Happy Holidays!
As I write this letter, I'm sitting in my hospital room awaiting
gall bladder surgery, which has been delayed a couple of hours.
So to pass the time and because this letter is a bit over due, I
thought I'd write and get you caught up on what we've been doing.
Looking back, it's been an exciting and full year for Menorah Ministries
and for us. And, it has taken us to many places and given us significant
opportunities to serve the Lord, many of which we've already shared
with you.
I have the privilege of serving as a member of the Administrative
Committee oversweeing the ministry of the International Messianic
Jewish Alliance (IMJA). Over this last year we have helped supervise
the relocation of the international headquarters of this one hundred
year-old ministry to Jewish people in need around the world. The
offices were relocated from Great Britain to the United States,
and we have taken significant steps to expand the ministry in Israel
as well. In addition we were able to provide important aid to Messianic
Jews in Ethiopia and throughout the former Soviet Union. Also I
have been asked to establish and direct a yeshiva (roughly equivalent
to a Jewish seminary) for the IMJA to train Messianic leaders around
the world, literally from Brazil to the Ukraine. Patrice was asked
to serve on the IMJA editorial board.
Speaking of the Ukraine, the highlight of the year was the opportunity
Patrice and I had to teach over 50 Messianic leaders from all over
the former Soviet Union for two weeks in the Ukraine. After our
return we shared with you the story of the Jewish woman who is president
of the Jewish community of her hometown. She trusted Yeshua as her
Messiah as a result of our teaching. We received an email update
on her progress. One of our Ukrainian co-workers wrote us: "I had
the joy of travelling to meet her a few weeks ago and was thrilled
to see her growth and the marvelous change so evident in her life.
She is bold and shares about Yeshua wherever and whenever she can."
In addition to the other opportunities in St. Louis, Washington
D.C., and of course Israel, which we've written about, last week
I was asked to present a paper to the annual conference of the Evangelical
Theological Society (ETS) meeting in Orlando. The ETS is the organization
that unites evangelical scholars and ministries. The paper was on
Paul's teaching about the law in Romans, from a Jewish perspective.
It was well received. But, the most exciting thing was that David,
a former student of ours who has ministered for years in Israel,
had been asked to present a paper as well.
So as you can see, it's been a positive, full year. And, we have
even more exciting s to share next letter. The only negative aspect
of this year has been that the financial situation of Menorah Ministries
is in very poor shape. Donations have fallen way behind expenses.
In addition, our insurance does not completely cover our medical
bills for the gall bladder surgery. So, as you review your year-end
giving, please pray about how God may lead you in this matter.
Thank you for making this such a special year through your praying
and giving. Have a significant and special Hanukkah and Christmas
season!
Warmly in our Messiah,
John & Patrice Fischer
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