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The Lord Reigns, Also in These Chaotic Times

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The Lord Reigns, Also in These Chaotic Times ISRAEL A BoardMAGAZINE for Israel Publication Volume 24 No. 2 - September 2020 The Lord Reigns, also in These Chaotic Times Special Experiences in Jerusalem From the Editor Rev. A. Schot Colophon In this message from the editor, I would like Woerden, they wandered around lonely. to draw your attention to two subjects which Although they always kept in touch, they continually have the board’s attention. They missed the daily conversations. The situation are fi rstly the consequences of the corona- seemed to improve, but at present I do not virus for the workers and the work they do, dare to predict anything. and secondly, our attitude towards the Jewish All these things have a deep impact. The Israel Magazine is a publication of the Board for people in light of the recent events in The As board members and workers, we feel our Israel of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations, for the proclamation of the gospel and diaconal aid. Netherlands. dependence on Him, who governs everything. ISSN 2589-8477 The coronavirus pandemic also affects the It is as you can read on the front page of this Editor-in-chief: work of our board. Rev. M.L. Dekker was Israel Magazine: “The Lord reigns, also in Rev. A. Schot going on leave to The Netherlands this these chaotic times.” Editors: summer. However, because of the alarming With respect to the second subject in The J. J. de Jong, J. M. Schot, L. Vogelaar coronavirus situation in Israel, he decided to Netherlands, several voices state it is high Children's pages: postpone his leave. Brother Dekker wrote the time to confess our guilt to the Jewish nation. T. M. Bruijnzeel-Lodder and I. M. Janse following: “We were really looking forward Such opinions are expressed in a number of Contact: to our leave; we also needed it. This year denominations. Letters are written about Postbus 400 required a lot from us. But Marita and I feel it in church circles, and several articles 3440 AK Woerden, the Netherlands it would not be good to leave the congrega- were published in the newspaper about this Tel.: +31 (0)348-489929 E-mail: [email protected] tion now that the situation has become so theme. You will understand that the Board desperate in Israel.” A baptismal service, a has seriously studied this subject. We feel Presenters: J. A. Jobse, J. J. de Jong, A. Karens; appointments via the confession service, and other services in The closely connected with the Jewish people. If above-mentioned telephone number or e-mail address Netherlands had to be cancelled. confession is necessary, we certainly do not or via one of the ministers who are members of the board. Rev. I.L. Zöld wrote in his report to the want to be last in line. In this issue of Israel board: “Something happened which had Magazine, you will fi nd an article in which I Financial contributions: IBAN ING: NL10INGB0000338952 – BIC INGBNL2A never ever before happened, as far as I know, have expressed the board’s viewpoint. On a (for individuals) in the church’s history; the church’s website study evening which will be held in Gelder- IBAN ABN: NL49ABNA0461863723 – BIC ABNANL2A showed in big letters: “Please do not come to malsen on October 3, the Lord willing, we (for consistories) both in the name of Deputaatschap voor Israël church; it is closed.” will elaborate on this topical subject in more Gereformeerde Gemeenten in Woerden. Sadly, our seminar journey (RTS) to give detail. Undoubtedly there is guilt. But what is Last wills: instruction in Zhytomir (Ukraine) had to be our greatest guilt? The ‘address’ of last wills for the benefit of the Board for cancelled. For the fi rst time in many years, Israel friends, we hope your support is mostly Israel must be written as follows: Deputaatschap voor Israël voor Evangelieverkondiging en diaconale hulpver- the lessons for the students had to be inter- expressed in prayer. May we ask you to pray lening van de Gereformeerde Gemeenten, gevestigd te rupted. Our offi ce workers in The Nether- for all those who are involved in the work Woerden, zelfstandig onderdeel van het kerkgenootsch- lands worked a lot from home during the among the Jewish people? ap van de Gereformeerde Gemeenten previous months. If they were in the offi ce in Translation: A. P. Meeuse, MA Design: Worker in Israel: www.hrv-reclame.nl Printing: Fam. Rev. M. L. Dekker Fresh Design, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada POB 2156, Photograph on cover: Nof haGalil (Nazareth-Illit) In the church in Nazareth, face masks are compulsory 1751508 Israel An expression of support is very much appreciated! 