A NEW SURGE in ALIYAH from the PRESIDENT's DESK Dear Friends
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INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM // MARCH/APRIL 2021 // GLOBAL EDITION WORDFROM JERUSALEM A NEW SURGE IN ALIYAH FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK Dear friends, In Revelation 21:5, God Himself speaks to John the seer. “Behold, I am making all things new!” It is a declaration of newness, change and transformation which will characterise the ‘end of history’ and the arrival of the New Jerusalem. But it also characterises what He is doing in His kingdom today. God appears in many places in His Word as a God who is doing a new thing (Isaiah 42:9; 43:19). God is encouraging us to embrace the new thing He is doing, even while holding fast to the ancient and saving faith of our fathers. It is in this paradox that we are living even today. Coronavirus is forcing us all to think outside of the box and to embrace the many new ways God is leading us into. And as we do this, we will experience His never-changing goodness and holiness – even here in Jerusalem. We saw this take place at this year’s Envision conference. Threatened by cancellation The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was established due to COVID-19, it became our biggest pastors and leaders conference ever. Close to in 1980 in recognition of the biblical significance of Jerusalem 700 participants from 55 nations joined us as we came live from Jerusalem and other and its unique connection to the Jewish people. Today the ICEJ locations across Israel, with more seminars and other content than ever before. The represents millions of Christians, churches and denominations to messages from Envision were powerful and all had the same common denominator: the nation and people of Israel. We recognise in the restoration of Israel the faithfulness of God to keep His ancient covenant God is in control, and especially in these drastically changing times. with the Jewish people. Our main objectives are: * To stand with Israel in support and friendship; That God is indeed in control I witnessed with my own eyes just a few days ago. He * To equip and teach the worldwide Church allowed us to reach another milestone in the Aliyah work of the ICEJ. Due to Covid all regarding God’s purposes with Israel and air traffic over Israel had come to a halt, yet the Israeli government allowed for a short the nations of the Middle East; moment a special airplane to land. The Boeing Dreamliner had come from Ethiopia * To be an active voice of reconciliation between Jews, Christians and Arabs and to support the with 302 new immigrants on board. Standing on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport to churches and congregations in the Holy Land. greet them, it was such a privilege to watch these new immigrants from Ethiopia step From its head offices in Jerusalem, the ICEJ reaches out to more down and kiss the ground of the Promised Land. Even I felt like those who “dreamed than 170 countries, with branch offices in over 90 nations. when the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion”, as His sons and daughters – old and Our vision is: young, the weak and the strong – came on eagle’s wings to their ancient homeland. It * To reach every segment of Israeli society with a Christian was a specially chartered flight, and what also touched me was that each one of these testimony of comfort and love, and Jewish immigrants could be funded by ICEJ through the generous gifts of Christians * To reach and actively represent to Israel the support from around the world who were determined – even in times of crisis – to stand with of denominations, churches and believers from every nation on earth. Israel! People like you! Thank you so very much! The Christian Embassy is a non-denominational faith-based ministry supported by the voluntary contributions of our members Also, I am blessed to share with you that our Home for Holocaust survivors in Haifa and friends across the globe. We invite you to join with us as we is continuing to expand. A new building is just on the verge of completion to further minister to Israel and the Jewish people worldwide by donating increase the number of people we care for at the assisted-living home. to the ongoing work and witness of the ICEJ. Please keep both of these projects in your prayers, as well as our upcoming Passover distribution to needy Israeli families. WORDFROM JERUSALEM Finally, I want to thank you for standing with us in these critical times and for helping us so that we can bless Israel today more than ever. I pray that you also will experience CREDITS a new and fresh touch from God in these ICEJ President Dr Jürgen Bühler VP International Affairs Mojmir Kallus difficult days. VP