Arisenow issue.7

arisenow ISSUE #7 / July 2014

HOPE

IN THE

FOOTSTEPS

JESUS

OF

RESTORATION

OF ALL THINGS www.arisegeneration.org

WITH FOOTBALL ARISE hosts thrilling football camp in Bethlehem

THE DREAM

OF PEACE

Four peoples dream’s about a better tomorrow in Israel

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OUR vision is to courageously and creatively teach, live and share God’s passion for the young generation and stand firm by His plans for Israel and the world.

Blessings from Jerusalem,

Jani Salokangas WORKING IN: USA, Canada, Germany, Finland, Norway, England, Philippines, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Namibia, Switzerland...

Rooted in the powerful scripture of Ephesians 5:14, Arise stands to unlimitedly glorify God: to inspire and promote Biblical truths into young people’s everyday lives. Arise devotes itself to cause a generation to arise for spiritual awakening, works of love and support for Israel.

arisenow

CREDITS

International Director JANI SALOKANGAS Media Strategist EMANUEL MFOUKOU International Administrator SARAH AJILEYE AriseNow editors EMANUEL MFOUKOU AND JANI SALOKANGAS Proof reading CHRIS CHAMBERS, LAURA SALOKAN-

From its beginning in 2002 the ARISE movement has had one mission – to gather students and young people from across the globe to live a life centered in God. We believe that God has a special plan for each person and it is our responsibility to live that calling to its fullest potential. Above all we want this generation to see and discover the unique and crucial plan that God has for Israel in His epic world redemptive plan.

The Arise movement is spreading worldwide. Join the movement today!

GAS Graphics / Illustration JANI SALOKANGAS Writers EMANUEL MFOUKOU, JUHA KETOLA, JANI SALOKANGAS, Photography JANI SALOKANGAS, POND5, EMANUEL MFOUKOU, ELIAS NAWAWIEH, MIKKO PEIPPO, PATRICK BASSOLO, WHITE CITY SHABBAT, JAMES CHEATHAM ARISENOW is published by Arise ICEJ. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem www.icej.org

For more information contact us www.arisegeneration.org arisegeneration@icej.org Telephone: +972-2-539-9700 PO Box 1192 Jerusalem 91010 Israel

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From the leader’s pen

P

aul is urging Timothy to guard his prayer life from becoming selective.

Our prayers need to have a goal just like an arrow hits its target. When we don’t know the target, God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us to pray even for the things we do not yet recognize, see or know (Rom 8:26).

M

any times I have found myself praying self-indulging prayers. Prayers that do not move my life forward but makes me feel good and satisfied. But when I changed my prayers to all things and all people, I realized how little I had used of my prayer life potential.

Praying for the very things that make us uncomfortable will force us to mature in these very areas of life.

I

n prayer we see the issues and problems from the winner’s perspective. In prayer we penetrate from defeat to glory. Prayer is the fuel of our spiritual engine that makes

“Many times I have found myself praying self-indulging prayers. Prayers that do not move my life forward but makes me feel good” us move in the unseen. Pray for this broken world, pray for the broken people around you and pray for the broken nation of Israel. In prayer we declare the word of God to fulfill its victory it promises us.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 1 Timothy 2:1

Hot articles in this issue Boiling point

page 6

Dream of Peace

page 9

Hope with Football

page 13

Dining in the Dark

page 20

Restoration of all things

page 24

Diving with God

page 30

In the footsteps of Jesus

page 34

World’s largest shabbat dinner

page 41

Bnei Menashe are coming home

page 44

Hooked on Matkot

page 46

www.arisegeneration.org

Jani Salokangas is the Arise International Director and he is based in Jerusalem with his family.

JOIN

the movement today Like us in Facebook. facebook.com/arisegeneration

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ULTIMATE SURVIVOR Jani Salokangas | Photography Pond5

Life for too many of us has become a cycle where business has become the new calm, we are too busy and we run all over. We neglect our kids, our friends, parents, church, spouses and God himself in order to be or have more. We do too much, we give too little. I have found that I need to uproot this ideology daily forced on us by our society. God challenges us to cherish the valuable things that we forget so easily.

Due to the recent death of one of our close relatives my wife had to leave me and my girls for a week to attend a funeral in Finland. The idea of spending a week with my daughters felt in the beginning a bit like jumping into a car that you haven’t used in a long time. You know the car but you simply haven’t driven it for a long time. Pondering about this I thought “I am their father so of course this should be a natural thing”. Is it? How many of us forget what is natural in life because we keep filling our lives with things that actually are quite unnatural. As my wife left I was faced with the challenge of taking care of the my daughters 24/7.

The ultimate survivor week started by a loud hello at 6am in the morning which sounded like a mixture of a V10 muscle car engine and the gentle wings of a butterfly. Confused and tired I had no choice but to wake up, since my wife was not there getting up and putting them back to sleep as it usually happens.

This new adventure reminded me that it was not angels bringing my kids back to their beds in the mornings, it was my tired and cute wife.

Making food for my kids was no problem since I like to cook, but I have to admit that the word healthy was not the best word to describe each meal made by me. I found out that actually cutting apple, putting nice raisin and peanut mixes, slicing chicken to nice little cubes and making salads into their lunch boxes actually was time consuming and required a lot of work. As a result reminder number two, making healthy food requires love, effort and time.

Afternoons were filled with time running after the kids in the parks. I also noticed that I forgot about all my work troubles

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”...the best gift you can give to your loved ones is your time and attention.”

when sliding down the slides with my the kid’s. I had forgotten how fun it was to devout time to my kids. Reminder number three, the best gift you can give your loved ones is your time and attention..

Every night when we went to sleep we prayed for a lot of random things. We prayed for the neighbors dog, grandma who is in heaven and the cat we saw in the park, but the one prayer that struck me to the core was the one they prayed for me, “Thank you God that I have a Dad and that he is with us”. Reminder number four, my daughters appreciated me as who I am and not what I do.

Seven days past by quickly and the Ultimate Survivor Challenge turned into a journey of joy, laughter and love. After this week I surely have more respect and appreciation towards my wife’s unnoticed work in our home. These seven days gave me a deeper love for my kids, my wife and God. •

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INSIDE ISRAEL

Shuafat in Eastern Jerusalem.

Boiling Point “But I tried to stay cool and look towards where I was able to find help, and that was in God...�

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Since the three murdered teenage boys, Eyal, Naftali and Gilad, disappeared on the evening of the 12 of June, Arise ICEJ has together with the people of Israel, prayed for their safe return. For weeks the nation hoped and cried out to the Lord, but on the evening of Monday the 30th, over two weeks after the boys went missing the news broke that they had been found murdered. Staff members of Arise learned about the tragedy while following the World Cup on Israeli television, as the transmission was abruptly interrupted some minutes in to the second half of the France Nigeria game. The announcement that followed revealed that the bodies had been found on a field in the village of Holhul in the vicinities of Hebron. The sad and terrifying news shocked the nation, and the atmosphere rapidly changed into one of mourning, sorrow and tension.

On the morning after, AriseNow travelled to the Shivtei Yeshiva in Hebron, located within walking distance from the Cave of the Patriarchs, where Eyal Yifrach, the oldest of the murdered boys studied.

On our way to Hebron we passed by the Gush Etzion Junction, the place where it is believed that the three entered the car of their murderers, while doing what thousands of Israelis do on a daily basis, hitch- hiking. A few minutes later we passed the village of Halhul, where their bodies were discovered, partly buried in a field.

Having arrived at the yeshiva, we were met by an emotional atmosphere mixed with sorrow, anger and emptiness accompanied with a nuance of other indescribable feelings. The spokesperson of the Jewish community in Hebron, Noam Arnon, received us at the stairs to the yeshiva, where he led us past the room which a couple of weeks

ago was occupied by the now murdered Eyal. Noam was accompanied by Michael Rubin, one of the rabbis at the yeshiva, who explained that the educational staff along with the 350 students currently studying at the school have been deeply affected by Eyal’s murder, and that they are trying to deal with the pain in the best way possible.

AriseNow also had the opportunity to talk to Michael Zivan, a 20 year old student, both friend and roommate of Eyal. In front of the door to their room, a sad and visibly affected Michael shared his thoughts about the disappearance and death of his dear friend.

He started by explaining that on the day of the kidnapping, the 12 of June, Eyal had left the yeshiva for his parents’ home where he planned to celebrate his father’s birthday. It wasn’t until the following day that Michael was informed of the kidnapping, and his first reaction was one of shock. “It’s really hard to explain how it feels like when you find out that your friend has been captured by terrorists. But I tried to stay cool and look towards where I was able to find help, and that was in God,” he explained. He then touched on his friendship with Eyal, and how he was as a fellow student, friend and brother. “Eyal was the man.

With the man I mean that he was the leader; he was mature, respectful and giving. Everything that was his was also for others, and there was nothing that he confined to himself as his. Despite his young age he acted like he was 20 or 30 years old, and he was very loved by everybody.”

sentation from bias media, so I would first like to recommend that they find out what is true and what is not. If you would like to live a life of truth you need to help those who have not yet understood what the truth is.”

