INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 // GLOBAL EDITION WORD FROM JERUSALEM ICEJ OFFERS NEW BEGINNING FEAST IN ISRAEL FOR 2019 BEGINNINGS ETHIOPIAN JEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK Dear friends, In Matthew 24, the first warning Jesus gives in his Mt. Olivet discourse on the ‘end times’ is “do not be deceived”. In 1943 a book was published titled Das Antike Weltjudentum (“World Judaism of Antiquity”), co-written by two leading academics in Nazi Germany. One was Prof. Eugen Fischer, head of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Anthropology, who was a leading proponent of ‘Social Darwinism’ and the Third Reich‘s racial theory. Fischer inspired the Nuremberg Laws and greatly influenced Hitler‘s personal views on the Jews. The other author was the well-known German theologian Gerhard Kittel, known for his seminal dictionary on biblical Greek – which is still a standard text for many Bible students today. Kittel also was a leading figure in the Entjudungsinstitut, Hitler’s special institute to de-Judaize the Bible. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was established All this demonstrates why the words of Jesus remain so important for believers today. in 1980 in recognition of the biblical significance of Jerusalem ‘Do not be deceived’ is a call to be spiritually alert. It is aimed at the Church rather and its unique connection to the Jewish people. Today the ICEJ represents millions of Christians, churches and denominations to than the world. Even the best-educated theologians are not immune to deception. the nation and people of Israel. We recognise in the restoration Derek Prince once stated: “If you believe you cannot be deceived, then you already are of Israel the faithfulness of God to keep His ancient covenant deceived.” One of the most important doctrines of the Bible under attack today is that with the Jewish people. Our main objectives are: of God being the Creator of the heavens and the earth. It is the theme of this year’s * To stand with Israel in support and friendship; Feast of Tabernacles – “Beginnings”. The lead article in this magazine addresses why * To equip and teach the worldwide Church regarding God’s purposes with Israel and this is such an important truth, even for the modern-day restoration of Israel. the nations of the Middle East; * To be an active voice of reconciliation between Meantime, recent protests by Ethiopian Jews have highlighted again the urgent Jews, Christians and Arabs and to support the churches and congregations in the Holy Land. social needs of the Ethiopian community in Israel. In June, the director of our ICEJ Aid program, Nicole Yoder, was just finishing her Master’s studies (with excellence) From its head offices in Jerusalem, the ICEJ reaches out to more than 170 countries, with branch offices in over 90 nations. on this very issue. Her Master’s thesis deals with strategies for better integration of Our vision is: Ethiopian immigrants in Israel. No surprise, her study quickly attracted the interest * To reach every segment of Israeli society with a Christian of local community leaders and even officials with the Jewish Agency. Here at the testimony of comfort and love, and ICEJ, we are blessed and proud of Nicole’s accomplishment and we know that it will * To reach and actively represent to Israel the support of denominations, churches and believers from every help us to work even more effectively on the successful absorption of the Ethiopian nation on earth. community into Israeli society. In this issue, you will find that the core results of her The Christian Embassy is a non-denominational faith-based study show how much on-going assistance is still needed for Ethiopian Jews even ministry supported by the voluntary contributions of our members after their arrival in Israel. and friends across the globe. We invite you to join with us as we minister to Israel and the Jewish people worldwide by donating to the ongoing work and witness of the ICEJ. God promised that He will plant the people of Israel back in their land, never to be uprooted again (Amos 9:15). The ICEJ is committed to this divine promise both in prayer and in very practical means, and with your help we are uniquely positioned at present to assist them in getting better rooted in the soil of Israel. Please stand with WORD us to fulfil this prophetic mandate in our days. FROM JERUSALEM CREDITS I hope you are blessed by reading this edition of the Word From Jerusalem. And I look ICEJ President Dr Jürgen Bühler forward to meeting many of you at this year’s Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. VP International Affairs Mojmir Kallus VP Finance David Van der Walt Yours in Christ Jesus, INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 // GLOBAL EDITION VP Operations Barry R. Denison VP International Spokesman David Parsons Managing Editor/Publications Director Julaine Stark Assistant Managing Editor Kayla