welcome bob roegner!

Transcription

1 welcome bob roegner! Acts 1:8... you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Summer 2018 Welcome Bob & Kristi Roegner! By Steve Cohen - founder Bob and I first met in the 1980 s when I was serving on the Task Force for Jewish Evangelism for the LCMS. I traveled to St. Louis three times a year, and he would be in the missions office on some of those occasions during his service as area secretary for Africa, Europe and the Middle East. We also were members of the same church, Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in Affton. We developed more than a passing acquaintance as we shared a passion for reaching lost people with the Gospel. In 1996 I left my twenty years of service with Jews For Jesus and moved to St. Louis to begin this new mission endeavor we call The Apple of His Eye Mission Society. Bob was called to serve as the head of LCMS World Mission from 2001 to I vividly recall meeting in his office asking when the LCMS would be including reaching the Jewish people in its mission planning and strategies. The answer came that it was not on the agenda, though he agreed it is an important, Biblicly-mandated ministry. For several years I asked Bob if he would serve on our Board of Directors, and he always had a plethora of plates in the air and could not effectively add another. Situations changed and on May 28, 2013, Bob was elected as the new Board Chairman, taking the reins from Rev. Dave Born. He told me he ran out of excuses to not be involved and our relationship deepened. Bob with former chairman Rev. Dave Born and Dr. Andy Bartelt The Apple of His Eye NEWSLETTER PO BOX 6977 ST. LOUIS MO steve.cohen@appleofhiseye.org In 2015 we applied for a grant from the LWML to bring the Gospel to the Lost Sheep of Israel IN Israel. That grant was approved in convention just six weeks before a planned trip to Israel to attend the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism international meeting in Jerusalem. Bob, Nancy and I attended. The focus shifted from asking what others are doing in Israel to seeing what role we could play and add to the body of witness in the Land. Bob returned with a growing burden to be involved in reaching the over six million unsaved Jewish people living in Israel. God placed His call on Bob and Kristi s lives. The Lord was concluding their service at Peace Lutheran Church in O Fallon, Missouri; and asking them to step out in faith as missionaries with The Apple of His Eye. We extended the call to Bob to join us in January and after a season of prayer, he accepted the call to join our mission efforts with a view to leading in Israel. On May 1 st, 2018, Bob began his service with us. We were in Israel together for 10 days in May to lay the foundation for our service there. Now we are upholding Bob and Kristi as they enter their deputation period to raise their support so they can move forward full time in service there. This is an historic first for our church body. Tel Aviv is one the most expensive cities in the world. We believe God is raising up partners there like those at Immanuel Church (Lutheran) in Jaffa Tel Aviv. We covet your prayers! Perhaps you and your congregation will join with us in partnership to speed them on the way to the field. Their target is $500,000 for the first three years. If you want to communicate with Bob directly, his new address is robert.roegner@appleofhiseye.org.

2 Encounter in Jaffa by Steve Cohen During the last weekend in Israel for our latest trip, I was the invited guest speaker at the services at our partner in ministry, Immanuel Church Lutheran. The liturgy for the Saturday service is spoken in Hebrew, and on Sunday it is in English. There are usually more visitors on Sunday. That day was no different. A small religious study tour group from Europe came and listened throughout the time of worship. After the service ended, Rev. Bradley Long, the senior pastor, extended a warm invitation to join in for fellowship in the patio area. As I mingled among those gathered, one lady came up to me. I did not like your message at all! she said emphatically. So what is it about Jesus that you disliked? I responded. I have a PhD. in religious studies and I am Jewish. I have read the texts including the New Testament, and I do not believe it to be true! There are more paths to God that what you said today, claiming the only way to God is through Jesus! As I listened, it seemed clear that she was adamant and unmovable at this stage in her life. So I sought to do the best I could by casting doubt upon her disbelief. Actually, I did not say Jesus is the only way, He did. I merely told you what He said. Now either He is telling the truth or He is lying. Which do you think it is? She decided to not answer that question and moved on. Then one of her students, Hannah, grew up going to church but has since renounced her faith and claims that there is no God now. I asked her what led to that conclusion. After all, it takes a whole lot of faith to believe that there is no god at all. I told her. She said that there was a challenging time in her life and she asked God for assurance that He is real. She sought some specific signs and they did not happen. Her conclusion: there is no God. I told her that even though at this time she is rejecting God He is not rejecting you! He holds his hand and heart out to you that you might be restored to a loving, living personal relationship. Hannah was expecting a fight from me trying to prove her wrong, instead she heard of God s love, grace and mercy. Please pray for those who heard the truth that day in Jaffa that they might be moved by God s spirit to respond in faith. We will have many more encounters in Israel like this, and for that we give thanks to God that you uphold us! Congratulations and Thank You! Thank you to Rev. Ken Hennings, outgoing District President of the Texas District for the past 12 years. Ken has been a long-time personal friend and encourager and prayer partner during the many challenges we have each faced. Well done, good and faithful servant! It was a privilege to have been at the celebration of your ministry at the Texas District Convention in Dallas in June! Congratulations to the new President-elect of the Texas district, Rev. Michael Newman. We have known each other for a few years. Mike shared with me his joy and anticipation in working with The Apple of His Eye as we extend our new mission efforts abroad. Mike has graciously adjusted his calendar so that he can install Bob Roegner into The Apple of His Eye at Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio on September 23rd at the 8:00 AM service. Thank you Mike and thank you Pastor Tucker for hosting!