Two days after the boys were found, the murderous spiral continued as the nation woke up to the news of yet another murder, this time of Muhammad Abu Khdeir, a sixteen year old Israeli Arab from the neighborhood of Shuafat in Eastern Jerusalem. He was kidnapped from his neighborhood in a revenge killing, and brutally murdered by six Jewish extremists between the ages of 16 and 22 years old. His body was found in the Jerusalem Forest, and after having conducted an autopsy of the body, doctors at the Abu Kabir forencic Institute in Tel Aviv confirmed that Muhammad had been burnt alive.

In order to gage the temperature we talked to some of the youngsters in East Jerusalem where we found 18 year old Jihad who together with his friend had taken refuge from the sun under a tree.

“There is a lot of trouble at the moment, and there are tensions in several neighbor hoods such as Shuafat, Ras al-amud, Silwan and At-Tour among others. People are revolting as a result of the murder of Mohammad Khdeir, when I heard about the news I felt very sad. People immediately went out and threw stones at the police and the settlers; personally I have not been involved in the stone throwing as I am working in the evenings, and what me and my friends are doing is to stay updated and follow the news. The people throwing stones feel empty inside and have nothing else to do.

A picture of the murdered Israeli teens.

“It was saddening to get the news about his death, I had a lot of hope that Eyal would come back and continue to learn in this Yeshiva. I had hoped that the parents of Eyal, Gilad and Naftali would see their boys come home, and when you realize that that is not going to happen you feel sad. As soon as I received the news about their death, the first thing I did was to pray and recite Psalms.”

“Even if Eyal will not come back to the yeshiva, his spirit remains here, meaning that whatever effect he had on the boys will continue to live. Eyal taught us so much, and he will never be forgotten.”

When AriseNow asked how Christians from around the world supporting Israel, could be of assistance to the nation as they lived through this moment of mourning, Michael advised that the media was a good starting point. “Israel gets a lot of bad repre-

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The sad scenery after the riots in the neighbourhood of Shuafat

Jihad further explained that he believes that there is more trouble to be seen on the horizon, and while he is unsure of a third intifada, he is expecting to see more kidnappings on both sides. When we asked him about the safety of him and his friends, he responded and said that he is not afraid of nobody.

We then spoke to Tariq, a 25 year old taxi driver also from East Jerusalem. When we asked him to take us to Shuafat he declined and told us that it was too dangerous and that in the worst case scenario stones could be thrown on the car. He then revealed how he recently visited an Arab neighborhood with his Israeli licensed taxi car, and that he got in to trouble because of Hebrew signs on his car. “I am an Arab, but the people still threatened me and told me to remove the Hebrew writing on my car; as a result I do no longer work in the evenings as I am afraid of both Arabs and Jews.”

The death of Muhammad led to uprising all across the country with some commentators claiming that this was the closest to an intifada the country has been since the last one ended in 2005.

Windows were broken, cars burnt and several stops used by the Jerusalem Light rail trains were burnt and covered with graffiti. In addition, several racist attacks of both a physical and psychological nature between Jews and Arabs were recorded across the streets of Jerusalem.

The events of June and July 2014 have revealed the current state of the nation of Israel, and several politicians from all sides of the 8 AriseNow

political specter have condemned the brutal acts carried out.

President Shimon Peres, set to step down from office towards the end of the month said in a press release, that Israel is in a deep crisis of morality, adding that today out of Zion shall go forth the shame. “We did not believe that such a heinous crime could take place among our people. We mustn’t be such a people. My heart aches with the grieving Abu Khdeir family and with the grieving Shaar, Yifrach and Fraenkel families.”

As the tensions are on high and the temperature is rising, AriseNow urge young believers from around the globe to pray for the families and friends of the four murdered boys Eyal, Naftali, Gilad and Muhammad, who died violently at the hands of poor, nasty, brutish, and short terrorists. We also have to pray for calm and stability to return to Israel and that the effects of the last week’s events will lead to some kind of reconciliation between Jews and Arabs, instead of a deepening of the already infected conflict. •

TESTIMONY

THE

DREAM OF PEACE FOUR PEOPLES DREAM’S ABOUT A BETTER TOMORROW IN ISRAEL.

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Shalom Halevi I have been living in Sderot since 1970. I was born here in Israel but my parents came from Yemen in 1907. I moved to Sderot in order to help develop this small little town; I believe that God blessed me to do something good in my life.

The first rockets landed in Sderot in April 2001, and since then there have been over 10 000 rockets fired on the city. The life for the children in Sderot is very hard and 75 percent of the children are suffering from trauma. There are children who learn how to say “tseva adom” (the announcement that warns of incoming rockets) before they even learn how to say Mom. The only solution to peace is by getting rid of Hamas, and the international community must understand that Hamas is the main threat, not only for us but also to the people of Gaza. All organizations from Europe, US and all over the world have been sending equipment, food and supplies to help the citizens, but when it reaches Gaza, Hamas takes care of it and decides what to do with it. They are keeping the citizens of Gaza in a poor level of life because they want to rule them easily. This is a problem and instead they should use the supplies to help the people.

Israel is a democratic country, if I fire a bullet into Gaza the police will immediately arrest me, but every terrorist can fire rockets towards Israel to kill people and nobody will tell him nothing. You have to understand that this is the Middle East; it’s not the same as living with your neighbors in Sweden, Norway or Switzerland.

Can you imagine to yourself that someone from Switzerland would shoot rockets on France or Germany, and Germany would keep quiet? Never, but the terror organizations from Gaza have fired over 10 000 rockets during the last 10 years, it’s crazy. The international community must understand that we need to get rid of the terror organization of Hamas in Gaza. Believe me; the citizens of Gaza will bless the communities of the world if they will do so.

Nir Vaknin.

I was born in Sderot, but my parents came to Israel from Tunisia. Life in Sderot is very challenging. Every day there are rockets fired on the city, and sometimes we receive more than 15 rockets per day. The situation is bad, not just for us but also for the people in Gaza, because there are innocent people over there just as there are innocent people here in Israel. We don’t want war, all we want is peace, but with Hamas we are unable. All they are interested in is to fire rockets. They might stop for a while and then they continue and the situation goes around and around like a circle. Even during the night while we are sleeping they are shooting rockets, at one, two or four AM, it depends. This morning for example, the bomb alarm went off at six. All the time we hear the sound of “tseva adom, tseva adom,” this is not what you call a good life, and we cannot continue to live like this.

When you hear the bomb alarm you have 15 seconds to find a shelter, and as you can see around you there are shelters all over the city. I am afraid and the children are afraid; no one can go out without being afraid and we are constantly keeping our minds on the location of the closest bomb shelter. It’s difficult here, four years ago my friend got killed by a rocket while she was protecting her little sister. And if you are a student in Sderot your classes are interrupted several times per day, four times, ten times, even up to 20 times. In situations like this when rockets are falling, we are always staying at home, and the only reason I am not home at the moment is because I came out to talk to you and let you know that we don’t want to have war, we want to live in peace with silence, all we want to do is to live in peace.

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Almog.

My name is Almog, I have been living on a Kibbutz near Sderot for about four years, and since I moved here we have experienced a lot of bomb alarms, people are afraid and we really hope that the rocket attacks one day will end.

I am here working in this bomb shelter, because I could not stand watching what happened on the TV and needed to help. We have been in the shelter for three days, and we are doing all kinds of activities for the children in order to make them feel better. We have DJ’s and musicians in the shelter; we dance, sing and play funny games with one another, everybody here says that they feel like a family. Earlier on today when a rocket landed only minutes from here, everybody started to scream and cry. We are unable to sleep at night, and last night I woke up four times. When the alarm goes off everybody calls their loved ones to find out how they are and where they are, the children are crying and the dogs are barking. It’s a really big problem to live here and the people are really afraid.

My dream is that this one day will stop, and as the rockets now are able to reach Jerusalem and Tel Aviv I believe that people finally will understand how it is to live in Sderot. I hope this will change, because young children should not have to think about war, rockets and terrorism and they should be able to sleep at night. Many children suffer from post trauma and wet in their beds, it’s really sad; some children don’t even have any friends because they are afraid of going outside due to the rockets, I really hope everything will be ok. I would like young people from all over the world to know what’s going on here, next time you are in Israel, do not just visit Tel Aviv, but come to us and see how we live here in Sderot.

Idan My name is Idan, I am 25 years old and was born and raised here in Sderot. My father came to Israel from Morocco and my mother from Algeria. I did my studies in Sderot, and while in the army I was an officer dealing with computers. I have lived under rocket fire for the last 12 years, and my younger brother who is now 11 has lived with this situation all his life. I want a safe future for me, my future children, Sderot and all the people of Israel.

I want my brother to think about something else than bomb alarms, because this is not a regular life.

Thousands of rockets have been fired from Gaza since 2001. I know about people who have died or got hurt, it’s a very tough situation. My parents have told me that they used to go to Gaza to do shopping; we bought our vegetables over there because they were so much better, and if you wanted to fix your car you went there. Our community loves Arabs and I love Arabs as well, but if they come from Gaza to kill me it’s not ok.

We used to talk with the people in Gaza and they talked with us, we even worked together.

Today the situation is very different, if you ask someone from Israel or from Gaza what they think about one another there is a lot of fear and hate, people are not being conscious of the situation and I think that we need to talk to someone there, but not with Hamas, as you can see today they don’t want to talk. They continue to fire rockets and they don’t stop. No country in the world can live like this and we need to defend ourselves.

