An Explosion of Ministry Around the World

In the last three months, we’ve had an explosion of ministry around the world with our capstone events. Here’s a look at five highlights of what God has been doing through our ministry.

In Tel Aviv

For their capstone, our Mekomi team recruited a dozen volunteers to help them distribute care packages to people who are living on the streets of Tel Aviv. By including volunteers who were not believers, the team was able to share their faith with the volunteers as well as with the homeless people that they were serving.

Team Leader Danielle Malki reports, “We gave one thousand care packages to homeless people, visited four new homeless shelters in Tel Aviv, had many gospel-centered conversations, and were pleased that 11 (of 12) volunteers said they would like to help us out again.

“We hosted our main event on June 2. Eight staff and 12 volunteers distributed 400 care packages in one day. All 12 volunteers were participating with us for the first time. Prior to the event, we had contacted the new volunteers to provide them with an overview of Mekomi’s mission and our belief in Jesus. The actual distribution of the care packages took about four hours.

“This event was logistically demanding for our team due to the limited storage space we had and the extreme heat. We witnessed the grace and care of God for the homeless, volunteers, and staff throughout the entire event.

“It was wonderful to see the joyful and energized spirits of the staff and volunteers as they returned from their work on the street. We had a meal together, which I referred to as the ‘Jesus lunch.’ Spontaneous conversations about Jesus took place between the staff and the volunteers, and the volunteers’ hearts were open to the gospel. This time of conversation around lunch lasted for about two hours. It was a truly beautiful and spiritually encouraging experience.”

Please be praying for the gospel seed that was sown, and be looking for future reports about more capstone outreaches that have been taking place in Tel Aviv.

In Budapest

Kata, our Budapest branch leader reports, “Our main capstone event was the opening of our art show. About 80 people came, including some press and people popping in from another art show.

“We seated people at tables to enjoy a program of music and poetry. We had also produced a magazine featuring testimonies of believers representing various minority groups, including four Jewish testimonies. Beside each testimony, we shared a biblical perspective of how Jesus related to marginalized or persecuted groups of people. Believers featured in the magazine attended the event and had time to share their stories at the tables where they were seated.

“After the program, refreshments were served, and people got to meet the artists. The event was also a competition. A couple of judges selected a winning piece, and another piece was chosen by ‘popular vote’ of the attendees who had filled out ballots.

“Thomas, a Jewish artist we’d never met before, won the popular vote. Thomas is not a believer and is not especially seeking at this time, but he agreed to meet with one of our team members to take our Jewish Intellectual Survey (JIS), which he has since completed.”

Believers featured in the magazine had time to share their stories.

The JIS has been an ongoing project in Budapest. It speaks to the identity of one of our key audiences, as does the magazine, which highlights Jesus’ approach to minorities. The survey includes quantitative questions (e.g., “On a scale of 1–5, how important is Jewish history to you?”) and deeper questions such as how participants have been or continue to be affected by the Holocaust, whether they believe God chose the Jewish people, and what they believe about the promise of Messiah.

The survey has been working really well with this capstone. It provides a reason for continued contact with some who attended the opening, and it gives participants genuine satisfaction in voicing their feelings and views. Sara, a Jewish sociologist who does not believe in Jesus, has agreed to compile and write an article about the results of the JIS. And she came to the art show! It’s been challenging for Kata to secure a sociologist for this project, so she was excited to actually meet Sara in person and solidify the relationship. Sara had brought her mother (who is not Jewish and not a believer but is very involved in the art world). Through Sara and her mother, Kata has also connected with Sara’s father, who makes documentary films mainly focused on Holocaust survivors. He found the idea of Jews for Jesus intriguing and thought we might make a good subject for one of his documentaries. Pray for this family!

Kata says, “Our team continues to reach out to follow up with those who attended. I have already met with Valerie, who is a new Jewish contact. She read the magazine thoroughly, said it was thought provoking, and has agreed to meet with me to study the Bible.

“Another attender, Miriam, used to meet with me but seemingly lost interest. However, she was willing to take the Jewish Intellectual Survey and attended the opening night of the art show. Clearly, God has been working in her heart during the interval when we were out of contact. She is a Holocaust survivor, and as we reconnected, she confessed to me with tears that she believes in God, she needs Him, and every evening she says a prayer her grandfather taught her. I showed her the suffering Servant passage in Isaiah 53; she has invited me to visit her any time.”

Please continue praying for the work that God is doing among our people in Budapest!

In Paris

Our Paris branch leader, Joshua Turnil, has been organizing events called Zikaron BaSalon (ZBS) since 2019. Zikaron BaSalon are in-home gatherings where people are able to meet and hear from a Holocaust survivor. After the survivor tells his or her story, the group listens to a piece of music or a poem. Then it’s open for questions, and everyone shares a light meal.

The concept was created by young Israelis who were concerned that their peers were struggling to understand the importance of honoring the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, much less ensure that generations to come will know what happened.

