I'm sorry I haven't updated the site today, as some of you have noted :). I was up at 8am this morning, and away with my grandfather to an all-day conference in a village called Garvah, some 60 miles north of here. The conference was held by the Society for the Distribution of the Hebrew Scriptures. It was really encouraging to be there. Several people gave reports on the work, which focuses on seeking out Jewish people and giving them, free of charge, copies of the T'Nach (Old Testament) and the New Testament Scriptures. We heard reports from a man and his wife, Eric and Joy, who told us some fascinating and moving accounts of how the Lord led them to individual Jewish people to give them the Scriptures. What struck me the most was response of many of these dear Jewish people. They were so thankful when they were given the T'Nach in Hebrew as a gift. Not only were they thankful for also receiving the New Testament, but many of them actually asked for it after having been presented with the Old Testament. Jews are discouraged by their Rabbis from reading the New Testament, and some Jewish people who become believers in Yeshua are disowned by their families and cast out of their synogogues. It is a big thing for a Jew to be a believer in the Messiah. One of the men who gave a report said that he was able to visit a college in Belfast were 120 Ultra Orthodox Jews were staying, and was able to present them with a single copy of both the Old and New Testament - something that would normally be unheard of. Another couple from Holland spoke of their witnessing to Jews in France, Germany and even in Israel. They spoke to IDF soldiers stationed along the border of Lebanon, following the end of the Second Lebanon War. They were able to tell them of their experience living in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban, and tell them how their faith in Messiah gave them hope. I wish I had a recording of the meeting on tape, I would have put it on the site.

I have given to this work in the past, as I love the Jewish people. But this meeting has helped me to realize how important this work is. Don't get me wrong, I believe Pastor John Hagee is a good man, and does a good work in encouraging Christian support for Israel. But I do not believe that we should seek to withhold God's Word from them. So many Jews are now seeking the truth. How can we withhold from them the truth of who their Messiah is, for the sake of a few religious leaders who object? How can we preach that the Gospel is for all, but withold it from those for whom Christ died?

Matthew 9:36-38
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

Source Society for the Distribution of the Hebrew Scriptures