Israelis on the
the kingdom! Ori is currently
meeting regularly for discipleship
with an Israeli believer who
formerly volunteered at the Zula,
and he is growing in the grace and
knowledge of the Lord.
TALI
Divine encounters like this are
so common that Noam, a director of a cutting-edge discipleship ministry in
Israel, announced that he was going to New Zealand to see firsthand if these
things were true. By the time Scott connected with him, Noam had spent four
days at the Zula Lodge. Here is Noam’s report:
To be perfectly honest, I was skeptical; I was pretty sure the reports were
exaggerated. Everybody told me, “You’ve got to see it to believe it… it’s
indescribable!” And now I see what they mean. What’s happening here is
entirely unique. I’ve worked with young Israelis for decades, and I’ve never
seen this degree of openness and receptivity. And it’s not just because they’re
away from home. It’s because your staff has created an environment where
these guys feel safe and loved, and it’s cracking open their hearts.
That very day, Noam struck up a gospel-focused conversation with one of
the guests, Tali,* a post-military Israeli woman, and one hour later they were
both in tears as she bounded toward the Kingdom of God. “I don’t remember
the last time I had a conversation like that in Israel,” he said, barely able to
contain his excitement. “What’s going on here?”
ELA
Another such incredible story comes from Shmuley during his time in
New Zealand, where he met Ela,* an Israeli girl who grew up in a religious
family. After her army service, Ela no longer considered herself to be religious.
She does, however, believe that there is a God even though she is unsure of
who He is. During her time with Shmuley and the team members, they talked
about faith and what it means for a Jewish person to believe in Jesus. She was so
intrigued by the belief in Messiah that she decided to lengthen her stay!
Israelis are some of the most traveled young
people in the world. Every Israeli citizen is
required to do two to three years of army
service after they turn eighteen. After this time,
many take an extended vacation for six months to
one year to travel around the world before starting
university or settling into a career. Meeting Israelis
while traveling is a perfect way to connect with
them, as they are often already thinking about
the deeper meaning of life and are temporarily
free from their normal, everyday responsibilities.
Currently, Chosen People Ministries serves in
Israel and has a thriving backpacker ministry in
New Zealand, where Scott and Margie B. lead the
ministry. Staff members Robin from Israel and
Shmuley from the United States usually travel to
New Zealand during the high tourist season so
they can reach more people.
ORI
Ori* was an Israeli guest at our Zula Lodge in
New Zealand, one of our three facilities that host
Israeli travelers for free. Like thousands before him,
he attended one of our weekly evangelistic Sabbath
celebrations, enjoyed a “Hummus Night” at the
Zula, and connected relationally with our staff and
volunteers. However, Ori was especially responsive
to one of our Israeli volunteers, Yonatan, and a
friendship began. Ori and Yonatan have continued
to stay in touch and Ori has had many questions,
moving past curiosity into sincere examination.
In the midst of these digital conversations with
Yonatan, Ori’s father passed away. Often we find
that crises distract the seeker from his quest, but
not so with Ori! Praise God that Ori has now
yielded his life to Jesus and is firmly planted in
MAY 2018 / THE CHOSEN PEOPLE - 4