October 2008
Update from “Kehilat Haderech” (“The Way Congregation”)
Karmiel – October 2008
“Grow in grace and in the knowledge of out Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah. To him be the glory both now and forever more, Amen”
(2 Peter 3:18)
Greetings to all of our brothers and sisters who are interested in, ask about, support and pray for “Kehilat Haderech ”.
The summer with all its activities is over and we have returned to the not-so-routine routine and are praying for grace, direction, and humility in our walk with the Lord as a congregation and as individuals. We desire to bring glory to His Name in all of our attitudes and actions.
In the last year, many have joined the congregation. At present, our numbers have stabilized and at our Shabbat gatherings just over a hundred people regularly take part, among whom are a considerable number of youth and children.
Children and Youth
Our pre-teen group (ages 10-13) and youth group (ages 13-18) went on summer camping trips for a few days. The youngsters with leaders Shooshoo, Yossi and Ronit and some other volunteers, stayed in tents at a camping place ( Hurshat Tal,) they studied the Second Epistle to Timothy, prayed, went on walking trips and enjoyed themselves.
A summer program that was organized by Midge and Bat-El with the assistance of volunteers was held for the young children (ages 5-10) for a week. They included games, outings and lessons from the “Wordless Book”. Each day, they were asked to wear a different color, and learned what it symbolized. Gold – spoke of Heaven. Black –spoke about sin. Red – Salvation through the blood of Jesus. White – The resurrection of Jesus and sanctification. Green – new life and growing in faith.
Two of our young people traveled to Germany and Poland with the program, “Hand-in-Hand”. The Israeli participants were guests of the German youth. They got to know each other, learned about reconciliation, and underwent deep personal experiences, particularly, at the end of the trip, when , together with their hosts they visited the extermination camps , holding one another’s hands as an expression of their unity in Yeshua. This was a deep and meaningful experience for all the participants.
We have been blessed by many alert, wonderful, and cute children in our Congregation. Many of them are hyperactive or suffer from various functional handicaps, and this presents no small challenge for our Shabbat School teachers. In addition, we have a shortage of teachers and would be grateful if you would pray for this important area in the life of our congregation. Recently we have been training our teenagers to help in the teaching of the children in our Shabbat School.
Home Groups
Every week, we have meetings for Bible study and prayer at various home groups. One for Russian speakers, and one for women, using a booklet called “40 Minutes” (published by “Mehaman Hadavar (Precept ministries). Also we have an ‘English‑speakers’ group, as well as meetings in Hebrew which will resume shortly… The group which has met for years at Kfar Hanassi is going through some changes and at this stage we are re‑evaluating the necessity of its existence, its location, and the extent of our involvement with its leadership.
The second part of the course “Preparation for Service” will start soon, God willing, and will focus on the Servant message.
Twice a year, we organize joint meetings between our congregation and Arab women from the Rama Congregation, which is close to Karmiel. We held the last meeting at our congregation, where the women enjoyed fellowship, study and prayer together – and of course, refreshments – and deepened their friendship with each other a little more. We glorify our God and Lord, the Prince of Peace, who plants love in our hearts and through whom all the believers are brothers and can enjoy special fellowship that is not found in the world outside.
Organizational Changes
Shachar (Shooshoo), who has served faithfully as the full-time Administrative Secretary of the congregation, has resigned his position. We thank him and very much appreciate all that he has done. Shachar will continue to be involved in various capacities on a voluntary basis. Miriam R. has started to work in the congregation’s office. This is a period of changes, reorganization and learning for all of us.
Difficulties = Trials that Strengthen Our Faith
We rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who mourn and suffer. In the last few months, a number of the members of the congregation or their relatives have been sick, hospitalized, or have even passed away – some of them non-believers and some of them young people. Yossi’s mother went to be with the Lord and we give thanks to God that she received Yeshua as Lord in the last months of her life. A growth was found in Alex’s kidney and he had an operation to remove the kidney. Svetlana’s husband, who was aged 43, died suddenly. Sasha P’s mother went to be with the Lord after a long illness with hospitalization. Rosie’s husband has been back and forth from hospital and Rosie, who is herself not in good health, cares for him and visits him with great devotion. Adolph and Fern’s son went to be with the Lord in the US – this is the third child these elderly parents have lost. And so it goes on…
In addition, people are having to deal with personal and family crises, some of which are very difficult (please pray for V., a single mother, and her daughter L. Their situation is extremely hard, but we are certain that God will provide the solution and healing.)
All of these things are a reminder of the fleeting nature of our life on earth and of the grace of God who has saved us and gives us eternal life that even the death of the body cannot annul. And yes “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” Please pray with us that these difficulties and sufferings will teach us to trust in our God more and more, so that we may redeem the little time that we have, to glorify His name, and that through the challenges all of us will grow closer to one another in pure brotherly love and mutual support.
Counseling for Freedom (Paths of Healing and Spiritual Release)
Recently, counseling and individual support activities have been started with the help of Y. – a Messianic counselor and psychologist, and Dr L. a member of our Congregation who is studying psychiatry. This counseling is provided under the auspices of our congregation and we are happy that God has provided an answer to our inner pain and problems, and in His abundant love, He heals, sets free, and gives us new life. We call it “Dror” (Paths of Healing and Spiritual Release – also an acronym in Hebrew that means “freedom”). We need prayer for the counselors and those who turn to them, for wisdom, grace, comfort in pain, and release in the power of God, with the help of the pure truth.
Please also pray for the establishment of a prayer group that will support the counselors during their counseling sessions.
A group of volunteers from Switzerland came to visit us and they worked in cleaning, repairing and painting apartments for the needy and the elderly people in our congregation as a preparation for the winter. There are many people who are needy amongst us and we are trying to help them as much as we can. This contribution of the Brothers and Sisters from Switzerland encourages us, and warms our hearts, and we thank them very much.
Please continue to pray for us for strength and Godly guidance in helping with Humanitarian aid which we are doing in the framework of the congregation.
We thank God for the myriad things that make up the life of the congregation, and for the fact that He is the Lord of Lords who directs and controls everything. We hope and pray that you too, in your personal lives and in the life of your congregations, are experiencing closeness to God and spiritual growth. Thank you for your prayers and love in the Messiah and that He gave us such a wonderful extended spiritual family throughout the land and the world. To Him be all the glory, praise and honor.
While we have been in the process of writing this letter, the car of the Congregation had an accident. Praise God no one was hurt, but the car was badly damaged and has gone in for repairs.
With blessings for the New Year
The Way Congregation, Karmiel
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