something had to change. And God was beginning to change things.

God began to work in my heart. First, I went to listen to Pastor Jamie of “The Church” preach several times. His fervor to preach the Gospel was what I needed to see and hear. Next, UBF pastors started to pray for single family house churches like ours. We received good counsel from several pastors. Through much tearful prayers and discussions, we decided that we were staying at NIU. Julie accepted this community and mission field and tried to make friends with other Christian women.  God got us out of debt. My friend set me up with a new web site. Through developing this site, I found my identity as a house church ministry. Jenn was also graduating. God comforted my heart by showing me that Jenn really cared about her spiritual life. God also sent four faithful Bible students and two faithful Sunday worship attendants, (James and Steve). Next, God opened the way for us to co-work with other ministries. We participated in two Christian music festivals. We got a room in the DCC church for Sunday worship. God called me to be a messenger at the fall leadership development workshop. I accepted that in order to grow spiritually as a good minister, I need to grow in the grace of God. Another break through was my involvement with Dr John Armstrong’s Ecumenism/missional cohort atWheatonCollege. Through this cohort group God has been helping me read many Christian-mission centered books and to meet different pastors and open my heart to the larger body of Christ. God also raised up 3 nurses to build up the hospital ministry as well lead 30 nurses to follow the manuscript every 3 weeks. Msn Mark Yang also extended to us God’s love by studying about Jesus’ discipleship ministry from Mark’s gospel with me and Julie, even making the journey out to DeKalb monthly. God even answered my prayer to overcome my judgmental critical spirit, when I stopped judging and criticizing those close to me, I felt great release and freedom of heart and soul. With God’s help I decided to “let go and let God.”

God also helped me to realize that I needed to let go of my fixed ideas of how he is supposed to work. Our last year’s key verse was 2 Chr 19:4-5. I hoped, that through our ministry God would raise up Bible teachers throughout the land who would turn students back to the Lord. But I was stuck in my way of thinking how God was going to do this. I thought in the traditional sense. But God did answer this prayer topic. We could preach the gospel to DeKalb people and a few NIU students in a fresh way…. through alliance building and co-working with other area Christians.

God has been opening our eyes to new possibilities in ministry. When I only thought about 1:1 Bible study from a single family house church, I only thought about endless rejections, loneliness, depression and pushing my kids with human efforts. I was like a salesman trying to sell something that no one wanted to buy. But by the end of the year God opened my eyes to see that I could still keep the basis of  my ministry, 1:1 Bible study and shepherding, but I needed to build co-working alliances with other Christians. For us there is no other way.

I also let God decide the goals. When I held onto a certain set of goals I was blinded to see the fruit that God bearing in my family and ministry. I despaired. But when I released my fixed goals and allowed myself to enter through open doors that God was opening, I could see the abundant fruit that God was bearing, and wanted to bear, in our NIU UBF ministry. At this years end, I can feel God rekindling in my heart new vision for a discipleship ministry among the students of NIU and DeKalb. I don’t know where God is leading us and I do not know what form ministry will take, but I thank God for being with us and guiding us through dark valleys into his hope and his grace.

 B.  Personal Bible study

We finished our study of the Book of Revelation. We also had the “What Ever Happened To?” Series of “little talked about” people in Genesis. We studied Galatians and 1 Timothy, with the accompanying theme messages. At the Hospital Group Bible study I could study Job with several nurses.

1. C.     One-to-one Bible study and disciple-making ministry

We had 1:1 Bible study with all of our children. Julie studies with the girls, (Sarah, Hope and Jenn). I study with the boys, (Augustine and Mark). Augustine is finishing  2 Samuel, Mark is ½ way through Genesis. James K. (NIU Accounting 4) is finishing 2 Samuel. Jason D. (MA on line) is studying John’s gospel. Jenn, Hope are studying John’s Gospel. Hope (Grade 7) has her first 1:1 Bible student, Emma. They finished Revelation and are getting into John’s Gospel.    Gus, (NIU accounting) studies Genesis with Julie. Each week we had between 4-7 1:1 Bible studies per week.

God helped us to maintain our family daily devotionals. Hope was the leader, expounding on the word. Mark and Hope also met most Fridays on their middle school to read the Bible and pray. This fall a group Bible started by another student. Jenn leads the high school group, FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Augi and Sarah attend as well as 6 others students. Jenn led the group through weekly Nehemiah studies. Steve S. (friend) faithfully attended Sunday worship service and even writes short testimonies to share before the message. I believe he met Jesus personally in 2011 and is growing in his faith.

