Dear Friends, Shalom
Best wishes to all of you for the upcoming winter celebrations!
Basically, I do not like to publish “reports” and prefer to work with theology. However, in my ministry I wear different hats. For just 30 percent of my time I am a pastor, and during the other time I manage the ministry and work with people in Haifa.
I would like to present to you the following report by one of our “part-time” co-workers who receives 30 percent of a full-time salary. Through this I want to show you part of the work that is being done through one of the departments of “Return to Zion” ministry.
Today we are running an education department, a humanitarian aid department and a department of congregational planting. All of this requires much work by a dedicated, anointed team and a significant budget. Hereby I am showing you one third of the work being done by our humanitarian aid department.
The humanitarian aid department includes the ministry to Olim (new immigrants), the ministry with Holocaust survivors, and two soup kitchens in Haifa and Nazareth.
The following relates only to our work among the Olim. Here is the correspondence and report (For those understanding management it is easily understandable ):
Shalom Leon, this is what we have done in November 2019:
- Consultations and meetings with representatives of 42 families (approximately 200 people). Most of them immigrated from Ukraine and needed advice, humanitarian assistance and effective directions to useful contacts and addresses. Some of them come from “tense zones in the Ukraine,” and they need more than just advice. They need prayer, sometimes more than once.
- About 60 phone conversations with people regarding apartments, jobs and assistance with opening a bank account. This required a bit more than the usual work time, but we could not stop helping.
- We invited a Coach Psychologist, and she gave a lecture. Thirty people responded and attended the event. The coach gave practical advice and suggested ways to deal with stress. This was useful and interesting, but I personally think that the meetings on Shabbat at “Return to Zion” are more practical.
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- Two families asked for help with work, and even though I am working “part-time” myself, I helped them with this issue. God just showed His mercy!
- We ordered and distributed 50 sets of kitchen pots and pans to new immigrants. This time the cost was a little higher, although we were promised a “Black Friday discount.” But we received more kitchenware and were able to distribute goods with higher quality. I am sure everyone was very satisfied and grateful. The sets will serve them many years.
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- A couple from the congregation organized a special evening dedicated to couples. At first it was planned as an outing for couples from the congregation, but then it worked out as an event for new immigrants. Sixteen couples attended the evening, danced and listened to the word of God. For many of them it was such an event for the first time, and they received a blessing and revelation. Some people came spontaneously and were really touched. About ten people from the congregation came and volunteered to help during the event decorating, setting tables, making music and fellowshipping. Many of the visitors might be candidates for the new Aleph (Alpha) seminar which is planned for January. This is a prayer point.
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- I can see that many Olim are visiting our Shabbat services. They listen with interest, but many come only once or twice. We should pray for wisdom about how to start a “follow up” process for them. I think we need to move on with this issue!
Generally, November was quite a busy month, although not as active as October with all the biblical feasts.
This is a report of a co-worker. I need to mention that from the times of Yeshua (Jesus) nothing has changed: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”
Please pray with us for the humanitarian aid ministry and other projects of “Return to Zion,” but even more I am asking you to pray for the revelation from Heaven for everyone whom our people have touched, for their hearts and for them to be rooted in the Land of their Fathers. This is not an easy period; there is a lot of stress, difficulties and questions along the way. But with God everything is possible.
Once again, many blessings for the upcoming Christmas Season!
Leon Mazin
Return to Zion Ministry
Haifa, Israel
shaveitzion.org