Finance David Van der Walt VP Operations Barry R. Denison May the Lord bless you richly out of Zion! VP International Spokesman David Parsons VP AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder Managing Editor/Publications Director Laurina Driesse Staff Writers Kayla Muchnik, Anastasiya Gooding, Graphic Design/Illustrator Ryan Tsuen Administration Tobi H Photography Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, AP Images, Reuters, ICC, GPO, ICEJ Staff and Branches, JAFI, Joe Luciano, Wikimedia The New King James Bible is used for all Bible Dr Jürgen Bühler references unless otherwise noted. President Word From Jerusalem is published by the International Christian International Christian Embassy Jerusalem Embassy Jerusalem. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Word From Jerusalem has no subscription price and is supported through contributions worldwide. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible (in countries COVER PHOTO: where this applies). For more information, visit us at www.icej.org INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM P.O. Box 1192, Jerusalem • 9101002, ISRAEL FOR MAGAZINE ARCHIVES Support our ministry online at www.icej.org visit www.icej.org/media/word-jerusalem CONTENTS MARCH/APRIL 2021 GLOBAL EDITION PREPARING FOR A 16 SURGE IN ALIYAH ‘THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE ENVISION CONFERENCE BY FAITH’ LESSONS FROM INSPIRES LEADERSHIP 4 HABAKKUK FOR OUR TIME 10 AMID CRISIS REMEMBERING THE HOLOCAUST WITH SURVIVORS AT THE KEEPING PASSOVER 12 HAIFA HOME 14 IN A PANDEMIC TEACHING ‘THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH’ LESSONS FROM HABAKKUK FOR OUR STORMY TIMES BY DR JÜRGEN BÜHLER • ICEJ PRESIDENT 4 | MARCH/APRIL 2021 TEACHING he days we live in are truly challenging take captives wherever they go. In other words, years of prayer for revival in Israel, and yet he times. The year 2021 has started out with God told him: “You think it is bad now? Just saw nothing happening. And honestly, that Tmore worrisome news: new mutations wait, it is going to get even worse and …. I am might be the situation of many dear men and of COVID-19, talk of businesses collapsing, in the midst of it.” women of God in our times, who have hoped and disturbing scenes from the Capitol building of the United States. The global pandemic has impacted not only our economies, but “I AM DOING SOMETHING IN YOUR DAYS THAT YOU also the way we worship and fellowship as believers. Around the world, a post-modern WOULD NOT BELIEVE, EVEN IF YOU WERE TOLD.” ‘cancel culture’ threatens to erase everything - Habakkuk 1:5 - which defined our traditional Judeo-Christian values. In fact, God told Habakkuk: “I am doing and prayed for another revival for decades. Indeed, it seems that everything which something in your days that you would not Truth be told, it has been a long time since we can be shaken is being shaken. Many ask: believe, even if you were told.” (Habakkuk 1:5) have seen revivals like Azusa Street, the Welsh Where is God in all this? Why are our prayers revival, and the Wesleyan or Pietist revivals, in not answered? THE MAN OF GOD many Western countries. “How long” might be Let us take a step back and consider exactly who the cry of many believers today. For me, the book of Habakkuk holds more Habakkuk was. He was not your average Sunday relevance today than ever before. The prophet church-goer who once a week bothered to go to Habakkuk lived in a time when he did not the church to fulfill his religious duties. He was understand the world anymore – and more not a complainer upset that his prayers did not importantly he did not understand God get instantly answered. We are dealing here with anymore. As you read this, I encourage you to one of the great men of God from ancient times. prayerfully read the entire book of Habakkuk Habakkuk was one of the few persons whose and have your Bible ready as you read along. writings ended up in the Bible. His declaration Allow me to take you through the three chapters that “the righteous shall live by faith” (2:4) is of a prophetic book that I believe many of us one of the most quoted Old Testament verses in can identify with today. the New Testament. A compatriot of Jeremiah, he was a man of prayer and heard the voice of Azusa Street Revival The book of Habakkuk differs from other God like few did in his generation. prophetic books in the Hebrew Bible. The And God’s response to the prophet is even more prophet did not receive a message directed to It was this unique man of God who saw his puzzling: “You would not believe it if I told you!” Israel, but it is more the very personal dialogue prayers going unanswered. His “how long shall I remember hearing one of the new prophetic of a troubled man of God with His Creator.