Tell the world what you have seen in Sderot, help us to talk about what’s going on here and to stop the situation. We are a people who love peace, we don’t like wars. Once Hamas is removed from Gaza everything will be ok, and once the world sees what happens here in Sderot I wish they will understand. Everyone knows about the stories from Gaza, but no one knows about our situation here in Sderot, and this is sad because our way of life is very tough. • www.arisegeneration.org

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REPORT

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HOPE

WITH FOOTBALL ARISE HOSTS THRILLING FOOTBALL CAMP IN BETHLEHEM

ARISE Director Jani Salokangas together with professional football player Marcos Tavares and personal trainer, Rafael Rodrigues.

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In early June, ICEJ Arise joined with a local Arab Christian ministry to host a special football camp in Bethlehem for Arab youths, featuring professional soccer players and coaches from Brazil. During the two-day camp, more than 60 Christian and Muslim boys aged 9 to 14 participated in training sessions and matches with Marcos Tavares, a Brazilian striker who today leads the Slovenian national league in goal scoring with top squad NK Maribor.

Early in his career, Marcos was selected to play for the Brazilian national under-23 football team. Today, he is also pastor of a church and serves as national director of ICEJ-Slovenia.

He was accompanied by Rafael Rodrigues, a Brazilian fitness coach and brother of Roger Rodrigues da Silva, who in 2008 won the Brazilian Cup with his team, Sport Club do Recife.

As the camp kick-off neared, Baptist pastor Steven Khoury of the local partner Holy Land Missions was excited about what ICEJ Arise was bringing to Arab youngsters in his historic hometown. ”What Arise is doing is extremely important! You are building a relationship with these young kids and with the local church”, explained Khoury. ”They have been talking about the camp for over two weeks and they did their homework by ’Googling’ everything they could about Marcos Tavares.” ”We could have had 3000 people at the camp, but we had to reduce it to only 60 in order to make it more effective and fun for the participants. But who knows, there might be a future Marcos Tavares among these kids”, he added.

There were two training sessions each day, which started with warm-ups and then drills to teach a range of new techniques. These were all led by Marcos, Rafael and Arise director Jani Salokangas, who is also a competitive athlete. Each practice ended with the boys dividing into teams to

play one another, and needless to say the team with Marcos was the most popular.

The youngsters were so thrilled with the camp, their faces looked like Christmas had come early to Bethlehem this year.

During a break, an enthusiastic boy named Haman said that thanks to Marcos, he had learned several important new lessons in the sport. Florentino, 12, said he woke up very early that morning in order to be on time for camp and even set out his play kit the night before, just to be ready.

Many excited parents also stayed around when they dropped off their children to get a glimpse of their kids playing with a professional footballer. On the side-lines we met Doha, a father from a nearby Muslim village whose two boys were in the camp. He often attends practice to see his children play, because when he sees the joy in their eyes it makes him happy as well.

“I’m the only bread winner in my family, and with seven children it is sometimes hard making ends meet, buying new shoes, football clothes, and even paying for the transport in order to attend the training. Yet despite the expenses it is all worth it, as I want my children to be happy”, he assured.

The camp ended with a closing ceremony when prizes were handed out to the best players and Marcos shared his testimony with all the participants.

Marcos spoke about his journey from a childhood filled with severe poverty in Brazil, to his love for football, marrying his wife Leticia, the start of his international career in Malaysia, and then his encounter with Jesus, which dramatically changed his life. Marcos added that he was happy to be in Bethlehem and that seeing the children reminded him of his own youth.

“My family was poor. I didn’t even have a bed to sleep in; I had to sleep on the floor”, he said. ”Some days all we ate was biscuits and bread.

We could only afford one coke a week, which we drank on Sundays.”

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“My family was poor. I didn’t even have a bed to sleep in; I had to sleep on the floor”, he said. ”Some days all we ate was biscuits and bread. We could only afford one coke a week, which we drank on Sundays.” ”I didn’t have any shoes and played football barefoot until my career took off at age 14, which finally started bringing in more money. But over the years, as the fame and money grew, so did the alcohol and women, which led to depression.”

At one point, Marcos even considered abandoning football, but thanks to support from his wife he continued.

As he shared his testimony, over 60 young boys and their parents sat captivated by his story, especially the part about one day meeting a man who changed his life forever. ”My training got better! My relationship with my wife got better! I was transferred to Europe and the best club in Slovenia, where I started to score goals.”

Today, Marcos is the number one scorer in the history of the club, with over 119 goals.

“My life was very bad, but I met someone who changed it. I dreamed about being a football player but I had no real power to do it. But this man gave me power and reassured me that I could do it. I could have been dead or in prison, but here I am today because of him.

And his name is Jesus Christ! He gave me hope and a better life.” ”You are looking on a professional football player not because I had a good agent, but because I have Jesus Christ,” he concluded.

”You are looking on a professional football player not because I had a good agent, but because I have Jesus Christ.”

Jani Salokangas and Steven Khoury then shared their thoughts on the weekend. Jani spoke about the importance of being a good person both on and off the field. He also noted the unifying power of football, where the colour of your skin or background does not matter.

Finally, Pastor Khoury thanked Marcos and ICEJ Arise for bringing such joy to the youngsters of Bethlehem. He said the football camp will go down as the first-of-its-kind for his town, and that photos of the sporting event had already gone viral all over Facebook.

Every participant returned home with a souvenir T-shirt adorned with the logo of the Arise Football Camp. The four best players also received a trophy, an official NK Maribor jersey, and a cap signed

by Marcos.

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FC

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The prize for Most Valuable Player went to 14-year old Mashdi, who said the best lesson he learned was the importance of fair play. Like so many of the youngsters, Mashdi said he dreams of becoming a professional footballer just like Marcos. •

ARISE FOOTBALL CAMP

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TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY

KOSHER KOSHERING OF TECHNOLOGY

The 21th century, known for being an age of new technologies, has not only been a facilitator for the world’s communities, but also a challenge for it. New technologies, such as internet, have created new ways to communicate, which in turn has led to various kinds of temptations challenging the three Abrahamic religions.

The mobile phone, especially the smart phone offering instant internet access with a sea of applications, being equipped with high resolution cameras, has shown itself to be an obstacle for certain religious groups. Whilst most Christian and Muslims, along with mainstream Jews, have embraced the smart phone, some of the Orthodox Jews have completely backed away from the use of mobile phones which they see as a tool of the devil. Recently several rabbis declared the destructive capacity of smart phones to that of weapons.

In order to overcome some of the obstacles connected to new technologies, organisations such as the Israeli based non-profit, Zomet Institute, have developed a range of products in order to unite Jewish religious laws with modern life. For instance, switching on and off electrical devices is forbidden on Shabbat,

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“The kosher phone is a basic or regular phone, it cannot connect to internet nor send text messages and it doesn’t have a camera...”

but thanks to Zomet’s inventions, products such as metal detectors, security vehicles, elevators, electric wheelchairs, and coffee machines can now be used on Shabbat without breaking the laws.

When it comes to the mobile phone industry, a special phone, tailor made for orthodox Jews, the so called kosher phone has been invented. With this device one is unable to connect to the internet, send or receive text messages or take photos.

The first provider to offer this service was MIRS Communication, which today goes under the name Hot Mobile, but they were soon followed by other providers such as Orange, Pelephone and Cellcom who saw a growing need in the market.

AriseNow visited one of the establishments selling mobile phones in the ultra-orthodox neighborhood of Me’a She’arim in Jerusalem. The clerk behind the counter gave us a brief history of the kosher phone, and revealed that the majority of the ultra-orthodox community uses this kind of phone, and that in Jewish educational institutions like yeshivas, the only phone allowed is the kosher phone.

The rabbinical stamp to approve that the phone is Kosher.

“The kosher phone is a basic or regular phone, it cannot connect to internet nor send text messages and it doesn’t have a camera which is typical of so many phones today. It’s basically set up to receive and make phone calls only.” On the question whether the kosher phone works on Shabbat, Meir answered that it depends on the phone but that most do work with radically increased prices.

“All of the phones that I am selling from here are kosher phones and we have all kinds of brands, from Nokia to Samsung. At the moment the most popular kosher phone is the Samsung Keystone 2 and as you can see it holds a stamp from the rabbinate thus declaring that it is a kosher phone.”

He further showed us a range of different sim cards and explained that the series in each phone number reveals if the caller makes use of a kosher phone or not, adding that the kosher sim card doesn’t work in regular phones and vice versa. While parts of the ultra-orthodox community have taken a hard stance against smart phones, emphasizing their immoral nature, there are other Jewish groups who have embraced new technologies as a way to advance and reach the masses with their message.

The full Kosher phone kit...

