OCTOBER 2009 NEWSLETTER
The INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR writes Dear friends,
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The prophecies of Ezekiel 36 illustrate that Aliyah is much more than a people returning to Israel, their true homeland; it is about the multiple blessings God desires to bring, especially the transformation of people’s hearts to love and obey Him. It is about the restoration of His people and a restoration of the Land He is returning them to. At the heart of this chapter God shows the nations who He really is – holy, all powerful, a keeper of His covenant promises. In the closing verses He reveals also the place of Israel – Close to His heart. What an awesome privilege we have in Ebenezer - Operation Exodus to serve the living God and I am reminded of what Jesus said in Luke 17:10 ‘So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do’. This is how we must approach our task and in this way God receives all the Glory – it can be no other way. As we enter the final three months of 2009, we want to give thanks to the Lord as we see His unfolding plans in the nations and for all that has been achieved this year – thus far. Our teams in the fSU continue to help and support nearly eight out of ten of those making Aliyah from the regions where we operate, which is a wonderful tribute and testimony to the faithfulness of our dedicated workers throughout this vast operational area. At the same time we are moving forward with our strategy to pass over greater responsibility to the church under the direction of our fSU leadership team and fSU Advisory Board, which includes senior church leaders. We see this as a vital step of preparation for the days ahead as we sense things could change suddenly in this region. In the west it has been a great blessing to work with the Jewish Agency supporting Aliyah flights from South Africa and the UK. It is wonderful to see and experience the bond of trust that exists between Ebenezer-Operation Exodus and the Jewish Agency in many nations which is born of a long association with the ministry and our commitment to stand alongside the Jewish people and Aliyah. We have a great responsibility before the Lord to teach the next generation. In July Operation Exodus, under the leadership of Andy Ernst and Roger Wolcott, took to Israel a party of 51 young people in their twenties and thirties, from 12 nations. Each young person had the task of raising their own funding for this trip and the programme, organised by Andy, included leadership training through teaching, worship, prayer and practical service. A large number of those taking part in the ‘Israel Project’ were experiencing their first trip to the Land. Andy reports ‘God stirred up a love for Israel in our hearts as well as drawing us all closer to Him. I can see a mighty army of young people going back to their nations to be key leaders to influence their peers and churches with what they have learnt’. You will read a full account from Andy in the winter bulletin and we will be considering plans for another trip in 2010. We have now finalised our International Accounts for 2008 and I want to let you know that 96% of the money given to Ebenezer International from the nations during this period was spent on our direct operational costs. We are aiming for a similar percentage this year. So far in 2009 giving to EEFI is down by approximately 14% against budget, but once again the Lord has met all our bills and provided for a number of unbudgeted projects. As we give thanks to the Lord for his wonderful provision can I also ask you to pray for the funds that are needed to cover all our commitments in the final quarter? Please keep all those responsible for our finances in prayer as we desire to be good stewards of all that the Lord gives into our care. We are an intercessory ministry with a prophetic task and I want to thank you all for Cont. pg 4 1
fSU OPERATIONS Irkutsk The pastor of a church admitted that he was Jewish. He suggested that Ebenezer should hold a seminar dedicated to Israel in his church. He also offered his help with the transportation of potential olim from Usolie to Irkutsk.
Kazakhstan A church provided accommodation for the olim for two days before their flights. A brother from the town of Lengher interceded for the olim from 2 until 7am. He was praying for their safe trip from Almaty to Moscow and from Moscow to Tel-Aviv. He said that the Lord had stirred him up to pray for the olim during the long hours of their journey.
Belarus A couple from Belarus, who are open to serve Jewish people in any possible way recently accompanied Viktor in Ukraine to see how Viktor took two Sunday church services. Viktor and Tanya explained our vision to reach the churches and encourage them to help Jewish people locally and especially in time of need. The four of them then went to Belarus where Viktor visited and preached in churches. The last Sunday evening service was special as no one wanted to leave the church and continued in prayer, songs and testimony for a further hour. The Lord has plans for Belarus and He is fulfilling them – Hallelujah!
