Wednesday, April 9th
4 sets, 1 Tanakh, 1 Brit Chadashah and 2 Bibles were given.
On this day a team of 3 were at a local shopping mall. It was quiet and so they did not stay long at this place. However they did give out a number of Passover pamphlets and had several conversations with Gentile shoppers.
One young, Jewish woman was approached and satisfied that she was over 18, the team offered her a Tanakh. She happily took the book along with the Passover pamphlet.
Another young lady was approached while she was putting groceries in her car. They offered her the Passover pamphlet and a gift set. She was pleased to hear the team speak about Jesus and that is when she told them that her husband was Jewish and that she had converted to Judaism. She happily took the gift set and thanked the team.
At this point the team left and went to another shopping mall in the area. A bible was given to a man who did not follow any religion but wanted to have the gift set. He was told that they would offer him a bible instead which he took, and he was thankful. He was also given the Beth Ariel contact card and instructed as to where he could find the website and teachings as well, and he was invited to the congregation. Many Passover pamphlets were given at this mall and some were offered gift sets but when they saw the Brit Chadashah, they turned down the offer.
Then as the team went towards the sidewalk, they met a Jewish, Moroccan woma who spoke French and stated that she was raised in Israel. She was touched to receive the beautiful Passover pamphlet and although she was offered the Tanakh, she refused saying that she had many books. They then spoke about the Brit Chadashah and the woman exclaimed that Jesus was a Jew. The team was happy that she recognized this fact and they spoke to her about the kapara (sin covering) and the blood atonement. They explained that although the temple is not present today where they could go to have their sins forgiven, another more perfect way was offered through the acceptance of the blood atonement given through the Messiah who had come and will return to rule and reign in Jerusalem. Hearing this she gave the team her name and took the Brit Chadashah and contact card and spoke a Jewish blessing over them. She was invited to visit the congregation and told if she wanted a home visit from them or had questions she could call the office number.
One of the team members met an American Jewish man who was very happy to take the gift set stating that he could not believe that he was being offered such a beautiful gift for free. He thanked the team member and received the Passover pamphlet. The man began to read the pamphlet and said, “Let’s celebrate!”. He was then offered the anti-Semitism pamphlet and here he was very touched and astounded by the love he was receiving from the team member.
Another man who received a Passover pamphlet also received a Tanakh.
Another man was offered a bible and when he accepted it he told the team member that he was a former Muslim but did not practice his faith. He then told the team member that he was very happy because he could now look through the words and see who Jesus really was because he wanted to know if he was a prophet or more.
One of the team members had to leave at this point but they continued for a short while giving out anti-Semitism tracts to non-Jewish people. The remaining two team members continued and met a young woman who they gave two sets to. In the beginning of the encounter, they thought that she was not Jewish but later on through the conversation, they found out that her mother was Jewish, and they told her that she too was Jewish. One of the members told her that she had been in the same situation as she did not know she had a Jewish connection until someone enlightened her that she was Jewish. They offered her a Passover pamphlet and asked her because of her accent if she was from France. She replied that she was and that she had family there and in Belgium. Seeing the set, she told them that she had always wanted to know the word and in reply they told her that knowing God was not about religion but about having a personal relationship with Him. They pointed out that sin separated man from God and she understood this right away. She was told that she could read in Isaiah 53 where sin could be removed by the sacrifice of the Messiah and that no good works could save man. She received the set for her mother and one for herself and took the Isaiah 53 leaflet. They instructed her on the difference between rabbinical and biblical Judaism. The team hugged her and invited her to visit Beth Ariel Congregation and to listen to the teachings she could find on the website. They then told her that they would pray that she would come to be saved by Yeshua.
A pamphlet was given to a religious lady along with the bookmark but she was in a hurry and did not want to stop and talk but more Passover pamphlets were handed out until they were ready to leave. The team was thankful for the sets and literature given out and thanks everyone for their prayers for yet another day of joy as they were out blessing others with His word.