2 Israel Magazine September 2020 Israel Magazine September 2020 3 Colophon Dear friends, Life in Budapest was very busy several months ago. People were who travelled around to give instruction made a wall decoration rushing everywhere, the restaurants were full of guests, public from paper. A half flower crown was painted and in the middle transport was overcrowded, and churches started to advertise the two words were written: YES, FATHER (from our Hungarian Eastern celebration program. translation). It is a quotation from the prayer of the Lord Jesus in I had a very busy life as well among my Jewish friends working on Matthew 11:26. The circumstances in the biblical time were very special programs. I wanted to do a Seder dinner demonstration sad. In those circumstances the Lord came to His people, but to show the connections between the Old and New Testaments, they hardened their hearts to the question of John of Baptist: “Art especially focusing on the message which points forward to the Thou the Messiah?” In this difficult situation, Jesus in prayer said: Messiah. Some Jewish friends were open to take part in it. “Thank You, Father. … Yes, Father.” The people of the church Then we heard about COVID-19, but at first we were thinking reminded themselves of it every day by the wall decoration. Can China was far away from Hungary. In the coming days, the you say today “YES, FATHER” in the current circumstances? Many situation became very depressing, as schools, airports, borders, of my Jewish friends were deeply touched by this message, and shops, offices, etc. closed. Something happened which had never now we wait and hope we can meet each other again soon. ever before happened, as far as I know, in the church’s history; the church’s website showed in big letters: “Please do not come Rev. I.L. Zöld, pastor in Budapest to church; it is closed.” We had to realize the inadequacy of the power and knowledge of mankind. The best scientists could do nothing against a virus that can be somewhat controlled by washing our hands with water and soap. In March I visited James (not his real name), who was born in the time of the Holocaust, and I told him it was my last visit. My wife and I went to buy some more sustainable food for the family, and it was big surprise that the shelves in the shops were nearly empty. He asked me if I could help him buy some more food, and we did so. In the quarantine time, he called me every week to say thank you for the help to buy food. The main profile of our ministry is personal evangelism, face-to- face meeting, and testimony. How can I do such ministry in my home office? You cannot fully replace this using electronic means. I made a number of phone calls to ask people how they were. The answer was as expected; everyone was worrying what might come. The next week they were calling me, and we had long con- versations on the telephone or on Skype. Questions came up like: “If God exists, why is this situation as it is?” Also questions were asked about His providence, how you deal with this challenge, etc. The opportunity to share the gospel was given in this way. After World War II, there was a very difficult period in Transyl- vania. However, there was a time of revival in the church. Those 2 Israel Magazine September 2020 Israel Magazine September 2020 3 Is Anything too Hard for the Lord? 4 Israel Magazine September 2020 Israel Magazine September 2020 5 Rev. M.L. Dekker This summer it was a year ago when we may be sooner said than practised. The I have started to give lessons. We meet returned from The Netherlands after two history of mission has frequently shown every Friday morning. The first time I was years of studies. Recently we looked at that it is often a difficult process. There a little nervous. How would it go? Will the are difficult factors that contribute to this. brethren think it is interesting? And then photographs from this period. Each time We will not discuss them now. Often it is there is also the language barrier. I give when we were at Schiphol or Ben Gurion a fact that in the field one is “three steps the lessons in Hebrew, but I have to admit Airport, we made a photograph and sent it ahead” of the sending organization in the that it is not my native language. Nor is it to the boys with a greeting. This happened missionaries’ homeland. for Elder Hilton and Deacon Ari, who were many times. Now we say to each other: During the last visitation by the board born in Peru. They bring their Bibles in How have we ever been able to travel members in January, the future of the Spanish, so sometimes it becomes a “mix- congregation Nechama was elaborately ture” of Hebrew and Spanish.
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