Thursday May 4
On the day of the outreach, one team member had an emergency dental procedure which required a lot of anesthesia affecting her face. By faith, she decided to start out that evening although the effects had not yet worn off. The team of two was thrilled to note that after leaving the first home, full feeling had returned.
At one home, the housekeeper was finally convinced to come to the door and receive the gift set for the owners.
One home had the biggest mezuzah on a private home ever seen by the team — 10 inches by 3 inches! Immediately upon answering, the middle-aged man asked if they saw Jesus in the Tanakh. They said there were nearly countless messianic prophecies He fulfilled from there and began a short conversation with him. Although he refused the set, he accepted the tract on anti-Semitism and a bookmark of messianic prophecy.
Afterwards, the team saw a beautiful rainbow in the sky, which was an encouragement of God’s faithfulness to His covenants. Another set was given to a man at his door without much conversation since he was busy.
At another home, they encountered an older woman who said she was “just babysitting”. The more they spoke to her, the more she opened up and said she would give the set to her son, who was returning from a business trip out of town. Just then, the Uber drove up the driveway and the son got out, making the dogs escape to greet him. The happy reunion began, so the team decided to leave but regretted not feeling free to offer the woman a set for herself.
Next door, there was no answer, but while still waiting there, the son yelled over to the team, asking who they were with. They immediately offered to return to speak to him. While walking over, they met the grandmother at her car and offered her a set of her own! She happily received it, hearing it was important to read Isaiah 53 right away. She returned to the house and the four began a long discussion.
The son was more traditional than religious, saying it was just as important to hold Jewish values as to read the Jewish Scriptures. He emphasized how Jews must never assimilate. One team member then shared that as a teenager she wanted to join a sometimes-violent Jewish group that actively opposes assimilation. The son jumped in and said he had been a long-time member, as was his father. The grandmother said her husband would be called in the middle of the night to intervene in situations. The team also spoke of cultural Jewish practices, which put the two at ease as they reminisced about past ways of life.
May they all be drawn to Messiah!
Friday, May 5th
2 gift sets, 2 Tanakh, and 2 bibles were given by Team 1.
Team #1 report
On a very sunny and warm day this team of two ladies met a Jewish man who received the set. Accepting the anti-Semitism pamphlet he commented, “It will never end”. They then informed him that anti-Semitism will end when the Messiah returns and he said very strongly, “I will be dead by then!” They expressed their belief to him that the Messiah had already come and taking the bookmark out they showed him the verse in Isaiah 53 and asked him to take the time to read it as it was very descriptive. They showed him the verse in Daniel 9:26 where it speaks of the coming of the Messiah before the destruction of the 2nd temple in 70 AD. They also pointed to Messiah’s return in Zechariah 12:10. They told him, “If you have a searching heart, God will show you the truth. Handing him the Brit Chadashah, they said that it was in that book that they would find the writings of the fulfillment of His first coming. He was very thankful. The team rejoiced and were grateful for the pleasant conversation.
A set in English was given to a man who did not want to take the anti-Semitism pamphlet. Shortly after, a Tanakh was given to a man wearing a kippa. He was surprised at receiving such a lovely gift and was also given the Isaiah 53 leaflet and the bookmark.
A woman received an English bible while she was waiting for her son and grandson to meet her. She was also given the business card so that she had the contact information and website where she would find the site to listen to the Word.
A French bible was given to two Muslim sisters who did not believe that Jesus was divine. One of them said, “How can he remove sin if he was not divine?” The team responded “Exactly, He was divine! He was completely man and completely God”. They were advised to read Proverbs 30:4 (Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know?) The team also shared that they could read Isaiah 9:6 to see His divine authority as well as in John 14:6 when Yeshua himself stated, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”.
The team was very thankful for the conversations they had and praised God for His goodness.
Team #2 report
4 English gift sets, 1 Brit Chadashah, 1 Tanakh, 2 French bibles and 1 English bible, as well as about 20 anti-Semitism pamphlets were given.
A team member had a long conversation with a Gentile Orthodox woman regarding her salvation and the cleansing of sin. She explained to the woman that we were all sinners and in need of salvation. She told her that salvation was not through a religion or about being good and explained the gospel to her. She said that she had her own bible so was advised to go to the New Testament and read John Chapter 3 where Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again”. The woman did not understand that she was a sinner and so she was offered the pamphlet on anti-Semitism and encouraged to continue to read the scriptures. This was a very pleasant conversation.
A Muslim man listened closely while the team member gave him the Jewish viewpoint on Yeshua being more than just a prophet. She told him that Yeshua was the Messiah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and surprisingly the man replied, “Before Abraham, I am!” Agreeing, she said that God is in the past, the present and the future, so Yeshua was the God of Israel. He accepted the anti-Semitism pamphlet and he said he was very aware of this problem.
A pamphlet was given to a religious man with a kippa and later a Jewish Orthodox man accepted a bookmark. Interestingly the next man she met was wearing a kippa and he too took a pamphlet. She offered him the set but he refused.
A French set was given to a Jewish lady who worked at the synagogue. Taking the set and looking the books over, she accepted them and thanked her. Two other sets were given but the conversations were very short although thanks was expressed on the part of the recipient.
Finally, a Jewish man was met on the sidewalk not in the parking lot and he received the Brit Chadashah but refused the Tanakh while just after, a Polish lady requested a French bible.
The team noticed that there were not as many secular Jewish people at the mall again but that the Orthodox Jewish people had become more open to receiving the pamphlets and sets. The team sees great seeding taking place and God’s hand upon the hearts of those who received the sets and other scriptures. Both teams were very thankful for all the prayers and supplications for the outreaches.
Monday May 8 (Door to Door)
The team of two women set out to continue in the same Jewish area as on Thursday, May 4. The first three homes immediately and gladly received the gift sets as they offered Shavuot (Pentecost) tracts on the great love story between Boaz and Ruth. The holiday begins on Thursday, May 25 at sundown this year and ends on Saturday, at nightfall on May 27.
A couple of homeowners said they wouldn’t read the books, but took tracts to read the love story in Ruth.
A long discussion ensued with a mother who was watching over her children playing in the street. Saying she had gone to Jewish schools, she didn’t want the Brit Chadeshah but was happy to receive a Tanakh, bookmark, and Shavuot tract.
In all, six sets were given out, with only one home refusing all that was offered. After some explanation, the six accepted the Brit Chadeshah as being “kosher” Jewish Second Temple literature with fulfillment of messianic prophecy. The team was able to suggest they immediately read Isaiah 53 and Matthew.
The team will be back out in the neighborhood tonight as you receive this email. Would you consider taking a few minutes to pray for open doors and hearts to receive the precious Word of God — both the Scriptures and the promised Messiah? We are so grateful for your support in prayer.