Distributing Love and a Little Fun
A few years after the establishment of Dugit Messianic
Outreach Centre in Tel Aviv, the ministry opened a food and clothing Distribution
Centre for the struggling, homeless, and widows. What started as five, maybe
seven, needy people coming on a weekly basis, soon grew within less than a year
to 40 families in need. Even though they
have moved, downsized and been thrown out of several different locations, God
has been faithful through it all to reopen and sustain the Distribution Centre. And now operations have been up and running again
for a year or so, it is also growing once more!
The heart of the various staff who’ve worked there, has
always to been to not only feed and clothe the physical bodies of those who are
receive help, but also their emotional and spiritual bodies by sharing the love
of God through the Gospel with all who enter their doors. Currently, the Distribution Centre is blessed
to have a husband and wife team, Denis and Nadia, working to see God’s kingdom
invade the little Centre. Food is given
monthly, feeding close to 100 families from the area, all referred to Dugit by
the local municipalities Social Services. The majority of people registered are
Russian immigrants who are learning to speak Hebrew. Denis and Nadia are
Israelis who also immigrated from the Soviet Union and their ability to speak Russian and Hebrew fluently is a great
asset.
Beyond meeting the immediate and practical needs of their ‘customers’,
Denis and Nadia had it in their hearts to do something special for these
people. A day trip to Jerusalem was
planned for as many as they could fit on the bus! Because of financial constraints, the need to
work and spend many hours learning Hebrew, for many of those in the group, it was
their first opportunity to visit Jerusalem.
What a joy it was for the Dugit staff to bless and love on these new
Israelis! They made them to feel
honoured and valued, not only providing for the transportation but also making
sure the group was fed well in nice surroundings.
By the end of the trip many people expressed their sincere
gratitude for this experience together and there are already requests for when
the next special day out can be planned!