“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Carissa and I saw this verse come to life back in February at Liberty University’s missions conference, Global Focus Week (GFW). Last year, I emailed the person in charge of getting a table to represent Chosen People Ministries at GFW. No response. I tried again and asked a couple other contacts at Liberty about it. Still no success. As the time of the conference drew near, I was discouraged, and realizing it was an extremely busy time for us, I decided to let it go and try again for the following semester. Weeks went by and I had forgotten about it. The afternoon before the GFW began, we got a phone call from the director of FIRM (Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries) informing us they had a table at the conference, but their representative from Texas became extremely ill and was not able to make it to Lynchburg.

Of more than forty groups representing ministries across the globe, two organizations representing Israel and Jewish ministry tried to get in to GFW, and Satan tried to prevent them both. But he didn’t stand a chance, because God had a plan! We were asked to fill in for FIRM’s representative, and given the opportunity to also represent Chosen People Ministries, because the two organizations have a strong partnership! Obviously, we cleared our schedules and accepted this tremendous privilege to represent both organizations at the world’s largest Christian university. God gently reminded me that His plans are better than my plans (Isaiah 55:8-9). He knows what He’s doing and I can always trust Him.

GFW at Liberty was unbelievably successful and encouraging. We had individual conversations with over one hundred students who stopped by our table. We got to share with them about God’s heart for the Jewish people, the amazing works He is doing in Israel, and how they can be a part of it. We were invited by the leaders of a dorm to give a presentation about our ministries. Coming from a small Bible school, I was imagining maybe 20-30 students in a dorm hall – over 100 students voluntarily showed up and eagerly listened to our presentation!

We thank God for this incredible opportunity and the positive responses we have received from the students. Please pray with us that God would continue to stir in the hearts of these students His heart for Israel and the desperate need for more workers in Jewish ministry. Pray that we can have an effective impact on their lives and mobilize some into short-term or even full-time Jewish ministry.