שלום חברים
Shalom Dear Friends,
As you all know, part of this Summer was spent teaching at Ariel Ministries’ Camp Shoshanah in the Adirondack Mountains of Upper New York State. I taught a 10-hour class on “The Ministries and Gifts of the Holy Spirit.” I enjoyed the class and it was well received by all the campers. There was a large contingent of overseas students this year and I would like to share the thrilling after-effect Camp Shoshanah has had on HaDavar.
One of the campers I met was Evergreen Li, pictured left with his wife, Grace. Evergreen is the Pastor of an underground church in China. Evergreen is his American name. He adopted it because his Chinese name literally translates into English as Evergreen.
A missionary from Texas connected Evergreen with Ariel Ministries. He was then able to come all the way from China to Camp Shoshanah for additional, in-depth Bible training.
When I asked him if he had ever been bothered by the government, he stated that in his city the government appreciates the positive social activities they engage in and as long as the church does not become too visible they are pretty much ignored.
During camp, Evergreen and his wife were required to take Dr. Fruchtenbaum’s course, The Life of the Messiah. The textbook for that study is A Harmony of the Gospels by A. T. Robertson.
After camp, Evergreen e-mailed me regarding a project he was undertaking, “I am editing a Harmony of the Gospels in Chinese these days.” Then he indicated that he has been taking HaDavar’s Jewish Life of the Messiah course that is available from our Internet site. He was watching the video presentation of the class sessions that we have available through YouTube. “And listening to your teaching of LOM at the same time. You can really teaching. I learn a lot from you. . . . Your teaching makes me learn LOM more clearly and deeply. I also like your application in the middle of Bible teaching.”
A few days later Evergreen wrote, “Your pptx [PowerPoint slide show] is amazing. I love it very much. I want to ask your permission to use them in my teaching. We have intense Summer Training every year. Here is a picture (below). I am teaching LOM this year. And I will start a teaching program of LOM for people from different churches late in this month. The materials from your teaching will give me a big help.”
Naturally, I was blessed from my balding head right down to my socks by this request. I uploaded all 16 of my Jewish Life of the Messiah slide shows to the Internet and told Evergreen he was free to use them.
His subsequent e-mail was a great blessing as well: “Yes, I download all your pptx files to JLOM. I am sure your materials will do a great help to me to learn and teach this course. I could not find a words to express my thanks. May God Father help me take your blessing and bless Chinese churches.”
I am humbled and amazed that the Lord would use HaDavar in this manner. We are helping to disciple Chinese Christians. Please pray for Pastor Evergreen and his church in China.
I also had the privilege of meeting Omri Jaakobovich (right). Omri is an Israeli living in New Zealand. He is part of a ministry entitled “To the Ends of the Earth” (TEOTE). A major “division” of TEOTE is their exclusive travel club “Hosting Israeli Travelers” (HIT). Omri has over 500 hosts available in a network geared for the many Israelis who visit New Zealand. Not only do the hosts enjoy meeting many Israeli backpackers, but their hospitality provides a venue for a presentation of the Good News that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah.
Omri feels that it is time to expand HIT to Canada and the United States. If you would like to investigate becoming an HIT host in the United States, and joining the HIT directory, Omri has a complete packet of information for you and a hosting application. The packet contains the latest newsletter, an introduction to HIT, the Terms and Conditions required of an HIT host, and tips for hosting. You can contact Omri through various means:
- Telephone: +64-27-61 61 450
- Skype Name: omri.jaakobovich
- Omri Jaakobovich’s Facebook page
- The Ends of the Earth Ministry Facebook page
- Hosting Israel Travelers (HIT) Facebook page
Serving with HIT is a great opportunity to witness to Israelis right from your own home. You can personally fulfill God’s priority for evangelism (Romans 1:16):
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Please pray for Omri and his ministry, HIT, as they reach into the lives of Israeli backpackers.
Thanks for being part of our ministry team,
Bob