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Disciples in Düsseldorf! Jewish Ministry in Germany by Miriam Nadler |
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Exciting things are happening in Germany! Since the early 1990’s Sam has been instrumental in establishing Russian Jewish congregations in Germany, beginning in Berlin. |
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Today God is raising up Messianic congregations throughout Germany who are reaching out to the more than 120,000 Jews who have immigrated from Russian and Ukraine. Usually Sam’s travels would take him to Berlin, and the leaders from all over Germany come for further leadership training as congregations are being established. Now, congregational growth has extended to cities like Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, and Düsseldorf . |
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Grace in the
House |
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On Friday morning Sam began his in-depth seminar on “Developing Strong Messianic Leadership.” About twenty-five leaders eagerly listened as Sam taught from morning until evening. After the day-long seminar Sam and Kirill, the congregational leader, left for a German church where Sam would speak about the need for Gentile believers to love the Jewish people. |
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| While Sam was across town, we conducted a women’s seminar where I taught on “Growing Deeper in the Shalom of God.” As the ladies introduced themselves, I was impressed that of the dozen ladies present, many were new believers who had found the Lord through the outreach of Beit Hesed. Both Natailia and I recognized the need for further discipleship and teaching. The book Sense and Sensibility: Honoring God with My Life, from the Titus 2:3-5, addresses the issues of what older women should be teaching younger women about maturing in the Lord. Just released in English, we hope to see this same material soon translated into Russian, because we women need God’s perspective on our calling as women. | ||||||||||
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Later that evening we met Sam and he shared with us how both the pastor and the con-gregation were moved by his message: God’s everlasting love is evidenced by Gentile believers who fulfill their calling to make Israel jealous for Messiah by mercifully sharing His love with them (Rom. 11:11,31). This means that Gentile believers need to be praying for and reaching out to Jewish people. | |||||||||
| Imagine the irony a Jew
preaching to Germans about God’s forgiveness. Surely the Lord has a
sense of humor. God is so good, and many were moved to rededicate their
lives to the Lord, and to pray and witness to their Jewish friends and
neighbors. Sam also introduced us to a group of believers who had come from Duisburg, about 40 miles away, to not only hear Sam speak, but to also pick up a shipment of our Russian books. Sophia found our Russian books through our Russian website, and she and Natalia had been e-mailing each other about the possibility of picking up the materials during this visit. They were thrilled, and will be using the books for outreach and discipleship with Jews in their city. Tell Me About Messiah: In English, Please The next day was Saturday, and we looked forward to Shabbat with our brothers and sisters at Beit Hesed where they were celebrating the Feast of Purim from the book of Esther. There was an air of great anticipation and celebration as many families and visitors came out with close to 200 people in attendance. As I was setting up a display of our Russian books, a Russian man interrupted me and in perfect English introduced himself, “Hi I’m Michael.* Though I’m Russian, I prefer to read in English, and I was wondering if you have any books in English.” I happened to have one copy of our English version of The Messianic Answer Book with me and felt impressed to give it to him. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do,” I replied. “Here, Michael please take this book, it was written by my husband, Sam, who will be speaking tonight.” “Thank you,” he said. I didn’t realize it then, but I would see Michael later. The service began with Beit Hesed’s excellent worship team leading us in joyful singing. The children were dressed in Biblical costumes, and as is traditional in every Jewish community, there was a re-enactment of the book of Esther through a Purim play. I was glad to be sitting next to Natalia as she translated the meaning of the songs based on Ukrainian folk songs. It was a very funny play and the crowd loved it! Sam’s Purim message centered on the fact that God will always judge sin. Sam’s message related how Haman’s anti-Semitic plan to destroy the Jewish people was not only foiled, but he was hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai. It was a powerful message and concluded with an invitation to accept the Messiah of Israel as the only place of safety from eternal judgment. We were delighted as at least 20 people indicated their desire to pray and receive new life in Yeshua our Messiah. What a victory, and encouragement for us and the leadership of Beit Hesed! Good Questions, Real Answers After the service I noticed that Michael--the Jewish man I had given one of our books to--and Sam were in an intense discussion. Sam told me afterwards: “Michael is not yet a believer, but he was moved by the message and had a number of very good questions: ‘Sam, how can Yeshua be the Messiah if most Jews don’t believe in Him?’ I said to him, ‘Michael, throughout our history it has always been only a remnant of our people who follow Him from the heart. For instance, out of all of our people who came out of Egypt only two entered the Promised Land: Joshua and Caleb. Also with Elijah and the priests of Baal, he thought he was the only one who was left. But God told Elijah that He had “seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed their knees to Baal” (1Kings 19:18, Rom. 11:4). Seven thousand out of the millions of our people is a small number, but it has always been only a remnant who truly believed God. Similarly, Isaiah said there would be only a remnant of our people who would return to El Gibor, the Mighty God (Isa. 10:21). And according to Isaiah 9:6, El Gibor is actually a name for the Messiah.” Sam went on to share, “Michael, we are the remnant of Israel: this is what the New Covenant promised and provides.” Michael replied, ‘But I’m a Jew who believes in HaShem (literally “The Name”, referring to the sacred Name of God).’ And I responded, ‘I’m a Jew who believes in HaShem, too. I believe that Yeshua is HaShem.’ ‘But how can you believe that HaShem could come in the flesh?’ Michael asked. I then asked him, ‘Michael do you believe that God spoke to Moses face to face at Mt Sinai?’ ‘Yes, Sam, of course I believe that God spoke face to face to Moses.’ ‘Well Michael,’ I continued, ‘I believe that this same God who entered our time-space continuum to talk to Moses face to face on Mt Sinai, came in the flesh as Messiah Yeshua!’” Michael had never heard this explanation before and was stunned and intrigued. At that point Sam brought him to our display to get some more literature. “Ah, hello Michael. We meet again,” I said. Sam was surprised and glad to find out that I had already given Michael an English copy of The Messianic Answer Book. Please pray for Michael, that he will soon come to faith in Yeshua his Messiah. Pray also for the others who gave their lives to the Lord that evening. Closing Comments & Prayers Sunday, our final day of the leadership conference lasted all day until around 7:00 pm. As the conference came to a close the prayers and comments that were offered expressed appreciation for our coming: Dear Lord, we really needed this teaching to help us grow stronger in leadership and as a congregation. Please help us to implement and apply what we have learned. Another prayed, “Forgive me for not treating my wife as you teach us in the Scriptures. Please help me to love her as Messiah loves the congregation. Help me to be the leader in my family in both prayer and teaching.” From one woman: “I’m going home and apply what I have learned tonight. This has been eye opening for me!”One of the leaders commented, “We have had many guest speakers come to teach us, but your teaching has been exceptional, and will help us to continue to mature and grow as followers of Messiah! Thank you, we look forward to when you can return to teach us again.” Thank You, Too! Thank you for your prayers and support of the Jewish outreach of WMM! Because of you we are able to continue the Lord’s work, and look forward to returning to Eastern Europe and Germany, where the God of Israel is doing great things! Shalom. Y |
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