3 NanC s Corner Law vs Blood Leviticus 17:11, 14 ( Deuteronomy 12:23) For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make anatonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life I am blessed to be under the teaching and leadership of one of my favorite lay-bible teachers, Harry Voight. He knows and lives the Word, he teaches the Word, he uses the Word, he is a lover of the Word and he passes his wisdom of the Word on to all who will listen. Recently he asked this question: What is The Law? Do we have to keep it? It is always an interesting discussion with Harry s classes and I love it! One person answered yes - after all Jesus kept the law. Hmmm he was then reminded that Jesus wrote the law, so of course he kept it Y shua is perfect. Another person said that the law was given so the Israelites could get through the desert - another hmmm. Okay, I see we have a lack of understanding about the law in our church. This subject is essential when talking to people about salvation. A lady in one of my small groups, who had recently lost her husband, said: Nancy, I m afraid that my husband isn t in heaven. I knew her husband was a strong leader in the church, so I asked: Didn t your husband receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior? Yes she said, But he has been in a nursing home for the past 18 months unable to attend church services. That is a strong example of legalism. Legalism is doing. Legalism is law. It is outside Christianity and not inside Christianity. I reminded her that going to church doesn t make one a Christian any more than going into McDonalds makes one a hamburger. It s the blood of Jesus that redeems us and that alone. His blood doesn t depend on our works nor does it wash off. The Word tells us that God is with us (John10:28) and that the Holy Spirit seals us (Eph. 1:13) from the time of our salvation (see Romans 10). Titus 1:2 tells us that God cannot lie. Once He becomes our Savior, we are HIS! She understood and cried with relief. It s sad, but many believers think that they must add to their salvation. Now, be careful here, James says that faith without works is dead. I am simply explaining legalism not negating living an exemplary life for the Messiah. When you are sharing your faith, people will sometimes pose different ideas or questions all pertaining to keeping the law: I go to church. My dad, brother, uncle, grandfather (fill in the blank) is/was a pastor. I try to keep the 10 commandments. I live right. I have never been in trouble. I don t want to go to your church. I can t live up to it. I don t drink, smoke, chew or hang with those who do you get the idea. I Samuel 16:7 says: For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. How s your heart? Has it been washed in the blood? Has there been a time when you have confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior? These are valuable questions. We need to be asking our children and grandchildren these questions. At an LCMS convention recently, a pastor told me of a young man in his confirmation class who confessed to him that he would only be mouthing the words that he did not believe in Jesus nor the Bible. Of course it was wonderful that he told the pastor his heart - in truth he was actually seeking. Yes he did eventually believe (after he graduated from high school), but it made me wonder how many kids don t actually understand nor believe? It s your responsibility, as a believer, to ask the question. My pastor friend John Brunette asks every new members class If you die today, do you know for sure that you are going to heaven? I love that question. I have used it often. Be ready for the law. Once you ask the question you may hear more examples of self-righteousness than you thought possible. But be prepared and bring the question around to the salvation. My reaction? That s wonderful! But if going to church (being good, reading your Bible, obeying the commandments, memorizing creeds, etc ) was all you needed, then Jesus wasted His time on the cross! Bathe every word in prayer and love and then pray some more. We are living in a needy, needy world. You have the key to hope, use it. I don t believe I have ever seen a bolder witness for Y shua, than Steve Cohen. He will tell anyone and everyone the gospel and he does it lovingly and boldly. I must admit I get nervous at times when I need to share my faith, but I realize that I may be the only witness they will hear or see. YOU may be the only gospel someone sees. I have only touched the tip of the iceberg, but I pray it will aid in some way for you to be a bolder witness. From my heart, blessings and love, nancy

