Interview with Krishana Kraft
Recently, I had a chance to check in with Krishana Kraft one of our featured 20-somethings. Michael and I had the opportunity of spending two weeks in Lima, Peru with Krishana last summer on the annual Brio Magazine missions trip. She's an awesome woman with a heart for God. I think you'll enjoy reading about her current journey of venturing onto the full-time mission field.
1. You recently returned from an YWAM DTS in Austria. Tell us what that was like?
The discipleship training school I attended lasted for five months and had an emphasis in youth ministry. Three of those months were spent in a classroom setting. Each week we would have a new speaker join us at our house in Modling, Austria (south of Vienna) and teach on a specific topic. Some of the topics included worship, youth ministry, missions, Bible study and the Father heart of God.
The discipleship training school I attended lasted for five months and had an emphasis in youth ministry. Three of those months were spent in a classroom setting. Each week we would have a new speaker join us at our house in Modling, Austria (south of Vienna) and teach on a specific topic. Some of the topics included worship, youth ministry, missions, Bible study and the Father heart of God.
While living in Modling we would serve coffee and hot chocolate to the local high school students on Thursday mornings. They appreciated it the most when the cold weather arrived.
The last two months were set aside for our outreach (missions trip). We prayed about where to go and God opened the doors for us to serve in Bosnia for two weeks and Serbia for seven weeks. In Bosnia we joined another YWAM team in Sarajevo and taught English classes to local children at a community center. That involved a lot of interactive games to help them learn how to say their body parts in English (head, shoulders, knees and toes). In Serbia we primarily served a local church youth group. They had just bought a ping-pong table and wanted to put it to good use by creating a game night as an outreach event for their friends. We also incorporated a coffeehouse setting for discipleship nights to drive home important Biblical foundations these students needed. There were many tasks and accomplishments during the five months, but really it was the relationships with my teammates and high school students that I'll remember most.
The last two months were set aside for our outreach (missions trip). We prayed about where to go and God opened the doors for us to serve in Bosnia for two weeks and Serbia for seven weeks. In Bosnia we joined another YWAM team in Sarajevo and taught English classes to local children at a community center. That involved a lot of interactive games to help them learn how to say their body parts in English (head, shoulders, knees and toes). In Serbia we primarily served a local church youth group. They had just bought a ping-pong table and wanted to put it to good use by creating a game night as an outreach event for their friends. We also incorporated a coffeehouse setting for discipleship nights to drive home important Biblical foundations these students needed. There were many tasks and accomplishments during the five months, but really it was the relationships with my teammates and high school students that I'll remember most.
2. Now that you are home, what does a typical day (including work) look like in your life at the moment?
Currently I'm working part-time (during the day) for a ministry called Magazine Training International, that provides editorial, design and business training to international Christian magazine publishers mostly in Eastern Europe and Asia (two-third world countries) There I am an administrative assistant doing a variety of things. Right now I'm primarily Web editing preparing for the launch of a brand new MTI Web site.
Currently I'm working part-time (during the day) for a ministry called Magazine Training International, that provides editorial, design and business training to international Christian magazine publishers mostly in Eastern Europe and Asia (two-third world countries) There I am an administrative assistant doing a variety of things. Right now I'm primarily Web editing preparing for the launch of a brand new MTI Web site.
Then at night my other jobs begin — missionary and freelance writer. Evenings are spent in a variety of ways. One of those could be updating those who have already supported me on the mission field through writing a blog entry writing letters and finishing details for missions fundraising (so I can head back to Austria); working on freelance projects for Christian teen publications; or if there is time running.
3. What would you describe as your dream for your life?
To create a magazine or Web site for European teens (starting in Austria) that is relevant to their culture and communicates Truth. You hear about many missionaries who participate in church-planting. I see this dream as magazine-planting, hoping to spread beyond the borders of Austria. What if there was a resource that caused European teens to ask spiritual questions, seek purpose and find answers in Jesus Christ?
4. What steps are you currently taking to pursue this dream?
In June I was accepted as a long-term missionary to Austria with Greater Europe Mission The first step will be learning the heart language of Austria (German), immersing myself in the culture and building relationships with teens, youth pastors and people in my community and local church. This isn't something I could ever tackle on my own. I desire to assist nationals in creating something of this nature for their youth. I pray that God will lead me to those people He is raising up with complementing passions and dreams.
To create a magazine or Web site for European teens (starting in Austria) that is relevant to their culture and communicates Truth. You hear about many missionaries who participate in church-planting. I see this dream as magazine-planting, hoping to spread beyond the borders of Austria. What if there was a resource that caused European teens to ask spiritual questions, seek purpose and find answers in Jesus Christ?
4. What steps are you currently taking to pursue this dream?
In June I was accepted as a long-term missionary to Austria with Greater Europe Mission The first step will be learning the heart language of Austria (German), immersing myself in the culture and building relationships with teens, youth pastors and people in my community and local church. This isn't something I could ever tackle on my own. I desire to assist nationals in creating something of this nature for their youth. I pray that God will lead me to those people He is raising up with complementing passions and dreams.
But I guess even before that first step in a new country and culture I need to pray. Prayer is huge in preparing my heart for transition and giving me a deeper passion for Austria and the youth there. Also, I need to raise 100 percent of the financial support needed to get me there. My goal is to have it raised by May 1, 2008.
5. What scares you the most about pursuing this dream?
Truly, the big financial numbers needed to even get to Austria. God knows that I struggle with trusting Him with my finances. Now I'm having to trust Him in ways I never have had to before.
6. What is your next short-term (one month) goal for pursuing this dream?
I'm just beginning my fundraising and hope to have sat down and shared my ministry vision and financial goals with at least 60 people by the end of August.
7. Is there anything else you would like to share in your first blog interview?
5. What scares you the most about pursuing this dream?
Truly, the big financial numbers needed to even get to Austria. God knows that I struggle with trusting Him with my finances. Now I'm having to trust Him in ways I never have had to before.
6. What is your next short-term (one month) goal for pursuing this dream?
I'm just beginning my fundraising and hope to have sat down and shared my ministry vision and financial goals with at least 60 people by the end of August.
7. Is there anything else you would like to share in your first blog interview?
Just one last thing, when I got back to Colorado after being in Europe for five months I knew I needed to find a job. I applied to so many places thinking that working retail would be the best part-time option. However, God had something else in mind and has placed me in a part-time, temporary and quite flexible situation with Magazine Training International. What's incredible about this position is that this ministry used to be located in Vienna, Austria and shares similar passions in journalism and magazine publishing. I see what I'm learning right now as tools that I'll use in the future.
posted by Shannon at 1:14 PM
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