When Joshua contacted the organization about having Zikaron BaSalon in Paris, he had no idea that he would end up being the Zikaron BaSalon point person in France. The organization’s leaders know that Joshua works with Jews for Jesus, and while they are not believers, they respect and trust him.

One of our Paris capstones was to facilitate a dozen Zikaron BaSalon events this summer. Joshua and his colleague Pascale had hoped to find people to host the events from the (not Messianic) synagogue that our branch partners with throughout the year. Unfortunately, only one person from that congregation offered. Joshua says, “It was somewhat disappointing because we’d hoped this would deepen our relationship with people in the synagogue. But on the other hand, it was not surprising from the standpoint of the culture here and people’s reluctance to invite those they don’t know into their homes. We continue to invest in our relationships at the congregation.”

Pascale adds, “On the other hand, having to look elsewhere enabled us meet more Jewish contacts! We met some of our hosts at Jewish community events. We connected with another, an Israeli, through the ZBS database. She invited her whole Israeli community to attend.”

We have witnessed to every [Holocaust] survivor, affirming that God exists.

One of our hosts, Beth, has known Jews for Jesus for years and has attended many of our events. She considers herself an atheist, but accepted a New Testament from Joshua. When he showed her John 10:18, Beth said, “I can’t believe this! All these years Christians have been telling us we killed Jesus, and right here, He says we didn’t.” Please pray for Beth to open her heart to Jesus.

Joshua says, “We have witnessed to every survivor, affirming that God exists, and that we believe He is keeping His promises, through Jesus. Thus far, none of them had ever met a born again Christian before. They had never heard that God Himself has suffered in the person of Jesus.”

The team has faced some stiff opposition. A group of rabbis co-signed a letter warning that “Zikaron BaSalon is Jews for Jesus” and accused us of using the Holocaust to try to convert Jewish people. The letter stirred some suspicion, but Joshua has friends in the Jewish community who refuted the accusations. The creators of ZBS assured Joshua of their continued support.

One of our survivors, Shayna, spoke to a packed room, despite considerable pressure to cancel. She was amazed to hear that one of survivors who spoke, Annette, is a believer in Jesus. Shayna was also surprised to discover that her doctor (who happens to be a friend of Joshua’s) is also a Jewish believer. It certainly seems that God is getting her attention! Please pray for Shayna’s salvation.

Thanks to partners like you, our team in Paris has a unique testimony, not only of loving and serving the Jewish community, but doing so in a way that is undeniably Jewish.

In Sydney

The Sydney team organized a 40-day art exhibition to speak primarily to Jewish people who consider themselves “secular but spiritual.” Bob Mendelsohn reports, “The event began with a ‘soft launch’: a catered Shabbat dinner. Our staff was joined by 18 guests, including 9 Jewish people who are not yet believers. The following night was our official opening. Ninety-one adults attended—maybe half of them were walk-by visitors, and many of them were Jewish.

“Bea is a 60-year-old Jewish lady from Argentina who now lives in Sydney. She had hidden her Jewish identity for decades. Somehow, seeing the exhibition helped her feel the liberty to openly identify as a Jewish woman. She also invited us to her exhibition not far from our shop, so we will see her again for sure.

“Yosef from Israel and his Ukrainian-born wife, Marina, are both Jewish and both are open-minded about the gospel. Their Christian neighbors had heard about our exhibition and invited them to the event. The couple was pleasantly surprised at the warm welcome and the information we gave them. They want to stay in touch!”

As of the time of this writing, the exhibition is still happening, but we will keep you posted about this and many other Jews for Jesus capstone events that are still in progress around the world!

In Los Angeles

Our Los Angeles capstone included the Aleph course, which is our own adaptation of a weekly series where a leader presents a biblical topic, usually to a mixed group of believers, skeptics, and seekers. Attendees then discuss the topic at tables, usually with a light meal or refreshments. Branch Leader Isaac Brickner says, “The discussions were great. New people joined us each week, and several returned for more. It was great to see Jacob, who is a cafe regular, at the course. He is Jewish and not a believer in Jesus.

“The highlight of our capstone was the reception for the art show that we planned to coincide with our street fair. The title of the show was ‘in(finite): discovering the paradox of freedom within limitations.’

“About 120 people came to the art reception, most of whom were friends and family of the artists. (We had four Jewish student artists, including one believer in Jesus.) Our Israeli artist brought several of her family members, including her brother who is a musician and fellow UCLA student. I gave a short talk on the theme of the art show.

“We required people to register for our street activities because we wanted people who were serious about attending, but we let them know that their registration fees would be donated to a group that provides meals for UCLA students who are in need. They appreciated our commitment to the community, and the UCLA paper reported very favorably on the event.

“Please pray with us for the conversations from the Aleph course, the Shavuot street fair, and the gallery to continue.”