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Because the vision of JCFI is to raise a greater awareness of Israel in the churches of Johnson County, we want to connect you to some of our friends who work to bless Israel.

 

This month I have an  update  for you from Avi Mizrachi & Dugit !

 

Dugit translates to "small fisherman's boat" and is an appropriate description of the Dugit Outreach Ministry mission in Tel Aviv, Israel. Enjoy this report of salvation and refreshing !

 

SALVATION

 

Shai is an Israeli man who I first met at Dugit. I reme mber him coming into the coffee house and having lots of questions about the New Testament and about what we really believe. He is a native Hebrew speaker but wanted to study the bible in English. At the time, he had just finished reading the book "Pilgrim's Progress"  by John Bunyan which had sparked something in him to find out who God really was. During this time, I was able to share some of  my personal Faith experiences with Him.  He was interested, so I gave him a bible to read and also invited him to the student bible study that meets every Tuesday evening.

 

After a few months of coming to the bible study and also going to a local fellowship, Shai ended up receiving Yeshua as his personal savior and is now an integral part of the bible study. Shai has even begun to serve by leading us in worship on the guitar.  Praise God for Shai's salvation!


 
REFRESHING

 

Just before the big snow in February, we had a terrible sand storm. As strong winds blew in from the Sahara Desert, the Pollution percentage in Israel rose to 40%! For 24hrs the government instructed us, "Try not to go outside much because it has been the highest pollution we have had!" All of Israel was encouraged as the meteorologists said that after 24hrs the winds from the West would come bringing clouds with heavy rain that would clear all of the air. The weather experts exhorted us to "Please pray that it will come quickly!" and it did.

 

Heavy clouds came and poured out rain and snow like we have not had for years. We all watched closely as all of the Mountains of Israel received snow. Even in the south in Beersheba! The rest of the country also benefited from the heavy rains that came and cleared the pollution away.

 

We use this story of a physical process to emphasize how much more we need this in the spiritual. In many ways, the spiritual atmosphere over Israel is suffering from high pollution. Here in Tel Aviv, we believe that God has a plan to send in the "heavy rains" of the Spirit that will bring refreshment and clarity to the people. Sometimes these periods of refreshing happen in the unseen realm, in places that we cannot see but only discern. However, many times, these "rain clouds" come in the form of groups of believers that travel to Israel to pray and encourage the believers in the Land. We need the believers to come from all four corners of the earth to pray and ask God to release those beautiful clouds that bring heavy spiritual rain.

 

We are so thankful for all of you that pray, support, and believe with us as we continue to preach the Gospel and make disciples in Tel Aviv. Many of you have visited us here at Dugit over the years bringing much needed encouragement. We are amazed at how many friends we have made. What a blessing! For those of you that have yet to visit, we want to personally invite you to come and see what the Lord is doing here in Tel Aviv.

We look forward to meeting you!

Avi / Dugit

 

Pray for the Dugit Outreach as they minister in Tel Aviv !


Jerusalem Network News (JNN) & Barry Segal !

 

I want to introduce you to Barry Segal and the Jerusalem Network News. 

 

JNN is a great online source of news for all-things Israel. Whether your interest is political, social, economic, or spiritual, JNN will keep you informed with the latest. Check it out online at www.jnnnews.com.  Also, below is a little more info about Barry and JNN.


 Who is Barry Segal?

 

Barry and wife, Batya,live on the outskirts of Jerusalem and have for years p roclaimed the Good News as Messianic worship leaders. Barry plays guitar for the duo, representing a style called mizrahi, which mixes traditional Middle Eastern sounds with modern world music. Batya writes the songs and sings in both English and Hebrew.  

 

Barry and Batya serve the Kingdom in a number of ways. Vision for Israel and the Joseph Storehouse is a non-profit organization created by Barry and Batya Segal in 1994 out of the desire to help build and restore the Land. Vision for Israel freely provides aid to the poor and needy people, both Jewish and Arab, living in the nation of Israel today through The Joseph Storehouse, an international humanitarian aid center operating in the Judean Hills just outside of Jerusalem. Click HERE for a more detailed bio.

 

Be certain to check out 2 areas of the JNN website:

  • First, Barry will send to you by email (free of course) weekly JNN updates. I find these updates to be informative, yet also short and to the point. Click HERE & ask for the email updates.
  • Second, click on the Roots and Reflections tab. "Roots and Reflections," written and presented by Barry Segal, is a vivid, engaging, inspirational window into life in Israel today, set against a historical and spiritual background of the most significant country in the world. "Roots and Reflections" can be seen on a growing number of television channels around the world.
Watch this brief You Tube video introduction of R&R by Barry Segal. 
Roots and Reflections - Vision For Israel - Touching Lives
Roots and Reflections - Vision For Israel - Touching Lives

 

And, PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM ! 



BOH Logo with text
Bridge of Hope Update... 
We Are Growing ! 
                  
One way JCFI raises awareness of Israel's role today is through building a Bridge of Hope (BOH).  A Bridge of Hope is a "bridge" built between a Church or organization of Johnson County and a Congregation, Home Group, Faith-Based Organization, or Individual within Israel. At JCFI we currently have 22 Congregational BOH's and 5 Organizational BOHs  that are up-and-running with MANY in the process. The BOH project is blessing people both in Israel and here in Johnson County as it provides connection through fellowship, prayer support, educational exchange, and more.  (Click
HERE for more info)

We would love to hook you up!  I am Skyping almost weekly with those in the Land who are eager to link up in a "sister" relationship with a congregation or organization in Johnson County.  Be in prayer for us as we establish new connections with ministries in Israel that desperately need our support and prayer.   

If your church would like to know more about becoming a BOH to a congregation in Israel, click HERE or contact me by phone at 817-556-1061817-556-1061  / by email me at bentley_kevin@sbcglobal.net.

  Let's build a Bridge together as we stand For Israel!

            
              

Praise Report from Shaar HaEmek !

Shaar HaEmek (Gateway to the Valley) is a congregation located in the Jezreel Valley, led by Pastor Jonathan Almeida. Jonathan is linked in a BOH with Pastor Juan Pioquinto at La Fuente (the Fountain) in Cleburne, Texas. It is ALWAYS good to hear about salvations in the Land. So, enjoy this Praise from Shaar HaEmek!


 

I believe there is no greater joy for the Lord Yeshua and those who believe in him than seeing a person giving his life to Him. Starting with the weather that was nice, everything was carefully prepared by God to celebrate the baptism ceremony that we performed on the March 28th. 

 

Sister K testified about how she met Yeshua in a personal way, and accepted him as Savior. Between praise and the explanation of baptism, we fulfilled the commandment of the Lord there in the Jordan River. 

 

The Yardenit baptismal place, at the exit of the Jordan River to the Sea of Galilee, is often used by tourists and not by local believers. In fact, it was due to more favorable weather conditions that we for the first time baptized there. But, God had the biggest reasons for this choice.  

 

Israeli Jews go for walks in this beautiful region of the Sea of Galilee and by curiosity go to Yardenit for the baptism ceremonies. On this day, many Israelis approached our group, and were amazed for the first time to hear a singing group proclaiming the Lordship of Yeshua and baptizing in their mother tongue, Hebrew.

 

At the end of the ceremony, several people came to talk to us. It was exciting to speak openly about the Messiah, and watch them realize that the Gospel is not alien to Judaism, but is the result of the Tanakh. Hallelujah! 

Jonathan 


Until we are all ONE! (Eph.2:15) ! 

 

Archaeology & an Israeli Porcupine !


 
ONLY IN ISRAEL: PORCUPINE FINDS 1,400-YEAR OLD OIL LAMP ONLY TO HAVE ITS TREASURE TAKEN BY ARCHAEOLOGY COPS:

 

A large porcupine digging a burrow unearthed a perfect 1400 year old lamp only to have its prize seized by "archaeology cops" on a routine patrol to frustrate robbers. Specifically, Israel Antiquities Authority inspectors were on their routine rounds to thwart thievery from archaeological sites, which is about as common as the artifacts themselves in the Middle East. During their visit to Horbat Siv, a site from the late Roman-Byzantine period in central Israel, they noticed a remarkably well-preserved lamp lying on the rim of a porcupine burrow. The creature in the process of digging out its new residence had tossed the priceless treasure to one side. It never stood a chance, with the archaeology cops on duty, to put it to good use. (Haaretz) 

 

Recom Reading List Logomended Reading

This month JCFI encourages you to get a copy of:

Hebrew Helps
As we work to build a greater awareness of Israel in Johnson County and continue to connect to Believers and Jews in the Land, we are often ask, "What does that word mean?".  So, each month at JCFI we will ad to a glossary of terms to help broaden our Hebrew vocabulary. Please, enjoy this Hebrew Help and contact us with any definitions you think we should ad.

This month's Hebrew Help definition is:

 

Shavuot (Shavu' ot)

 

"Weeks." The name of the festival that is counted from the day of the Omer, when the first sheath of the barley harvest was brought to the priest during Pesach (Passover).

 

Previous Month's Definition

Azazel (ah-za-ZAYL)

 

Scapegoat. Goat sent into the wilderness signifying removal of the nation's sins (Lev.16:8, 10, 26). Jesus, the Passover Lamb, is also our scapegoat!


Click HERE to see the entire Hebrew Help Glossary!

  


HOW CAN I STAND FOR ISRAEL?
 
Since the Banquet, many have ask me, "What can I do for Israel?"  While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, here are a few suggestions I hope you find useful:

1. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem (Psa.122:6)
    "For Zion's Sake I Will Not Be Silent" by Rebecca Brimmer is an excellent guide on
    prayer for Israel. Click HERE for more info.

2. Learn more about Israel-related ministries
    There are wonderful Israel-related ministries doing a great work to support Israel. Click
     HERE to learn more about a few of them.

3. Learn more about the Hebraic Roots to Christianity
    The Bible often takes on deeper meaning in the context of its Hebraic Roots. The
     Ancient Hebrew Scroll project at the CHF is a testimony to this fact. There are
     numerous writings about Hebraic Roots. A good place to start is the book by
     D. Thomas Lancaster entitled Grafted In.  Click HERE for more info.

4. Take a trip to Israel     I've been blessed to travel to Israel many times.  It has
    changed my life. I baptized my daughter, Lauren, in the Sea of Galilee during my trip
    there in 2011. She had accepted Jesus as her Savior 3 days before we left. This
    should be at the top of any bucket list!

5. Be an Israel contact person for your church
    The vision at JCFI is to increase the awareness of Israel within the churches of
    Johnson County. Maybe you could support your pastor by volunteering to be the
    church's Israel contact person for JCFI. 

6. Build a Bridge of Hope
    Speak with your Pastor / Church Leaders about building a BOH.  Feel free to
    contact me for more info by phone at 817-556-1061 or by email  at                                 bentley_kevin@sbcglobal.net.


Kevin Bentley, JCFI Director
2 North Caddo Street, Cleburne, Tx 76031
817-556-1061