Muchnik WORD FROM JERUSALEM Staff Writers Aaron Hecht, Lily Sironi Graphic Design/Illustrator Ryan Tsuen Administration Tobi H Photography Istock, Shutterstock, Wikimedia, Tomer Neuberg/Flash90, eugenicsarchive.org, Dr Jürgen Bühler Jewish Agency, ICEJ Staff and Branches ICEJ President The New King James Bible is used for all Bible references unless otherwise noted. COVER PHOTO: ICEJ OFFERS Word From Jerusalem is published by the International Christian ICEJ AID Director Nicole Yoder NEW BEGINNING FEAST IN ISRAEL FOR Embassy Jerusalem. Reproduction in whole or in part without with a newly arrived Ethiopian 2019 written permission is prohibited. Word From Jerusalem has BEGINNINGS ETHIOPIAN no subscription price and is supported through contributions mother and child worldwide. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible (in countries JEWS where this applies). For more information, visit us at www.icej.org (see special report on pages 8-13) INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM P.O. Box 1192, Jerusalem • 9101002, ISRAEL FOR MAGAZINE ARCHIVES visit www.icej.org/media/word-jerusalem Support our ministry online at www.icej.org CONTENTS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 GLOBAL EDITION CREATOR OF 4 HEAVEN & EARTH ETHIOPIANS DREAMING TOWARDS 8 IN ISRAEL 12 A NEW HORIZON RAISING OUR NEW BEGINNINGS 14 EXPECTATIONS 18 IN AFRICA TEACHING CREATOR OF HEAVEN & EARTH THE BEGINNING OF ALL THINGS IS IN GOD BY DR JÜRGEN BÜHLER • ICEJ PRESIDENT The DNA helix, building block of all life forms, is so complex and packed with information, it could never have come about by chance (Illustration from Medical News Today). his is how our Bible, the Word of God, Not by chance starts. These words are so significant, the Since Charles Darwin published his work Tcrew of Apollo 8 read them to the world “On the Origin of Species” in 1859, countless “IN THE BEGINNING while orbiting the moon on Christmas Eve scientists claim to have disproved the Bible in 1968. and some even say the very existence of God. GOD CREATED According to Darwin, ‘survival of the fittest’ Yet the understanding that God is the Creator was one of the main driving forces of Nature, THE HEAVENS of the heavens and the earth is the one not an all-creating God. Small changes within biblical concept which has come under the species gave one an advantage over the other. AND THE EARTH.” sharpest attack in modern times. In fact, many By a gradual and random process, these better- churchgoers today can believe much of what adapted species not only survived but eventually – GENESIS 1:1 – the Bible says, except that He is the Creator. dislodged the weaker species. 4 | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 TEACHING At the time he proposed this theory, Darwin staggering degree that a whole new theory is Why would it matter to believe in evolution by was unaware that such ‘small changes’ – like being formulated in order to maintain belief chance? A leading megachurch pastor recently gradually growing wings, legs, eyes, etc. – was in Evolution – and to avoid acceptance of a stated such a start to Scripture is confusing, at not just an accidental change in the physiology Creator God. least to young modern-thinking people, and of a creature, but required advised therefore to avoid reading the Old a highly complex alteration In May 2007, Eugene Testament in general. in the DNA code of an Koonin of the National organism. DNA codes Center for Biotechnology But it does matter because the reality of God as are the building blocks stipulated that our known Creator of the heavens and the earth is central to for any living being and DNA-based world is a biblical worldview and to the way God wants consist of massive arrays of inexplainable by current us to know Him. highly complex molecules. probability models. He Today, we know that thus proposed a totally Early on in Scripture, we find the core of Darwin‘s ‘small changes’ new approach. But mankind’s calling and identity. We are created – are in reality extremely instead of considering the both male and female – in the image of God improbable changes to simplest and most logical (Genesis 1:27). This separates and elevates us elaborate systems. of all explanations – that from the animal world and from the concepts of Charles Darwin there is a omniscient and human origins in other religions. Being created In 2004, microbiologist omnipotent God who in the image of God gives a tremendous calling Doug Axe demonstrated created our amazing world – to humanity to rule, cultivate and tend the that to accidentally arrange the various elements he suggested that since our own universe does earth (Genesis 1:28; 2:15). It is a calling which of a protein called beta-lactamase (an enzyme not account for all the improbabilities of life encourages science, research and technology to which confers antibiotic resistance upon on earth, there must exist an endless amount accomplish these ends.