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"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him"
THANK YOU!
Through your generous donations and support we raised over $5,000 in emergency funding for Springs of Hope orphanage this past month. Your donations provided much needed money for water , food , and rent. Venture Corps and the children of Springs of Hope are very grateful. Thank you.
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"Venture Corps is a Christian, non-profit organization that devotes its energy and resources as an avenue to Christ-centered love, awareness, and service through the empowerment of individuals to carry out the Great Commission and to make Christ's glory known to the ends of the earth. We perform acts of service for the purpose of serving our Lord by serving His people."
Venture Corps unofficially started in Fall of 2006 by Tyler Sjöström, Dan Quemada, Laura (Vogelzang) Veenema, Sam Haist, and a few others on the campus of Calvin College. It developed from Tyler’s passion for Africa and servant-like attitude that had evolved from his experiences in high school at Wheaton Academy. Its college presence was merely a few students rummaging through trash and snooping through dorms to collect soda cans and then redeem them for 10 cents a piece. After accumulating a few hundred dollars from both soda pop cans and a few donations here and there, t-shirts were made and sold. A close friend to Tyler, Christian Young, heard about the group and started a facet out in California at his college, Biola University. By the end of the year a few thousand dollars had been raised. The team decided to donate the money raised to JL Zwane Center in South Africa. A community center that focused in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support programs, nutrition, hospice, music, drama and an after-school study programs for young learners.
After Tyler withdrew from Calvin his freshmen year, the vision for Venture dwindled, but his passion for Africa and serving the Lord did not. He soon embarked on his first trip to Africa, specifically Uganda, in the Spring of 2008. There he served alongside, now dear friends and Venture Corps family members, Joellyn and Aaron Hoekstra, Lauren Lehman, Ronnie Matovu, and Irene Muiru, as well as countless others. They served orphans, street children, the sick, the needy, the widowed, the poor, and the helpless.
Upon leaving from the many months they had spent loving and serving in Uganda, the Americans were homesick for Africa. And while the passion was there, the focus was not.
Tyler found his way back to East Africa later that Winter in 2008. During his time serving in Uganda, he made a point to visit a close friend, and native Kenyan, Irene Muiru. She brought him to her acre plot of land, just outside Nairobi, near a town called Kikuyu. There she began to proclaim the vision God had given her to build a children’s home. Rather than selling the land for a vast sum or using it for highly profitable agriculture, Irene was laying it at the throne of the Father and saying use this, use me. In Tyler’s eyes, Irene’s vision begged to become reality.
When he returned to the states in January 2009, Tyler revealed to Joellyn, Aaron, and Lauren, Irene’s vision and the affect it had on his heart. That very day they decided to launch Venture Corps and planned a fundraiser for the Spring to raise money for Irene’s vision: Jerusalem Children’s Ministry.
In February 2009 Venture Corps was established as a non-profit in the state of Illinois. In March they held their first fundraiser, raising enough money to start the construction in Kenya for JCM. The vision God placed on Irene’s heart has now become a reality.
The Venture Corps family has now been able to serve in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Indonesia, as well as here in the States. We’re building, sponsoring, sending, serving, proclaiming, and loving as we strive to bring the Kingdom to earth.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
"But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will recieve power and will tell people about me everywhere In Jerusalem, throughout Judea, In Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the frangrance of the knowledge of Him."
"I will say to the north, 'give them up!' and to the south, 'do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
"It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation"
"Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless, maintain the rights of the poor and the oppressed, rescue the weak and the needy; deliever them from the hand of the wicked."
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress."
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Our vision at Venture Corps is simple.
YOU + GOD
Our current and future projects come through partnerships with people just like you.
We believe God can provide vision, passion, and inspiration, as well as do amazing things through anyone.
Venture Corps is an avenue to Christ-centered love, awareness, and service. We want to ( with prayer and consideration ) help make your God-given vision a reality.
With unlimited vision and a limitless God, we can do AMAZING things.
Let's see what happens.
If you would like to contact Venture about an idea, vision, or possible partnership please use the button on the left.
Iran has long played a leading role in the Islamic world. These days it is at the center of a global crisis that could easily lead to war, deep political turmoil and economic chaos. We need to fall on our knees and pray that God, in His mercy, will intervene.
The rapidly growing Iranian church is on the brink of unprecedented growth. Despite the prospect of persecution, men and women, young and old are putting their faith in Jesus Christ – many as a result of dreams and visions. We need to thank God for the open hearts and we want to cry out for a great revival.
In the early morning hours after Christmas day, the Iranian government arrested 25 Christians in Tehran and other locations. They also planned to detain sixteen others, but were unable to locate them. There are also unconfirmed reports that the authorities have arrested over 50 other Christians. According to BBC Persian, the Governor of Tehran has vowed to arrest more evangelical Christians.
Armed, plain-clothes, special security officers forcefully entered the homes of Christians while they were asleep, and verbally and physically abused them. They were handcuffed and taken for interrogation. Among those arrested were five married couples.
Another sixteen Christians would have been arrested, but were not at home. The security forces broke into at least five such homes, ransacking them, taking personal possessions, changing the locks and placing a government seal on the door. Family members of these Christians have been called by the authorities and threatened and harassed. They were instructed to tell the Christians to surrender themselves.
None of them have been granted any legal representation. No charges have been made, though it is clear that they were arrested for their active Christian faith.There has been a gross lack of due process. The government authorities have not provided any written documents as to the reason for the arrests, any record of the items confiscated, and family members are not allowed to visit the detained.
There is an urgent need for Christians all over the world to intercede for our brothers and sisters in prison in Iran.
www.prayforiran.com
Let us pray that they will experience the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit, even in their prison cells. Pray they will have supernatural endurance and courage through this trial, and be shining witnesses to the guards and other inmates. Pray for peace and wisdom when they are being interrogated. Pray for their health. Pray for comfort and confidence for their families. Pray they will soon be released.
Pray for the welfare and protection of those the government is still seeking to arrest. Pray the Lord will guide their every step. Pray for the wider church in Iran to continue faithfully and fearlessly proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel. Pray for those who are working to help the persecuted and their families.
information
Checks should be made out to Venture Corps, NFP and sent to the following address:
Venture Corps, NFP
PO Box 1457
Wheaton, IL 60187
Please feel free to call
1 (630) 923-5232 if you have any questions.
Please ensure that you note which project you would like your donation to go towards on the memo line of your check.
All donations are tax deductible and a tax receipt will be sent within the year of your donation.
* Please be aware that if you use PayPal to donate, PayPal will take 2.2% + $0.30 per donation under $100,000 as a fee. If sending a check via mail, 100% of donation will go towards Venture Corps.
All Contributions to Venture Corps, NFP are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law and are made with the understanding that Venture Corps, NFP has complete discretion and control over the use of all donations.
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