Friday, August 23rd
5 sets, 3 Tanakh and 4 bibles were given.
A team of three women were out on a warm, sunny day at a local mall when one of the team members met a woman from Iran. She was in her twenties and wanted to receive a bible in English. Thanking them she left but returned later while the team member was still there. Driving by, she stopped and opened her window to again thank them. She encouraged the woman to read the bible and invited her to attend Beth Ariel congregation, but unfortunately she said that she was unable to attend that Saturday and drove away.
A set was given in English to a Jewish woman who also took all the literature offered her. There was only a very short conversation with her.
Then a bible was offered to a man who said he already had one. However a while later as he was passing by, he stopped his car and told the team member that he was thinking that he may not be able to find his bible, and could he receive the one she offered him. He stated that he was a truck driver, so she gave him the contact card and encouraged him to listen to the broadcasts. She spoke briefly about being reconciled to God through Yeshua, Jesus. He thanked her then and said, “God bless you” as he drove off.
A Tanakh was given to a woman who was also grateful and thankful.
Then a religious woman took the anti-Semitism pamphlet, the Isaiah 53 leaflet and the bookmark but did not take the Tanakh. This particular team member also gave out a number of anti-Semitism pamphlets and comfort cards.
Another team member was approached by a French man from Morocco. He wanted to engage in a conversation with the team out of curiosity. They told him that they were volunteers, representing the Society that Distributes Hebrew Scriptures. As they showed him both books, he became touched and seizing the moment, another team member joined in and explained what the Brit Chadashah was. He chose then not to accept the Brit but took the Tanakh. Later on, he came back to the team member who first reached out to him and re-engaged her in the conversation asking, “What about Christianity?” She explained how from a Messianic viewpoint some Christians were not aligned with the biblical faith and persecution came out of that. She went on to say that Messianic believers place their faith in Yeshua, Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. He was confused as to who Jesus from the Christians was as opposed to Yeshua from the Jewish perspective and so he returned the Tanakh but kept the pamphlet, leaflet and comfort card. When she gave him the contact card, he thanked her for the conversation and she noted that he seemed deep in thought as he left.
They met a lady from France who was not Jewish but had Jewish friends and took the set to give to them. She confessed that she felt that she was at peace but afterwards said that she too might be leaning towards faith in God. They told her that it was important to have a relationship with God and that faith did not depend on religion, but that Jesus makes us free from our sin through his blood atonement and offers us forgiveness if we believe. They mentioned His paying the price for our sins and returning us back to God through His sacrifice and blood atonement. She was assured that salvation was not by works but that it was accomplished on the cross. The woman said she thought she was a good caregiver and helped many people, so they explained about the beginning of sin in the garden of Eden and how sin separated man until the Son of God came to pay for our sins. Explaining further, they gave an example of a person who was invited to a dinner. When the meal was finished, you would not be expected to pay a bill, because the meal was free. The team member then explained that salvation was like the dinner. Salvation is free but that you have to receive it and believe it is free. She was so touched that she accepted prayer where salvation through repentance was mentioned. She was very thankful for the conversation and the gift set.
A middle-aged Jewish woman and her daughter were at the end of the mall grounds waiting for their lift home. One of the team members spoke with the mother named “N” about the gift set she just offered her. Taking out the New Testament she explained the contents and significance of the book. She pointed out how in this book the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah and his atoning blood sacrifice are mentioned. She received the set as well as the contact card explaining that they were from a Messianic congregation. In the meantime, the other member was speaking to the daughter who was 13. They talked about going back to school and shopping for supplies and was then asked if she believed in God. She was very polite and answered that she did believe and read the scriptures often. She also was listening to what was being said to her mother and as their lift drove up the mother and daughter received a hug from the team members and they thanked them for the gift.
A Jewish man who was busy and going about his shopping received a set but did not have a conversation with them.
A religious woman was passing by quicky and took the bookmark and comfort card.
A man was standing beside his car and was about to get in when a team member approached him. He was offered the anti-Semitism pamphlet and accepting it, he was offered the gift set. He refused at first but when encouraged, he took it to give to his daughter. They spoke to him about salvation through Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel and he listened politely and thanking them he put the gift set in the car and left.
Two Tanakhs were offered to two women (at separate times) and although they were thankful, they did not stop to have a conversation but rushed on to buy their groceries.
Two French bibles were also given. One was offered to a young woman and the other to a Muslim man in his mid twenties. Both said they did not have bibles, and not being Jewish, they were offered the French only bible which they were happy to receive.
