Roger and Ellen Elbel

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

2008 Year Highlight:
Ordination of a New Palestinian Pastor

It is always an exciting development for the Church when one of God’s servants is officially ordained into a gospel preaching pastoral ministry. This excitement was shared when Mazen Nasrawi was ordained by the national Palestinian C&MA Church in Jerusalem on December 6, 2008.

In 2002 Mazen answered God’s call into church ministry at the Annual Alliance Church Family Conference for Arab churches. As he heard the plea given by Rev. Jack Sara and others to pray for more workers for the Jerusalem ministry, God spoke to his heart. Mazen quietly responded, “Yes, Lord.”

This response to the Lord by Mazen committed him to an extended period of preparation. He was enrolled into a supervised 5-year internship program, which focused on his development spiritually, practically and academically. This “Heart – Hand – Head” internship program was funded by Great Commission Ministry Funds, which allowed Mazen to be involved simultaneously in a fulltime ministry assignment. Throughout this period, the funding was pro-rated, while the Jerusalem church gradually assumed full financial responsibility for his support.

Early in 2008 Mazen completed the 5-year internship program. After further completion of the national church’s required ordination process, Mazen was officially ordained in a public ceremony before a crowd of colleagues, brethren, friends and family on December 6, 2008. Rev. Yousef Hashweh, the President of the Jordanian Alliance Church gave an encouraging and challenging sermon. Afterwards, Arab, Jewish and international pastors (both Alliance and non-Alliance) shared in the laying-on of hands ceremony with a prayer commissioning Mazen into a God-anointed ministry. Non-Alliance pastors present for the event said “You in the Alliance Church are teaching the rest of us how to do this in a holy and proper manner. We are usually too quick to lay hands on just anyone without them being given proper training and supervision. You have given us a wonderful example and experience in this event.”

The Arab Alliance churches among the Palestinians now have 4 ordained ministers. It is our prayer the Lord will continue raising up new workers within this special and significant people group precious to God. Pray that others will answer the call of God into full-time ministry and be provided with needed support. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37,38

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

JEWISH MINISTRY

The recent Gaza War has left the relationships between Jewish and Arab believers more sensitive than ever before. Healing these new wounds will take a long time. Much suffering has occurred on both sides and the church at large is now seeing how they can be proactive in holistic ministry to all in need.

The congregation in Beersheba had a preliminary court case in June 2008 protesting continuous Jewish Orthodox harassment and violence. However, not much was accomplished. A follow-up court appearance is scheduled for this year. The judge wants to downplay the national significance of the case.

On March 20, the 15 year old son (Ami) of a Messianic pastor (David Ortiz) was nearly killed by a bomb package when he opened an apparent holiday Purim gift in his home. The Lord has been very faithful in the healing process of Ami. He is working very diligently on his mobility. He is a living miracle to the power of the Lord. He is struggling to return to a normal life and is back to his dream of playing basketball. There are still no breakthroughs in the investigation as far as the police are concerned. This incident has moved the heads of ministries and congregations towards a greater unity and more acceptance nationally than ever before.

“A war is being waged by the anti-missionary organizations against Messianic Jews in the Land.” This was declared in the fall by the anti-mission group, Yad L’achim on their website. This does appear to be true. Regular harassment still continues in Arad against the Messianic believers. A “spy” attended a Messianic congregation in Tel Aviv with the intention of exposing the believers’ tactics in seducing children and soldiers into their “cult”. Various news articles, some positive and some negative, have once again put the Messianic believers and their congregations in a glaring light. This has also given the believers a new boldness in being proactive in their witness.

In the late summer Warren and Linda Graham visited the field to help the Medallion (Hebrew Christian Education Literature) ministry. During their time they held a 2-day seminar relating the development of CMA Hebrew ministries in the Land. Our main Israeli Congregational leaders, Olavi, Howard, Dov, and Yakim also contributed from their perspectives. This was very valuable in giving our new staff an appreciation as to what God has done through CMA ministries and increasing our expectation of what He will do in the future. David Lauffer, during a recent visit was also able to meet with the staff and share his perspective on the development of CMA Hebrew ministries in the Land.

