I know it’s often referred to as ‘The Holy Land’, but in my
experience, when I walk around Israel, my feet get dirty! This tiny, democratic nation, nestled in the
midst of the Muslim Middle East, is certainly not perfect...but then, I have
yet to visit a nation that is!! And when
it comes to ‘being in the Family’, I’m so thankful that God is not looking for
perfection, because if He was, we would all be disqualified. It was John that put it so eloquently in his
first letter, chapter 1:8, ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us.’
But I love how God chooses what may seem foolish, imperfect,
improper or simple, to build and grow His kingdom on earth. I love how our good, wise, and well-knowing
Abba takes people just like you and me, to be carriers of His love, His
anointing, His message, and even His glory.
What an honour! What a privilege!
To be part of what God is doing in Israel today through prayer, giving,
practical help, encouragement and support!
As we have united hearts, prayers, and finances, the Body of Messiah in
Israel has been growing, healing, reaching out with the Gospel, changing lives,
teaching, blessing, learning, restoring, and going out into the nations with
the love of Yeshua/Jesus.
Through Helping Hand Coalition, you have ministered to the
physical and emotional needs of Holocaust Survivors and opened the door for
those who have come to faith in Yeshua, to meet together for worship and
teaching. Through Springs of Hope you
have gone into northern Iraq and helped to establish an avenue for humanitarian
aid, hope, healing and restoration to reach Yezidi refugees. Through Dugit you have been reaching out to the
poor and needy of Tel Aviv with love, aid, and the Gospel. Through HOPE (House
of Prayer and Exploits), you have reached into the Arab believing communities
around Israel and sponsored women to attend life-changing conferences -
conferences where the Holy Spirit has brought freedom, deliverance, healing,
joy and passion into their hearts. We
have seen it first-hand! Through Elav,
you have brought together Israeli Jewish, Arab, and Palestinian youth who love
Jesus passionately. You have empowered
them to build relationships across cultural boundaries, to count the cost as
they return to their homes inspired to infect their communities with good news
of Yeshua. Through the support of individuals, you have enabled young pastors and
ministry workers to continue serving their Congregations, and you have sent
Israeli believers into the world’s mission field (look out for the story from
Tanzania early next year!) You have been
the labourers alongside us as we have shared the good news of what God is doing
in Israel, to the church and to the nations!
A wise pastor once told me, that when the water in the
harbour rises, all the boats go up. So
it is with God’s church - as we invest in seeing the tide of God’s Spirit bring
growth and revival in Israel, the global church will participate in the same
blessing. No, Israel may not be perfect,
but God is perfecting His Body in Israel, as it grows, matures, and fulfils its
divine calling to the nation and nations of the world. As you continue to partner with, and sow into
all God is doing through His church in Israel, we know that God is also
bringing to bear His Kingdom throughout the world!
So we’d like to say - from Your People My People, from the
Jewish and Arab Believers in Israel, and from the Father’s heart - Thank you so much!
 |
"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, the Lord surrounds His people
both now and forever more." Psalm 125:2 |
