“Do you always pray like that?” *Timor asked BJ quietly away from the group. “Do you pray out loud in restaurants or quietly in your mind? I say the same prayer before every meal, but you used your own words,” he went on, clearly intrigued.
How can we reach Jewish people with the Truth of Yeshua? Sometimes, it’s as simple as sharing a meal and opening the evening in prayer. As Paul wrote, “salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous,” (Romans 11:11b).
As believers in Yeshua, we have a personal, intimate relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Out of deep reverence for God, Jewish people will not use His name, and instead call Him “Hashem,” or literally, “The Name.” But we know Him personally, and we call Him by name. Yehovah. Yeshua. Abba. And while traditional liturgies have their place in worship, we are not limited to memorized prayers to talk to our Father. We can use our own words to talk to Him. And that speaks volumes.
We look forward eagerly to many more such meals and conversations with intrigued Israelis who may never have heard someone address their God by name and talk to Him like they would talk to a close friend. And how better to have those conversations than to live where Israelis travel and invite them into our home?
Every month brings us closer to this goal! This month we conclude our chapter in Chicago and celebrate BJ’s completion of his double major as he graduates with a B.A. in Biblical Studies and Jewish Studies from Moody Bible Institute. Our “Messiah in the Passover” speaking tour last month began our “Partnership Development” and fundraising phase. At this time we have reached about 25% of our required monthly support goal. Please join us as we pray expectantly for our great God to do big things and bring in 100% of our support by the time we leave for New Zealand this Fall. It is incredible to see Him go before us to raise up partners for this work. As always, where He calls, He enables and provides. Thank you always for your continued prayers for us and your financial partnership in reaching Israelis with the Truth of Yeshua our Messiah. Many have never heard.
Your partners in the Gospel,
BJ and Carissa Kerstetter
*Name has been changed