Greetings from Kiryat Shmona!

This is holiday greeting the Compassion Team received from their partners in Kiryat Shmona, Light for Israel:

Dear Michael and Judith,

As 2012 comes to a close I want to express my deep gratitude for your efforts on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people through our ministry in Kiryat Shmona, Israel. I ask that you consider the words of King David as we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and celebrate the birth of Christ during this sacred season;

But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy.
Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in you.
Surely, LORD, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:11-12

Adil

Our Christmas blessing for you is that the Lord bless you with His bountiful provision. May every desire of your heart be met and may you be afforded good health and long life to enjoy the many benefits of God. May the Almighty give you His peace and joy as you walk in obedience to His Word. May His grace and favor be upon you as you faithfully stand with Israel and the Jewish people. I ask that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob give you His daily strength and protection for the journey before you in 2013.

May you and those you love have a blessed Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year!

 Adil
''Light for Israel''
 Kiryat Shmona, Israel

Rivers of Living Water

This is an excerpt from a newsletter we received from our partners, Rivers of Living Waters.  We work with them in Ma'alot and Karimel:

Dear brothers and sisters in Messiah, shalom from "Rivers of Living Water, Israel"

You all probably know about the war that our nation went through. In all these events that have happened for the last month we can testify of the supernatural protection and faithfulness of our God. He is still the Mighty God of Israel! More than 1000 rockets were sent to the central and southern cities and settlements in Israel: especially to Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beer-Sheva and even Tel-Aviv area. All this time as a congregation we were standing in prayer, holding special prayer meetings, people were led by the Holy Spirit to come to the church every day and intercede before the Lord in such a critical time. Many miracles happened. God literally protected His people.

Passover Outreach in Karmiel

As the war situation came to the end we held a special outreach (food project) where about 200 unbelievers came. We ministered to these people through songs, poems, testimonies, prayed for them, comforted them, shared God's love, care and peace that only God can give even in the midst of the storm. Many were touched and drown closer to God; some opened their hearts to receive Yeshua as their Messiah. How good is our God! We thank all our friends and partners for supporting the work of the Lord, especially “Tikvat Yakov” [Jacob's Hope] Organization for donating funds for this project.

In this time we feel such an urgency to intensify prayer and intercession for the salvation of people in Israel for them to realize that the only hope in this life is the Lord, for the eyes to be opened and the veil to be removed from the hearts that they may see their Messiah Yeshua. For that purpose November, 30th we had a 12-hour prayer marathon. It was like a chain of believers (each one praying for an hour)....

Agape Distribution Center

This is an excerpt from a letter we received from our partners in Tel Aviv:

Contents of a Hanukkah Gift Basket

November 28, 2012

Shalom Michael and Judith,

We would like to thank you again for the continued support of the Agape Distribution Center. We continue to help roughly 90 families per month with supplementary food and clothing. We are also very excited to report that our Gift Baskets for Hanukkah will be extremely full this year. We have raised nearly 13,000 NIS [$3,400 USD] for the project and are excited to help supply the families with toiletries, cleaning supplies, linens, diapers and toys. We were also blessed to bring food, toys, and clothing to families in the South a few weeks back during the war with Gaza. These parents and children were blessed, as were we. Without the amazing help from Tikvat Yaakov [Jacob's Hope] we would not be able to help in such an amazing way....

Blessings,

Avi Mizrachi

The Time is Now

Over the last year we have spent much of our time building foundations for the future.  The team in the States has been raising funds for the Hope Center while I have been busy raising commitments so that we can continue our work in Israel.  I spent five weeks in September and October in the States sharing with people about our work in Israel, sharing our needs and visiting supporters.  I apologize for not keeping up my blog during this time.  For all things there is a season, and this has been a season of preparation. 

One of the first things I did when I returned to Israel from the States was look at a potential location for the Hope Center.  It's exciting to see what was once a dream, slowly becoming a reality.  There are so many wonderful things we will be able to do with a building like this, but it is important we find the right location.  Please pray for God's wisdom and guidance.

Damage from rock thrown

While you are praying, please continue to pray for the safety and well-being of those who work with us in Israel.  Over this past weekend a rock was thrown at one of our centers (recently posters were put up in the town with pictures of a congregational leader we partner with and the manager of our center warning people to stay away).  We were able to identify the assailant, who threw the rock, through footage taken from a security camera.  Please pray for favor from the police.  While our work is appreciated in many communities, with local officials often reaching out to us for help, there are still locations where people believe any work done by Christians is based on ulterior motives.

