(Tuvya Zaretsky is a CCCC minister serving as Director of Missionary Staff Development for Jews for Jesus.)

Shalom!

by Tuvya Zaretsky

Dear brothers and sisters in the CCCC, Shalom!

As I write this July 4 is in just a few days. Wow, that means 2014 is half over! Then again, so much has already been accomplished this year. It’s a privilege to see God at work. I hope that it will encourage you if I share a little of what I’ve seen within our Jews for Jesus ministry.

Ellen and I were in Israel during the first week of June. It was actually my second trip to Israel this year. I was providing another layer of training for our fast-growing Tel Aviv branch staff. It went so well that Israel Director Dan Sered asked if I could return to Israel in December this year to provide additional leadership development for the missionary staff.

Wonderful ministry is happening there, especially among young Israeli adults. An IDF soldiers’ fellowship on Friday mornings at the Moishe Rosen Center is flourishing. Three recruits recently came through that ministry with two approved as missionary staff and one as an intern. Boris Skvortsov and David Minsky were just accepted as Israel branch missionaries along with Chaim Birnbaum who came on as a new intern. This is an amazing development, as Israel is now our largest branch. At this time in history that has significance. I’m so honored to help train and develop them all. I’m praying about their December invitation.

Meanwhile our daughter Kaile is in Israel as part of a Pepperdine University overseas program. She has an internship at Assuta Hospital in Tel Aviv. It has been a wonderful experience so far. The Lord is giving her amazing opportunities to learn about nursing and advanced medical care in Israel. She has also been challenged to give testimony of her faith in Yeshua (Jesus). More than one doctor has asked skeptically, “So, are you Jewish or a Christian?” She’s been able to answer clearly and unequivocally. Proud parents here, but she has also experienced being rebuffed for her faith. Please pray for Kaile, as she is also having amazing conversations where she can appropriately share her beliefs with the nine other students on her study program.

I’m glad to be home after extensive travel during the first half of this year. Now I can focus on the Jewish-Gentile Couples Ministry Workbook that I’ve wanted to write. Please pray for the Lord’s mind and wisdom in this project. We have a tremendous opportunity for ministry to intermarried Jewish people right now. I hope to offer help for Evangelical Christians who would like to make this a part of their church ministry. The first draft is due by the end of August.

Also, please pray for a new Jewish-Gentile couple, “James” and “Rachel.” He is a fairly new Christian, originally from Texas. She was born in Israel but grew up in Beverly Hills. “Rachel’s” rich North African (Moroccan and Egyptian) Jewish heritage is a cultural stretch for “James.” “Rachel” is attracted to the peace that she sees in him and is fascinated by the intensity of his faith in God. We met together last week. It went incredibly well. Pray please for wisdom as I coach “James” and for clarity as “Rachel” discovers truth about Jesus in our meetings.

I’m so grateful for the privilege to engage with Jewish people in rich conversations like these about Jesus. Thank you all for your partnership with us. We appreciate our connection with the CCCC churches. May the Lord’s blessing on you all and your families at the annual meeting.

Yours in our Messiah,

Tuvya Zaretsky