Henry N. – From Slavery to Addiction to Freedom in Messiah’s Service
Henry N. was born in Moscow in 1961 to a well-known family of musical
prodigies. His extraordinary prowess as a young pianist seemed to hold out
the promise of a great career. However, drug and alcohol addiction dogged
his steps from his youth. He tried every avenue of help from psychiatry to
hypnotism to free himself. For a time, suicide seemed the only way out. In
1991, Henry and his wife, Irena, decided to relocate to Israel. Henry continued
to abuse alcohol while Irena worked two jobs to support them. Despite a
change of scenery, the old patterns persisted.
While reading the newspaper, Henry and Irena noticed an announcement
about a meeting being held by Jewish believers. Now desperate for any
lifeline, Irena urged Henry to attend. For the next two months, they did not
miss a meeting at Chosen People Ministries’ Messianic congregation near
Tel Aviv. Finally, in September 1991, Henry received Jesus as his Messiah.
Immediately, he was healed of his alcoholism and drug addiction. Two
months later, Irena also accepted the Messiah. Because of this decision Henry
experienced peace for the first time in his life!
Racheli S. – Born in Israel and Born in Messiah
Born and raised in the town of Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv, Racheli S.
grew up in a traditional, religious Jewish home. Her parents immigrated to
Israel – her mother from Canada and her father, a Holocaust survivor from
Germany. Her testimony bears witness to the way the Lord is able to draw
people from around the world to serve His sovereign purpose. While walking
in her neighborhood with a girlfriend, she met a young man from Ghana who
was studying at the university.
A friendship began, and through this young man, who was a believer in
Yeshua (Jesus), Racheli was drawn to visit a congregation where African
foreign workers would worship. Racheli enjoyed the worship, particularly the
music, and the Lord began speaking to her through her African friend and
a young German woman he introduced her to who was also a student. She
became increasingly open to the Gospel. She was particularly impressed by
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