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Conference in Kiev 2005 Ukraine Ministry Report! by Miriam Nadler


What a joy to return once more to Kiev! From various parts across Eastern Europe Messianic leaders came to Ukraine’s capital city for leadership and evangelism training. Each time we return to Kiev we remember the first time Sam preached the Good News there. Opportunity Knocks! In the late 1980’s as the Berlin Wall was coming down, opportunities were great for the gospel in what had been the Soviet Union. Sam was convinced in his heart that God was opening a door for reaching his Jewish people, though almost no one else at the time seemed to agree with him, and most missions organizations had no plans for reaching the Jewish people. Some leaders of missions agencies even told Sam, “Forget the Jews, Christians aren’t interested in them.” Undeterred, Sam was convinced that this was the time to reach Jewish people with the Good News, and so he set his sights on Eastern Europe.
Faith Answers! In 1989 Sam and a Russian Jewish believer, planned a ministry trip beginning at Moscow, and ending in Kiev, Ukraine, which then had a Jewish population of at least 600,000. Upon arriving Sam was interrogated by believers in Kiev to make certain he was a real believer. Many of these Russian Christians had suffered much for their faith under Communism. When they were sure about Sam they invited him to speak at their mid-week service. That Thursday Sam preached from Romans 1:16 that the Good News is still “To the Jew first.” Afterward the pastor stood up and said, “We have never heard this before, but here it is, right in our Bibles. We must go to the Jews first.” He then challenged his people to invite their Jewish friends and neighbors to come, to hear Sam speak that weekend. Seeing God’s hand opening this door, Sam changed his plans and stayed longer in Kiev.
Messianic leaders pour over WMM’s new Russian language discipleship materials!		That Sunday morning they were overwhelmed to see over 200 unsaved Jewish people, along with about 400 Ukrainian believers! Of three speakers, Sam was scheduled to be last. Unfortunately, the first two pastors berated the Jewish people in attendance. In that tense, embarrassing atmosphere Sam’s turn came. From the pulpit Sam greeted them in Hebrew:
“Am Yisrael Chai”, --- “the people of Israel live.” This got the attention of the Jewish visitors, and their faces glowed with the thrill of hearing Hebrew spoken in a Russian church! He then spoke about God’s love for the Jewish people that was demonstrated through Messiah Yeshua. “God has not forsaken you! For 70 years God has waited for this opportunity for you to hear the Good News of Messiah!” At the invitation that morning over 70 Jewish people came forward to receive Yeshua, and that evening over 20 more came to faith. As a result of these outreaches, two Messianic congregations were planted in Kiev. Thus began a new movement of Jewish faith in this part of the world! Since then Sam has returned many times to help with training and furthering the ministry in Eastern Europe. The Olive Tree Blossoms This year the conference was sponsored by Beit El Gibor and Hope of Israel, the two congregations planted as a result of those first meetings. Leaders in attendance from various places throughout the Ukraine: L’vov, Chernioiv, Zhitomyr, Mariupol, Rovno, Poltava, Kharkov, as well as Germany, Slovakia, and Israel. During the six day conference Sam taught from 10am to 6:00pm. Messages included Messianic Apologetics and Leadership in the Home & Congregation, and were enthusiastically received, especially opportunities for Q & A.
Messianic leaders crowd in to hear Sam’s ‘chumetz-free’ teaching.		Here Sam could give Biblical answers to the many issues challenging these leaders. One leader candidly remarked, “Over the years we have had some other teachers from the States, but their material was filled with false teaching, [which the Scripture calls ‘chumetz’ or leaven (see Matt. 16:6-12)], and we had to figure out what to keep and what to ‘throw away.’
Your teaching is so refreshing because it is ‘chumetz free.’ Thank you for taking the time to teach us!” Love Lost in Translation Anti Semitism is on the rise in Europe. Some of these Russian Jewish leaders are dealing with Anti-Semitism not only from the general public, but from within the churches themselves. Much of this can be traced to poor teaching and mistranslations. An example of this came to light when Sam taught about the ‘Olive Tree’ from Romans 11, where a discussion ensued regarding the original Greek text. Writing to Gentile believers, Paul wrote, “And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, (Gentiles) being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them (the Jewish people), and with them partake of the root and richness of the olive tree (Israel)... (Romans 11:17). Note the phrase “among them.” In the Russian bible this phrase “among them” is mis-translated “in place of.” This gives way to what is known as “replacement theology”, or the idea that because national Israel rejected their Messiah, God is finished with the Jews. This isn’t true. Paul is encouraging the Gentile believers first, to recognize that the church does not replace Israel; and second, Gentile believers have been grafted into service with Jewish believers in order to bear witness of Messiah to Israel! Tragically, rather than reaching out to Jewish people with the love of God, such ideas drive the Jewish people further away from the Lord. A Life Changing Decision At Wednesday night’s midweek meeting the building was packed with believers who enthusiastically prayed and sang to the Lord. Sam spoke from Jeremiah 31, and at the conclusion he gave an invitation where many responded, including one Jewish young man named Marc*. “Sam, tonight I accepted Yeshua as my Messiah,” he said. Sam took time to counsel Marc regarding his new relationship with God, and then prayed for him, “Marc, I pray you will be a great man of God and that the Lord will use you to reach our people with the Gospel.” Marc responded, “Yes, I desire to be a man of God, thank you for praying for me.” There was much rejoicing as Michael, one of the leaders, had been praying for Marc for quite some time!
	Multi-Media Ministries! Valentina Fishbein, from Adon Yeshua Congregation in Germany, videotaped the teaching sessions for her congregation. She also interviewed Sam for Menorah Magazine (www.menorah.ru), a Russian magazine that is read world-wide, asking him questions regarding the Messianic movement.
She was thrilled to receive the WMM materials in Russian. Click here for part 2 of our Kiev Ministry Report with an exciting update of how our Russian Language materials are making an impact! Y

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