Article in Russian Israeli Paper

The following article was written in a Russian Israeli newspaper regarding the Backpack distribution we did in Ma'alot:

Article Title:  On August 9^th @ “Tabernacle of David for all Nations” a Children’s Charitable Event Took Place

Especially in the beginning of a new school year, no small amount of expenses are needed for supplies.  This is especially no joking matter regarding basic essentials for those who have two or more children in their family. Therefore any assistance is in this matter makes a real difference in the family budget.

Thanks to an organization called “Jacob’s Hope”, children ages 6 to 13 received beautiful backpacks that included an assortment of school supplies.

The organizers of the event met with the parents and their children at 6:00 P.M.  With excitement of the event’s opening, the meeting hall quickly overflowed where they met together. Joyfully, approximately 80 children received their anticipated gifts.  Funds were provided by offerings from the USA by those who love and bless Israel.

__________

In each bag we had actually included a card which read; "Funds were provided by Christians from the USA who love and want to bless Israel." The newspaper decided to leave out the word "Christian."

School Supply Initiative

Our compassion center in K’far Saba recently reached out to the absorption center in Ashkelon where a number of Ethiopians have arrived in recent months. Absorption centers help new immigrants get on their feet in Israel, often providing temporary housing and Hebrew classes as well as other forms of assistance.

Our partners, “Love to the Needy,” was able to provide backpacks and school materials to the children of these new immigrant families in Ashkelon.  In the coming months, we are looking to contribute to this initiative, helping needy families in Ashdod, K’far Saba and Maalot, by providing school bags, notebooks and writing tools to ensure their financial needs do not hinder their children’s education. The compassion we are able to share with these needy people is not only making an impression on them, but also on those who work in agencies, like the absorption centers and municipalities, who work with those in need.

The following was compiled from two letters sent to our partners Love to the Needy, from the Ashkelon absorption center.

To those who give through Jacob’s Hope, love to the needy:

Immigrant families living in Ashkelon came to Israel from Ethiopia in recent months. Most of these families are large families living on assistance from the Ministry of Absorption. These families are facing many economic difficulties: buying medicines, compulsory education, rent and payments, electricity, water and gas, food and clothing while supporting their families that remain in Ethiopia...

...We thank you heartily and welcome this initiative and the substantial donation - school bags, notebooks and writing tools. Everything was distributed to children for the opening of academic year and you made these families very glad. It is very difficult dealing with immigration and adjusting to life in Israel.

Thank you for caring and for your involvement in the community.

Ashkelon Absorption Center

How Can You Help?

We still need to raise another $1,000 in monthly commitments in order to reach the modest budget that was set for our living expenses in Israel. Please pray about making a monthly financial commitment so we can continue to do this work in Israel.  

Click here to make a financial commitment to our work in Israel.

Sukkat David is our seventh center in Israel

 A few months ago we agreed to help Congregation Sukkat David in Ma'alot.  This congregation has outgrown the home of its leaders Dima and Yana, and Jacob's Hope has agreed to give this congregation monthly support which will cover their rent for one year so they can use their own funds to cover the costs associated with upgrading from a home group to having their own building (construction, remodeling, chairs, equipment, etc.).  Dima and Yana have asked that we share the following testimony with our supporters so you know the type of work you are supporting here in Israel.  It is the testimony of the first of many people in Ma'alot they were able to bring to faith in Yeshua: 

Shalom dear ones,

Two years ago, in July of 2010, we moved here to Ma'alot with God's call for us to start up a congregation. The first week we moved our eleven-year-old daughter met a girl in our neighborhood.  She visited their home, told them of our faith in Yeshua and how we came to start a congregation. That evening the Mother of the girl came over and asked us lots of questions about our faith and our congregation.  After two weeks she accepted Yeshua and we started having home meetings with her.  God started to use us here in Ma'alot.  A year later in the spring of 2011 she was baptized!  She remains faithful to Yeshua despite the hard times she has encountered with her husband because of her faith. Today her husband is more open to having conversations about faith. She wants to be able to serve the Lord by working with children. Currently, she is a teacher at a kindergarten. Her name is Tanya and she is married with two children.

Blessings,
Dima and Yana
Congregation Sukkat David to all the Nations