Operation Exodus. A ministry of Ebenezer Emergency Fund International ISRAEL THE MARK OF GOD S FAITHFULNESS

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1 Operation Exodus A ministry of Ebenezer Emergency Fund International Issue 4/2013 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them Amos 9:14 ISRAEL THE MARK OF GOD S FAITHFULNESS

2 Israel: the mark of God s faithfulness Ebenezer Emergency Fund International Ebenezer House, 5a Poole Road Bournemouth, BH2 5QJ, UK Phone: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) enquiries@ebenezer-ef.org Ebenezer Emergency Fund USA PO Box 568 Lancaster, NY Phone: Fax: info@ebenezerusa.org Operation Exodus SE Asia Oceania Level 2, 39 Leighton Place Hornsby NSW 2077 Australia Phone: office@operation-exodus-seao.org It is an awesome miracle and an absolutely incredible mark of God s faithfulness that the Jewish people are returning home to Israel from all over the world. Aliyah, as the return is called, is God s plan, not man s invention, as Jeremiah 23:7 8 and many other scriptures tell us. In His grace He is using us from around the world to help the Jewish people in their return (Isaiah 49:22 23). We Christians have a debt to help the Jewish people with their material needs because we have benefited from them spiritually (Romans 15:27). The God of Israel has also given His word that He will plant them in His land and do them good with all His heart and with all His soul (Jeremiah 32:41). Amos 9:15 declares that they will be planted and no longer uprooted. It is not easy for them to stay in the Land with so many challenges to face, but we are encouraged to see how often our Jerusalem office is able to help many olim in their complex absorption process. God said that He will meet them in Israel and give them a new heart and put His spirit in them (Ezekiel 36). Redemption will come to them as a nation in the Promised Land, not in the Diaspora. The Lord will do all this for His holy name s sake. By these amazing events the Jewish people will recognise that the Lord is their God. Operation Exodus is an instrument of the Lord to encourage and help the Jewish people to return to the Land of Israel from the land of the north and all the nations and to proclaim God s Kingdom purposes for their return. All articles in this publication Copyright Ebenezer Emergency Fund International November Operation Exodus is the operational part of Ebenezer Emergency Fund International. Started in 1991 with just three people, it now has representatives in 51 countries worldwide. Please contact your nearest office if you would like to be added to our mailing list. This publication is FREE but donations are warmly welcomed. 2

3 I will plant them in their land Says the LORD your God. Amos 9:15 Recognising growing worldwide anti-semitism, increasing insecurity and persecution in many nations, we understand that the safest place for the Jewish people is undoubtedly their homeland, Israel. Time is short, but we believe the Lord wants every Jewish person to have the opportunity to return. We count it a privilege to be involved in the fulfilment of God s promises for our time and want to serve and assist the chosen people wherever they are. Dear friends, thank you for your precious support in prayer, practical work and financially. Operation Exodus is a faith and scripture-based ministry completely dependent on the Lord. The task is big and we appreciate and need your ongoing partnership. Thank you for your encouragement and your faithful commitment to stand with us throughout the past year. On behalf of the International Board I wish you a peaceful Hanukkah and Christmas. the safest place for the Jewish people is undoubtedly their homeland, Israel Following each other to Israel So many times when we help a family to make aliyah other members follow. Recently we saw Gennady and Svetlana from Balti, northern Moldova, fly to Israel to be reunited with their daughter, Diana, who we helped to go there a few years ago on a Jewish Agency repatriation programme. May the Lord God of Israel richly bless you and your family. Markus J. Ernst President of Ebenezer Emergency Fund International By Pavel Moldova base leader INTERNATIONAL / MOLDOVA Two years ago we helped Svetlana s brother, Mikhail, to go to the Promised Land. Their father, Efim, was the Jewish Agency s northern Moldova coordinator for many years and we enjoyed very good working relations with him. Seeing Svetlana and Gennady fly off to Israel, Efim told me that he and his wife would soon be going themselves another family reunion to look forward to! Soon after she and Gennady had arrived in Israel and begun to settle in Jerusalem, Svetlana wrote to us: We had a wonderful flight! Everything went very well We are now busy learning Hebrew Thank you so much for your support for everything! Farewell to Moldova: Gennady and Svetlana. 3