In conclusion, new types of technologies automatically creates new challenges, but whatever inventions the Israeli start up nation might come up with, we can rest assured that the individuals behind the Kosher phone, and organizations such as the Zomet institute will find a way to make these inventions compatible to their beliefs. •

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CULTURE

DINING IN THE DARK ”This experience, not being able to see the tableware, nor the food or the other guests around the table made us realize the importance of seeing things from “the others” perspective”

Throughout the years the ICEJ have been active in helping some of the more than 27 000 blind people living in Israel. One of the places where we are involved is the Nalaga’at Center in Tel AvivYafo, a place which aims to create a stimulative environment for deaf, blind and blind deaf individuals by engaging them in cultural activities, such as theater, dance and various workshops. Some of the center’s ongoing activities are the Nalaga’at theatre, the Kapish Café along with the BlackOut restaurant. The ICEJ is currently supporting the Nalaga’at Theater, a theater made up of professional deaf and blind actors who have set up plays such as “Not by Bread Alone,” “Luna Park” and “Give me a Sign.”

To get a practical insight of their work, AriseNow descended the Judean hills, and travelled to Nalaga’at, located within walking distance from what is believed to have been the house of Simon the tanner. We reserved a table at the BlackOut restaurant, a restaurant like all others with a difference in that the meal is enjoyed in the dark. This experience, not being able to see the tableware, nor the food or the other guests around the table made us realize the importance of seeing things from “the others” perspective, and how important it is to be our brother’s and sister’s keepers.

Our waitress, Hila, who welcomed us, and in total darkness with our hands on her shoulders, led us to our table, explained that she has worked at Nalaga’at for six years and that at the age of 18 she became blind as a result of diabetes. “I love to work here in what for you is complete darkness. For me it is like being in the light, and every day I get to meet new people with different life stories. I don’t want people to come here to experience how it is to be blind, but rather to come and discover the light in the darkness which is hidden deep inside their souls. I would recommend you to come here with someone you love, it will be like a real blind date mingled with an incredible environment where your senses will reach new levels,” she explained. One of the guests who had made his way to the restaurant was Jeremiah Dairo, Senior Pastor of the Lift up Your Head Church in Tel Aviv. Having finished his meal he was awestruck. “It was an incredible experience. As soon as I came out of the restaurant after having spent two hours in the dark; I thanked God for being able to see. Everyone should try this, it really taught me to appreciate my eyes,” he concluded.

By helping the ICEJ support the Nalaga’at center, you will be able to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and give the visually impaired, Jews and Arabs alike, new eyes and sharper senses through their engagement in a range of exciting and creative activities. •

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INSIDE ISRAEL

Afro Po preparing to perform in front of the Holot Refugee Camp.

HOLOT REFUGEE CAMP

“Meanwhile, the Israeli society is divided over how to deal with the African refugees and President Shimon Peres has called upon parts of the society to refrain from racism as it’s contradictory to the fundamental principles of Judaism.”

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In the beginning of May, AriseNow travelled from Jerusalem southwards past Beersheba to the isolated Holot refugee camp in the middle of the Negev desert only minutes from the Nizana border crossing to Egypt. The objective with the journey was to get a clearer understanding of the living conditions of over 3000 African refugees currently held in the camp. We were invited by Ulrich Nganga, the leader of Afro Po, a Tel Aviv based band offering a blend of African and Israeli music, and who on this day had decided to hold a charity concert for the Sudanese and Eritrean refugees in the camp. The camp which can be compared to an Alcatraz in the desert was first inaugurated in December of 2013, and today it hosts some 3000 African refuges.

African refuges from the horn of Africa started to arrive in Israel in 2006, and in 2012 some 55 000 refugees were living in the country. The majority of these reached Israel by foot and walked from Egypt through the Sinai desert. AriseNow have, during the years, heard numerous gruesome testimonies of death, murder, torture and rape experienced by the refugees on their journey towards Israel.

Due to a high number of refugees, mainly in the urban areas, protests have erupted within certain factions of the Israeli society, and some of the Israeli media have branded the refuges as “infiltrators,” with a member of Knesset, the Israeli parliament going as far as referring African refugees to “a cancer in the Israeli society.”

In order to reduce the rising number of refuges a fence, 232 km long and five meter high, has been constructed on the border between Israel and Egypt shutting out all refugees seeking refuge in Israel. Other measures in place to reduce the number of refugees are repatriation, and thousands of Sudanese women, children and men have in the last few years been returned to Sudan and South Sudan.

ered to be a prison, the overall feeling among everyone here is one of entrapment. Some of them have left their countries to avoid prison, and here they are once again put in a sort of prison, it’s a scandal. We are here playing today in order to encourage our brothers. Despite their situation it’s important that they keep up their strength. They are asylum seekers, and someone who is in danger cannot return to his country.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli society is divided over how to deal with the African refugees and President Shimon Peres has called upon parts of the society to refrain from racism as it’s contradictory to the fundamental principles of Judaism.

”It’s not good living here, it’s very bad and at the moment I don’t see how I will be able to leave this place...”

The Holot prison camp is the latest in a row of strategies implemented to reduce the number of refugees. While in Holot, AriseNow spoke to several of the refugees currently calling Holot their home. Mohammed, 33, from Darfur, Sudan, told us that he had been living in Eilat since 2010 and that three months ago he was transferred to Holot.

“It’s not good living here, it’s very bad and at the moment I don’t see how I will be able to leave this place as it’s too dangerous to go back to Darfur. I think that even in one years’ time I will still be living here. My family, who I miss very much, are still in Darfur, but as I am not talking to them very often I don’t really know how they are doing, it’s very difficult,” he explained.

Another of the refugees, Abdul also from Darfur, revealed that he has been in Israel for six years before he was recently transferred to the desert camp of Holot. “I have been here for two months; it’s very difficult to live here, and one of the problems is that the rooms are too warm because the air conditioning system isn’t working correctly. We are allowed to go outside the camp, but only if we sign in with the authorities, which we have to do three times a day. If we don’t, we risk going to prison. If we would like to visit Tel Aviv we need special permission, he concluded.”

We also spoke to Ulrich Nganga, the lead singer of Afro Po. He explained that he was very happy with the concert and that it was organised in order to encourage the people in the camp.

“Music is a way to express liberty, and we would like to denounce the way the refugees are treated. Even if this place is not consid-

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Earlier this year during Passover, a group of Israelis organised a seder meal with the refugees in Holot in order to recall the journey of the Israelites through the Sinai desert to the Holy land, a journey that practically all of the refugees in Holot can relate to.

It is important for us as believers in Jesus Christ, to care for the refugees and the strangers in our land, in whatever nation we might live. Each country deals differently with issues concerning refugees, and each country, be it Morocco, China, Uganda, France, Norway or Israel can in turn be criticised for their policy’s and handlings of refugees.

However, as believers we need to remember that the biblical story is a story of migration. Our spiritual roots are based on migration, and even our saviour knows how it is to be a refugee. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all moved between various countries in the Middle East and voluntary or forced migrations fill the pages of the bible. Sometimes famine was a reason for moving, and other times, as in the case of Jacob, love was the factor, but also slavery and trafficking, as in the case of Joseph.

As believers in the God of Israel and disciples of Jesus Christ we need to pray for our brothers in Holot, that God will give them peace, comfort and strength and that they also will be able to look forward to a prosperous future filled with joy and happiness. We need to pray for the way governments are handling refugees in their respective countries, not only in Israel but worldwide. Finally we need to heed to God’s unfailing eternal words imprinted in the Holy Scriptures. “You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow’s garment in pledge.” (Deut 24:17).

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TEACHING

RESTORATION OF

all Things Juha Ketola | Photography Pond5

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All humanity aches. Deep within the core of human existence dwells a secret pain that continuously cries out that something has been lost.

This pain is a mixture of feelings - guilt, fear, rejection, separation, hopelessness and aimlessness. Man has been driven from his original home and is now adrift, lacking purpose and direction – and in pain (Genesis 3:16-24).

Nature is also suffering and longing to be brought back to its original state.

Creation is groaning, just like man himself (Romans 8:18-23).

The consequences of Sin All humanity has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

The peace and harmony between God, humanity and creation has been lost and as a result decay, corruption and futility reigns.

Sin entered into man and his world. The original Paradise which God created as a home for mankind was lost. Because of the first man Adam’s fall, all creation has been subjected to futility. Sin, death and the works of Satan are all around us. But praise God, there is hope for the restoration of all things! (Romans 8:20; Acts 3:21) This hope is in the ‘second Man’ who came from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

The great Hope The great theme of the Bible is the sin and guilt of all humanity and then God’s reconciliation of all things through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God has never withdrawn Himself from humanity, but instead has provided full restoration to all His creation by giving His Son Jesus to die on our behalf, and by raising Him from the dead.

God has given a great hope to a lost world by promising not only the forgiveness of sins and the mending of our broken lives when we believe in His Son, but also resurrection from the dead and redemption of our bodies at His return. He has begun His good, redemptive work in us who believe, and He also will complete it (Philippians 1:6). He has given us peace and hope for our earthly lives, and promised us glorious resurrection bodies for eternity (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; Philippians 3:20-21)!

Sin entered into man and into his world, and the original Paradise God had created as a home for the mankind was lost.

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This promise is our continual joy, and gives us strength and hope for our daily lives amid a broken world!

God has never given up The promised restoration of all creation has always been on God’s heart.

It has never been erased from His purposes and will, and is spoken of by all the Hebrew prophets (Acts 3:21). The New Testament affirms this full restoration, especially in Revelation, such as chapters 20 to 22.

