EAI Evangelical Alliance Israel

Transcription

1 Easter By: Harry Tees SPRING 2012 In this issue Scholarship Program By: Joel McElreath Christus-Treff By: Dirk Klingelhoefer Chairman s Greeting By: Richard Brogden Invitation to Annual General Meeting of Upcoming Events Dear Friends, Greetings from all of us in the Evangelical Alliance Israel. In this Spring newsletter we offer updates from the, member bodies, and our Chairman, Richard Brogden. This season, in a context of continuing tension and uncertainty, how good it is to turn our thoughts to the enduring themes of Passover and Easter. People cry out for redemption, peace, liberation. Where death and violence stalk, the Land is desperate for Life. Thank God that we can indeed rejoice for our Redeemer lives; the Lamb that was slain now reigns and ever lives to intercede for his people. He is risen Brent Neely (General Secretary ) EASTER By Harry Tees Usually, life is moving along just fine. Everything is going well--we are successful and things are looking up. But then, when we lose a loved one, our world collapses and suddenly it looks like death is winning. Adam and Eve must have felt that way when Cain killed Abel - it looked like death had won. Abraham died and was buried by his two sons - it looked like death had won. All through the Old Testament, powerful kings and prominent prophets who loved God, still died - it looked like death had won. So many times we see those we care about, gone, like sand through our fingers; their lives slipping away. It looks like death is carrying the victory away - all the time. But the Bible says: for love is as strong as death 2000 years ago Love came into the ring and started a fight with death. On one Friday morning, love and death fought it out - they went all day, along the Via Dolorosa until the cross. Death took Love to the grave and said: I have done to you, as I did to the rest of them. Death had a party one of those weekend parties, it started on Friday and lasted all Saturday... But on Sunday morning Love raised His voice, took the sting out of death and stopped the power of death once and for all. Even though it looks like death still wins, truth is that Love is stronger than death. Jesus rose to prove that point. God s Spirit, by whom God caused Jesus to rise from the dead, is now living in us too. So: O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? Jesus has overcome and, in Him, so have we

2 Scholarship Program of the () First of all, we want to remind our members that offers scholarships towards the theological preparation of indigenous ministers in the land. This is one of the ways that can assist in the equipping of future evangelical leaders. Every year designates a sum in their budget to award two scholarships in the amount of 2,500 NIS to eligible candidates. If funds are available, additional candidates may be considered. This last year we were able to award three scholarships to students at Israel College of the Bible and the Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary. To date this year we have not received any applications. However, there is still a window of opportunity and funds are available. May we encourage the leaders in our member bodies to prayerfully consider if they may have any suitable applicants. There are two deadlines for receiving applications during the year: the first deadline is May 1st, and the second deadline is November 1st. The application includes three parts, and each part must be completed and forwarded together and as printouts either by post to the address of the convener of the Scholarship Committee or handed over to him/her in person by the deadline. Please refer to our website for particulars ( ). A word of advice to sponsors of future applicants: please read the latest edition of the Guidelines very carefully before you or your students send an application. The latest editions of the Guidelines, the application form, and the address of the presiding convener are available on the webpage. The Scholarship Committee highly recommends that sponsors prioritize someone who has evidence of a divine call to serve the Lord and plans a future ministry in this land. Moreover, sponsors are encouraged to personally develop an on-going relationship with the student for prayer and encouragement. Thank you your careful consideration of these points. We look forward to hear from you and to receive new applications. Rev. Joel McElreath, Convener As a small Christian community we live in the middle of the old city of Jerusalem where we maintain a little pilgrim hospice. Besides the pilgrims and our visitors we especially seek to serve volunteers living in the Holy Land. Every Thursday night at 8:00 pm we have a German service at our house, followed by a time of worship. Our goal is to accompany and to strengthen those young people on their way with Jesus. Also we open our house especially for the Christian holidays to celebrate together our Lord. If you are interested please feel free to contact us ( ) or just drop by. By: Dirk Klingelhoefer Christus-Treff At the 8th Station of the Via Dolorosa

3 Chairman s Greeting By Richard Brogden Dear Brethren, Soula and I have returned to Israel after being gone for 7 months. The Lord was with us, even though we experienced some trials during this time. One of the reasons that our stay was longer than we had planned was thatihad a TIA stroke andmy doctor advised me not to travel while I was beingdiagnosed for the cause. It was minor but itwas a "red flag" to be careful. This was the second occurrence, the first being in April 2011 before I traveled to America. I want to thank you for your prayers. I'm feeling much better now after the treatment. We had additional time to visit a number of congregations and share from the pulpitand privately of the Lord's ongoing work in Israel. It was encouraging to hear how the Church is praying for the "Peace of Jerusalem". I was able to keep up with the General Secretary's (Brent)reports and letters and so glad to see how things are progressing in. We do look forward to our two conferences this year and believe that the Lord will continue to strengthen all the different ministries in The Land. I'm aware that many of us have gone through different kinds of trials during these last years. Sufferings and heartaches of different kinds come to those who are in his service. We truly are his soldiers, and in this part of the battlefield, we can expect attacks from the enemy. I would like to ask prayer for The Ark, our Teen Challenge Center at Arad, Israel. We praise Himfor an increase in finances.pray for more staff, and that the Lord would send in the students who will experience a changed life.weare very thankfulfor a work team from Scotland and Czech Republic that built a fence around the house and garden. Pray also forprotection for the staff and students from those who demonstrate against them. A group have been standing outside the property anddemonstrating. Pray that the following scriptural promise will be fulfilled in this ministry: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of Hosts (Zechariah 4:6). Yours in Him, Richard

