Jerusalem, November 14th, 2019
Dear Friends, Shalom.
We are studying through 2nd Chronicles in our weekly home prayer group. As I was teaching chapter 17 we got a reminder of the purpose of the people of Israel in the kingdom of the Messiah. King Jehoshaphat who was a godly king, sent his officials and priests (Bible teachers) to all the villages in Judah in order to teach the Word of God to all the people. God honored such a holy venture and caused the nations around to fear the Lord. Apparently, the closer the people of Israel are to the Lord, the less military army they need. The more the chosen people are closer to God, the better it is to the whole nations around. It is a blessed reminder of what will happen in the future. But as for us today, let us bring the Word of God to all people. Let us do the things that glorify the name of our Lord. One of them is: Share the gospel with your Jewish friend/neighbor – provoke them to jealousy (Romans 11:11-16.
More in this report:
· Teaching Trip to the USA
· Teaching in Brazil
· The Core Group and Facility for the New Church Plant
· Evangelism Ongoing Projects
· My Personal Studies.
· Yuval
Teaching Trip to the USA
During September my wife and I participated in the yearly Friends of Israel prophecy conference in Lancaster, PA. It was a blessing to meet our friends and share the ministry with many people. As the conference ended, Anat (my wife), Jael (our daughter) and Irit (They both run YUVAL Christian arts and Music ministry) left immediately to Germany in order to present their ministry at a conference and also lead as a worship team. Anat was with them as a translator to German. Meanwhile, I stayed in the U.S and flew to Minnesota to teach in aq supporting. By God’s grace all went well. It was a great blessing to meet with brothers and sisters in faith, and share pearls from the Word of God.
Teaching trip to Brazil
Shortly after returning from the U.S.A we left to Brazil. The purpose was to participate in the yearly Midnight call Brazil teaching conference. As Jael and Irit were part of the worship team, my part was teaching. The main teachings in Sau Paulo and Curitiba were from the book of Psalms.
The Book of Psalms is not a songbook, but a prophetic book on Christ Jesus. The chapters are arranged in order to teach a story in which Christ is the center (cf. Luke 24:44-47). This ministry report is too short to enter into deep explanations, but you can view the lessons (also in English) through our church website: www.jerusalemassembly.com
The Core Group and Facility for the New Church Plant
By God’s grace, the core group of the new church met for prayer and shared the vision of that church. The group was happy and encouraged. Though we participated in the past in helping to start churches and establish new church leadership, this “baby” is a soft point in my heart.
The yellow marked area is the section we purchase for the new church plant. It is a small part, a corner on the top floor. The construction will finish God willing in two and a half years.
About 10 months ago we signed the purchase contract. It is a hall (270 m2) and a balcony (220 m2) to fit the newborn congregation. The location is towards the west just outside Jerusalem. Until the place is ready, we prayerfully continue to establish the core and better equip the new leadership for the coming responsibilities.
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry (www.foi.org), helped and continues to help us with the purchase project. During the last almost three years, brothers and sisters in the U.S.A donated through F.O.I. about $800,000. Part of it was already paid as a down payment on the contract.
The total project price (purchase plus preparing the place to be a church – House of Prayer facility) is about $1.7M. We still need $500,000 to pay (during the next two years) for the facility. Besides the purchase sum, we will need about $400,000 to furnish the place so it will serve as a local church (Rooms, chairs, offices, restrooms, etc.).
Why not just rent?
From our past and current experience, any time we rented from non-believers, the owners were pressured and threatened by Anti-Christian groups to end the contract with us “or else…”
We need your help!
Our church is one minded and each person will continue to give faithfully and sacrificially. However, it is a God-size project for us, and we do need the “hands” of the brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.
Please prayerfully consider partnering with us in this project.
God is good to us! We are currently enjoying a full house. Each Saturday morning, the Main Church Hall is full, and the overflow is directed to the Fellowship Hall. We are blessed to see people getting saved – Jews and Gentiles alike. We thank God that every week we can practically experience Romans 15:10-11 “And again he says, Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and let all the peoples praise Him.”
We pray that the new-planted church will be light in its area, and be used by God to bring the gospel to the lost.
Evangelism Ongoing Projects
Our media team launched a new evangelism video clip: “Five facts you did not know about the New Testament”. Each video clip (in this series) is very simple and clear. Our website address is added, so anyone can visit and read/watch all our teaching materials.
In two months, 300,000 people watched the video clip. We pray that the message will penetrate hearts and bring the people to call on Christ Jesus for salvation.
This video clip is added to many others done earlier. A few more are being prepared as well. You can watch all the video clips with English subtitles http://jerusalemassembly.com/media-ministry/
We hope you will enjoy watching and encourage others to watch and use it for evangelism. (My favorite video clip is the one on Isaiah 53). All our church’s lessons are also available on the website. They are all: English/Hebrew
Tracts outreach:
Each week, a team from our church walks through the neighborhoods and places gospel tracts in mailboxes (It is legal in Israel). We regularly print our gospel tracts. We pray for the salvation of our nation.
YUVAL
Jael (our oldest daughter), Irit Iffert and Sasha Atlas are the managing teams of “Yuval Christian School for Music and Arts”. Our church is heavily involved with the school. Kids from all evangelical churches in Jerusalem are registered for the music and art classes at “Yuval”. Many of the kids have both parents working, and their houses are still empty during the after-school hours. So, instead of these kids getting involved with bad company, YUVAL offers them music and art classes. All the teachers are believers. The kids can hang out in the school area, and are kept from trouble. Some just step into the offices and share their hearts with the staff. So, the teachers’ role is more than just teaching music and arts…
In comparison to other schools, the classes are cheaper, but still many of the families cannot afford to pay. That’s where we step in and try to help.
You can visit YUVAL website http://yuvalarts.org Please continue to pray for Jael and Irit. Their support is totally depended on donations.
With much love and gratitude, (Psalms 132-133, A holy and pure fellowship can take place only after making peace with the Messiah from Ephrathah)
Meno and Anat Kalisher
(Supported through Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry)