MaozNews

An electronic periodical on the Jewish Christian scene in Israel, written from a Reformed point of view. News about events in Israel and the ministry in which the Maoz family is involved.

Looking back over the year that has passed, we cannot but be amazed at God's great goodness to us. While there have been trials, God has used each of these to humble us, to teach us more of his ways and to advance the cause of his kingdom.

HAGEFEN PUBLISHING CO.

Eitan Takes Over the Reins

Handing over the daily management of HaGefen to Eitan Kashtan has proven to be a pleasurable step. I confess I was concerned because I had seen others hand over aspects of the work in which they had been involved for many years, and witnessed the conflicts, the heightened feelings and the unkind attitudes that ensued. But God has surprised both Eitan and me by giving us grace. On the day that I handed management over to Eitan, I removed my belongings from the office at HaGefen and set up a new office at home. Since then I have taken great care not to intervene beyond the absolutely necessary, whereas Eitan has made every effort to consult, inform and confirm actions he has taken. With Sasha Seriapov as the able Administrator and David Tsadok as the chairman of our Board, the transferral of responsibility has been very smooth. God is to be praised for this.

Current Projects

Editing and illustrative work on the Pentateuch of the Children's Bible has ended and the work is now in the hands of the printer. We were not satisfied with the first print of the layout scheme and have returned the material to our graphics supplier for further work and improvement. The work of illustrating the Old Testament is just about completed, and we expect to commence illustrating the NT by April of the year 2000.

In addition, I have written 3/5 of a book in English on Messianic Judaism and expect to find time to complete this important project in the coming months. My two books in Hebrew (on the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, and on The Work and Fruit of the Spirit) have now undergone the final editing process and are in the hands of the proof reader for final corrections. My book in Hebrew on The Law and Jewish Identity in Christ has undergone revision and enlargement, translation into Russian and the final stages of production. It and the previous two books mentioned are to be published within the next two months.

Meanwhile, I have written a paper on the Eldership, delivered at the Carey Ministers' Conference, which is to be printed in England; and a paper on Jewish Evangelism at the Beginning of the Third Millennium (JCOP 61) which was presented at the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism in Finland last December. This paper is available for the asking to our readers

New Policy of CWI

In the course of 1999 Bracha and I spent 6 weeks visiting many friends in the USA, seeking to broaden the support basis of the work in Israel. This became necessary due to a financial policy adopted four years ago by the CWI Council of Management, according to which General Fund resources are, by the year 2000, normally no longer to be used for the running of the work in Israel. In other words, the work in Israel must be funded by designated contributions. Consequently, we have sought an increase in the level of contributions designated for the work here rather than for the CWI General Fund. Such a policy requires that I devote a good deal of time to contact with supporters and potential supporters. This has naturally been a significant drain on my limited physical resources, on my time and on my attention at a time when the church is burgeoning and there are many opportunities for further ministry. But God is wise and he has a purpose in all things and there is no doubt in my mind that the work here must continue.

We have failed to meet the target goal set by the Council. The freezing of the exchange rate while inflation continued in Israel has actually meant that we are further behind than before. We will, therefore, be seeking an extension from the Council of Management, which has been very gracious toward us over the years and has continued its support of the work from the General Fund in spite of our failure to meet its goal.

Bracha and I were much encouraged by the kindness with which we were received in many quarters and by the increase of interest in our work. I also travelled once to the Netherlands, once to Germany and Finland and once again to the USA in order to attend the funeral of one of my closest and most beloved friends, David Straub, former Co-ordinator of the Reformed Baptist Mission Services (RBMS). In all of these visits God showed us favour. We are still a very long way off from being able to fund the work in Israel from designated contributions, but have made some important steps in that direction.