4 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE ISRAEL - 56TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2012 May 3rd, 2012 in Nazareth at St. Margarets Hostel Program am Coffee and Registration am Welcome & Prayer am Roll Call and Introduction of Guests am Committee Reports Election & Ebenezer Home Collection am Praise & Worship am Spiritual Input for Ministry (topic will follow) Lunch & Tea & Depart 2.00 pm For interested people: Afternoon Program (topic will follow) 3.30 pm Coffee & Departure Morning During the morning session from 09:40 am until 12:45 pm the Heads and delegates of the Member Bodies will conduct business and the election. St. Margaret s Hostel in Nazareth Address: Salezian NAZARETH Phone or St Margaret s Hostel is located high on the hill in the North East part of the city with a great view of the Basilica of the Annunciation and the rest of the old city centre. NIS per person incl. lunch and coffee breaks (AGM time and place are set, but the details of the program may be slightly adjusted)

5 Happenings in the Easter/Passover Season For more information people can contact the relevant member organizations. Christ Church Jerusalem PALM SUNDAY, Apr. 1 9:30 Service,Procession(To Be Confirmed), Eucharist 18:30 Bible Study.In the conference room MONDAY, Apr. 2 8:00 Worship, Morning Prayer. In the church TUESDAY, Apr. 3 8:00Worship, Morning Prayer. In the church WEDNESDAY, Apr. 4 8:00 Worship, Morning Prayer. In the church. 19:30 Acts Bible Study. In the conference room MAUNDY THURSDAY, Apr. 5 7:00 Morning Prayer & Eucharist at the Anglican School. 18:30 Service & Eucharist,Walk to Gethsemanewith devotional. Start at the church GOOD FRIDAY, Apr. 6 13:00 Good Friday Service. 18:00 Congregational Passover Meal. (NIS 120 & must RSVP) HOLY SATURDAY, Apr. 7 20:00 Vigil Service, Renewal of Baptismal Vows & Eucharist. RESURRECTION SUNDAY, Apr. 8 6:00Sunrise Service in Hebrew & English, Eucharist 9:30 Celebration & Eucharist 18:30NOBible Study WEDNESDAY, Apr :30 NOActs Bible Study CEF Children's Evangelical Fellowship (CEF) will be holding children programs for Easter all over Galilee,during the end of March and beginning of April. In mid-april, a CEF Middle East regional conference will be held in Jordan and a delegation from Israel will attend. During the month of May, CEF will prepare for: The teacher (and counselor) training course during June,and the weekly summer camps during the month of July. Pastor Butros Grayeb announces that starting Friday,March the 30th, and every Friday at 7.00 P.M,a new meeting will take placeat the Nazarene Church in Haifa. It will include preaching, teaching, and discipleship. It is open for everyone. Church of the Nazarene (Haifa):

6 Easter 2012 Good Friday 6th April Good Friday meditative service (in English) Garden open all day for private prayer and meditation (NO organized tour groups all day) Easter Saturday 7th April Garden Open as normal for organized and private visits Easter Sunday 8th April Son-Rise Resurrection Service (in English) {Doors open 0600} Son-Rise Resurrection Service (in English) {Doors open 0900} Resurrection Service (in Scandinavian) {Doors open 1045} Resurrection Service (in French) {Doors open 1215} 1400 Garden closed for the rest of the day Easter Monday 9th April (Garden Tomb open as normal) Easter Saturday 14th April Resurrection Service (in Arabic, simultaneous translation into Hebrew) {Doors open 1600 and close 1800} Throughout the rest of the Easter period the Garden Tomb is open as normal: Monday to Saturday and Closed on other Sundays.

7 SAMARITAN PASSOVER Mt. Gerizim Friday, May 4th 2012 Bus from Jerusalem Prayer Center to Mt. Gerizim Departure: 9 am At: Nablus Rd 35, Jerusalem Get Registered: Project Redemption (Member of the Evangelical Alliance) info@projectredemption.org Phone or Bus Fees & Program 80 NIS/per Person Program at Mt. Gerizim Noon Sacrifice around 12 pm