Tag Archives: Prayer Requests

Kerstetter Chronicles: November 2016 Location Reveal

Towering 2,300 feet above the largest urban jungle in the world looms one of South America’s most beloved icons. Israelis call him “Yeshu.” Literally translated, it is an acronym meaning “may His name be blotted out forever.” Some know what they’re saying. But many don’t even know that isn’t his real name. We cringe when we hear it, and gently inform them that his mother would have called him “Yeshu-a,” (which literally means “salvation”).

But of the more than 10,000 Israelis who backpack through South America each year, about one-third will visit the city, and many of those will make the journey up the mountain to see the iconic statue, regardless of how they might feel about the man himself.

What an incredible opportunity it could be to make that journey up that mountain with them, don’t you think? To pose to them the question, “Did you know that Yeshua is Jewish?” Or, perhaps, “Did you know that Yeshua kept Torah and taught in the synagogues?” Imagine the conversations we might have!

After months of discussion, consideration and prayer as a team, and with the leadership of Chosen People Ministries, it is with great excitement that we would like to announce to you, that we have every intention of having those incredible conversations on that iconic mountain! Because we have decided that, God willing, we will be opening our guesthouse in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!

Not only is Rio host to thousands of Israeli backpackers, it is also home to a vibrant community of between 20 and 30,000 Jewish Brazilians. With a Jewish Community Center, numerous synagogues, kosher restaurants and a small, vibrant congregation of Jewish believers, we will have many opportunities to interact with Jewish community both during busy backpacker seasons and off seasons.

We are eager to see what God has planned for our future in Rio; but while you might remember that it has been our goal to open the work in Brazil in 2017, we believe God is asking us to wait another year. Not everything is settled yet, so check our next letters to find out the crazy amazing plans in the works for 2017! Brazil or somewhere else?! We can’t wait to tell you! In the meantime, we’re soaking up every bit of studies and preparing ourselves as much as we can for the intense and exciting road ahead. We are so thankful you’re walking it with us!

Love,

BJ & Carissa

 

 

Kerstetter Chronicles: May [Cross Culture]

She saw crosses everywhere she looked throughout the church camp. The sight of them made her feel sick to her stomach. During the conference, message after message was focused on the crucifixion. The speakers really made it sound like they think the cross is the beginning and end of the gospel, she told me, and said she could not relate.

 

My stomach knotted and I thought to myself, “Uh… yeah! What are you saying? The cross is the center and foundation of the Gospel.” But I kept silent and listened, “Maybe there is something I’m missing here.”  

 

“My grandmother was poked by a lot of kids in school. They’d take their crosses off and see who could draw blood first,” she told me. “My mom was nicknamed ‘Christ-killer’ in school. She was the only Jewish girl.”

 

“Is this for real?” I felt sick now. I knew already about the long and bitter history between “Christians” and Jews from the Crusades to the Holocaust, and how Nazi soldiers sang Christian hymns as they savagely beat Jewish prisoners in the name of Christ. I had even heard stories like this one before, but I still felt shocked. “This sounds so medieval. How could this happen In the United States? In my parents’ lifetimes? In mine?” I could see real struggle written on her face as she told me that she really tries to understand the cultural symbolism Christians attach to the cross. Despite her sincere appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice there, she told me she only associates the cross with punishment, shaming and brutality, and the bitter suffering our Messiah endured, not with grace and love and joy. To her, she said, Jesus and His grace are so much more than the cross, and better represented by other symbols, like a dove.

 

I left the conversation feeling shaken and frustrated. “This person is a Jewish believer! Why can’t she set aside these cultural issues now and recognize the true meaning and place of the cross in Scripture?” Over the next week, I thought about her words and mulled over the issue with God. My heart started to soften and I began to recognize some truth in her points. It is true, Jesus is so much more than the cross. His grace certainly did not end there. And maybe, I would feel the same way if I had not been so protected and sheltered from the anti-Semitism that is still shockingly present in my generation. But more than anything else, I began to recognize that the root of this issue is cultural and historical, rather than theological. My friend does not struggle with the truth of the crucifixion, or lack appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice, but she grapples with the painful associations that many Jewish people connect with the cross.