1. D.     Conferences, Bible schools, etc.
   1. 1.     Co-working with other UBF chapters:
      1. a.     Triton UBF

1) In January, Triton UBF hosted a bible school on Hebrews 11. Augi, Mark and Sarah attended the final night, and P. Kevin delivered a message entitled “Faith In Action…The Faith That Pleases God.” 2) We had a joint Easter Conference with Triton UBF and DuPage UBF entitled, “The Road To Emmaus.” P. Kevin could be a group Bible study leader and Sarah and Augustine could deliver morning devotional messages. 3) We attended the Triton UBF Father’s Day celebration. Sarah (Gr 8) and Mark (Gr 6) shared graduation testimonies. 4) We participated in a joint Thanksgiving worship service with Triton and DuPage UBF ministries. The Jesmer kids sang a special song.

1. b.     Dupage UBF

1) We held a “Your Kingdom Come” Bible school with DuPage UBF on August 25-29. We prayed that the kingdomof Godmay grow in our hearts first and then expand to others. 2) During the UBF 50^th anniversary celebration, P. David Kim, invited Kevin to preach at DuPage UBF ministry. Kevin prepared a message on theKingdom ofGod, based on Revelation 21-22, called, “The New Jerusalem: A Glimpse Of The Kingdom Of God.” The Jesmer kids prepared a song, “I Can Only Imagine.” 3) We held several joint Sunday worship services with DuPage and DuPage ministry even came to NIU to have Sunday worship our home when Julie and Kevin attended the Leadership Development Workshop.

1. c.     Chicago UBF

P. Kevin and Julie participated in the NA UBF Staff Conference Feb 24-26. The title of the conference was, “Spiritual Revival at Mizpah” They served as group Bible study leaders. 2) Julie also attended the UBF’s Annual Founder’s Day at Chicago UBF. 3) On Dec 18, the Jesmers attended theChicago wide Christmas service. 4) P. Kevin could attend the bi-weekly UBF Chicago area pastors Bible studies 5) In Oct Kevin preached at the North American leadership development conference and Julie coordinated the food serving.

1. d.     Conferences

1)  Julie and Augustine attended the Canadian Summer Bible Conference inKingstonOntario. 2) In October we attended the 2011 Leadership Development Conference. Julie coordinated the food catering. Kevin was a messenger preaching on how to grow as a good minister of Christ Jesus. He received message mentoring from Msn Mark Yang. 3) Julie attended the “True Woman Conference” in Indianapolis, on  November 3rd,  with Liz H., Christy T., Elena L, Jenny C. and Lilliana A., It was a 2-day conference was sponsored by Revive Our Hearts ministry, headed by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, and was primarily purposed to equip and provide resources for pastor’s wives and church leaders of womens’ ministries. 4) Jenn attended “The Well” UBF winter conference for the new generation and received much grace.

     f. High School and Middle School ministry

Jenn could aid in organizing the “See You At The Pole” meetings at the High school Mark and Hope attended the Middle School. A group Bible study was also organized out of the students who met there.  Mark attended the First Baptist Church Day Camp at Walkers’ Farm.

1. g.     Hospital ministry

The Hospital Group Bible study is led by Jenn K. RN. Four nurses attend bi-weekly. We studied the Book of Job. We pray for hospital employees may accept Jesus and that the word of God may touch the hearts of over 30 healthcare workers who read the Sunday message every three weeks.

1. h.     Music Festivals

On September 10^th, the Jesmer family participated in the St. Matthews Festival, under the band name, Voices in the Desert. We sang a total of 10 songs. We also sang at “Praise-A-Palooza”, a Christian Music Festival held in DeKalb on 9/26. We worshiped the LORD with other Christians from many different churches.

                        E.  Co-working, raising children

We have 1:1 Bible study with all of our kids. We also have family daily devotionals. They have full partnership in serving in the Sunday worship service. They are growing as a praise band called “Voices In The Desert”. We supported their efforts to serve the Middle school and High school ministries. We are also helping Jenn in her university search.

We pray for each of them to mature in their faith and in their love and service to Jesus.