The Medallion ministry has a vital role in the spiritual development of the body of Messianic believers. One of the congregations recently contributed much needed administrative expertise. They also are in need of increased financial support and distribution channels.

Almost every week a drug addict or prostitute comes to faith in the Russian evangelistic efforts. Discipling is a great and difficult need. Dov’s son has muscular dystrophy and is experiencing many physical complications. Representatives of Yad L’achim visited the street ministry recently and tried to hinder the distribution of evangelistic literature.

ARAB MINISTRY

Diana, the Head Deaconess for the churches was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer last year. She has been recently declared free from cancer, and even is not required for any maintenance program. The churches are rejoicing with her and her family.

A street evangelistic ministry in Jerusalem has recently celebrated their 1st year of ministry. The director, Rami, went to Spain this summer to participate in street evangelism and additional training. When he returned, he was fired from his work. He is trusting the Lord to provide his family’s needs as he desires to spend all of his time in street evangelism.

West Bank Ministries have suffered from 2 betrayals from believers over these past few months. The church has been scattered as a result. And the main evangelistic ministry has been hindered. One of the gifted church leaders in the West Bank was recently diagnosed with cancer and is now out of the country for treatment. The registration for the humanitarian ministries has been unexplainably delayed. This registration is critical for our new project that will be soon in Salfeet.

The Lord has blessed us with a short-term worker, Debra Bayes, who is teaching English as a second language at the West Bank Salfeet Community center. She has had some wonderful opportunities to build relationships with the many students. It is our desire that this English program continues and develops. Pray that the Lord will provide a long-term volunteer who could coordinate such a ministry.

The West Bank relief ministry had their office broken into and vandalized early February. Significant damage was done and it will cost at least $3000 to refurbish the office. The ministry coordinator of the relief ministry says: “We praise the Lord that not only has the local body of believers taken a stand of prayer and encouragement with us, but also the Palestinian Authority, Secret Police and Ramallah Police Investigators have stood with us and are helping us as much as they can. Even people in our office building who used to give us the cold shoulder have come especially to check up on us and encourage us. God is giving us favor in peoples' eyes.”

Jack, a pastor in the Jerusalem Alliance church, is endeavoring to complete their D. Min. thesis before the approaching deadline in December 2009. He is finding it a challenge to find the time necessary for this. His wife is also working hard on completing her M.A. studies in Christian Counseling by August 2009. Bassem, an elder in the West Bank Alliance church, is also finding challenges in completing his thesis for his M.A. in Biblical Studies.

INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

Recently the Chinese church leadership in Tel Aviv has become very discouraged with internal misunderstandings. There is a critical need for Chinese staff to join our team to help in the Chinese church ministries that have a deep burden for reaching the revolving large number of Chinese workers in the Land. The 10th Anniversary and Chinese New Year celebrations were encouraging. 12 men received Christ as Savior.

FIELD MINISTRY

Special wisdom is needed in many of the field affairs. A new Bookkeeper/Field Office Manager for the field office is currently being trained. Seven years of financial files were recently submitted to the government authorities. A positive response from the income tax office is needed. Hopefully, it will come soon so that our registration status can be taken off of the “in jeopardy” list. There is a critical need for a full-time Property Manager that can oversee the general maintenance and upkeep of our 4 properties on the field, in addition to supervising work teams that are ready to come.

Two new couples, Marshall and Babs Mullinax and Albert and Esther Knoester (from Holland) have been added to our field team. They are currently in language study. We praise the Lord for them and trust that the Lord will continue to add to our numbers.

There is a growing interest in USA CMA churches to connect with CMA field ministries when they come on a tour to Israel. This could be a fruitful dynamic in developing future partnerships with our various field ministries.

Israel

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