4 Here I Am, Lord Here I Am, Lord written by Dan Schutte, in 1981, is the title of a modern Christian hymn. Its main inspirations are Isaiah 6, where the Lord calls Isaiah; and 1 Samuel 3, where the Lord calls Samuel: And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here I am! Send me. (Isaiah 6:8 ESV) Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, Here I am! (1 Samuel 3:4 ESV) The narrator changes between the Lord (the Verses) and those He calls (the Chorus). Below is the first Verse of this hymn and the Chorus. [Verse 1] [Chorus] I, the Lord of sea and sky I have heard my people cry All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save Here I am, Lord, Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night I will go, Lord, if you lead me I will hold your people in my heart As Kristi and I begin our 38 th year in mission ministry, these words from Here I Am, Lord could never be more applicable! We could never have expected or planned what the Lord had in store for us. However, now that we have answered God s Call to serve as His missionaries in Israel, it has become evident to us, everything we have done and learned in those 38 years has been preparing us for this privilege and opportunity to serve Him. Having just returned from a trip to Israel, I saw once resonated with the words to the first verse of this hymn: [Verse 1] I, the Lord of sea and sky I HAVE HEARD MY PEOPLE CRY ALL WHO DWELL IN DARK AND SIN My hand will save Israel is a country that is ripe for Boldly sharing Y shua as Messiah. Urgently equipping other believers to do the same! In Tel Aviv, where Apple of His Eye Mission Society (AOHE) will have its base of operation, countless Jews are living in darkness without any relationship to Y shua at all. There is no doubt in our minds that God is truly hearing the cries of His people. That is why we believe that God has called upon AOHE (a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) to call and send Bob and Kristi Roegner as the first missionaries to serve in Israel. However, our doing the work the Lord has in mind for us to doin Israel is not possible without your prayers and financial support. Please don t hesitate to contact us to find out how you might be involved in this new and historic mission work in Israel. Again how does that chorus go: Here I am, Lord, Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night I WILL GO, LORD, IF YOU LEAD ME I WILL HOLD YOUR PEOPLE IN MY HEART Rev. Dr. Robert M. Roegner robert.roegner@appleofhiseye.org (Mobile) P.S. Kristi and I will be Installed and Commissioned as missionaries to Israel on September 23, 2018, at Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas. Y all are invited! Photo by Nancy Cohen in Jaffa

5 Sharing the Lord in Wisconsin - by Steve Cohen In in June of this year, Nancy and I were attending the LWML district convention in Waukesha Wisconsin. We had an opportunity to meet and greet with many of the delegates there and it was a joy to share with them our thanks for the support they ve given to the Apple of His Eye Mission Society. Many of the ladies there had Jewish friends and appreciated the opportunity to receive more information on sharing their faith in a loving and direct way. On Saturday morning when the ladies were in session, people were still passing by our display and asking questions. One woman came up to me dressed in a purple top and shorts (purple is the color for the LWML) and I thought she was with the convention. It turns out she was a guest staying in the hotel and had passed by thedisplay the night before. But she could not understand why a Jewish group would be in attendance at a Lutheran gathering. I asked about her background, and she told me that she was Jewish. She was staying as a guest with her husband who was a Gentile and the information caught her eye. She gladly received my testimony book and the book we had on the table about intermarriage between Jewish people and Gentiles and she shared her address with me indicating her willingness to continue the dialogue. I invited her to read the first book of the New Testament, Matthew, and tell me what she thought. She said she was eager to do so and looking forward to further communication. Praise God! You don t have to travel to New York City or Florida or even next-door, all you have to do is go to an LWML convention, set up your literature and wait for people to walk by who will inquire about why and how one can be Jewish and believe in Jesus at the same time. Please pray for Dawn s salvation. I told her that I m a Jewish believer in Jesus, and that our purpose was to help inform Christians of the Jewish roots of their faith and invite the Jewish people to consider Jesus as the promised Messiah of Israel. She told me her name is Dawn, she is not religious, and was frustrated with her upbringing. She grew up knowing nothing about her faith. But now she is engaged in a spiritual journey to discover the truth and see what it means for her and her life.

6 Now you can give a secure donation to The Apple of His Eye by text message using your cell phone. To make a donation now: Open a blank text message Enter in To field Enter $ amount and fund name in message field: Fund names: Steve; Nancy, Bob, Israel, Generalfund Send text and wait for system reply with URL to mobile donation page Complete informational fields on mobile donation page and submit donation A text message will confirm the donation