God has clearly promised to redeem His creation, bring everything back to its original state - and even to a more glorious state – and set up the Kingly throne of His Son, to rule over a world freed from corruption and futility (Jeremiah 3:17; Isaiah 2:1-4, 9:6-7, 11:1-9; Zechariah 14:16-19; Psalm 2:6-9, 96, 98; Revelation 20:1-3).

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The throne of David God’s word speaks openly about this glorious future not just in heaven but here on earth –– especially in His assurances to the Jewish people concerning “the throne of David”. That throne will be the place where the Offspring of David will return from heaven to rule upon on earth! (Revelation 22:16) Covenant with David God made a covenant with King David which promises his offspring will sit on His throne forever. God swore to build a royal dynasty from David’s lineage that would finally rule over the entire world (2 Samuel 7; Psalm 2:6-9, 89; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 2:3032; Revelation 19:15).

This covenant guarantees the restoration of Israel, the whole of humanity and all creation. Jesus confirmed it with His blood on the cross, just like all the other covenant promises God made with the Jewish people (Ephesians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 1:19-20; Rom.15:8).

God was not talking to David only about Solomon, but rather the coming of His Messiah, the God-man Jesus Christ, into this fallen world. And King David understood this, as the Apostle Peter affirmed on the Day of Pentecost: “Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke. . . For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’.” (Acts 2:30-31, 34-35) The apostles saw Jesus as that promised seed of David who would restore Israel, rebuild the tabernacle of David, and eventually sit as King on his throne ruling not only a restored Israel, but also the restored Gentile nations (Acts 1:6, 15:13-17). Moreover, the Angel Gabriel - like the prophet Isaiah - announced that “of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom” (Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:31-33).

Israel’s hope The second coming of Jesus is the final fulfilment of God’s covenant with David. It will prove God’s faithfulness to His ancient people and affirm Israel’s redemptive role among the nations, all the way from Abraham to modern times. The Jewish people will welcome the King back, and for this to happen they have to be back in their homeland!

The Apostles Peter and Paul both explain how God would work out His eternal purposes through Israel for the good of all humanity. They tell us that without the salvation of Israel, times of refreshing will not come and Jesus will not be sent back from heaven (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 11).

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Jesus affirmed to His own people: “You shall see me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

(Matthew 23:39) So the context of His return will be the same as His first coming: the Jewish people and their land.

The gospel of Matthew begins: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1) In other words, Jesus came as the fulfilment of God’s covenants with Abraham and David. Also, Luke wrote specifically about Jesus as the fulfilment of these two covenants (Luke 1:31-33, 54-55, 68-75).

But for all the promises God gave in these covenants to be fulfilled, Jesus first had to die and be resurrected, and now must return “in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).

Israel’s restoration In order for the promised restoration of Israel and of all things to reach its glorious ‘finale’, the Jewish people are now returning to their ancient homeland after two thousand years of exile. This is by the sovereign hand of God. As a covenant-keeping God, He remains forever faithful to all His promises to Israel, which also impact all humanity. He is restoring the Jewish people to their land. The next phase will be their spiritual restoration to God as a nation, which will open the gates for the King of glory to come back to earth (Ezekiel 36 and 37; Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:25-26).

Thus Israel’s restoration serves the best interests of all nations, too! Righteousness and peace will finally come – but it comes through God’s plans only. And those plans forever include Israel, since “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).

Judgment of the nations When the Son of Man returns to sit on the throne of David, all nations will be gathered before Him for judgment (Matthew 25:3146; Psalm 96, 98). This judgment of the nations will be necessary to usher in peace. The Bible is clear that until righteousness is first in place, there can be no true peace between men.

Isaiah proclaimed that when Messiah reigns on earth, nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore (Isaiah 2:1-4). But all this will happen only after the Son of David judges rightly among the nations. Indeed, He shall rule the earth with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:6-9; Revelation 19:15).

God’s rule God’s rule on earth for the good of all nations is certain. He will restore justice, righteousness, peace and joy among all peoples.

The second coming of Jesus as the final fulfillment of God’s covenant with David, not only glorifies God’s faithfulness to His ancient and beloved people, but affirms Israel’s central and lasting role among the nations of the world www.arisegeneration.org

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Every mouth will be stopped. God will vindicate His name and character by establishing justice for all the oppressed peoples throughout history. It will be clear that God is and always has been just.

Isaiah describes this glorious future by declaring: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9) Resurrection from the dead The coming of the Lord to take His rightful place on the throne of David in Jerusalem is the glorious hope of the Church! The Bright and Morning Star will arise and we will be redeemed! The Bridegroom will have a perfect Bride to celebrate with Him at the great marriage supper of the Lamb!

The Bible says the dead will rise and we who are alive, in the twinkling of an eye, will be caught up together to meet Him in the air! (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) Finally, our lowly bodies will be transformed into His glorious body! (Philippians 3:20-21) The Bible says that we should put all our hope into the Lord’s coming and the grace that will be given in the revealing of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13). The writer of Hebrews adds that Jesus will return “without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him” (Hebrews 9:28). In other words, His sacrifice on the cross was complete and has thoroughly saved us already, even while we are still waiting for our resurrected bodies! Jesus said on the cross: “It is finished!” (John 19:30) Holiness in hope God says He has subjected all creation to futility in hope, and that we as His own have received the gift of His Spirit guaranteeing the redemption of our bodies. This carries a very strong message!

(Romans 8:18-25) Because of this present hope of final redemption amid our painful existence, we will never have His permission to move backwards in our walk with Him. God will never give us a ‘green light’ to slide back to our sinful ways. The old life of sin and lust is gone! There is no way to return to Egypt, since all things have become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Our ‘yes’ to Jesus is also our ‘no’ to sin.

The Apostle John insisted that, “everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). And Paul wrote to Titus: “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:11-13)

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The redemption of all creation All creation will experience an unbelievable change at the return of Jesus. It will be thoroughly renewed. The whole atmosphere will become like a Paradise - a pleasant expression of God’s very nature. The beauty of God’s creation will manifest itself in new depths, richness and glory never seen since the Garden of Eden. I believe even the colours in nature will be brighter and richer than now.

Creation is eagerly awaiting and groaning for this to happen – including all the plants and animals! (Romans 8:19-22) The animals will live at peace with one another and with men once again (Isaiah 11:6-9).

Our hope for the future This message of full restoration is found everywhere in the word of God. It is the ‘current’ which is moving and inspiring the children of God in a clear direction through all our pains and ‘troubled waters’.

So until the day dawns and the morning star finally arises in our hearts, let us sing the new song of redemption together with all creation (2 Peter 1:19).

In this blessed hope, Rev. Juha Ketola International Director

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Because of our redeemed bodies and creation’s new freedom from corruption and decay, the fruit of the Spirit will be overwhelmingly sensed on earth. The glory of the Lord will radiate again throughout the world.

All creation is now groaning – true! But the Day will come when it will be cheerfully rejoicing it its new and glorious freedom!

The joy in creation The Psalmist expresses this great joy of redemption by saying the rivers will clap, the fields, trees and hills rejoice, and the seas roar.

That is to say, all creation will welcome the Lord’s return with utter delight (Psalm 96, 98). And we should already be rejoicing by offering a new song to the Lord about this great hope (Ephesians 5:19-20).

Yes, we groan now but at the same time sing with joy! Oh, how joyous that Day will be!

None of this will happen, however, before the revealing of the sons of God first (Romans 8:19-21). Jesus appearing in His glory will cause the dead in Christ to rise and the physical bodies of those of us alive to be changed, and only then will creation also be redeemed and set free. We wait in our present bodies for the glory of Jesus to be finally revealed, and creation waits with us!

Final restoration When Peter and John healed the lame man at the Temple gate in Acts 3, the man received a complete restoration of his body and was leaping and greatly rejoicing. As the crowds gathered and marvelled at this, Peter started to preach about the death and resurrection of Jesus. As a result, the Sadducees got angry at the apostles for “preaching in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:2). But Peter declared: “heaven must receive (Jesus) until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21).

The restoration of the lame man, the promise of times of refreshing for Israel, and the message of the restoration of all things were all designed by God to go together in powerful demonstration of what He has always desired: the redemption of all creation back to wholeness and purity! www.arisegeneration.org

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TESTIMONY

DIVING WITH GOD Emanuel Mfoukou | Photography Pond5, Patrick Bassolo

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”Sharks are not as dangerous as many people tend to think, as they normally don’t attack under the water. The most dangerous threat comes from the barracudas. When you see a barracuda, the last thing to do is to provoke it, if you do, it will disappear and shortly thereafter return with hundreds of its kind, equipped with razor sharp teeth able to swiftly finish you off.”

During the month of April, AriseNow visited the Republic of Congo, a sub Saharan nation located in the Western Parts of Central Africa. Congo is a Christian country and its major income stems from the oil industry, being Africa’s fifth largest oil producer.

While in Pointe Noire, the economical capital of the Congo situated along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, adorned with white sandy beaches and beautiful green palm trees, we met up with Patrik Bassolo, a Christian deep sea diver in the oil industry who told us about his experiences under the sea. He is quite unique given the fact that he is one of a handful native divers, as the majority comes from abroad, mainly Europe.