 

As I reflected, heavy hearted, on the deep wounds and division between the Jewish people and the Church, I began to wonder how we got here. And what can be done now to nurture unity and healing between Jewish and Gentile brothers and sisters in the body of Messiah? And who will step up to the task? Will it be me? Will it be you?

 

“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”

Ephesians 2:14-16

 

Prayer Requests

Please be praying as we continue to learn about Jewish and Messianic culture, and as God continues to stretch our understanding of who He is and how He relates to His people. Consider how faithfully and lovingly God has cared for the Jewish people throughout history, and pray about how God might desire to use you in His plan for them in the present.

We thank God for each of you and your faithful prayer, encouragement and financial support for us. We will begin travelling in July to present our ministry and raise funds. If you are interested in hosting a presentation in your home, small group or church, please email us. We would love to meet with you! May God bless you as spring comes to an end and you begin your summer plans.

Love in Yeshua,

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:




Kerstetter Chronicles: January & February

Greetings, friends!

I am happy to report that we’re doing well these days, and we pray you can say the same! As you know, BJ is back to his studies and working hard, as always. I am so blessed to have such a dedicated and hard working husband! His plate is very full, with a full class schedule, Moody’s notorious homework load, part-time work, and part-time ministry. Phew! He is tired, but he presses on. I would really like you to let us believe that this really is an especially busy phase of life, and that it won’t always be this way. Shh… don’t tell me different. We don’t want to hear it right now!

Despite the craziness, we feel so thankful to be here, as G-d continues to provide for school. BJ especially enjoys his classes in Apologetics and Jewish Culture & Communication. He is recording the latter for me to listen to at home, and we’ve both already learned alot. If you are interested in learning more about Jewish culture for yourself, or to know better how to witness to a Jewish friend, we definitely recommend the main text book for this class, “You Bring the Bagels, I’ll Bring the Gospel,” by Barry Rubin.

Thank you all for praying for our time in Idaho for Lyme treatment. The doctor that we saw is a believer, and was very kind and encouraging. He was excited to hear about the work we are doing and our future ministry plans. We especially appreciated his understanding attitude and how he prayed over us before beginning treatment.

The treatment itself was very quick and painless. We saw Dr. Smith a total of six times while we were there, for testing, diagnosis and magnetic treatments. He diagnosed me with various molds & fungi, protozoa, parasites (worms), Borrelia (Lyme), Babesia (Lyme co-infection), Bartonella (Lyme co-infection), Lyme viruses A, B & C, two unidentified viruses, a neurotransmitter deficiency, multiple nutritional deficiencies and a methylation defect. Yes, that is a lot! It was bittersweet to hear him say that I am more sick than most patients he has seen, and that he was impressed that I am still walking around! G-d is so gracious to give both BJ and I the strength He has given us to press forward through all of this.

The most difficult part about our trip was the news that BJ has also been infected with Lyme disease. We really were not expecting that, but it does explain his continual fatigue and struggles with “brain fog,” memory and focus, which have been making work and homework much more difficult. After a good deal of prayer and consideration, we’ve decided to schedule BJ’s Lyme treatment and my check-up both at the end of the semester. To allow enough time for detox and healing, we will have to put off our trip to Israel until Summer 2016. It was a sad decision to make, but we trust that G-d’s timing is always perfect, and He has a purpose in all that He allows in our lives.

The last weeks since we’ve been back have gone relatively smoothly, and have definitely been easier than we expected. We both try to get a lot of rest, and as long as I don’t “over-do,” my pain and other symptoms are manageable. We have really been encouraged by the cards, some visits and even a couple meals from friends in the last few weeks, and we were especially thankful to have my mom, Karen Richards, visit and help us for a few days! What a blessing to have the supportive families that we have!

