You should have seen it! It was amazing to watch as children ran from all corners of the sanctuary to the center where the rabbi stood. As they ran, they sang out Hebrew words in unison as if they’d sung them a hundred times. They smiled and laughed and praised Adonai; and the congregation began to clap in tempo with their song. I couldn’t help but smile too, and it struck me that I felt at home. I felt like one of them.

I found myself thinking, it wasn’t strange for me to get up early for services, to sit in a wooden pew, or to read from a hard bound book for worship. The prayers were not unlike the ones I’ve prayed all my life. The readings were from Genesis, Deuteronomy and the Psalms. The verses were the same. They spoke of the same God that you and I know and worship.

The rabbi gave a message about knowing God and living for Him in our community. And it blew me away, because it was a message that you might have heard from the pulpit of your church. Of course, it was missing something.

Mixed emotions flooded my heart as I sat there. I’d never expected to feel so at home in an orthodox synagogue. But the feelings of familiarity and belonging made it all the more heartbreaking. I am one of them. We share the same heritage. We celebrate the same holidays, and cook the same recipes from our bubbes’ cookbooks. We worship the same God and read from the same Scriptures.

But I know that Messiah came. And they are still waiting.

My heart just ached as I sat listening to their sincere – and empty – prayers. And then God gently spoke to my heart, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

And I smiled to myself, because I can’t imagine anything more incredible than the honor of introducing even one Jewish brother or sister to Jesus, our Messiah.

But, “how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Romans 10:14-15)

                Send us. The need is now. Let us represent you to Jewish people in Chicago and Israelis in South America. You can be the reason they hear about Jesus.

This month we are so excited to do three weeks of evangelistic outreach to Israeli backpackers at a hostel in Argentina! We covet your prayers as we prepare for this intensive outreach. Please pray that God will equip us physically, mentally and spiritually, and prepare the hearts of the Israelis we will meet.

Thank you for making this outreach possible – for whatever part you have played on this team over the last year. Your generous gifts and dedicated prayer are the reason we can do what we do. And we are incredibly thankful for you!

Blessings on your holiday season and the end of your year!

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter