The Jerusalem Prayer List – May 26, 2005

By Joseph Shulam

 

Germany is beautiful during spring.  I am traveling from place to place teaching and speaking on Biblical themes that promote the Good News in Israel.  I am not raising funds for Netivyah.  I am helping an organization that supports Israel through helping some 60 different charity organizations in Israel.  It is the 25th anniversary of “Christians for Israel” and they had a celebration last Sunday.  There were several Israeli officials from charity organizations like KKL and AKIM and Yad Sara, and Ezrat Avoth, Bar-Ilan University and more - the most important guest was a well known orthodox Rabbi who is the director of Christian Affairs in the Jewish Agency and also the president of a very large charity - that raises many millions of dollars from Christians and gives them to the Orthodox Jewish institutions.  

 

The day before the celebration the Head of the Jewish Agency called “Christians for Israel” office and said that the Rabbi does not want to sit next to Joseph Shulam on the panel. “Christians for Israel” told the Rabbi that there is not going to be a change in the order of things in the last moment and if the Rabbi does come he has to act civilized.  Well, the Rabbi came and I was there, at first he shied away from me and he just stood behind the chair.  I walked up to him and started to talk to him and gave him a copy of the commentary on Galatians, and told him that he needs to read it because it would help him to understand better what Paul wrote.  After he looked on the back cover of the book his attitude softened a little and we had several conversations that were pleasant enough.  In the celebration the director of “Christians for Israel” did a fine job stating clearly that Jewish Disciples of Yeshua are a strong positive force in building a bridge between Israel and Christians around the world. 

 

“Christians for Israel” in Germany has helped Netivyah by providing transportation since the early 1990’s.  The new van that we are supposed to get in the next two weeks was largely paid for by them.  

 

It is important for Jewish disciples of Yeshua to take part in such events because we need to be included in main stream events that bridge between Jews and Christians.  We are a bridging community and only if we build our credibility and witness can we restore the respect and integrity of the Jewish followers of Yeshua in the First Century.  

 

In Israel Netivyah is doing fine.  Hannah and Yuda and Udi and Lena and David and Ludmila are doing a fine job of holding down the fort.  Hannah is pushing City Hall to progress with the approval of the building license.  She is mailing books to those who are ordering them from around the world, and she is running the office.  Yuda is taking care of the youth and teaching the congregation and helping in the Soup-Kitchen, and driving every one . . . in a wonderful way.  Udi is doing the Radio and managing the five or six people who are producing the programs.  Lena is helping with secretarial work in the office.  David is working on the administration of the Messianic Midrasha and getting things ready for a better year next fall.  Ludmila is managing the Soup-Kitchen, cooking, shopping, directing volunteers, and keeping the building clean.  We have a small staff of wonderful people who are dedicated to the work of the Lord.  

 

The situation in my family is still one that needs much prayer.  We have not seen much progress in the situation with Danah and her family.  We are praying and we ask you to pray for our family and especially for Danah and Noaam and Marcia.  They are under great stress and pressure from this situation.  We might have to buy Derek’s part in the apartment and we might have to ask our brothers and sisters in the world to help us with this big task.  I realize that divorce happens everywhere and excessively often, but we have only our brothers and sisters and the Lord to turn to for help.  

 

I shall be on the road in Germany for another week.  Every night we are in a different city or sometimes village, and every evening we are teaching in a different fellowship, church, or assembly.  I really do feel like the “wondering Jew” – but in the end this is a first class opportunity to share the vision of the Restoration of the First Century Church. 

Right now I am in bed somewhere in middle Germany in a big old farm house that is over 170 years old, with a Mennonite family that has come here 300 years ago from Switzerland to escape persecution.  They are no longer going to the Mennonite church, because the Mennonites have become too liberal according to their opinion.  Take this for an opportunity! 

 

Pray for the following people who need the soft hand of the Lord to bring Healing, Healing and more Healing into their lives:

 

Wick and Liz

Ruby from Oklahoma City

Sarit from Jerusalem

Marcia my wife

Noaam my granddaughter

Liora

Ahuva

Zvi and Sara

 

Pray for the following people who need work and financial help:

 

Ammikam and Ruth

David Levi

Many

Shalom and Ruth

Barry and Dalia

 

There are the big needs that we all have, and that is peace in the Middle East, and an end to the violence and terrorism in our region and in the world.  The capture of Osama Bin Ladin, Musa el Zarquwi, and others who have managed to drive our world crazy.  We have the global warming that is threatening the world in the next 25 to 50 years and only God can stop this process from happening.  These things are also important and as the Body of the Messiah we have an obligation to lift before the Lord these big issues, but the real test of our faith is in dealing and praying for each other for those so called little things, health, and work, and situations in the family, and the healing and restoration of the church of Yeshua the Messiah in our world now.  Of course one of the “big things” that we are working on is the salvation of Israel and for this we labor day and night and ask you to partner with us and with Netivyah Bible Instruction Ministry.  Israel can be saved, it will be saved, and you too can have a part in this great fulfillment of God’s promises!

 

Thank you for your prayers and your love and your support of Netivyah and of the Shulam family with your prayers!

 

Joseph Shulam