Please pray with us for strength, energy and perseverance for BJ in all that he has to do, and for healing for both of us. We would also appreciate your continued prayer for our finances, as we will need $1,800 for BJ’s Lyme treatment in addition to the remaining $600 due for this semester at Moody. We are so blessed by your continued prayers and support, and we are praying for you, as well.

With love for you all,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

Kerstetter Chronicles: Happy New Year

     Happy New Year friends! We realize we’re a bit late with the greeting, but we wanted to give you, and ourselves, a chance to get through the holidays and hopefully find a little more time for reading and writing emails. 2014 has been such an exciting year for us. So much has happened that I hardly know where to begin! First of all, we want to sincerely thank each of you for your prayers, encouragement, love and support for us. Your faithfulness and generosity are so vital to our studies and ministry, and you bless us more than you know! We have learned and grown so much in our faith this year, as we have seen God lead and provide for us. We hope our letters have been testaments to His love and our gratefulness, and have encouraged your hearts as well! Here is a summary of what God has done for us in the past year, and some of the things we are looking forward to for 2015.

recap of 2014:

  • We were accepted into the Jewish Studies program at Moody Bible Institute.

  • In August, we moved to downtown Chicago and BJ started classes at Moody.

  • The community of Devar Emet Messianic Synagogue welcomed us as family and has been an incredible encouragement and blessing to us.

  • We celebrated many of the biblical Jewish holidays for the first time, and learned so much about our rich cultural, historical and scriptural heritage.

  • We talked, prayed, dreamed and planned with our good friend Shmueli (Stephen) Arnold about our possible ministry together with Israeli backpackers in Brasil. Please pray for him, as he is working in Argentina for the next couple months, and will then be headed to Brazil to check out possible ministry locations!

  • In December, BJ was accepted as a student missionary with Chosen People Ministries (CPM; www.chosenpeople.com). This will allow us to get involved in ministry part time with CPM, gain needed experience and understanding of this ministry, and begin to raise support as we prepare for full time ministry.

  • As part of CPM Chicago, we were invited to move into Chosen People’s housing in West Rogers Park, Chicago. This will save us around $4,000 each semester. Woohoo! We made the move before Christmas break and we’re so thankful for this opportunity.

Looking forward to 2015:

  • We’re starting this year off with a bang in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where we’re seeing a Dr. Anthony Smith at Dynamic Health for Lyme treatment. We’ll be back in Chicago on January 10; but please keep praying for us because the detox process after treatment is really intense for at least 6 weeks! It will be a rough road for a while but we trust that God will carry us through it, and He has a plan, whatever the outcome is of this treatment.

  • When we get back to Chicago, BJ will begin his second semester at Moody. 2 years to go now! He is especially excited to study Apologetics and Jewish Life & Communication.

  • We have been accepted to go with Chosen People Ministries on their Outreach Israel trip this summer. (Dates TBA.) This will qualify as BJ’s required internship for Moody, and will provide us with crucial ministry & cultural experience for working with Israeli backpackers. We are also praying about staying in Israel after the Outreach program to take modern Hebrew courses that are not available at Moody. Right now we need to raise $9,000 to go on Outreach Israel, and we are looking into the cost of Hebrew studies. Please pray about helping us meet that goal!

  • Praise the Lord! Our first semester at Moody has been paid in full! Thank you so much for your contributions to help us get there! We are now able to start making payments for the spring semester bill of $1,100.

  • More praises! Several dear friends have committed to monthly contributions totaling $265/month! This is fantastic, and we are so thankful. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us this year in our ministry to the Jewish people?

     Again, thank you for your continued prayer and support for us. We are so thankful for you and we love hearing from you! Know that you are in our prayers as well. May you have a blessed new year.

Because of God’s faithfulness,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

     To contribute toward our school bill or other expenses please continue to make donations through our website, kerstetterconnection.com/donate, or make checks payable to BJ Kerstetter at CPO 2163, 820 N. LaSalle Blvd. Chicago, IL.

     If you would like to make a donation specifically for our trip with Outreach Israel, you may

  1. Mail checks to Chosen People Ministries at 241 E. 51st Street New York, NY 10022. Checks must have the name “BJ Kerstetter” in the memo section.

  2. Donate over the phone by calling Chosen People Ministries, 1 (888) 2-YESHUA. Ask for the receipting department and inform them you would like to give a financial gift to “BJ Kerstetter.”

  3. Click here to donate online. Please be sure to enter the name “BJ Kerstetter” in the section entitled “Special Designation.” Donations can be made via Credit, Debit, or PayPal.

Kerstetter Chronicles: November

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Hebrews 12:1-3

     Praise the Lord! – November has been a slower month for us. For really the first time since we’ve been in Chicago, our schedule was a little looser and we have been able to get some rest and do some refocusing. It’s so easy in the middle of the all the things that need to be done and everything going on around us to lose focus of what we’re working towards! So, when Thanksgiving break came, we truly relished the chance to step out of the fast-paced, busy city and into the slooow easy Ozark-land of Missouri, where we enjoyed a cozy Thanksgiving with the Kerstetter family and friends.

     Besides our Thanksgiving trip, there really isn’t much to tell you about November, but we do want to share with you the latest news in our journey with Lyme’s Disease. God has provided in really cool ways for us to go to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, January 4 – 9, for a natural Lyme treatment. We first heard about it this summer from some friends who have been through the treatment and seen really encouraging results. Because it is in Idaho and we had been seeing progress with the course of treatment I was already on, we did not seriously consider this treatment as an option right away. But we began to pray about it and asked God to provide all the funds necessary if He would have us go. We talked with only a few people about this prayer, because we really wanted God to make His will completely clear. And He blew us away with His answer! Within a very short time God provided all of the $3,000 needed for the treatment, a place for us to stay, a car for us to use and airfare to get us out there!

     We had also prayed that God would provide a Lyme-literate primary care doctor for me to consult with closer to home. And God has blessed us with a caring, listening and genuinely helpful Lyme-literate doctor who is covered by our insurance plan! We have no doubts that God is directing us to this treatment in Idaho, but we still covet your prayers! The treatment itself is 6 sessions in 3 days, but the recovery process is much longer. After treatment, I can expect at least 6 weeks of intense detox (read: quite possibly the sickest I have ever been; completely miserable; debilitating pain, weakness, etc.) I am supposed to begin seeing significant improvement at about 3 months out (beginning of May), and ideally reach complete remission in a year. Of course, each case is unique and some people respond better than others. We personally know 2 people who have been declared Lyme-free because of this treatment, but there are others who never fully recover even with this treatment. We are praying for the best and always prepared for the reality that God may allow us to walk this road a while longer.

     In preparation for this intense treatment and try to see the full picture of things, I got tested for a couple other issues. So far, test results have showed that I have heavy metal toxicity and a genetic mutation that messes up my body’s ability to detox on its own. Doc has prescribed chelation treatments to flush out the metals and a couple of vitamins to help me detox. These, unfortunately, are not covered by insurance, so we’re waiting expectantly to see God graciously provide for all our needs, trusting that He knows exactly what we need – and when we need it!

We would SO appreciate your prayers for us

  • As we step out in faith with this treatment, (It is definitely a bit scary, I’ll admit!),
  • Continued prayer for funds for school – we still owe $1,250 on our school bill for this semester, and need to begin making payments for the spring
  • Most of all for wisdom, discernment, grace and perseverance as we seek to follow God’s leading in every area of our lives.

     We love you and pray for all of you as well, and would love to know how we can pray more specifically for each of you! Please keep in touch with us and send us your prayer requests at [email protected]. Keep looking unto Jesus!

