Thursday, March 20th
Report from Team #1
7 sets (6 English and 1 French) were given.
It was a sunny but windy day for an outreach at a local shopping mall. At the first mall a team of one woman and one man gave out 3 sets (2 English and 1 French).
The first set was given to a woman who happily received it. The team was able to tell her about Yeshua, the Messiah and about His first and second comings. After seeing the Tanakh, the woman was shown the Brit Chadashah. She was surprised that they offered it, but she did accept it. They showed her the bookmark and also gave her the Isaiah 53 leaflet. The team told her that Isaiah 53 spoke of the coming Messiah and how He could make her righteous. She was given the contact card and told that their pastor from Casablanca, was Jewish. She was very surprised to hear that. Finally, they gave her a yellow ribbon hostage pin and she was very touched with all these gifts.
One set in English was given to a man who had an accent and as they did not know his country of origin, they offered him a set in different languages. He said he wanted it in English. They had a conversation for about fifteen minutes as he did not want to disengage but to continue talking. When he saw the Tanakh they explained that it was the writings of the five books of Moses and the prophets. They also told him about the Brit and how it pointed to Yeshua, the Messiah. They told him that they were Messianic believers in Yeshua and how he could read about the Messiah through the fulfilled prophecies in the Tanakh. He wanted to give a donation but was informed that it was a free gift. They gave him a yellow pin as well.
A set in French was given to a young man who at first took the pamphlet. He told the team that he was not religious but that his parents were, but they had since passed away. He shared that he had come from a line of rabbis and showed them a picture of his mother and how his father was wearing a kippa. He said he had a kippa but did not wear it. He then explained that he did not follow the Shabbat but knew that it meant something good. The team shared about Yeshua being the Messiah and how in Isaiah it spoke about doing good but also told him that the mitzvot (good deeds) could not make a man righteous, that only the Messiah was the sin bearer. They told him that God wanted to have a relationship with him and that Yeshua did not come for the righteous but for the sinners, sharing, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. To this, the man agreed. He then shared that he was in Israel on October 7th and was on his way home when a loud boom was heard at the airport. They hurried and were able to take the last plane out from the airport. When he received the set, he understood that it was God’s Word and received the BA contact card. He was invited to visit the congregation, and he wondered if his wife who was Filipino could also attend. He was told that they were very welcome as both Jew and Gentile worshipped together. He took a pin and shook their hands several times.
They had many other conversations and gave out several pamphlets. One man who talked with them said that he relied on his rabbi to teach him, and they warned him to be careful. There was also a man with a kippa who said he had already received the set and continued to talk to them about the Messiah and so they gave him the contact card.
They decided to leave and go to another mall where they gave out four more sets.
One English set was given to a woman who said she was Christian but was married to a Jewish man. They talked to her about Yeshua the Messiah being the Christ and that there was only one God and only one way to Him. She took the set and was very happy with her gift.
Another set was given to a man in his twenties who told them that his parents had many books and were religious. They stressed the fact that it was important for him to have his own set and told him that it was not about a religion but about a relationship with God and how it was important to be reconciled to Him. They told him that only Yeshua, the Messiah could remove his sin and that He could have peace and rest if and when he would follow Him. He decided to take the set and was thankful.
A set in English was given to a woman who was very touched by the gift. They talked about the world situation and sin. They explained how the Abrahamic covenant spoke of the Messiah and how both Jews and Gentiles were blessed through the promises of God, saying that through Abraham, the nations would be blessed. The woman said she had no money to give them but when she learned that it was free she was very grateful. She was given a yellow pin as well and she said she had one before, given to her by her daughter in New York, but that she had lost it and was very happy to receive this one. She put the pin on right away.
An English set was given to a woman in her 40’s who was not religious but was happy to receive the set. The team spoke to her about religion and the difference between biblical and rabbinical Judaism and how sin separated man from God. They showed her the Isaiah 53 leaflet and told her that only the Messiah could remove her iniquities and that no good works could merit salvation. She was also touched when she was given the yellow pin.
