(JJ and Stephanie Wessman are CCCC members who nearly a year ago were forced to return to the US from Israel, where they had served for several years. Here us their report on how God is now using them here.)

Learning to Trust

by JJ and Stephanie Wessman

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3: 5–6)

How many times have we read these verses or sung these verses? But how often in life have we really taken this directive and applied it to our daily lives? It has been ten months since our family had to leave Israel after 14 years there, and these verses have been a directive that I have struggled with and rejoiced in over the last ten months. My wife Stephanie and I really had to trust the Lord for our kids’ adjustment back to the USA, and God has done an amazing thing for them. So many doors opened up for our children to adjust to life back here in the States. I can tell you with great joy that they have succeeded mightily in school this year, and are on the way to great friendships in and out of school.

As for me, these last ten months have been a constant struggle to trust in the Lord, not lean on my understandings, and acknowledge Him. It has not been easy — many ups and downs, but God is so good.
In the last month, God has really answered a big prayer that we have had for the last nine months. God has shown me what I should be doing now with this new life change. He revealed to me the foundation for the vision of my ministry, and He has impressed upon my heart three points — discipleship/mentoring, mobilizing and development. One of the most exciting parts is that we will still be workers with OMI (Operation Mobilization Israel). The outline of the new ministry is as follows:

• Discipleship and Mentoring
  • Small groups training on feasts and biblical historical geography
    • Teach in home groups, bible studies and Sunday school classes
  • Working with churches to develop a better idea of missions
    • Meet with mission boards to fully understand God’s view of Israel
    • Recruit for Israel
• Mobilizing
  • Training for recruits/people going to Israel
  • Trips to Israel
  • Represent OMI in the USA
  • Connect at OM Home Office in Atlanta
  • Missions fairs/colleges
• Development for OM Israel
  • Connecting and developing relationship with churches OMI has a relationship with
  • Meeting with donors and potential donors
  • Reporting on/for fundraisers to present funding requests to potential donors

We are very thankful to God for answering this prayer request and opening the doors for this ministry. It was awesome as God affirmed us in this direction. Right after I sent this plan to the leadership of OMI, they responded back immediately, saying that this same direction was what they had just been discussing to present to me in their leadership meeting that day! Please contact me if you would like more information about working with your Sunday School classes or small groups.

Along with this amazing ministry direction and affirmation, God gave our family an amazing time with my wife’s team member who visited us from Israel! You would not believe how fast the kids went through the Israeli snacks that she brought! We had an awesome week of ministry with these two teaching on the Book of Ruth and how we as gentiles can/should be good Naomis to Israel. Contact us if you would like a link to the teaching. They also hosted a women’s conference called “Tabernacle: And I Will Dwell In Your Midst.” The conference had 30 women in attendance and of course had a model of the Tabernacle set up in the sanctuary! Well, it was not quite like the one they use in Israel, but the improvised one looked really good! The emphasis of the seminar was to use the Tabernacle and each its pieces of furniture to demonstrate how God desires to take the most broken places in our lives and have His Glory dwell there. God has blessed us greatly over the last nine months with vehicles, a house, part-time jobs for additional income, and has provided for all our needs. As our sabbatical comes to a close this summer we are in need a vehicle. If you know of one please be in touch! JJ is also in need of a job for the summer to make up for some losses in support and the transition into the new ministry.

• PRAISE –
  • Direction for ministry!
  • We will be staying with OMI — we are so glad to still be a part of Operation Mobilization Israel!
• PRAYER –
  • JJ sharing the vision for this new ministry and raising support for this ministry.
  • Provision of a vehicle and summer job for JJ.

Thank you for praying for us!

We have trusted and acknowledged and praise God — He is being very faithful to direct our path!

JJ and Stephanie, Zane, Lydia, Ethan, Orly and Asher!