Dear Pastor Dill and the family of God at The Bible Church,

  

Shalom and happy new year!  I wanted to write to you there in Waterbury to thank you for your friendship and prayer support over the past year.  You have been a significant part of our ministry through your partnership.  Because of that - and because of God's grace - we are moving full steam ahead in this coming year.

The first day back at work of 2021, I addressed our Jews for Jesus staff.  I talked about two passages of Scripture that have been helpful to me as we head into the new Year.  Ths past year has been so challenging.  In many ways we're hoping against hope that we'll see a very different 2021.  However, we have no assurance at this time that things will improve all that quickly in this new year.  We're still sheltering in place here in San Francisco, and of course the pandemic has not slowed in much of the world where Jews for Jesus services.

Nevertheless, two Scripture verses have been encouraging to me, and I hope they will be to you as well.  The first one in Malachi 3:6, where the Lord says, "For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not conusmed, O sons of Jacob."  We know that even though the world may be an uncertain place, we have eternal promises from God based upon His unchanging character.  As the author of Hebrews tells us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:).  Praise the Lord!  The One who was born in a manger in Bethlehem is the same One who sits on the throne, and is the same One who created the universe - the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world.

The second Bible passage is Lamentations 3:22-23 where Jeremiah said, "through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness."  We can know that we are not consumed, both because the Lord never changes, and because His mercies are always new.  That is so hopeful for me and for Jesus for Jesus.  We are not going to change our commitment to relentlessly pursue God's plan for the salvation of the Jewish people.  But because His mercies are new every morning, we need ot also be looking for new ways to communicate the never-changing message f the gospel.  That's what I'm looking forward to this year in Jews for Jesus.

God willing, we will be launching out into new and exciting endeavors in Jerusalem in Tel AViv, in Brooklyn, and in other places around the world.  Namely we are ministering to the Ultra-Orthodox, or Haredim as they are known.  We are opening up the latest branch of Jews for Jesus in Jerusalem now, and we are reaching out through on-line ministry.  In fact, in Israel where Tik Tok is a very popular platform, our Jews for Jesus gostep videos are number eleven in terms of the views in all of the country!  Praise the Lord!  Even though sometimes we have to shelter in place, the gospel never does.

 

I also want you to be encouraged by three new missionaries who will be entering into service with Jews for Jesus in 2021.

 

Jacob is from South Florida.  He grew up in a Jewish-Christian believing home but wandered from the Lord as a young man.  After recommitting his life to Jesus, he worked as a military police officer and a high school history teacher.  He has felt God's calling on his life for several years to enter full-time minssionary work to reach his Jewish people.  We are so excited that we will be joining our team along with his wife Autumn and young daughter Eden.

Vered is an Ethiopian Israeli who came to faith after her older sister met Jesus and shared to message with the rest of the family.  She has been working as an intern with our Mekomi team, providing food and payer for people living on the streets in Tel Aviv during the pandemic.  She has already led several people to faith  We are so excited that this January she is starting her missionary training.

Dean is a young man who grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home and was highly trained by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).  After his military service, he traveled in South America, where he had a vision of 'Yeshua," a name he had never heard!  When he returned to Israel, he ordered a Hewbrew New Testament from us online.  Shortly thereafter Dean came to faith and was discipled by our missionaries!  Now he is dedicting his life to reaching the lost in the land of Israel.

 

Praise God that He is raising up more laborers as we are faithful to pray to the Lord of the Harvest (Matthew 9:38).  I've always believed that our people are our very best assets - and that includes you.  You are a vital part of our team and together we are welcoming new Jewsih brothers and sisters into the family of Messiah every week!  Thank you and may God bless you in this new year.

 

Yours for the salvation of the Hewish people.

 

David Brickner