The Friends of Israel in Action May/Jun 2021
Miracle at the Border
God is not hampered by borders! Here in The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry’s International Department, the Lord constantly reminds us He is King over all peoples and nations, and He will accomplish His will.
One of our field workers in Poland recently had a remarkable experience. Timothy has spent six years building relationships with both the Christian and Jewish communities in neighboring Belarus. Each year he partners with a local church there to deliver more than 400 groceries and gifts to underfed, persecuted members of the Jewish community during the holidays.
Recently, however, Belarus has been in turmoil because of quarantine restrictions, political infighting, and a disputed presidential election. The country’s border with Poland has been closed because of the Belarusian president’s claim Polish agents are destabilizing the country and organizing recurring protests against him.
On the day Timothy and his team showed up at the border hoping to cross into Belarus with money, gifts, and literature for ministry, it was closed to all traffic from Poland. Instead of turning back and heading home, the team prayed and then attempted to cross anyway.
Miraculously, God opened the way. The guards did not see the money or literature, and our people were not required to enter an enforced, two-week quarantine.
To the shock of our workers and the Belarusian believers, the guards ushered our Polish team across the border as though everything were normal. As it turned out, our workers were the only people from Poland allowed to enter Belarus that day.
“What a powerful God we have!” Timothy told us. “He answered all our prayers. Our friends in Belarus could not believe that we made it to the other side. Together that day, we could pray and worship the almighty God of Israel. For Him, indeed, nothing is impossible. I am confident the only reason we crossed the border is that God closed the border guards’ eyes, and they could not see any problems with us. Thank you for praying for us.”
Give today to support our Polish team or other ministries like this around the world. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
In Canada, please give here.
Beshert, Indeed
by Ty Perry
serving in Las Vegas, Nevada
My wife and I met our friend Lisa a few years ago when we went to her office to fill out an application to rent an apartment she managed. As she looked over our paperwork, she asked what I did for work; and when I told her I served with The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry (FOI), her eyes brightened.
“And you were led to my office!” she said excitedly. “In Yiddish, we say that’s beshert—destiny.”
It was indeed beshert in a way neither of us would have guessed. Knowing FOI helps Jewish people, Lisa called me in August 2020 to tell me about one of her elderly tenants. “Her name is Joy,” she said. “She’s not Jewish. She just called me and was crying because she can’t make her rent on time and doesn’t know what to do. I told her about you and that you serve with The Friends of Israel. Would you see what you can do to help her?”
The next day, I went to Joy’s mobile home. “Show me what to do, Lord,” I prayed.
Joy is Korean, with gray hair and a look of continual sadness on her face. As we sat in her small living room, she explained in broken English that her husband died a few months earlier and that he had always taken care of everything for them, from paying the bills to maintaining their vehicle. She wept as she told me about the first time she had to put gasoline in her car.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “Now I’m alone, and I missed paying September’s rent. I don’t know what to do. I just don’t know.”
I assured her I would try to get her some financial help so she could pay her back rent. (FOI, several supporters, and a supporting church provided the funds.)
Before I left her house, I asked if I could pray with her. She readily agreed. After I finished praying, I noticed she was crying. “Come,” she said, wiping her eyes. “I want to show you something. She led me into her small bedroom and pointed to two paintings on her wall, one of Jesus and one of Mary.
“I don’t know anything about them,” Joy said. “I have never been to church. But I know they are special. I like the kindness in His eyes.” I shared the gospel with her and explained that Jesus is more than a kind man. He is the Son of God.
A few days later, a local Korean Baptist pastor and I visited Joy, and he shared the gospel with her in her native Korean language. Although she didn’t pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” or walk the aisle at an altar call, she placed her trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Today she attends the Korean Baptist church, is constantly telling her neighbors about the Lord, and hosts a weekly afternoon Bible study that I teach in her home.
Through a Jewish friend who does not believe in Jesus, I was able to share the Good News of the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world with a Gentile woman from Korea. And because of that opportunity, she is now a child of God (Jn. 1:12).
Give today to support the ministry of Ty and others serving in North American outreach with The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
In Canada, please give here.
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