4 Return to Khabarovsk After a gap of ten years, Ebenezer now has a base in Khabarovsk again. Since the closure of the previous base in this key city in the vast Russian Far East, the ministry in the region has been in the hands of just one regional representative. By Konstantin & Alyona Khabarovsk base leaders RUSSIA We moved from Irkutsk to open the new base in mid-april and have already been encouraged in this new challenge. The original base was started in 1996 after Gustav Scheller, Ebenezer s founder, visited the Russian Far East, which covers about 40 per cent of the territory of the Former Soviet Union. It is strategically important to the ministry, especially because it covers Birobidzhan, the Jewish Autonomous Region. The Russian Far East is infamous for the labour camps, prisons and re-education camps for undesirables, including many Jews. After Stalin s death in 1953 and gradual closure of the camps, many survivors settled there. Between 1996 and 2000 Ebenezer helped many thousands of them and their descendants go to Israel through our extensive network of representatives throughout the region. After 2000 aliyah declined sharply and Ebenezer reluctantly curtailed operations. Now, through the recently launched Russia-Alaska prayer initiative, the Lord has revealed that the ministry of aliyah should be built up again across the region. He has shown the leadership two aliyah highways: to Israel via Alaska and direct to Israel from our region. Helping Jewish people go to the Promised Land is dependent upon support from churches in Alaska and from local churches in Khabarovsk and other places in the Russian Far East. Therefore we believe that the new Khabarovsk base is of strategic importance for the huge aliyah that is to come. Our work has been greatly enhanced by the Lord s provision of a minivan especially for the long journeys we undertake. Those we help in the region either come to Khabarovsk for their flights to Israel or fly direct to Tel Aviv from Vladivostok or Blagoveschensk. We arrange and pay for overnight accommodation for those who come to Khabarovsk. One family who had waited 14 years before they were finally granted Israeli visas flew from Blagoveschensk to the Promised Land in July. We are so thankful to God for being able to help Jewish people go home from the Russian Far East in these highly significant days. Please pray for our work from the Khabarovsk base. 4

5 Seven now in Israel (left to right): Alexey, Lia, Roman, Alexander, Natalia, Irina and Vitalia. Helping with their journeys It was at an Israeli consular reception in Rostov that we met Alexander, Irina and their family. Because their home was some distance away, we helped them with their travelling expenses. By Volodya and Luba Rostov-on-Don leaders We also told them that we could take them to Rostov airport for their aliyah flight. So the evening before the flight I (Volodya) drove to their home nearly 235 miles away to collect the seven of them and their luggage, picking up a lady who was also making aliyah along the way. Among friends saying goodbye was a pastor. I had a great opportunity to share with him and the others from the Scriptures about the return of the Jewish people. Three months later I took Alexander s mother, Bella, to the airport for her aliyah flight. Her younger son, Viktor, and his family of six all came along with her to explore Israel. Back in Rostov they prepared to make aliyah. Open hearts in Ukraine We are so thankful to the Lord for enabling us to recently visit more than 70 Jewish families in the Kherson region. There were also opportunities to meet pastors of local churches in this part of southern Ukraine. Bella (centre) says goodbye to friends. By Yanya Ukraine team RUSSIA / UKRAINE Among those we met were two large Jewish families. It was a truly memorable occasion because when we arrived they said, We have been waiting for you since morning, as we know that you have been sent to share something important with us. So we are all ears! We rejoiced in the God who goes before us and prepares the way by opening people s hearts and giving them a desire to hear His Word! We also had a phone call from another man we had helped with documents for his aliyah and to visit the Israeli consul. Deeply touched, he told us, I have always been deprived of everything, whereas now I receive and do not have to give anything back in return!. Two potential olim (left) with Yanya and Hans-Günther, a volunteer from Germany. Please pray for our work among Jewish families and local churches in Ukraine. 5