Kiev We praise the Lord that a third of the money in our account in has been released. Please continue to: ▪ exalt the name & the word of the Lord over this situation praying for the release of all God's finances for His purposes to help His people return to the land
UKRAINE Central Region Romanchuk family DNA tests - Vadim has been in touch with Consul Felix and he connected with the lady lawyer from Israel whom Irina Romanchuk visited when she was in Ukraine. Irina is still focussed on the tests being completed even if the complicated procedures extend over a long time. The lawyer expressed willingness to help with the DNA tests and gave advice concerning possible ways forward. The Israeli
court will make the decision about the place where the blood tests will be taken. The DNA analysis will be carried out in an Israeli laboratory. If permission is not given for blood tests in Ukraine it will mean Irina and her husband's brother must go to Israel with one of her sons to begin with. After a positive result for one boy we'll have to take the rest of the 9 children to Israel for the blood tests to be taken and DNA analyses to be done. The lawyer explained that boys’ DNA tests can show up to a 90% positive relationship, but with the girls, even though they can be true children, the result can show only 50%. The lawyer also said that even if all the children were recognised as biological children of Irina's husband it will not automatically give her the right to make aliyah with the children. After the DNA test the completion of court procedures will take 4-6 months. Please pray for: ▪ the decision of the Israeli court to be positive in allowing the blood tests to be taken in Ukraine & then sent to Israel for the girls’ test results to be true & accurate Proclamation: ‘Ah, LORD GOD! Behold, You have
made the heavens & the earth by Your great power & outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.’ Jeremiah 32:17
CENTRAL ASIA Kyrgyzstan Efim shares that there is movement among the potential olim! One reason may be because the former head of the Jewish Agency has returned thank you for your prayers. She has a very good database and therefore knows a lot about potential olim. Efim is working closely with her and they have been negotiating with the head of the Jewish charity Hesed for a new list of families. Efim asks for prayer for a single database of all Jewish people in Kyrgyzstan to be compiled, as this would help a lot with the work and result in a considerable growth in aliyah. Efim says that a number of Jewish families postponed their aliyah for different personal reasons and he and the team would like to focus their efforts on these families of potential olim. They visited seven such families in July with the purpose of encouraging them to consider the importance of returning to the land. Please pray for: ▪ this particular way forward to be prospered by the Lord ▪ a single database of all the Jewish people in Kyrgyzstan to be compiled to aid this strategy
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There is a faithful commitment to prayer and giving across the regions, particularly from individual RUSSIA believers and members of home-groups where Valodya and Luba and team members have contact. Tomsk A number of church fellowships are giving financial Church members have come forward to be joined to help to Jewish people in need. An example of this prayer and home groups together with some new relates to a Jewish family needing financial help in volunteer helpers for the ministry. order to cover the travelling expenses incurred when making trips to the Consular appointments. Tomsk A problem with direct flights to Israel still Christian Centre congregation gave donations for persists, despite the fact that an agreement this. A monthly inter-church prayer meeting is held; between the two airlines has been signed. the team have a great desire for the Lord to open Please pray for: the hearts of all pastors of the local congregations ▪ regular direct flights from Rostov to TelAviv for the vision to be shared in their churches. ▪ a smooth paperwork process for all the potential olim in Krasnodar region In the other regions Visiting the Jewish communities is fruitful and new families have been found. Fellowship with pastors WEST AFRICA and congregations opens doors to hold seminars and to speak at Sunday services. In Omsk the inter- Burkina Faso church prayer meeting is going very well and a Work with the Churches - We give thanks to the prayer letter is an important vehicle to bring prayer Lord for the expansion of OE’s Ministry and the requests to everyone’s attention. It is still possible to increased number of invitations from churches and meet with Jewish families, who never heard about ministries to hear more about the return of the Jews their right, and opportunity, to make aliyah! Valery to their home land. Please pray for: in Irkutsk took a trip across Buryatia, which was ▪ the churches that have promised to create very fruitful and blessed. Many contacts were made a special offering box in favour of the with both potential olim and believers. Please pray return of the Jews to follow through for: ▪ the seed sown in seminars, in prayer Bobo Dioulasso - Glory to God! Lucie has shared letters, & all communication with believers the message of aliyah at the radio station twice a will cause hearts to be stirred to greater week for 40 minutes. Many people have responded involvement in the ministry of aliyah and visited Lucie and the Director General said this ▪ the Jewish people to hear the word gladly was ‘divine success’. We plan to start a prayer group & have courage to go home here for aliyah, and a box for offering was proposed by the director. Our volunteer, Hysse, a teacher for Pyatigorsk Base (Caucasus) Israel at the radio station called ‘The voice of Israel’ In the Republic of Alania the team spent two weeks is looking at the distribution of magazines in Bobo. cleaning the Jewish cemetery. They were led to this in the knowledge that many Jewish people refuse to Pray for: make aliyah because they do not want to leave the ▪ his protection, as he steps out in faith to graves of their relatives. Therefore, the teams’ take this message & that the Lord would assistance with cleaning the graves enable many accomplish the fullness of His Kingdom Jewish families to see that if they leave the graves purposes through Hysse of their relatives it would not mean they are abandoned and allowed to go to ruin. Thanksgiving for: ▪ the increase in donations – it is amazing how Rostov-on-Don gifts come from villages saying:‘We rejoiced Appreciation and commitment! At a meeting in particularly at the gift from a church in Gna Gna the Synagogue, the head of the local Jewish and BoBo region’. We have not often met with community, said to Valodya: ‘We are so grateful to the congregation, but we regularly send them
you for your help! Your financial aid in the time of an economic crisis is the display of your sincere love for Jewish people’.
magazines and the prayer letter.
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Is the Lord Stirring Your Heart to Serve? Are you ready for a challenge?
Do you have three months to give?
We are looking for:
Committed born again believers, 20 years of age and upwards, who are able to hear and obey God’s leading. Those with a deep love or calling for the Jewish people and for Israel. Servants, who sacrificially give their lives to the Lord for His purposes. For good teamwork and relationships, volunteers must be able to communicate fluently in English and to submit to leadership and one another in humility. It is an advantage to be able to speak some Russian, but in most cases translators work alongside volunteers. Volunteers must be healthy and able to endure, with patience and flexibility- both physically and emotionally. If you feel this is for you please contact our office at admin@eefa.org.au or phone 07 4729 1243 Cont. from pg 1
Shalom Israel Seminar 1-Day Melbourne Seminar “The Planet in Turmoil” Presented by
Murray Dixon Saturday 24th October 2009 10:30 am to 5pm Venue New Hope Baptist Church Crn Middleborough & Springfield Rds, BLACKBURN Nth
$10 donation—please pay at door For catering purposes please contact Pat on (03) 9857 7216 Other eateries are available around the venue also.
IFI CONFERENCE Jerusalem 2010 Conference: Jan 25th – 1st Feb
your loyal service and faithfulness in prayer – what you sow into the ministry is unto the Lord. We have all witnessed a severe shaking in the nations and I believe this will continue, with periods of apparent calm followed by periods of sudden and unexpected change. Under the Lord’s leading we must, therefore, continue to prepare for the days ahead, accepting the reality that we can never be ‘fully’ prepared. I want to finish by quoting something shared by Joan Thomas in the Prayer Alert for September and October, which is so appropriate for the whole ministry. ‘For a number of years we have been praying for Operation Exodus to be prepared to move into God’s plans for us in this new season – we have been challenged with change and development – and God’s grace has gone before each step taken. Our understanding now is that the Lord is speaking specifically to those of us who are called to pray and intercede, seeking to impress us afresh to open our hearts to one another across our national boundaries with a willingness to stand in the gap, committing time and energy in prayer, for the return of the ultimate remnant of the Jewish people that is to be brought back from the four corners of the earth.” May we be that one instrument in His hand as we pray and serve the Lord and may all be to His Glory! Alan Field International Coordinator Bournemouth
Prayer Tour to follow: 1st – 6th Feb For more information & invitations please contact Sonia at sonia@ifij.org
EBENEZER EMERGENCY FUND AUST, INC. BSB: 064 817 Account: 1049 7103 C’wealth Bank, Flinders Street, T’ville, 4810
Local ‘Exodus’ Prayer Meetings Ringwood VIC — 2nd Tues of the month. 7.30pm. Contact Pat Whiffin (03) 9876 2212 Adelaide SA—4th Monday of the month. 7.30pm Contact Andrew & Cynthia (08) 8272 2213 Kotara Sth NSW—3rd Friday of the month. Contact Kevin & Jan Lewis (02) 4957 2923 Turramurra Sth NSW—4th Tues of the month. Contact Peter & Fiona Stucken (02) 9482 4692 CHAIRMAN - Rev. Tom Jewett, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN - Peter Stucken, ADMINSTRATOR - Grace Denison
Address: PO Box 8029 Garbutt BC, Garbutt Qld, 4814 Phone: (07) 4729 1243 Email: admin@eefa.org.au 4