GRACE AND TRUTH ASSEMBLY: AN UPDATE

Meetings in Ashkelon

The meetings in Ashkelon have encountered the kind of difficulties anticipated and which were described in advance to many of our friends: lack of local leadership, Charismatic aspirations, initial enthusiasm which now faces the rock of day to day reality and the disappointment associated with frustrated personal aspirations on the part of one of the leading brethren in the city. We now meet with approximately 25, plus congregants from Rishon LeTsion who come to minister and to encourage. This is a time of consolidation, following which we trust that God will grant us slow but steady increase. Another youth group is to be formed in the church, consisting of 6 young people who have graduated from the children's Sabbath School. Eitan is expected to be responsible for this group. Most of the various committees in the church have functioned well, adding new and important aspects to our church life. Work among the deaf has continued and we were granted the thrill of baptising three of this group and the number of those who were baptised in the course of the year. An Arab family has joined us and added still more to the international flavour of our life and worship.

At the church I have been preaching through Matthew on Sabbaths as well as teaching an early church history course. On alternate Mondays I teach my delightful youth group of 11 young people from II Peter; on Tuesdays I am teaching a new home group from the book of Acts and on alternate Thursdays I teach the young adults group from Genesis. During my overseas travels I am writing the next series of sermons, which is to encompass the Minor Prophets.

The Widow's Mite

The church has also grown in its sense of responsibility. The overwhelming majority of our people are individuals who immigrated from the former USSR with very few if any material resources. Rent is atrociously high in Israel and an average 3 bedroom flat costs $180,000. Mortgages are available at 7% interest, plus inflation and most families have to pay in order to get their children through High School and College or University. So we assume that it will take us a generation before the congregation will be able to stand on its own two feet financially. But giving has increased and is expected to continue to increase. In 1998 contributions from the congregation grew by 26%. In 1999 they grew by 25% and in the year 2000 the congregation have covenanted to increase giving by 35% and more. Thirty five percent of the budget is given to evangelism and to missionary work, including missionaries working outside of Israel. This, surely, is a sign of spiritual maturity which we will seek to encourage.

Training Program

Our church is engaged in discussions with RBMS, which we hope will lead to the finalisation of a training program for Elders and Pastors in Israel, by which we hope to train our own young men as well as any from other churches who might care to join. I have nine years before I am expected to retire from the Pastorate. The church may choose then to appoint and reappoint me to the same post annually. It would be irresponsible for me not to accord the church another option when I reach that age, and therefore it is of utmost importance that I do all in my limited power to train others to take my place as well as work for the further equipment of our present Officers and for the preparation of others who will follow in their steps.

Work on the Church Building Continues

As you know, God surprised us by moving the licensing authorities to grant us our building license, and then by an enormous and unexpected gift that enabled us to pay the $150,000 licensing tax and to take steps toward the final completion of the building plans by placing information in the hands of the various engineers required and receiving their engineering solutions. As soon as God enables us to do so, we will proceed onto the next stage and construct the shell of the building. This is to be done by a contractor so that we can reduce the likelihood of premeditated vandalism. Once the shell is up, the doors and windows are enclosed, the perimeter is surrounded by a wall and a security system is enlisted, we will take on as much of the remainder of the work ourselves or by the help of volunteers.

Bracha and I thank you for your prayers. We thank and praise God for his goodness and seek the grace to be faithful to him in spite of our many failings.

Excerpt from Paper on Jewish Evangelism - JCOP 62

"Paul still has at least one important statement to make about the nature of the Gospel of which he is not ashamed and which he is so eager to preach in Rome: Not only is it God's power to save, and to save everyone who believes, but it is so "to the Jew first". That, too, has to do with the nature of the Gospel because the message of God's kindness did not appear suddenly out of the blue. It is the fulfilment of Old Testament promise, the accomplishment of all that the Old Testament stands for. But, what does this term "to the Jew first" mean? It means that the Gospel is most obviously relevant to the Jewish people. As Peter put it when he addressed his Jewish audience in Acts 3 11-26: "The things that God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets... he has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore... that he may send Jesus, the Messiah appointed for you... It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers... for you first God raised up his servant, and sent him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways".

(This paper is available on request to address below.)

MaozNews A periodic report from Israel.
Tel. +972 8 869 2542, Fax. +972 8 869 2532, <maozsec@attglobal.net>.