Your prayers are making an impact! As always, God went ahead of us in Lynchburg, and once we arrived, it was not long at all before we had connected with many Jewish and Gentile believers who share God’s heart to bless Israel and take the good news of Messiah back to the original messengers!
In our first weeks here, we visited the local synagogue and have since continued to build relationships there. One significant difference between Israeli backpacker outreach and ministry with Jewish Americans is time. While the backpacking culture and hostel setting lends itself to quickly and easily engaging in deep spiritual conversations; simply put, American Jewish culture does not. Our approach in Lynchburg will be slow and steady, with a strong focus on building relationships, earning trust and loving practically in order to display Jesus’ love and open doors for spiritual discussion. Would you please be praying with us for divine appointments, open hearts, and Spirit-led conversations?
By God’s grace, we have also connected with several key people at Liberty University and are excited about several projects in the works to bless the small number of Jewish students on campus, and to educate the student body of the need for Jewish evangelism. In the last month, we distributed Rosh Hashanah goody bags, began work on a Hanukkah party which will be co hosted by Liberty’s Stand With Israel club, and are looking forward to hosting our second group Shabbat dinner in the coming weeks. We are hopeful that these and other events will bless and encourage local Jewish believers, lead the way to sending Liberty students on Chosen People short-term outreaches, and ultimately mobilize many for long term ministry.
September also saw BJ travel with our coworker, Stephen, to Rio de Janeiro for ten days to share plans for the guesthouse with several churches there and meet with a number of local church leaders to build connections and seek potential members for a Chosen People board of directors in Brazil. Their time was so fruitful and you can look forward to an exciting report in next month’s letter!
There are truly many incredible opportunities for Jewish ministry here. We are eager and determined to see God’s will worked out through our weakness. His love for Israel is eternal, and His purpose and promises for her irrevocable. As followers and lovers of God, how can you or I help but want to be some part of the work that is so intimately wrapped up in God’s heart, and for which He has guaranteed success?
B’shalom Yeshua,
BJ, Carissa and Harley