F.  International mission work and regional networking

1. a.     International Work

1) Julie went toTorontoto serve the sales conference for her company. She visited Paul and Joan Lee at North York UBF. She had fellowship with 8 families servingSenecaCollegeandUniversityofTorontoatScarborough. 2) Julie, Jennifer, and Sarah flew to Montréal to look at universities and visit the Montréal UBF. They joined the Tyrannus Bible academy, their Sunday service and visited Concordia and McGill Universities.

b. Regional Networking

1) We visited MPLS UBF in July. 2) Julie visited LA to see her mother. On Sunday she attended Downy UBF. 3) Kevin, Julie and 3 of the kids (Hope, Sarah and Mark) attended theHyde Parkdedication at The Hyde Park UBF Bible House. 4) We visited and prayed with Pastor #Mark Vucekovich# at theLincoln Parkbible house. 5) Kevin joined the cohort group on missional/ecumenalism that was hosted by Dr John Armstrong# atWheatonCollege. 6) By God’s grace we were also accepted by the DeKalb Christian Church to use a small room for our Sunday worship service. 7) On Dec 4, DeKalb Christian Church hosted a Christmas Celebration attended by members of 5 churches. The Jesmer family sang alongside the DCC Praise and Worship group.

 G. Thanksgiving topics

– I am thankful for helping me and Julie to get on the same page, spiritually in regards to our mission at NIU

– I am thankful for my kids keeping their faith and growing in their faith and co-working.

-I am thankful for God freeing me from a judgmental spirit and bringing me through fatalism, depression and anger into his love and grace.

– We thank God  for James’ and Steve’s faithfulness to study the Bible and attend church.

– For co-working with Triton, DuPage and Chicago UBF ministries.

– For God helping us to reinventing ourselves, build alliances, and serving in new ways like in Christian music festivals.

-Chicagoarea pastors caring about our house churches, offering up their prayers and counsel

– Msn Mark Yang initiating Bible study with Julie and I concerning Jesus’ discipleship ministry based on Mark’s Gospel.

-#DeKalb Christian Church# allowing us to have space to worship in their church and co-working together with their open mic night as well as in two Christian music festivals.

-Jen K and Lori H and their co-working with the Hospital ministry.

-God is providing all we need in a tough economy. We are experiencing Matthew 6:33 over and over again.

-God’s restoring our hope and vision for campus mission, but not in traditional sense.

-I thank God for helping me to let go and letting God. I can trust God that he will lead.

-I thank God for my friend Larry who started a web site for my house church. ( Christianfamilyonchristsmission.com )

II.              2012 Vision and Strategy

A.  2012 Key Verse

John 10:9-10, ““I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” We want to enter into a the Kingdom of God and into a relationship with God through the Gate, Jesus and experience the full life that Jesus gives.

1. B.   Conference and Bible school plans

We want to continue to co-work with Triton and DuPage and Chicago UBF ministries. We want to have two Bible schools and a joint Easter conference and a summer Bible conference.  We are planning a prayer journey, visiting UBF chapters and historical sites in the East, towardsWashington, this fall.

C.  Ministry Strategy

1) Our main work will be 1:1 Bible study, shepherding and discipleship. But we will no longer do ministry alone.  2012 will be year of finding open doors for preaching the gospel. It will be a year of alliance building with local Christian ministries and churches. 2) We want to continue to co-work with other UBF chapters in our vicinity, like Triton, DuPage and Chicago UBF. 3) We want to develop our praise and worship music under the mentoring of Dave from DCC and participate in at least two Christian Music festivals. 4) We want to support the growth of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes and that Augustine may step up and take leaders ship). We also pray for the Middle School Christian group to develop and grow.

D.  Prayer topics

1. For all of our members to discover and live the full Christian life that Jesus has promised, by

entering theKingdomofGodthrough Jesus, “The Gate”

1. The Jesmer kids and our Bible students to grow and mature in their faith and include Jesus in

their future plans.

1. 20 1:1 Bible studies; 15 regular Sunday Attendants; 5 Bible teachers.
2. To co-work with Triton, DuPage and Chicago UBF ministries.
3. To build co-working alliances with area Christians, churches and ministries.
4. To develop our music ministry and participate in at least 2 Christian music festivals.
5. Kids to grow in stewardship of the Middle school and high school ministries.
6. Participate in world mission.
7. To go on a “prayer journey” to UBF chapters in theEastern USA.
8. To develop a  co-working relationship with #DeKalb Christian Church#
9. Our family to build love relationships with each other as we serve Jesus together.
10. Develop our house church web site: Christianfamilyonchristsmission.com
11. To have Joint Easter and Summer Conferences and two Bible Schools.