Thursday, February 19th
3 gift sets in English, 2 Tanakh (1 English, 1 French), 7 lapel pins and numerous comfort cards
A team of two women were at a local mall on a cold but sunny day. One man who was putting his groceries into his car accepted two gift sets. He himself was a Christian, but he said that his neighbour, a good friend, would be very happy to receive a gift of such honour. He took another set for the man’s daughter and four comfort cards to give to others in the community who he felt would appreciate the encouragement. The team member gave him a tract called Steps to Peace. He said that he had walked away from his faith as he did not see any action from God. There was a brief conversation, and he was given the Beth Ariel contact card to listen to the pastor’s messages.
A Christian Russian man who had stepped away from his faith spoke to the team. They had a short talk with him about Yeshua being the Shepherd who left His flock to save the one lost sheep that had gone astray. He thanked them for the anti-Semitism tract and the Steps to Peace tract as well.
A Lebanese gentleman spoke to the team and stated that he was pro-Israel. He was offered the yellow ribbon lapel pin so that he could show his support for the hostages. He was very pleased and touched to put it on. He gave a short testimony saying that while he was in Lebanon, he found himself in a war zone and it was very difficult. He said that he grieves for Israel and is always praying for the Prime Minister. It was a very touching conversation.
They met a Jewish man who was kind and listened to the team as they told him about sin and its result on man and how it broke fellowship with God. They spoke of Genesis 3:15 where God offered the promises through the Messiah and how a blood covering was required to bring them back to God. They shared that they were Messianic and believed that Yeshua was the Messiah. They told him that the Messiah would come back to rule and reign in Jerusalem. He accepted a Tanakh and thanked them for taking the time to explain this.
They then met two Jewish ladies who took the comfort card and were very touched when they were given the lapel pins to wear to support the hostages. They thanked the team for doing a good work and were very pleased. This encouraged the team as they continued their outreach.
They then met a man who took the comfort card as they followed him to his car. It was here when they offered him a French bible and he accepted it happily.
A set was also given to a Spanish speaking man who wanted to give the gift to his daughter who he said was Jewish. He received the Beth Ariel card and comfort card as well.
As the team finished up and were getting into their car, a police cruiser with its lights flashing came into the parking lot. They could not be certain that it was for them, but decided it was a good time to leave. They thanked Yeshua for protecting them and for the answered prayers from those who lifted the team up, petitioning for many to receive His Word.
Sunday, February 23rd
4 sets (3 English and 1 French), 1 Russian Bible and comfort cards were given.
A team of two women were out on a slightly windy but milder day at a local mall. A Russian bible was given to a mother and her daughter. She was surprised to receive a comfort card and several gifts from the team. They showed her the Brit Chadashah and explained that they were Messianic and believed that Yeshua was the Messiah. They pointed out where she could read in the Tanakh about the prophecies concerning Him and how these prophecies were fulfilled in the Brit. This Messiah, they said, would return to rule and reign in Jerusalem. The woman was very grateful for the gift.
A set was given to an Ashkenazi Jewish man who shared his age with the team and was told by them what great shape he was in. He kindly accepted the set offered and took one in English and Hebrew despite the fact that he could have had one in Yiddish and Hebrew. He was grateful for the gift and took all that was offered to him.
A young woman and her daughter from the Jewish community nearby accepted a gift set in English plus the pamphlet and comfort card. The team explained that they were Messianic and were volunteers with the Society that Distributes Hebrew Scriptures. They told her that the Brit Chadashah was a book written by Jewish authors who believed that Yeshua was the Messiah. She took the Beth Ariel contact card and told the team that it was very nice what they were doing.
A woman took the anti-Semitism pamphlet and comfort card but refused the Tanakh saying she had many books. She also refused the Brit Chadashah saying that she was not on the same page as them. The team spoke with her for about 10 minutes in regards to the minority that believed in the Word of God in Scripture and gave her the example of Elijah who was left with only 7,000 men who did not bow to Baal. They spoke on Isaiah 53 and how the Messiah had come, that His name is Yeshua and that only He could make man righteous before God. They gave her the Isaiah 53 leaflet with Talmudic references about the Messiah. They told her that the Messiah had come to establish the kingdom of God, but that other rabbis were outside the Word of God at the time of His coming and so they could not recognize Him. They advised her that it was very important that she be reconciled with God and that only through Yeshua that could happen. They told her that her existence after death would be in either a place of eternal life or everlasting contempt. They told her this was written by the prophet Daniel and so it was important that she know the truth as she would be alone before God one day and that Yeshua would either be her Saviour or judge. She listened intently as they spoke and took the Beth Ariel card so she could see where to listen for the messages. She was very thankful.
An anti-Semitism pamphlet and comfort card were given to a Jewish family going to their car with a full cart of groceries. The husband was very kind but refused the Tanakh saying they had enough. However, as the wife approached them, they could see that she was cautious and so they quickly thanked the man and left.
They then approached a couple who were Orthodox and offered the man a lapel pin for the hostages. They also gave a Russian bible to a woman and her mother from Ukraine. There was a language barrier, but the woman finally understood that they were offering her a bible. She took the Russian bible and was very grateful. The daughter shared that her mother had lost her bible during the war in Ukraine and was happy to have a new one that she could read. She was given a contact card, and they spoke briefly about sin.
A set was given to a woman who accepted all the materials offered. The team told her that the Brit Chadashah explained Who Yeshua was and shared that the Jewish people believed that there were two Messiahs spoken about in the Scriptures. This led to them showing her the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah written about in the Tanakh and fulfilled in the Brit. They pointed out that in Matthew a Messiah had come from the royal line of Judah who would make man righteous before God. The woman was touched and they hugged as they departed.
The team was very grateful for the protection of the Lord and for the beautiful weather on that day. They were also grateful and thankful to be doing the work of the Lord and gave praise to God.