NEWS FROM ISRAEL

Recent Upheavals

Many have written to assure us of their prayers and to inquire about our welfare in view of present upheavals in Israel. Many thanks to you all. Please keep on praying!

We are all well. The church has not been directly impacted by the events, except insofar as all the Jewish and Arab populations have been affected. We mourn with those who mourn, be they Jewish or Arab, and we long for this cycle of atrocious violence to end. We are horrified to think of a situation in which a mother is willing to send her 10-year-old son to die in order to kill some of the other side. May God have mercy on us all, and bring some sense into the present wave of madness.

COURT RULING ON THE BUILDING PERMIT

On Thursday, April 11th, the court delivered its ruling on the case in which the legality of our building permit was challenged, as well as the legitimacy of the uses that we intend to make of the building. Our building permit was upheld.

The judge concluded his ruling with the following:

"I find it necessary to remind you that the Declaration of Independence signed upon establishment of the State of Israel, guaranteed freedom of religion to the various religious groups living in the State of Israel. In particular the Jews, who have been persecuted for their religion for hundreds of years, should demonstrate their moral values by showing tolerance and patience towards all other religious groups."

We give thanks to God, and thank the many who have prayed for us on this matter.

At the end of this month we will call a halt to construction, until the Lord provides us with the resources necessary to continue.

RECENT THOUGHTS FROM A JEWISH CHRISTIAN MOTHER
(written by a young mother of two).

Sabbath rest, church, food, rest, family time. Now evening has come, showers, a light supper, prayer and bed. Ideal … so comfortable, so nice. Moving from bed to bed, checking - are they all asleep? Are they all tucked in?

Finally I can sit down, just stretch out in front of the TV and not think of anything, trying to give some rest to my mind, to my thoughts, putting the daily grind behind me.

I breathe out deeply and turn on Channel 2

News Bulletin!!! A terrorist attack in Jerusalem, many wounded, ambulances, emergency vehicles, commentators, Hamas has assumed
responsibility. Some have been killed. The wounded have been taken to
hospital. My heart thumps hard. I'm sick of this, sick of having become used to such awful news. Do I really care who's taken responsibility for this attack? I know one thing: entire families have been devastated by a single blast. Children, youth and parents who, just a moment ago, were drinking coffee, eating cake or celebrating a wedding. Ordinary people, their lives cut off simply because they are hated, victims of a long and bloody conflict.

After I had thought of everyone, I suddenly remembered that I, too, have a family, children, a husband, a mother, brothers and friends and acquaintances…What will tomorrow bring?

Sunday has arrived – the beginning of a week of work and study, a week in which, day after day, my children will go to school and to kindergarten. I send my daughter to school with anxiety gnawing at my heart, she is so close to the checkpoint where shooting took place just a few days ago… I can only pray, "Father God, guard the entrances, guard the gates, encamp round about the school and the kindergartens with an army of angels". Yes, in the end we quickly forget other people's sorrow of because we are occupied with our own 'small' worries, taken up with the known and beloved environment of our own lives.

Difficult days. Difficult in every home, not just because of the worry that gnaws at us, but because we have become accustomed to the unbelievable reality, because such is the routine of our lives, and these little ones – our children – are growing up a bit too fast… so aware, so alert to all that is happening. Despite it all God is King. To him we lift our eyes, and he lifts our heads. In the midst of this
disaster, the pain and the anxiety, we do not lose hope, for it is written
in Psalm 121:

I will lift up mine eyes to the mountains.
From whence does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip.
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil.
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.

GRACE AND TRUTH YOUTH MINISTRY

Some of our readers may be interested in information about the structure and function of Grace and Truth. From time to time MaozNews will carry a description of an aspect of our church's work. In this issue we will discuss our youth work.

We at Grace and Truth define as 'youth' anyone over 13, and commence a youth program at that age. For the first 2 years or so the youth have a Sabbath School class of their own, led by one male and one female member of the congregation, who teach and lead them until they reach the age of mandatory enlistment. Around the age of 15 they are taught to attend the regular church services and to participate, as do all adult congregants.

In addition, the youth meet on a weekday. The substance of their gatherings is instruction from the word of God, with some socialising. During school vacations, they are taken on excursions and organised to do work in the church or on its behalf. They are also invited from time to time to fill a role in the organisation and running of our various festivities. On the Feast of Tabernacles, for example, they played a major role in greeting the participants, showing where to sit and in serving the food - and were dressed accordingly at the welcome initiative of one of the seamstresses in the congregation! Congregants were taken by surprise when greeted by suitably attired butlers….

Of course, the male member of the leadership team conducts all the teaching. The female member is there for the girls, should they need to consult with someone of their own sex. Both leaders maintain frequent contact with the children and with their parents, and are encouraged to carry out a regular visitation program. The present youth group was begun in Oct 2000 and has been taught the epistle of Romans, and various topics such as love and its practical expression in the home and the church (1 Cor. 13); and true repentance. The group numbers 15 children, some of whom come from very difficult homes where there is no idea of child nurture, of Christian educational values, of love and respect for children, even of discipline. Others come from fine, stable homes where Christ is loved and the scriptures regularly taught and applied. Some are very new immigrants, not all of whom have been economically and socially successful in settling in their new country. Others are veteran immigrants of 10 years or more. It is a challenge to help these children find each other, settle in class, share in the activities and learn to make godliness and biblical behaviour concrete priorities in their lives. Some of the youth are in desperate need of more guidance than the leaders can provide. In such cases, the Eldership team is asked to step in and raise the matter with the parents.

The present group is planning to send a delegation to visit and assist our missionaries in Kenya, perhaps in 2004. Already they are looking for ways to earn and save money that will enable them to make these exciting plans a reality. Holiday car washes and other activities are meant to teach the children that they are to contribute to society, not only to receive benefits from it.

A new group will form in the coming two years. We are even now on the lookout for suitable individuals whom we can prepare to take up this important task. Children are our tomorrow, and tomorrow is fast approaching. Much prayer and preparation are therefore needed. Your prayers are eagerly solicited.

ONE YOUTH'S POINT OF VIEW - A 14 YEAR-OLD BOY

In Israel there are no Christian schools. We all go to public schools. Almost all our friends are non-Christians. We almost never meet
with children from Christian families.

In my school there are 1300 pupils, and I am the only Christian there. The word Christian and the word Jesus are interpreted here almost as a dirty word. A Christian in Israel must realise that children may laugh at him in school, and that the Bible teachers may see he has the New Testament in his Bible, and will be upset about it. Many Christian children are afraid to tell their friends they are Christian. Sometimes they even don't go to church because they don't want any one to know they are Christians. The church is very important - it's our only connection with other Christians. And we need to thank God that we have a church.

My church group meets also on Wednesday, every other week. We get to know each other and have fun with each other. We are a very big youth group in Israel, maybe the biggest group that there is for one church. We are about ten children.

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