When Your Testimony Becomes Your Ministry
One of our missionaries in Israel works with new immigrants. Under the Law of Return, any Jewish person in the world has the right to repatriate to Israel, which is populated by people from more than 100 countries. Different people bring their own culture, language, and habits. Israel is famous for its diversity. Since the 1990s, more than 1,500,000 Jewish people have come to Israel from the former Soviet republics, and today 20 percent of Israel’s population speaks Russian. In 1996, our missionary who now spearheads this ministry to immigrants was himself one of those Russian-speaking Jewish immigrants.
Arriving in Israel, he knew nothing about faith, the country, or the people. It was complicated for him to adapt. He did not even like this new country as it seemed strange to him. But the Lord sent people who helped him, supported him, and told him about Jesus, the Jewish Messiah who died and rose again so he could live forever. They said God had a unique role and calling for him. The care and love of these people helped our missionary know the grace of God.
Because of his experience, he truly understands those who now come to Israel and experience the same struggles he did thirty years ago. Today, our staff member is grateful for an open door to serve these people and help them settle in this country and come to know God! In 2022, largely due to the war in Ukraine, more than 70,000 Jewish people from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine came to Israel. God has given our missionary and his team many opportunities to serve these immigrants and proclaim the gospel among them.
Last November, his team organized a conference for families of new immigrants. They met with more than forty families. As a result, many new immigrants started attending local congregations. Children who were at the conference began to come to our camps, where they made new friendships and heard the gospel. Most of these families do not know God, and our ministry team works hard to help hundreds of Jewish immigrants who have returned to their historical homeland. Our staff delights in loving them, serving them, and in helping them recognize the Savior Jesus Christ in the land the God of Abraham promised and gave them.
“We Have Never Heard Anything like This Before.”
T and M are a darling newlywed couple who recently stayed at our guesthouse in New Zealand. What caught our staff there by surprise was the couple’s situation: she was religious, and he was not! She would not drive or do work on the Sabbath, and he would do everything for her! One of our missionary families had the couple over for a “cuppa” (cup of tea) the Friday evening they arrived to get to know them.
“So, why are you going to the North Island?” they asked our missionary couple. “We are going to share Passover Seders with several churches there,” they replied. The look on T and M’s faces was priceless. “What?! We don’t understand. Did you say, ‘Passover’?” “Yes! We said ‘Passover’!” For the next hour, they had a beautiful conversation about the gospel in the Passover and how they, as Gentile believers, believe Jesus (Yeshua) is the Lamb of God and Israel’s Messiah. T and M could not believe it; they had many questions, and two more hours flew by until it was time for bed.
Since he was not religious, M offered to drive our staff to the airport the next morning. In the car, he said, “We stayed up another two hours talking about everything you shared with us. We have never heard anything like this before.” Before they went into the airport, they gave M a New Testament as well as an Isaiah 53 Explained book in Hebrew. Please pray the Lord continues to draw T and M and for them to find Jesus!
Senior Israeli Military Officer Hears Gospel—in Japan!
At our hostel in Japan, our staff receive many messages from Israeli travelers who have participated in our activities. They describe their experience with our staff as exciting and thought-provoking, leaving them feeling blessed and grateful for the love they received. Recently, a senior officer from the Israel Defense Forces named Amos* visited the hostel and expressed interest in attending our celebrations for Israel’s Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron) and Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut). Our staff was upfront about being Messianic Jewish believers, but he still gladly accepted the invitation and even offered to speak. At the event, Amos described his experiences in the military, and our staff was able to proclaim the gospel to him and other Israelis who participated in the event. Pray for Amos and his wife Sarah,* for the gospel seeds our staff sowed in their hearts to lead to a transformative experience, and for them to know Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah. Pray also for our volunteers in Japan to continue to be a beacon of light for the Jewish people in Japan. May God strengthen and encourage them in their work.
Swimming for the Gospel—“What Makes You Different?”
This summer, one of our missionaries in Israel will participate in her fifth race across a portion of the Sea of Galilee. She will swim 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles) with 500 other women. Together they will raise funds for a home for disabled adults. This event is one of the highlights of our missionary’s year. She has trained hard over the last couple of months, and says it is so beautiful to swim on the Galilee at 6 am when the sea is calm, and flocks of birds fly overhead. Best of all, the swim brings wonderful opportunities to speak about the Lord! Most of the women at the swim race are Orthodox Jewish women. Therefore, our missionary stands out. They often ask what makes her different. She takes the time to talk about her faith and why she is different.
