Tag Archives: Israeli Backpackers

Kerstetter Chronices: September 2015

God has used many things – people, conversations, Scripture – to challenge us to Brazil to reach Israeli backpackers with the Gospel. But it is personal testimonies from Israelis, and friends who have been privileged to share the good news of Messiah with them, that tug at our heart strings and drive us forward – testimonies like this one from *Tamar, an Israeli who stayed at hostel, Shelter on the Lake, in Argentina.

This is what she had to say after her stay there,

 “Israel does not talk about Jesus, I don’t know nothing about him before I come to the house… The first week I was there, Brooks told a story after dinner Friday, and something touched me. I felt I wanted to know more. I spoke that night with people about Jesus for many hours, and after this I start to read about him. I feel something different about me. I feel like I’m reborn. I believe on him, and I pray to him. I know him, I learned from him so much, I love his life and what he said. Love, appreciate and respect. I believe it very much. After I left, I talked with many people about him. All the people in the house changed me, hard to find good people who give so much and ask for nothing in return.”

As the prophet Isaiah wrote, “By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities,” (Isaiah 53:11b). Because of Israel’s cultural hostility toward Jesus, Tamar had never before had the chance to learn who Jesus really is. But God prepared her heart and directed her steps to the Shelter on the Lake, where she could listen and ask questions freely, in an open and understanding context. Through the incredible ministry of the Shelter on the Lake, Tamar now knows the truth about Jesus and has a personal relationship with Him!

This December, we will have the great privilege of volunteering for three weeks at the Shelter, where we pray we will have many opportunities to talk with Israelis like Tamar, as well as learn firsthand as much as we can about running a hostel and through it, reaching Israelis with the love and light of our Messiah Jesus.

Please pray for us as we continue to prepare for this work and raise funds for this vital training trip. As always, we are so grateful for your love and support!

In His Grace & Peace,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

*Name changed to respect privacy

Kerstetter Chronicles: August 2015

Friendly faces crowded the apartment, all talking and laughing as they waited to light the Sabbath candles and have dinner. When we walked in, we knew only our host and hostess. But when we drove away at the end of the evening, we had the distinct impression that God had just led us to our “ministry soul mate.” And it seems we were right!

His name is Stephen Arnold, but many of his friends call him by his Hebrew name, Shmueli. On that winter night in 2012, when our new friend, Vlad, excitedly pulled Shmueli across the room to introduce us, it quickly became clear that this was no chance encounter! Shmueli had just moved to Chicago from North Carolina and prayed that God would send him ministry partners to go to Brazil and open a hostel ministry for Israelis. We knew that God had called us to Jewish ministry, and we dreamed of working with Israeli backpackers, but were praying that God would give us clear direction. We never expected that God would combine BJ’s upbringing in and love for Brazil with my Jewish heritage and heart for Israel to uniquely equip us for such a strategic ministry. But here was a man, with a love for Brazil and passion for Jewish evangelism offering us a dream we didn’t know we had.

Now, almost 3 years later, it is becoming a reality. Friend, we eagerly covet your prayers as we step forward into this new work. As missionaries with Chosen People Ministries, our team of three is working to establish a hostel in Brazil in 2017, to share the gospel of Jesus with the thousands of Israelis that backpack through South America every year. And much needs to be done before then!

Thank you for praying for our summer fundraising project. As we near the end of our travels, we praise God for His provision and for all of the gracious friends and family who have supported and loved on us. Please continue to pray for our full funding by January 2017; our Fall Semester at Moody Bible Institute, beginning on August 24th; and our continued healing from Lyme disease.

Praying continually for an overflow of God’s joy and peace in your life,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

Kerstetter Chronicles: March & April

“Ilu natan, natan lanu. Natan lanu et ha Shabbat. Natan lanu et ha Shabbat. Dai-a-nu. Dai-dai-anu. Dai-dai-anu. Dai-dai-anu. Dai-anu! Dai-anu!”

Grins broke across each face around the table as the familiar Hebrew words, sung out in unison, filled the room and affirmed in our hearts the eternal truth, “It really would have been enough.” If God had brought us out of slavery in Egypt and had not split the sea for us; If He had only split the sea for us, but had not brought us through on dry ground; If He had only brought us through on dry ground, but had not provided us manna in the desert for forty years; If He had only fed us with manna, but had not given us the Sabbath. It would have been enough! But God has done so much more for us.

“Dai-anu!” the song finished, and the voices seemed to fade into the memory of songs sung in Passovers gone by. As the head of the house began to explain each element of the Passover service, I thought to myself, “There must be thousands of Jewish people across the world singing this song tonight and praising God for His miraculous provision for Israel. God has done so much for us!” And I ached inside as I thought for the thousandth time, “If only they could see just how much He has done for us. If only they could believe that Jesus is the Messiah that God promised.” And for the thousandth time, God spoke to my heart, “I have not forsaken them. I will open their eyes and they will know that Yeshua is the One they have been waiting for.” And again a passion was ignited in my heart. “We must tell them. We must share the truth that Yeshua is the promised Messiah.”

Will you partner with us, as we continue our ministry preparations and find opportunities here in Chicago to share the truth of Messiah with Jewish people? Your prayer and financial partnership are crucial as we continue studies at Moody Bible Institute and prepare to begin full time work with Chosen People Ministries reaching Israeli backpackers in Brazil in the year 2017. 

Please be praying with us:

  • Praise – A Jewish man from our executive Passover outreach downtown prayed to receive the Lord this week!
  • Praise – Carissa’s health has continued to improve since treatment in January. Please pray that both BJ and she will soon make complete recoveries.
  • Praise – God has provided $600 for BJ to get the same Lyme treatment in May. Please pray that He will provide the remaining $2,000 needed.
  • Praise – We have received commitments of monthly support totaling $345/month. Please pray as we develop a partnership team with the goal of reaching Chosen People Ministry’s requirement of full support, $6,000/month, by January 2017.
  • Praise – our ministry partner, Stephen (Shmueli) Arnold, just returned from a productive survey trip to Brazil. He has identified three possible locations for our hostel ministry. Please pray that God will give us clear direction as we consider these options.

Finally, please pray for us as we make plans to travel this summer. We are now scheduling dates to speak in churches and present our ministry. If you are interested in partnering with us, or know of someone who would be, please email us! We would love to share our ministry vision with you personally or with your Bible study or small group.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support of us. May God use your connection to this work to richly bless you.

“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

Romans 11:11

Love,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

If you would like to partner with us financially donate to our account with Chosen People Ministries at chosenpeople.com/donation *Please be sure to write “BJ Kerstetter” in the space marked special designation. If you would like to contribute toward BJ’s Lyme treatment, school bill or other expenses, click the button below: