A quick recap of the Israeli week... and then on to Eastern Ukraine...
We received a quick note from Pastor Jerry this morning that after flying from Chernivtsi at 4am to Kiev, followed by a LONG train ride to Eastern Ukraine - he has arrived safely in Kharkiv and is off to bed! While he sleeps after a very long day, please take a moment to read the recap below of their time prior to this in Israel... Our time in Israel was focused on meetings around a very difficult division over the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast. We only have one enemy but he is always lurking around looking for away to hurt the work of Christ. None of the Christians or Messianic Jews are permitted to attend even though they are citizens of Israel and have devoted their lives to serving the Lord and their beloved Israel! This is not what we promised each other at the beginning and nothing has changed as we enter the third year of this Breakfast. It is very wrong and disheartening. I made one last attempt during our week there to appeal to the brother I helped to start this event but after an hour and a half, the meeting ended abruptly and in a contentious manner. I have asked for three years that we all be patient and see if this schism could be made right but to no avail. So we feel like God is calling a number of us to move in a different direction...but still praying that the broken relationships can be healed and that we can all move together again in love, for Christ's sake. Apart from this one difficult meeting we had many joy-filled times to renew friendships, share meals and dream for the work in Israel. I also had a couple of times to share at meetings that seemed especially Spirit-filled and moving! Sue was a critical part of all these meetings and shared with great wisdom as we tried to navigate through some new waters with many old and new friends! Our home stay was with Vasily and Luda Zakharchuk, originally from Ukraine but now on staff at Beit Hallel Church. Vasily is a wonderful youth leader, mentor and servant! Luda has a law degree in both the Ukraine and Israel, which has been a critical asset to Beit Hallel as they face much persecution as the only Messianic church in Ashdod... In the picture of the woman holding the little girl, you’ll see Luda Zakharchuk and their miracle child, Sharo'n. They had prayed for a child for many years! On one of our trips we prayed together and asked God for a miracle baby. Before we returned the next year this wonderful gift of God was in their arms... The newest member of Pastor Israel's family- Sasson and Sophie's new daughter Skye... Sue and I had a dinner Sunday evening with Ari Sorko-Ram and his wife Shira. They began the Messianic movement and the first Messianic church for Jewish believers in Israel almost 40 years ago! They are still going strong and representing Christ, Israel and God's unique call on Israel all over the World! I think they have ministry centers in over a dozen Countries now! Our ministries keep intersecting and we are dreaming together with other leaders in Israel about God's next steps for bringing light not only to Israel but through Israel to the World! Being with people whose whole life revolves around serving Yeshua is a great joy and a tremendous encouragement! Some of the Israeli leaders from Beit Hallel with two dear sisters who spoke at the women's conference. Sue with leaders and speakers at the culmination of a wonderful Conference! After our time in Israel, we flew together to Kiev, where Jerry "peeled off" for the Ukraine National Prayer Breakfast and then headed one more time to Chernivitsi to finish up there before heading East. Sue changed planes, then flew to Gatwick England before the final leg home for her to Seattle.