AriseNow sat down with Patrick at the YesClub restaurant, a Chinese establishment a stone throw from the majestic waves caressing the sea shores of Pointe Noire, which in the past saw millions of its son’s and daughter’s being sold into slavery and shipped to the Americas. To learn more about Patrick’s profession and his relationship to God, we asked him about the daily challenges taking place deep under the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

Patrick started by telling us that he has been in the industry for close to four years and that being an industrial diver cannot be compared to a normal nine to five job in the office. “A diver is qualified to do all kinds of engineering tasks, and when you go under water you do what you are asked to do. When you are offshore you can, for example, be asked to cut a pipe, sometimes they need you to weld, while at other times inspections are required where you have to take photos or videos, or even measurements for further analysis.”

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In 2014 Congo is projected to produce an estimated number of 242 000 barrels per day from it’s over 160 platforms, with each platform being equipped with workers from different countries

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and companies such as ENI, Halliburton, Total or Schlumberger.

The workers, who are performing various tasks and operations, are either being shipped to the platforms or flown by helicopter; the large majority of the platforms are separated for work, while others serve as living quarters. “Being offshore is a hard job, it’s a very difficult environment, and sometimes we are gone for 35 to 40 days, it depends on the job that we have. On the sea there is no such thing as Saturday or Sunday, we work every day, 12 hours a day.”

“On a normal day you wake up at four a clock in the morning, you have your breakfast and then you go to the boat landing. That’s the place where you board the boat that will transport you from the platform holding the living quarters to the rig; as soon as you reach the platform you start to work until six in the evening.”

He continues by explaining that a diver is not allowed to be under water for more than three to four hours per day, depending on the depths. For instance, “if one is diving to depths of over 40 meters, work over one and a half hours is not recommended. For missions over 50 meters, so called remotely operated underwater vehicles, ROV’s, are sent down to finish the requested work.”

Patrick is amazed by the astonishing world under the water, and enthusiastically explains that it is a privilege being able to work in this new world, a world that he wishes everyone could get a glimpse off.

“Every dive is a discovery, each time you discover new creations and new fish, it’s literally a new world. What God has created is so amazing that I cannot even put words to it. Under the water there are creatures that I never seen nor heard of before, including sharks, barracudas and all kinds of different fish.”

Name: Patrick Bassolo Age: 32 years old Residence: Pointe Noire Nationality: Republic of Congo Profession: Industrial Diver

On a normal day you wake up at four a clock in the morning...

“While working in an environment filled with new unfamiliar creatures, it is easy to feel uncomfortable as you have no idea how to behave around these species. But as a Christian, I feel safe when I think about my creator and that he created man to have dominion over all creatures. When I see a shark I know that the shark respects me as I am called to be in charge of it.”

“One day while I was putting together two pipes with some bolts, everything around me got pitch dark, and as I looked up I saw a very huge whale the size of a bus scratching himself on the rig, I was so impressed and I praised God for the rest of that day.”

Patrick getting ready for yet another dive.

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Every dive is a discovery, each time you discover new creations and new fish, it’s literally a new world. What God has created is so amazing that I cannot even put words to it.

When we asked him about his greatest fears while being under the water, he explained that the most common danger is related to failures of the equipment, and that some of the sea creatures can be life threatening if not dealt with in the right way. “Sharks are not as dangerous as many people tend to think, as they normally don’t attack under the water. The most dangerous threat comes from the barracudas. When you see a barracuda, the last thing to do is to provoke it, if you do, it will disappear and shortly thereafter return with hundreds of its kind, equipped with razor sharp teeth able to swiftly finish you off. When you see a barracuda it’s better to just keep on working, don’t play with it or disturb it.”

“I can recall how one day when I was working, and suddenly found myself face to face with a a big barracuda, measuring around 1,50 meter. It tried to provoke me, and find out if I was aggressive or not, but as I managed to keep my calm, it turned away and left.”

“Nevertheless, God is my every day keeper. When I go to work and before I dive, I pray that the God of Israel will be in control of my diving, sometimes I even sing and worship under the water. He is the one who gives me strength and assurance, so when I am in the water I don’t fear, because the bible says that we don’t have to fear as in God there is no fear. He is my savior, my protector and my Lord, He is always with me, and He never leaves my side, not even when I am in depths of 50 meters.” •

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INSIDE ISRAEL

IN THE

FOOTSTEPS

JESUS Emanuel Mfoukou | Photography Emanuel Mfoukou

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“Leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali.”

Nazareth, a city in the lower Galilee, is known for being the city where Jesus grew up. At the age of 30, after being anointed to ministry in the Jordan River, Jesus left Nazareth to set up his headquarters in Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

In order to experience the terrain, see the landscape and understand the conditions Jesus was exposed to while making the journey to Capernaum, AriseNow decided to take on the Jesus trail; a 62 km walk from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee.

On an early Wednesday morning, the day after Israel had celebrated their independence day, Arise started the journey from the territory of Zebulun, with Capernaum and the area of Naphtali as its final destination. The journey started out with a warm sun and cool breeze, and the first leg of the journey proved Israel to be a land of hills and valleys, as the voyage began with a steep and exhausting climb from the place traditionally known to have been the home of Jesus, St Joseph’s Church, towards the top of Nazareth.

From here we rested our eyes on the exotic and timeless landscape from where the bible originated, where after we started our descent surrounded by green pastures and fertile fields.

The first stop of the journey was Zippori, six km north of Nazareth, a city which used to serve as the capital of Galilee. It remained so during the reign of Herod the Great, and after his death in 4 AD, a Jewish revolt against the Romans was carried out and the city was taken over by the Jews. Shortly after the rebellion, the Roman army burnt the city and sold its Jewish population into slavery.

When Herod’s son, Antipas became the ruler of Galilee, he rebuilt Zippori and moved the Galilean capital to Tiberias, named after the Roman Emperor Tiberius. The bible makes no mention of Zippori, but according to tradition, it was the home of Joachim and Anne, the parents of Jesus mother. The Jewish text of Talmud, makes several references to Zippori, and explains that it got its name “because it is perched on top of the mountain like a bird.”

Visiting Zippori was a journey through the annals of time; which offered the opportunity to gaze upon beautiful mosaics and ancient ruins. From Zippori the road took us by way of beautiful landscapes and exceptional views offering a multitude of various fragrances from the many flowers and trees in bloom. The landscape that Jesus once travelled might not have consisted of the same flora as the region hosts today, as estimations have it that some 90 percent of the trees in contemporary Israel have been imported from abroad. However, the mountains, the earth, the stones and the very atmosphere are still the same, and throughout the route we were greeted by traditional biblical trees such as fig, olive and almond. www.arisegeneration.org

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In the distance, between the two rainy mountain tops of Mt Nitai and Mt Arbel, the Sea of Galilee with its many biblical sites.

Some four kilometres walk east of Zippori we came upon the city of Mashhad, a peaceful and picturesque village, home to some 6700 Israeli Arabs. The name of the city translates into holy man, and walking through the city was a breath of fresh air, and an experience in itself, as this city is believed to be built on the remains of the biblical city of Gath-Hefer, the birth town of Prophet Jonah.

miracle, turning water in to wine. Here we enjoyed the hospitality of the residents and sat down for some local food before we visited the traditional site, the Franciscan wedding church of Cana, where it is believed that Jesus performed the miracle. The church hosts two ancient jars claimed to be similar to the ones used by Jesus.

Visiting the cradle of Jonah, one could not help but think of how Jesus, while growing up, might have gazed towards this city, visible from the heights of Nazareth. Thinking about the prophet which he so often referred to in his ministry. It is of further interest to note how the region of Galilee and its cities seemed to have been despised by the people of the land, in those days. Nathanael from Cana, one of Jesus own disciples, even asked the question, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” While the Gospel of John in its turn, reveals how the Pharisees viewed the region, “they answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.” One can but wonder how the scribes could ignore the Galilean origins of Prophet Jonah.

From Cana we followed the orange marked trail north east towards Kibbutz Lavi in the lower Galilee area inhabited by a majority of Israeli Arabs. Their friendly smiles and hospitality was evident as we met along the route. Sounds from a variety of birds, the scent of odours from wild flowers and exceptional views of the landscape in addition to elderly women picking mint leaves in the fields, were some of the experiences before we reached Lavi where we finally could rest our heads.

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Kibbutz Lavi is a hidden gem located a short distance from the Horns of Hattin. It was founded in 1949 by a group of young British Zionists, and takes its name from the Arab village of Lubya which it replaced. In ancient days Lavi was known for its inn, serving travellers as they journeyed between Zippori and Tiberias. Today, Kibbutz Lavi hosts an excellent hotel with some 184

quality rooms. In addition, Lavi Furniture Industries, located of the premises, is known for being a world leader when it comes to the production of various types of furniture for synagogues.

After having walked some 30km in eight hours, both food and water, in addition to a good night’s sleep was well needed and while meditating over the journey the importance of the biblical tradition of feet washing after a long day’s journey, became so much clearer. A nice soak in the water revives, energizes and prepares your feet for new adventures.

Leaving Kibbutz Lavi we set our direction towards the Horns of Hattin, an ancient volcano surrounded by two peaks. Some bible scholars identify this location with the Waters of Merom, the place where Joshua fought the Canaanites, but it is also known for being the place where Saladin conquered the crusaders in the famous battle of Hattin. In order to reach the summit we followed the marked trail through bountiful grazing fields, and came face to face with cows enjoying the grass at the foot of the summit. The short climb to the top was amazing and the view was something out of a fairy tale, from where we in the distance, between the two foggy peaks of Mount Arbel and Mount Nitai were able to see our final destination, the Sea of Galilee.