The team was happy that it turned out to be a beautiful day and that they had many conversations and gave out a good number of Passover pamphlets. They praised God for His faithfulness.
Report from Team #2
6 sets (1 French, 1 Russian and 3 English) and 2 English Tanakh were given.
The second team, consisting of two ladies, went to two different malls. At the first mall they met a man who quickly accepted the Tanakh and jumped into his car with a quick thank you.
Then a second Tanakh was given to a young, Jewish woman who was first presented with the Tanakh and said that it was nice what they were doing. As she took the book she commented saying, “This is Christian”. She was told that it was the same Hebrew text as she would see in the synagogue, and that this book held the writings of Moses and the prophets. This satisfied her. After hearing that they were Messianic believers in Yeshua, she surprisingly kept her same opinion and told the ladies that it was nice what they were doing.
They then met a Russian man from Ukraine. Both his French and English were limited so a member who knew some Russian words asked him if he would like to have a Tanakh. Reaching down into her bag to get one, she was surprised that from the many sets to choose from, she picked up a Russian one, and showing it to him, he kept it, saying, “Thank you, thank you”, over and over.
They then met a Jewish man who was first offered the Passover pamphlet and then the Tanakh. He was very pleased and so the team held up the Brit Chadashah and explained that it held the fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah who had already come. He was about to say no but changed his mind and took it, thanking them quickly as he got into his car.
Another Russian man who could speak French was sitting in his car next to the team’s car. As they approached him, he accepted a pamphlet in French and was offered to receive a set in Russian, but he asked for one in French. He said it would be good for him to learn the language this way. He was also given the contact card and invited to visit the congregation.
As the team was preparing to leave, they spotted a religious Jewish man getting out of his car. A team member quickly went to him with a comfort card and as he took it, she noticed that he was very touched. She explained that she was Messianic and had family members who were Jewish. The team was worried as the man had no coat on, wearing the typical black and white with a kippa on his head. He was very polite and thanked her deeply for the gift and she then gave him the Passover pamphlet. By the prompting of the Holy Spirit she also offered him the bookmark which he gladly took. He said he would look into it after she explained that it listed verses pertaining to the coming Messiah. He thankfully blessed them and commented on the yellow ribbons they were wearing, saying that he was very pleased to see their support for the hostages. This team member later commented how she could sense the Holy Spirit’s presence and how He, the Ruach, wanted to reach him. It was an amazing encounter.
Leaving that mall, the team arrived at another mall a few kilometers away. There, they met a Jewish man who was getting out of an expensive car. He was tall, dressed in a long black coat, a red shirt and red cowboy boots. He was offered the set and thanked them happily as he was in very good spirits. He commented that he was even happier now because the sets were free. He listened as the team spoke of the Messiah and of His fulfilling all the prophecies written about Him in the Tanakh. They were surprised that he did not turn them away. When they commented on his happy mood, he told them that life had to be lived in happiness as the days were becoming dark. He placed the set in his car and left to go shopping.
A team member saw a man waiting in his car, so she approached him and offered him the Passover pamphlet. He accepted it and did not want anything more.
They then met a Jewish lady and had a long conversation with her about the promises of God, the atonement of sins and how the Messiah was the final blood sacrifice. They told her about the significance of the blood and how Moses had instructed the Israelites to put the lamb’s blood on the door post prior to the plague of death passing over them. The woman listened closely to this revelation stating that she knew Jesus was Jewish but had not heard that view before. They told her that their rabbi was Messianic and invited her to listen to his teachings which she would find on their website. She accepted the set, the bookmark and the contact card saying she was touched by hearing this Jewish viewpoint.
Then they met a woman who said she was Catholic but that her daughter had converted to Judaism. She was happy to listen to the explanation of the Hebrew Scriptures and took a French set for her daughter. She was a very kind woman who listened to the team despite the fact that she was continually being interrupted by a family member who had a neurological impairment. He would walk away from her and return several times to interrupt her, but she smiled and told him to wait patiently, and as he continued his pacing, she continued the conversation.
