Among the missionaries spotlighted in this year’s Vacation Bible School materials are a husband & wife team serving in Germany—Steven & Susan Jett. Interestingly, Sandy & I have known the Jetts for many, many years. In fact, Susan & I go way back, having started first grade together in our hometown of Williamsburg, Kentucky. Susan & I were together through all 12 years of public school, both of us 
graduating in 1975 as part of a massive 48-student high school senior class. Steven, a few years older, was our youth minister at our home church—Main Street Baptist—back in the 1970s. He was a student at nearby Cumberland College when he came to serve part-time on our church staff. Later, he & Susan married & ultimately God led them overseas to Germany, where they've served for the past 17 years. Since 2002, they've lived in the city of Amberg in East Bavaria.The reason the Jetts were highlighted in this year’s VBS materials is because of how effectively
they've used sports as a means to reach people for Christ. (In case you're unaware, this year’s edition of VBS—“Game Day Central”—has a decidedly sports-oriented theme.) Steven does not consider himself an athlete per se, but several years ago he and his son were playing a traditional father-son game of catch, tossing a baseball back and forth to each other. Their little game soon garnered the attention of a number of inquisitive young Germans, for whom baseball was an oddity. Steven began to teach those other youngsters the basics of baseball. At that moment, a baseball ministry was born. And, over the years, the Jetts have seen it absolutely explode—in Germany, of all places! (Who would have thunk it!?!) I am sure that Steven and Susan never dreamed that baseball would
be the methodology God would choose as the centerpiece of their outreach to the German people. But, following the example of the Apostle Paul—“I must become all things to all men so that by all means I might save some”—they quickly jumped onto what God was doing & walked through the door He had opened. (This is a great reminder of the importance of being flexible with our plans, and ready & willing to adapt to what we see God doing around us. After all, God’s plans are always best!)
Over the years, the Jetts have formed a number of leagues and teams. They’ve coached and worked with many young baseball and softball players, teaching them the fundamentals of a sport that previously had been foreign to them. They’ve also hosted several baseball clinics, bringing over athletes from the States to assist in the work. As a result of all this, Steven & Susan have seen numerous persons—children, youth & adults—come to personal saving faith in Jesus Christ. And Steven has had the privilege of baptizing many young people that he has coached on the baseball diamond.
Because of my personal connection to the Jetts, we decided that their baseball ministry should be the focus of our daily mission offerings during VBS week. The response from our children & teens was absolutely amazing, far exceeding my expectations. Unbelievably, the offerings kept getting bigger & bigger, day after day. Ultimately, by week's end, more than $1,000 had been collected! Wow! As far as we know, that’s an all-time record for our church! And think of all the baseball equipment—balls, bats, gloves, etc.—that will purchase for our friends in Germany!
Steven & Susan Jett are doing a great work. Along with their baseball ministry, they do a number of other things to reach people for Christ. For example, they put on a big living nativity each year in December in the town square of Amberg. The city graciously has opened their arms to them, permitting them to do this annual community outreach for the past few Christmases.The Jetts have also been involved in widespread scripture distribution, as well as the planting of new churches through the establishment of numerous home-church cell groups. They also work closely with existing Baptist churches in Bavaria, helping them to catch a vision for church planting as well as for effective, seeker-friendly worship, and other evangelistic strategies.
I am so proud of all that God is doing through the Jett family. And I’m also proud of our Vacation Bible School students for catching a vision for God’s work in Germany. Through our monetary gifts, we have been able to tangibly join God in His activity in Amberg. I hope that someday you will have the opportunity to meet the Jetts. Perhaps we can have them come & share with our church when they’re in the States on furlough. Also, maybe someday we’ll be able to send a mission team of our own there to work with them & help them directly with either their baseball ministry or their Christmas outreach or some other needful effort.In the meantime, be working on your German ("Sprechen Sie Deutsch?"), and whenever you're watching a baseball game—either in person or on the tube—remember to pause & breathe a little prayer for God's team in Amberg.
Pastor Danny