The whole experience was strengthened by the fact that we were hit by the latter rains. During most of our second day on the road the rain poured down offering a set of new challenges, turning the descent towards the valley of Arbel into a difficult one as the water transformed the dirt road ahead of us into a slippery slope with mud attaching itself to our feet adding several kilos to each step.

On our way to the valley we passed by the shrine of Nabi Shu’ayb, believed by the Druze community to be the tomb of Jethro, the father in law of Moses and the founder of their religion.

”After having walked some 30km in eight hours, both food and water, in addition to a good night’s sleep was well needed and while meditating over the journey the importance of the biblical tradition of feet washing became so mush clearer”

Despite the rain and the mud, the scenery was out of this world as we passed olive groves and wild horses. After several hours of walking we found ourselves at the bottom of the valley, and we now had to start our ascent towards Mount Arbel. On our way up we were met by large amounts of water comparable to a small stream rushing down the hill. As we finally reached the top, we were able to behold the views over the Sea of Galilee, and the biblical landscape hosting sites which was of such importance for Jesus’ ministry and our faith.

Close to the top of Mt Arbel can be found the remains of an ancient synagogue, along with traces of a Jewish settlement believed to have been established around the second temple period. If Jesus ever visited the heights of Mt Arbel is unknown, but given the fact that “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom…” it is almost certain that he beheld the astonishing and breathtaking creation of His father from Mt Arbel.

Hereafter, the trail normally continues by a path descending the steep cliffs of the mount, but as a result of the heavy rain this part

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of the trail was closed for security reasons. Through an alternative route we reached the bottom of the cliffs and began the last leg of the journey from Wadi Hamam to Migdal, Tabgha and finally Capernaum.

The ancient village of Migdal, is known for being the home of Mary Magdalene and was most probably a centre for local fisherman. Continuing onwards through ripe orange fields and areas set apart for various agricultural produce, we crossed road 90 and came to the shores of the Sea of Galilee. From here we continued onwards towards Tagbha, the traditional site where Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes. The etymology of Tabgha takes its roots from the Greek word of Heptapegon, meaning seven springs, Ein Sheva in Hebrew. Some of these springs are still in existence feeding the lake with warm water leading to the growth of algae, which in its turn attracts a large number of fish. This specific area of the Sea of Galilee has therefore been a hot spot for fishermen for thousands of years.

The last stop on our journey took us to Capernaum, Kfar Nahum, the village of Nahum or the comforter, Jesus’ own village, where he set up his ministry and healed Peter’s mother in law from her high fever. It was a true joy knowing that we, just like the Master, had left Nazareth for Capernaum and that after two days and 62 km had finally reached our destination.

In conclusion, after having finished the trail, not in sandals or barefoot, but with modern sneakers, it was so more evident that Jesus and his entourage were a gathering of fit and strong fellows, used to long distance walking.

AriseNow strongly recommends young adults worldwide to set apart time for the Jesus trail; it’s a way to literally walk in the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour. It’s not only 62km of physical exercise, but also a walk filled with biblical history, and a walk packed with revelations and spiritual insights. For maximum enjoyment of the journey it should be done in three to four days during the spring. •

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The city of Cana where Jesus transformed water into wine.

A beautiful

The last stop on our journey took us to Capernaum, Kfar Nahum, the village of Nahum or the comforter, Jesus’ own village, where he set up his ministry The shores of the Sea of Galilee.

l tree located on the top of the horns of Hattin.

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Some of the ancient ruins of the city of Zippori.

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WORLD’S LARGEST SHABBAT DINNER During the month of June, the White City Shabbat, a Tel Aviv based non-profit organisation set up to help people looking to host or participate in a Shabbat meal, made history as they reserved a place for themselves in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Together they organised the largest ever Shabbat dinner, with a total of 2226 people gathering around 80 dining tables in the Port of Tel Aviv. Some of the guests present at the event were dignitaries such as Alan Dershowitz, basketball legend Tal Brody, as well as Ron Huldai, the Mayor of Tel Aviv.

The five course kosher Shabbat meal fulfilled the stringent kashrut laws and consisted of 250 vegetarian plates, 1000 pieces of beef, 1800 pieces of chicken, and 2000 challahs. In addition, 800 bottles of wine, 80 bottles of vodka as well as 50 bottles of whisky helped quench the thirst of the participants.

AriseNow spoke to one of the participants, Tara, a Swedish tourist and first time visitor to Israel about her experiences at the event which she termed as, both unique and remarkable.

“It was an unforgettable experience and extremely interesting to witness how a Shabbat dinner is conducted. Among the people who invited us were the son of a rabbi, and he explained the whole process and answered all the questions we had regarding the dinner. Some of the things that struck me after we had welcomed the Shabbat and prayed were that the men did all the singing and dancing and also served the wine.”

“Another noteworthy remark was to see the various kinds of Jews attending the dinner, and one could clearly differentiate them by looking at the way they were dressed or behaved. In all, the food and the service were excellent, and the whole atmosphere was

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outstanding. Israel is a fantastic country and I would love to come back soon again,” she concluded.

We also had a word with the director of White City Shabbat, Eytan White, who explained that the evening was remarkable. “The atmosphere during the evening was unbelievable, 2226 people came out to participate. It was absolutely amazing. When the judge stood up and announced that we had beaten the record I was hit by an incredible feeling, and I have never experienced anything like that before in my life.”

White continued by clarifying how the whole idea of organising the event came about and that his organisation has been hosting Shabbat meals for several years with some 200 participants each month. “A year ago we thought that it would be amazing to set a world record, so we looked in to it and found out that no one has ever done anything like this before, and figured it would be a great opportunity to host as many people as possible at the same time.”

Finally, White, who spoke to AriseNow via phone from Tel Aviv, explained that he still is recovering from this year’s event, and that he hasn’t ruled out that a similar happening could take place in the future. “We are talking about doing the same thing next year again, and we really hope that someone will be able to break our record as soon as possible. One of the goals and main points with the whole thing was to bring publicity to the Shabbat, and to explain why we feel it’s important. If no one is able to break our record we just have to break it ourselves,” he concluded. •

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REPORT

ARISE

ON THE ROAD

During the month of May, Arise visited the city of Maribor in Slovenia. For four days we had the opportunity to minister to the city and meet with amazing people all hungry for the word of God. The Arise International Director Jani Salokangas preached in multiple locations as well as connecting with local church leaders. Arise keeps pressing the message of the importance to love one another despite our differences, along with teaching the upcoming generation about God’s purposes for Israel.

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HOME

THE BNEI MENASHE ARE COMING BACK HOME

> ALIYAH

The term which explains the process of moving back to, or return to Israel, goes under the name aliyah, which in Hebrew means to ascend or to go up; its antonym used for individuals moving out of the Holy land is yerida, which means to descend.

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The Jewish people have used the term aliyah since the time of the Babylonian exile, and it is interesting to note that the bible always refers to the going up or down from Jerusalem. This has to do with the location of the city, situated some 757 meter above sea level. The bible tells us that “They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way…” “…Jesus replied and said, a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho…”

Last month, AriseNow had the opportunity to witness the process of aliyah in 3D, as a group of Bnei Menashe, Jews from North Eastern India returned to the land of their fore fathers after thousands of years in exile. A short while after they had landed on Israeli soil and reached the arrival hall at Ben Gurion, Israel’s international airport, we spoke to a couple of the excited and thrilled 40 new comers, men, women and children, about to start a new life in Israel.

While waiting for the group we had a word with 22 year old Asaf who for the occasion was dressed in his IDF uniform. He explained to us with excitement in his eyes that he was there to welcome his grandmother who he hadn’t seen since leaving India for Israel six years ago. “I am very excited, I haven’t seen her for six years, so I am pretty thrilled as you can imagine. When I arrived in Israel, it was like a dream come true.

Everything was very new to me, it was like a new world, and I had to start all over again. It’s a great feeling to be back in the land of my fore fathers, so I am well aware of the feelings my grandmother is going through at this moment.”

When we asked him about the fact that Christians from around the world through the ICEJ had paid for their flight he gave us a big smile and said, “It’s a great mitzvah, and a great charity; it is written in the bible that the return of the Jews shall be aided by the gentiles. We are all the children of God, everyone, and the building of Israel does not only depend on the people here but also on all the people who support it. So I am very grateful that you have supported us and brought us back home, thank you very much,” he concluded.

Surrounded by 40 new comers and their families singing the Hatikva, the national anthem of Israel, we once again caught up with Asaf who now was reunited with his grandmother Sarah. The atmosphere between the two as they hugged and kissed was one of love and happiness, “I am very excited and thankful to finally be in Israel, and extremely happy to see my grandchild,” Sarah explained, before she, hand in hand with Asad, headed towards the bus that would take her to her new home. •

“I have always looked forward coming to Israel, and before our arrival we prepared by studying Hebrew and learning about the life over here.”

As the group reached the arrival hall we spoke to one of the new comers, Yochannan, who explained that he was both happy and excited to finally stand with his feet on Israeli soil, together with his wife and two children.