The team returned to their car to get more sets when a Jewish woman approached them complaining of the cost of the Matzah at the grocery store. She asked them where they had purchased theirs. She did not have a coat on, but a long scarf traced her shoulders. She spoke of the rising costs. To calm her down they told her that they had a gift for her, a Tanakh, but she declined saying she had lots of books. But seeing the Brit, she told them she had heard about the man Yeshua and that He was Jewish and a prophet. She also said that she had high respect for Him. They told her they were Messianic and mentioned the Jewish viewpoint, stating that the Messiah was the only one who could cover man’s sins and make them tsadik (righteous). She then sighed, telling them that her daughter was going through a tragic trial as her husband had major neurological issues. They asked if they could pray for her, and she was grateful for that. They gave her the Beth Ariel contact card and asked her if she wanted a home visit. She said that the visit she wanted was to Jerusalem as she had gone there before and had noticed a “light” over the city. She told them her rabbi said that the city was full of lights and was the center of humanity. She was grateful for the conversation.
Friday, March 21st
Report from Team #1
4 sets, 1 Brit Chadashah and 1 Bible were given.
A team of one man and one woman began their outing at a local shopping center. They had just left their car when they met a woman and offered her the Passover pamphlet. She told them that she had received the same pamphlet from someone at another mall and recognized one of the team members. They asked her if she had a Tanakh and since she did, they parted ways but later on they decided to look for her and offer her the Brit Chadashah. When they found her, they offered it to her and she took it gratefully. They explained that in it, she would be able to see the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
They met a couple with their small daughter in a carriage who took the anti-Semitism pamphlet and told the team that they were Christian. They had a small conversation and were happy to see two signs on their car. The first one read, “Loue l’Éternal” and the second, placed on the windshield said, “Gloire à Jésus”. They encouraged the team to continue their good work.
One English set was given to a young, Jewish man who was eager to accept all the literature. He humbly asked the team what the two books were and so they explained that they were biblical books concerning the Word of God and how Yeshua fulfilled the prophecies contained in there. They talked about sin and how only Yeshua, the Messiah could remove them. He was attentive and so they invited him to Beth Ariel, and he eagerly asked if he could bring a non-Jewish friend with him. The team told him that it was a good idea. He said he would visit the following week. As they parted, the team reminded the man that it was important to have eternal life and that there were only two choices; one was everlasting life and the other everlasting contempt.
They then gave a set to a woman who was glad that the team greeted her with, “Chag Sameach”. She smiled and took the set and left as she was in a hurry. They managed to give her the contact card and a quick hug.
There was a young man watching the team from his car and so they handed him the Passover pamphlet. He told them he was not Jewish but that his wife was. He was offered the bible but he said he had one, so they offered an English set and the Beth Ariel contact card, while inviting him and his wife to the congregation. He told them that he had two children, and the team said that there was no better gift to give their children than the Word of God. They told him there was teaching for children at the congregation. The man said he worked on Saturdays but would try to visit and said that his wife believed in Jesus. This conversation touched the team as he thanked them and left.
An English set was given at another mall to a man who was a Gentile. He did not want the bible but asked if he could have a set for his daughter-in-law who was Jewish. They also gave him the comfort card, a contact card and a pamphlet.
There was a long conversation with a Jewish man who was wearing a kippa. He did not want the Tanakh but took the bookmark, the Isaiah 53 leaflet and Passover pamphlet. They spoke to him about Yeshua being the Messiah and how he fulfilled the prophecies and how he would return to rule and reign in Jerusalem. They also told him how God always kept a remnant of believers who walked in the truth and who followed the Word. They spoke of Elijah and how he was left with just 7,000 other men who did not bow to Baal. They then mentioned that mitzvot (good deeds) could not justify man before God, that only the Messiah was able to. He did not take the contact card, but they saw that he took notice of the website when they offered it to him.
One Russian bible was given to a man who humbly told them that he had worked in Israel for more than ten years. He received the contact card and pamphlet as well. The teams were thankful for this outing and wanted to give God all the glory.