Lastly, a young woman was at her van attempting to take her young son out of his car seat. The team member saw that the infant seat was on the ground beside the mother. She approached the mother quietly not wanting to disturb her and quickly found out that she was new to Canada and from Ukraine. Her husband had been in Canada for a year, but she stayed in the Ukraine and arrived only 3 months prior, almost at full term in her pregnancy. Her baby was just 10 days old and she needed to go to the pharmacy to buy diapers. The woman had limited French and no English so in broken French the team member offered the anti-Semitism pamphlet to her. As the mother was in a hurry, there was not enough time to go to the car for a Russian set. The team member mentioned that she had visited Ukraine a number of years ago and stayed for a month to restore an orphanage and speak to the children about Jesus, so with a cheery “Slava Bogo” meaning “Thanks be to God”, the member said goodbye as the mother gasped when her language was being used and answered with, “Merci beaucoup!” and quickly left.
The team members were thrilled at the number of conversations that they had, and sets given and give God all the glory for such a bountiful day. They also wanted to thank all those prayer warriors who covered them with their love and prayers.
Monday, August 26th
4 sets were given along with several pamphlets etc. Altogether six homes were approached, and all were opened to receive something from the team. Four sets were given out, but the other two persons did not take the gift set.
A team of two women were out on a very lovely evening in a residential area and scouted around for streets that had mezuzahs on the doors. The first visit was with a very young man who opened the door. As he was under 18, he was asked if his parents were home, and the boy said that his mother was inside. They offered him the Tanakh to give to his mother but asked if the mom would please come to the door as proof that she herself was accepting the gift. He said that he could not ask his mother, so they took the scriptures back and wished him well. Afterwards they prayed that this family would be convicted to read their Torah as the boy had said that they had one at home.
The next visit was with a man who loved the Lord, and they spoke to him for about fifteen minutes. He understood the concept of sin and stated that he had repented years ago for his sins. It was beautiful for the team to hear this and they offered him the Tanakh. They took him to the book of Isaiah, chapter 53. They spoke to him about the Messiah and how he could make man tsadik (righteous), before God. He understood that salvation was by faith and as they told him about Yeshua being the Messiah, he seemed to know this and had heard it before. They spoke of the resurrection and the man said he understood this. They encouraged him to read Isaiah 53 and told him to follow the verses listed on the bookmark they gave him. As they were speaking, his wife appeared. She was surprised to see them and was concerned but was quickly comforted and reassured when they spoke with her. The wife commented that her husband was very religious and also mentioned that her hairdresser had received this gift set in the past. The team offered them the contact card so they could go to the website or know the schedule for the radio programs. It was a very touching moment for the team.
At the next door they knocked on, a man came to say he was leaving the house very soon but gladly took the set with thanks.
At the next door they went to, an elderly man appeared, but as he was on the second floor, the team climbed the stairs to offer him the set. Stating they had a gift for him, he took the Tanakh and Brit Chadashah as well. During the conversation, his wife came to the door with a walker. She told the team that they did not read very much anymore so they encouraged them to listen to the radio or pick up the website through the internet. They were genuinely thankful and the team told them it was good to see that they had such a long marriage and were still interested in the Word, especially in these remarkable times we are living in.
The next door was answered by a woman who said she had many, many books and that some of her family members were rabbis. They gave her a bookmark and told her she could look up the verses that prophesied about the Messiah. She told them that she believed that the true Messiah would come at the time of the 3rd temple, to which the team said that a false Messiah would come first and that it was important for her to recognize this false Messiah. She said there would be peace in the Messianic times, but they spoke to her about having peace with God and the Messiah now. Trying to paint a picture of the Messiah, they spoke about Zechariah 12:10 and said that He will come back to deliver his people and that the Messiah would be recognized by the Jewish nation as the one who was pierced. They also mentioned Psalm 22:16 where it pointed to the forthcoming Messiah who would have his hands and feet pierced. Up until then she listened intently but as they mentioned that Yeshua was the Messiah, she did not want to continue listening and disagreed with them. They explained that the Jesus they spoke of was not the same Jesus that the Catholic churches worshipped and was not the Jesus who persecuted the Jews but she did not want to continue. She did however keep the literature so she could share it with her family.
At the last home, a man came and opened up his door ever so slightly, yet enough to acceptthe gift set with thankfulness. The evening was over quickly, and the team thanks all for the prayers offered on their behalf.
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