6 Emergency brings quick aliyah Alexandra wanted to go to Israel. Her mother and stepfather had moved there several years ago with our help. But Slava, her husband, said they would only go there when he was unable to support his family financially in Moldova. By Pavel Moldova base leader MOLDOVA Then at a picnic this past July Alexandra told us that they had applied for Israeli visas and had been given permission to make aliyah. Though it was good news, bad news had caused them to make the decision: Slava had been diagnosed as having spinal cancer and brain tumours. Doctors told him that going to Israel was his only hope. So the need to make aliyah was very urgent, but they needed clearance from the Moldova Visas and Registrations Department and that process normally took a month. Slava came to our office on 31st July and told us that he and Alexandra were going to try to see the head of the Department the following day even though they did not have an appointment. On 1st August Slava and Alexandra were received sympathetically by the Department head and told that if they obtained and submitted two more documents by the following afternoon their passports allowing them to move to another country permanently would be granted immediately! They did so and received the passports. With these they went to the Israeli Embassy the following Monday, 5th August, and received their visas. The Jewish Agency had planned for them to go on the 11th August flight to Tel Aviv, although it was uncertain that there would actually be tickets available for them. But Slava, Alexandra and their year-old daughter, Diana, were on that flight. In Israel they received some very good news: doctors examining Slava said the tumours were benign and could be treated! Soon after this treatment began he was feeling much better. The family rejoice in God s hand upon their lives and are very thankful to Ebenezer. Please pray for Slava s treatment and for the family as they settle in Israel. 6

7 A dream come true We helped Vladimir (my namesake) make aliyah in October When back visiting friends, he told us: I heard the call of Zion and my dream came true! By Vladimir Pyatigorsk regional representative Thanks to the well-organised aliyah process, both by Ebenezer and the Jewish Agency, my journey to Israel went smoothly. Representatives of the Ministry of Absorption checked our documents and gave us olim cash to help us in our first days in Israel and our Israeli identity cards. I was then taken by taxi to Karmiel, where I was met by another Absorption Department representative and taken up to the flat that had been provided as temporary accommodation. It is hard to put into words how beautiful everything is in this amazing country. I woke up the next morning feeling a different person! My heartfelt gratitude to Ebenezer, especially Vladimir, and the Jewish Agency; without their involvement, concern and willingness to help my dream would not have come true. Turning their lives around Vladimir: Happy to be in Israel. RUSSIA When we met Liza two years ago she had no desire to go anywhere. Her mother had recently died and all she could think about was how to support her physically disabled daughter and herself on a meagre income, much of which was spent on expensive medicine. By Tatiana Stavropol regional representative We prayed for Liza and kept in touch with her, meeting up at Jewish feasts and other gatherings at which we spoke about Israel and the opportunity to make aliyah. Then she started to gather her documents. But when she visited the Israeli consul her aliyah application was turned down. She tried again and we helped her with travelling costs as she went back to the consul with a few more documents. She excitedly returned home with Israeli visas in her and her daughter s passports! Showing them to us, she kept thanking us for helping and supporting them. They flew to Israel in late July, amazed at what God had done. Liza works on her second aliyah application, which was successful. 7

8 Ebenezer Operation Exodus International Update Germany Aliyah families helped INTERNATIONAL Germany has around 300,000 Jewish people and few of them are leaving for Israel at present. So we rejoiced when we were able to help two families make aliyah. Rachel and daughter Elisha needed to be taken to Frankfurt airport and were so happy that we offer this kind of service. On the way there, Rachel said: I will tell my friends about you and I ll recommend you! From Israel they wrote saying all went well The children are adapting well and making lots of new friends. At check-in the Lord continued to bless their aliyah day by not having to pay for the additional bags they were taking with them. We met another Jewish family at the Jewish Agency in Frankfurt and offered our help. First of all we helped the five of them with packing at their home in Bavaria and then brought them to Frankfurt airport. UK The right time to go By Rod Langston Deputy Chairman UK Check-in at a London hotel the day before smoothed the way for the recent Jewish Agency aliyah flight of 44 olim to Tel Aviv. Phil Lumley and I, representing Ebenezer, were privileged to accompany them. A young couple, Adam and Sophie, were very grateful that I helped them with their luggage, especially because one of their two children had walking difficulties. A family of three generations were making aliyah Zvi and Barbara, daughter Leah, son-in-law Yanki and two small children. Asked 8 By Johannes Barthel National Coordinator, Germany Why now? Zvi said: The traffic lights are green explaining We either go now with our suitcases or, in just a couple of years, with only a toothbrush. On arrival, Ministry of Absorption officials gave each individual and family their Teudat Oleh (olim certificate), Teudat Zehut (ID card), the first Absorption Basket instalment cash, confirmation of health fund registration and 200 free mobile phone call minutes. They were also given details of Ebenezer s Jerusalem office to contact for possible future assistance. Adam, Sophie and their children. Zvi, Barbara and family.