Love,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

Kerstetter Chronicles: October

     It’s a damp, chilly night in the Windy City, but we’re keeping warm inside with steaming mugs of spiced apple cider. As I contemplate the high points of the past month, BJ is digging into his notes from our Modern Israel class to prepare for the midterm. It is an understatement to say that we are learning a lot, and that God is growing us immensely. Time is passing quickly here, so that it’s hard to believe it has already been a month since our last letter to you. But so much has happened that I am hard pressed to sum it all up. So, here’s the important stuff. 

Over the last month,

  • We celebrated the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jared & Danika Delello! October 11 was a blessed and joyful day, and we could not have been more happy to be a part of it. We are so excited for Jared & Danika, and can’t wait to see how the Lord will use their life together for His glory.
  • Wedding weekend in Wisconsin was immediately followed by Moody Missions Conference. It was a busy and really exciting week for us, because we had the privilege of spending time with our friends Shmueli and Robynne, staff with Chosen People Ministries, who both work in different ways with the Israeli backpacker community. We got the chance to learn more about Chosen People Ministries at large, as well as get a better idea of Shmueli’s plans for hostel ministry with Israeli backpackers in Brazil. We are extremely excited about this ministry, and would love to be a part of it. Please be praying with us as we continue to seek God’s direction for us in Jewish ministry.
  • In an effort to become more familiar with Chosen People Ministries (CPM), and gain valuable cultural and practical ministry experience, we have applied to go with CPM on their Outreach Israel trip this summer. The trip would also qualify as BJ’s internship, required for graduation from Moody. Total costs for both of us to go amount to about $9,000. For us it seems like an impossible sum, but our God does the impossible every day, so we know He can provide!
  • Following Missions Conference, we returned to Wisconsin for family time, doctor appointments, and a visit to our home assembly, Wauwatosa Bible Chapel. It was such a blessing to spend time with family, and our family in Wauwatosa!
  • Praise! God provided the rest of the money for us to go to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in January for a new and promising treatment for Carissa’s Lyme’s Disease. Several of our friends have seen radical improvement after this treatment, so we are hopeful. Although we know that no treatment works for everyone, and God has not promised physical healing in this life, it is so encouraging to see that He definitely has a plan and this treatment is clearly part of it.
  • Prayer Request – While we were last in Wisconsin, Carissa had some new tests run to check for heavy metal toxicity and detox related issues. The results could possibly affect our plans for treatment in January. Please pray that we will be able to go ahead with the Lyme treatment as planned, and that Carissa’s body will be fully prepared to handle the intense detox that follows.
  • Praise! The Lord has graciously provided for each school payment thus far, according to His perfect timing. Our remaining bill for this semester is $2,100.

Thank you so very much for your continued prayer and support. It is incredible to walk with God and watch Him provide, teach, mold and direct us, day after day. We are honored to be able to share this journey with you. May you have a blessed month – keep looking unto Jesus!

Love,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

*Featured Image: Visit to Filter Cafe for coffee, praying, dreaming & planning with Shmueli (right), of Chosen People Ministries, Vlad and Rachel (left), friends from Devar Emet Messianic Synagogue

Kerstetter Chronicles: August

Shalom from Chicago!

family photo

Family photo in our new place!

Thanks to all of the friends and family who helped us, we have made the move, and we’re now settled in at Moody Bible Institute.

MK Orientation

MK and International Students gathered for Orientation (Picture taken by Pavel Adamek)

Things started out light and easy for us with a special MK (Missionary Kid) & International Student Orientation.

 In addition to completing some required Orientation sessions early, we got to meet other students from all over the world and enjoy some events hosted by the MuKappa group here at Moody. Now the rest of the student body has joined us and Monday was our first day of classes! We’re so excited as we get started learning more about the ministry and the People to whom God has called us.