“I have always looked forward coming to Israel, and before our arrival we prepared by studying Hebrew and learning about the life over here.

It’s going to be great living in Israel; I have no doubt about that. Coming here is like reconnecting with my spiritual roots, and I can feel that I have been re-elevated; I am very happy and excited.” If we have faith God will lead us. So I am not afraid, the community of Bnei Menasshe will do their best.

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CULTURE

HOOKED ON MATKOT

Emanuel Mfoukou | Photography Emanuel Mfoukou

Some the most popular sports in Israel are without doubt football, basketball and tennis, sports which each year draws hundreds of thousands of supporters to the many arenas across Israel. Also popular are road bikes and mountain bikes and in the early hours of Shabbat Israeli bikers is a common view along the Israeli roads across the country. Besides these common athletic disciplines, there is yet another sport which lies close to the heart of many Israelis, at least if one is to believe Amnon Nisim, a 69 years old Matkot enthusiast from Tel Aviv who has turned his home in to the world’s only Matkot museum.

Matkot means racket in Hebrew, and is the Israeli name for paddle ball or beach tennis. If you have visited the beaches of Israel, from Nahariya in the north to Ashkelon in the south you have most likely been exposed to the sport. You might not have taken an active part in the game, but as you have rested your head on the sun beds or shared a meal with your friends in one of the many beach restaurants along the sandy beaches of Israel, the sound created by the multitudes of balls hitting the rackets have in one way or another reached you ear drums. On Israeli beaches, the sound of matkot is just as common as the sound of the waves themselves.

In order to find out more about this Israeli phenomenon, by some referred to as Israel’s national sport, AriseNow paid a visit to Amnon in his home in the popular neighborhood of Neve Tzedek in the south western parts of Tel Aviv. Neve Tzedek was founded in 1887 and was the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, when we met with Amnon who have lived in the neighborhood from his early childhood; he revealed that his parents made aliyah to Israel from 46 AriseNow

the colony of Aden, today the Republic of Yemen, in 1935.

“I moved to Neve Tzedek with my parents when I was six years old, back then the neighborhood was very different compared to today, and we could see the ocean from the window.

“I started to play matkot when I moved here, and since then I have played every day, for 63 years. As a child I used to play on the streets outside the house, as they back then were made of sand.”

When we ask him why matkot is such a popular game, he answers that he believes its popularity is connected to the fact that people from all social backgrounds are able to play it, as it’s not an expensive sport. On top of that it’s an individual game and you don’t have to pay attention to your teammates like in football.

“Matkot is special for Israel, and everywhere you can find a beach, from Nahariya, Haifa, Netanya, Herzeliya, Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, and Askhelon, matkot is played. It makes you happy, and if I play matkot during the day, I am able to sleep like a child the following night,” Amnon explains On the question of when matkot reached Israel, the king or president of matkot, as Amnon is called, explains that the sport is over 80 to 90 years old, maybe even 100.

To show proof he pulls out a black and white photo dated 1931 showing a woman playing the popular game somewhere along the Israeli shoreline.

He continues by commenting on how the quality of the rackets throughout the years has changed.

“There are many cheap rackets on the market, especially from China, but the best ones are Made in Israel,” Amnon clarifies, takes a racket,

bunches the ball and tells us to listen to the particular sound that appears when the ball hits the racket. “It’s like music to your ears,” he exclaims, highlighting that the game can be played all around the year regardless of seasons, “if it rains, you stop and continue as soon as the rain is over.”

There is no doubt that Amnon got a deep passion for matkot. His house is decorated with hundreds of rackets of different forms, shapes, and styles, and already before entering his home one is able to see dozen of rackets surrounding the windows of his house. On the inside, the rooms are covered with rackets, trophies and photos of Amnon and his friends playing matkot.

“I have had my house decorated like this for 10 years, and in total I have over 300 matkots on the inside and outside of the house, this has led people to refer to my home as the palace of matkot,”Amnon explains.

Amnon Nisim outside his house in Neve Tzedek

”People are visiting me every day, and some days there are more than 20 people here.” He is unsure of how many people that have passed through the doors throughout the years, but a sure thing is that hundreds if not thousands of people have visited since he opened up for the public. He shows us two large guest books, with a third soon to finish, filled with names of people who have left Amnon a note with their views on the world’s only matkot museum. In the book are notes from large international TV stations such as BBC and Tele Madrid, but also from the Mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Hulda.

”I have had my house decorated like this for 10 years, and in total I have over 300 matkots...”

In conclusion, Amnon explains that a visit to Israel is not complete without a game of matkot. “Matkot is a very good game, everybody can play it, it’s good for your heart and it will definitely make you happy.” •

JERUNSALEM

13.3.2015

COME AND RUN THROUGH HISTORY AND GET TO KNOW THE BIBLE IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL IN AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS WHO LOVE SPORT AND JESUS. MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON

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From these sea shores in Jaffa, Jonah boarded a ship and left for Tarshish.

BUT JONAH ROSE TO FLEE TO TARSHISH FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. HE WENT DOWN TO JOPPA AND FOUND A SHIP GOING TO TARSHISH. SO HE PAID THE FARE AND WENT DOWN INTO IT, TO GO WITH THEM TO TARSHISH, AWAY FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. JONAH 1:3

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FEAST of TABERNACLES PRESENTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES Highlight the dates, October 10-15 in your calendars. This is when the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, the ICEJ, will open up the doors for the yearly Feast of Tabernacles celebrations. This year’s theme is Restoration, and it will truly be a feast with Jesus in the centre as thousands of people from all corners of the world will gather in Jerusalem to celebrate the King of the Jews, Jesus Christ. The Feast can in many ways be compared to the stories from the book of Acts, where people of all colours, tongues and languages came together in unity to big up the Most High, and to exalt His name which forever is above all other names.

Such a multicultural event with thousands of participants would not be possible unless the body of Christ comes together as one, with all of us using our God given gifts for the Kingdom. It is not an easy task to organize an event of this calibre and it requires hard work. The bible says that we all are members of one body and in order for the body to work correctly in harmony, all members must do their part, and it is the same thing with all the different departments working to make the Feast a success. Not one part of the body is less important than the other, and they all need one another to function to the fullest. Just like the speakers are in need of the sound technicians, so are the dancers depending on the musicians, and if it weren’t for the usher’s, nurses or security guards the Feast would not be the same.

If you feel called to with us and we will team. It’s an oppor

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Volunteer Registration

Tina Hartikainen, Finland This year I am volunteering in the Registration department, it’s been quite tough but much fun. We are in charge of the badges for all groups and pilgrims that come to the Feast and we are also selling tickets. One of the biggest challenges for us is when big groups with over 30 people come. Then one has to try to remain calm and focused. If you get along with people and like to meet new ones I suggest you should try and volunteer for the registration department next year.

Pilgrim

Clinton Zhen, 24, Singapore I came to Israel with my father who is an experienced traveller in Israel. The Feast of Tabernacles has been amazing and I have really been touched by the Lord through the worship. Every morning I get touched by the Lord. The messages given by the speakers have all been very edifying and given me fresh revelations from the Lord.

Pilgrim Pilgrim

Christabelle, 22, Canada This year’s Feast has been really great, and I can tell that all the speakers have been touched by God. The messages that I have received have been really relevant to my life. I would like to encourage other young Christians from the world to come to Israel, it’s an experience that they will never forget.

Volunteer Singer

Dorothy Bedford, USA. Singer Singing at the Feast is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I feel it is an opportunity to get a glimpse into heaven.

Seeing all different types of people, different languages, and different cultural backgrounds come together to honour the ONE TRUE GOD, Jehovah. It’s really special. Everyone should be afforded this experience at least once in their lifetime. After all, isn’t that what the FEAST is, a rehearsal for what will truly be?

During the Feast of 2013, 178 volunteers from different countries came together to work in various capacities in order to make the Feast a reality. This year we are once again asking for your support. All ages are welcome to participate, but as Arise, the young adult chapter of the ICEJ, we are especially urging all young adults to come up to Jerusalem and give a couple of days of their time to the service of the Lord.

Bethany, 20 Australia I love the conference, it’s pretty transforming, and it has impacted me a whole lot so far. I can’t wait to see what’s next in store. Young adults should come visit next year’s feast, they will surely be empowered.

Volunteer Music

Tim Malilin, 25 Philippines. Bass guitar To see the nations, every nation serving one God, one Jesus and one voice, is amazing. Another thing is that you get attached to the feast family, and it doesn’t go away. You are excited to see them, and you are excited to meet new people.

Volunteer Translation

Maren, 31, Germany. Translation In the translation department we are trying to translate simultaneously.

Sometimes it can be challenging to translate fast speakers, especially in the mornings, but I still love it very much. I would definitely recommend others to come and volunteer in the translation department. It’s one thing that the job is fun, but even more, the whole volunteer community thing is amazing. We all live together with the dancers and the musicians and there are all types of people from all countries and it’s just fun, everyone is waiting for the next year to see one another again and some are coming back year after year, it’s really fun.

o join us in Jerusalem this October, don’t procrastinate, get in touch l find you a place on the 2014 Feast of Tabernacles Feast volunteer rtunity of a life time which you will never forget.

j.org/volunteer-1

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