9 Ebenezer Operation Exodus Thailand Asian leaders gather In predominantly Buddhist Thailand, our gathering took place in a Kingsley Priddy of the Bible College of Wales wrote to Gustav about the intercessory prayer role for the worldwide return of the Jews. Christian-run hotel whose owners expressed much interest in, and support for, our work. Jack and Ann Yeo started meetings by leading us in worship and then the Board members led us in lively round-table discussion which flowed into times of prayer. One topic was the obedience of Gustav Scheller to the Lord s call in 1991 to start helping to bring back the Jewish people from the Former Soviet Union. Another topic was the letter Deepa Thomas representing India. INTERNATIONAL The five-member SE Asia Oceania Board met in Bangkok over two days with a small group of pastors and leaders from Bhutan, China, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand with the twofold aim of encouraging Asian leaders in their understanding of how to pray for aliyah and to strengthen relationships among leaders in our region. By Pete Stucken Chairman, SE Asia Oceania Argentina By Enrique Porras Latin America Prayer Coordinator Teaching pastors, pursuing a vision In response to requests from pastors to know more about the need for Jewish people to go to Israel from Argentina, we held conferences in three regions of the country. We also spied out the land for future ministry and are now pursuing a vision to open an Ebenezer base in Argentina. During the two-week visit we held conferences on understanding the times concerning Israel in Quilmes (metropolitan Buenos Aires), San Luis (southern Argentina), Cordoba (north central) and Villaguay (an area of many rural communities). large Patagonian Jewish communities. Cordoba, too, has a large influential Jewish community and we are encouraged by the work of a pastor there for aliyah. Córdoba In Quilmes one pastor is seeing breakthroughs in this stronghold of replacement theology and anti-semitism through prayer and visiting fellow church leaders. In San Luis we encouraged increased prayer for aliyah highways in a region close to Chile and the Villaguay San Luís Buenos Aires 9

10 Ebenezer Operation Exodus Everything by Prayer PRAYER Prayer focus for the Church Psalm 150 We thank the Lord for openings in churches and among pastors to share the vision and prayer burden for aliyah since this prayer focus began. The final phase will be in Jerusalem on November, during our international conference. Delegates from 41 nations will take up the corporate prayer which builds on the proclamations, confessions and prayer made over the past 12 months. Please join with us as we complete this prayer focus with the declaration of God s Word and His praises. Please pray: That we take time to listen, be alert, sensitive and obedient to His voice. For His presence and guidance to be with us in Jerusalem and across the world as we exalt His Lordship over all false theologies. For pastors and believers to be awakened to choose to receive the revelation of His heart for Israel and the restoration of His Jewish people back to their homeland. Aliyah from the nations Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, and set up My standard for the peoples; They shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. Isaiah 49:22 23 Markus shares in his article: We count it a privilege to be involved in the fulfilment of God s promises for our time and to serve and assist the chosen people wherever they are. Please pray for: Existing relationships with Jewish communities to be strengthened, new relationships to be formed and built up, and barriers of mistrust and fear to be broken down. The Jewish people to respond as our teams share from the Word of God and bring comfort and hope. All hindrances and obstacles preventing their return to be removed. By Alison Eastwood Assistant International Prayer Coordinator Israel Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul. Jeremiah 32:41 We rejoice as we see many new olim arrive in Israel and need to claim the Lord s promise above for those who make aliyah. Please pray for: The new olim to meet with God in Israel Ezekiel 36: Wisdom and discernment for Shirley and Iris in our Jerusalem office as they encourage and help olim overcome the challenges in the land. The peace of Jerusalem and Israel in the midst of the storm around them Psalm 122:

11 Touching hearts in Ukraine Engage team cleaning a Jewish cementery. Slava Bogu! We certainly do give glory to God for the ten days we spent in Ukraine on our Engage trip this past August! Fifteen of us travelled around Kiev visiting Jewish families. By Geraldine Tribaudant Engage Switzerland It was intense and challenging but the Lord guided us and kept us safe. We visited 70 Jewish families and felt honoured to step into their houses. We shared the scriptures and told them that God had not forgotten them! I will say to the north, Give them up (Isaiah 43:6). We told them about the biblical prophecies and explained why as Christians we wanted to encourage them to make aliyah. With simple words we told them about the God of Israel and the Holy Land. With love and compassion we prayed for them and read, Comfort, yes, comfort My people! (Isaiah 40:1 5), explaining that God had sent us to help them. They were touched and could not believe that foreigners were visiting them from USA, England, Switzerland and France to bring them food parcels, gifts and such a beautiful message! They asked: Who are you? Are you some angels sent by God? Comforting a Jewish lady. We met with local Jewish communities and cleaned a Jewish cemetery. Not only did this act of love generate surprise but also helped to strengthen relationships between Christian and Jewish communities. We also had the privilege to introduce Ebenezer in several churches and were encouraged to see the young people responding positively, willing to commit themselves to the aliyah ministry. We were thrilled to help 30 olim at the airport as they departed for Israel. We truly lived in the accomplishment of the aliyah prophecies. Last but not least, we met with Holocaust survivors and went to the places where more than 25,000 Jews were murdered. We stepped out of our comfort zone for only ten days to help Jewish people. There is still a lot of work to do! ENGAGE Bringing aid touched hearts. Join us for action-packed 14 days in Israel 21 st JULY 4 th AUGUST 2014 for ages FOR Only! It was the catalyst for the AHA! moment Matt (South Africa) $ USD* all inclusive (*excl. flights and some lunches) For more information visit Engage is the young adults organisation of Ebenezer Operation Exodus. A Christian organisation helping the Jewish people return to Israel.

12 Ethiopian aliyah concludes Ethiopian Olim learning Hebrew. Era of Ethiopian Aliyah Draws to a Close, declared an Israeli news headline this past summer. The article underneath reported: After more than 30 years, the state prepares to end aliyah from Ethiopia. Final arrivals expected in August. By Iris Goldman Jerusalem office Indeed, several Israeli news sources used the word final. Even the Jewish Agency website spoke of the final wave of aliyah from Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. ISRAEL Welcoming home two plane-loads of some 450 Ethiopian Jews on 28 August, Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky was quoted as saying, By completing the journey of Operation Dove s Wings [the last group aliyah operation, which began in 2010], we close the circle on a journey that began 3,000 years ago. He was referring to the Ethiopian Jewish community s beginning during Bible times. The ministry of Ebenezer Operation Exodus has promoted both the aliyah of the Ethiopian Jews and their absorption in the Land, providing practical assistance and helping the Yemin Orde Youth Village near Haifa, which is supported by Youth Aliyah Child Rescue. Yemin Orde offers a safe and loving home and a good education for young Ethiopian olim and others (pictures shown). Although the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency are formally concluding mass aliyah from Ethiopia, the reports concur that individuals there wishing to make aliyah will still be considered on a case-by-case basis, as in other countries. Let us hope and pray that such cases will be resolved quickly and efficiently. This near conclusion of the Ethiopian aliyah seems to be another sign of the times. One day we will rejoice in the final aliyah from all countries, just as God said: When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, then they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel, says the LORD God (Ezekiel 39:27 29). Please pray for our ongoing help to Ethiopian Jewish people. 12