Jewish Studies fellowship

A few Jewish Studies students gathered at our place for fellowship

Already in our first Jewish Studies class, History and Thought of Modern Israel, our passion has been rekindled for the great need of the Jewish people for the truth of Messiah. It is such a privilege to be here and our hearts are overwhelmed with excitement for all that God has for us here! It is our excitement that motivates us to come to you even more eagerly for your prayer and support. I must confess that we are just beginning to learn what it means to be transparent with you, our family in the Lord, and understand what things are important for you to know about our lives, needs and ministry. Recently, we have been convicted and challenged in this area. So it is out of our sincere desire to be open with you and to better allow you the opportunity to partner with us in ministry, that we are writing this letter.

As you know, BJ and I both come from missionary homes, and have been blessed by the testimony of our amazing parents who have made countless sacrifices through the years for the sake of the Gospel. As a result of their sacrifices, and the high financial costs of my (Carissa) healthcare over the past three years, we have very little savings set aside for school. While most students in such a position may consider student loans, such a choice would prohibit us from continuing into ministry after graduation. Instead, we would need to postpone missions work and work instead to pay off our school bills. For these reasons, Moody strongly discourages students from taking out student loans and only permits this option as a last resort in certain approved circumstances.

As of September 1, we will have already paid to Moody all of our savings for school. BJ will continue to work and be able to pay a portion of our school bills, but this will not be enough. If we have not paid our first semester bills in full before the Spring semester, we will not be able to return to classes, and will need to move off campus. I imagine, as you read this, you may begin to wonder what I have frequently wondered myself – what sort of crazy thinking made them decide it was a good idea to move to Chicago and start school with no money and no idea how they are going to pay for it? So, I will explain.

afghani lunch

Lunch with friends, Vlad and Rachel from Devar Emet Messianic Synagogue, and our new friend, Isabel, who runs a guest house ministry for the Israeli backpacking community

We firmly believe that God has called us into Jewish Ministry. We know of no better way to thoroughly equip ourselves for this work than the Jewish Studies program here at MBI. Furthermore, we have seen the Lord clearly direct our steps to bring us here. We are trusting that the Lord will provide all of the funds necessary for us to continue our studies here, and we ask that you would prayerfully consider whether God may have a plan for you to partner with us in His work. Please also consider bringing this opportunity before your friends, church, elders or pastor who may be burdened for the Jewish people. Above all, please pray for us as we seek to follow the Lord, wherever He leads us, and learn to trust Him more deeply in these uncharted waters.

Here is a summary of our financial needs, so that you can pray specifically for us, and consider how you may be a part of God’s plan of restoration for the Jewish people.

  • Our total remaining school bill for Fall 2014 is $6,000
  • This is broken down to a payment plan of $1,500/month
  • Our estimated budget for living expenses (excluding medical bills) is $1000/month
  • Total expenses for Carissa’s Lyme treatment $4300 – Praise the Lord, He has provided 80% already!

To make a contribution directly to our school bill, call Moody’s Student Accounts at (312) 329-4223. Donations can also be made online  at https://portal.moody.edu/prt_mainpage.aspx?id=134337. (For online payments you will need to enter BJ’s student ID # 4132121.)

To donate directly to us, mail checks to BJ and Carissa Kerstetter CPO 2163 820 N. LaSalle Blvd. Chicago, IL 60610. Donations may also be made through our website at kerstetterconnection.com/donate.

THANKS again for all of your prayers & support. We appreciate you so very much. If you’d like to receive more detailed updates about what we’re doing in Chicago and what we’re learning in Jewish Studies, please let us know and we’ll sign you up to get all of our blog posts sent to your inbox! To read Carissa’s latest blog post, “Strategic Relocation,” visit our website at kerstetterconnection.com.

In His Love & Peace,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

April Prayer Requests

> Praise the LORD! We’ve been accepted to the Jewish Studies program at Moody Bible Institute for Fall 2014. Hurray!

> Pray that God will prepare our hearts and minds to study at Moody.

> Pray that God will continue to provide financially for us to go to school and continue Carissa’s treatment.

>Pray that Carissa will continue to heal and be ready start classes alongside BJ in August.

> Pray for a new “Lyme-literate” primary care physician to work alongside Carissa’s current naturopathic doctor.