Jerusalem, August 12, 2010
*please note our new P.O.Box address:
Know and Live
P.O.Box 10608
91105 Jerusalem
Israel
Dear Friends Shalom,
My wife and I have returned from a month long trip in the USA, Germany and England. It was our 25th anniversary. We combined 3 conferences with meeting and visiting long time friends who are our family in the Lord. We are so blessed to have such a family in Christ Jesus.
My wife and I will remember this month forever. We dearly enjoyed fellowship with our friends and teaching from the word of God in places where people are hungry to listen to truth, but there was another thing that God added to this trip.
We realized how much we took our kids for granted.
They got used to the fact that their parents are much more available to anyone in the church or outside the church, but not to them.
During the time away from home Anat and I could seek God's face and ask forgiveness from our Lord. We studied and prayed a lot so we may come back prepared to speak with our children.
We thank God that what kept our peace all through was a verse written on a card that was laid on our pillow at the beginning of the trip: John 16:20
"Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. And you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy."
The trust in God's sovereignty and truth kept us happy and assured that the end will glorify the Lord.
As we returned to Israel we had a family meeting where we shared all. We apologized before our kids and asked for their forgiveness. We asked them to give us an opportunity to show that we have learned our lesson.
Glory to the Lord. We were all humbled before our lord and committed to serve Him in a more balanced and correct way.
At the first meeting with the church leadership I shared everything and got all the blessing to re-arrange my hours in the church. I pray for wisdom that we will continue to serve Christ’s body with all our heart and might but remember that our children are also a part of it…The church ministry is immense and can swallow all of one’s time. I need your prayers to know where to draw the lines.
More on this quarterly report:
- Baptisms
- Feast of Weeks conference in the new church building
- Golden age concert
- Oasis choir concert
- Summer camps
- Status of church building
- Bone spur
- Daniel finishes high school
- Helping the Sudanese refugees
- Donation information
Baptisms
What a joy to see how God is working in the lives of His children. People are listening to the word of God and react positively by obedience.
So, God has blessed us with 3 baptisms during May and more are on the waiting list.
We are designing a movable baptism pool so that we will be able to perform baptisms in the new church building.
Each baptism is a different story of God's grace. In each baptism others are hearing the gospel and meditating on their relationship with God. It’s always a blessing.
Feast of Weeks conference in the new church building
On May 18-19th we celebrated the feast of weeks in our new church building.
We usually all go to hotel and study, but this year we had it in the church for the first time.
The teachers were young adults who are committed to serve the Lord.
It was a blessing to all the church and very refreshing for me to sit, listen and enjoy.
Golden age concert
The praise team of our church together with a piano player for another church came up with a great idea. They collected some praise hymns and songs and made an evening for the golden age.
It was just wonderful. It opened a great appetite for more of such praise evenings.
So, God willing we may have a few concerts as such each year which will be open for all. Our songs are based on the bible or are actual verses. We want the people to be able to think while singing or listening.
Before we had the church building we hoped that the lights in it will never be turned off. We are committed to achieve this goal.
Oasis choir concert
The Oasis choir from Sacramento California visited Israel on a tour where they held sometimes even 3 concerts a day. They came as a blessing to the people of Israel and blessed us too with a two and a half hours concerts of English, Hebrew and Russian praise and worship in professional A-capella as well as some dramas and a short musical about the life of Jesus if colorful customs. The concert was free and open to all who wished to attend. We hope to see many more such events.
Summer camps
Like each year since 1994 we have summer camps for different age groups in the church. This year the youth camp was from July 25-30 and the kids’ camp was from August 1-6. The youth learned about the important and power of prayer, and the kids about Jesus as the treasure of life.
A few weeks before the camp we, (Tibi, Rotem and me), went to the Galilee and walked the trek that the youth were to do. It is about 21km and I must say that it was not easy. We were to take them in a different route so the hard part will be in the beginning and the easy in the end. The view is spectacular and hard to describe. Below is the Sea of Galilee and around are all the mountains, we even saw some vultures flying above. There are some beautiful natural pools to enjoy on the way, and a trickling water spring coming right out of the side of the mountains. We prayed for a little more rain so that the water will still be there when we come with the youth and for good weather as some heat waves were on the way.
The day we were supposed to go on the hike was to be one of the hottest days of the year. We gathered the youth the night before and prayed for God’s mercy, that He will bring us a cloud to protect us from the sun and He did just that! Through the trip there was a little cloud that covered exactly the sun and He also gave us nice breeze. We ended up doing only half the trek and spending the day by the water. It was a blessed day.
We could see God’s hand over us in both camps in His provision and protection but most of all in the way we saw Him work in the hearts of the youth and the children.
We pray that any event we will have with the kids will bring them closer to their redeemer.
Bone spur
Just before leaving to the 25 anniversary trip I realized that I have a very uncomfortable bone spur in my right heel. The X-ray was so clear; it looked as if a nail was coming out of the heel.
So, now I have good insoles and praise God that through the entire 21km walk in the mountains I did not have any problem.
As for myself, I took it as God's way to teach me a private lesson as mentioned in the beginning of the report. I pray for wisdom to understand God very clearly.
Daniel finishes high school
Our son Daniel finishes high school. While I am writing this very line he is doing the last test in mathematics.
If all go according to schedule, Daniel will join the paratroopers in November. He had the physical tests two months ago and was accepted. He spent time in prayers to know God's will for him. He is very pleased and has peace with this decision. We can just support him, pray for him and ask the Lord to use him for His glory. Please pray for him and for the other believing soldiers, that their life will be a testimony for our Lord Jesus.
Status of Jerusalem Assembly teaching center and phase two
As mentioned before, phase one of the teaching center\church is finished.
We used the money we had for it and finished all we could do in that sum.
Don’t misunderstand. The work is still going on but by volunteers from the church and outside the church.
Yes, we do appreciate any help in starting phase two of the renovations.
Meanwhile, people in the church continue to give toward the building project so we can order the stainless cabinets for the kitchen. We pray that the kitchen will be ready in two months.
We also need to install an air conditioning unit to the main hall. 300 people in a meeting on an Israeli summer day can surely feel like a chicken on the grill.
Please pray if God puts it on your heart to participate in purchasing the air conditioning unit already this summer.
Phase two includes the 5 teaching classes for the children. Until then, they meet in every corner available.
Please continue to pray for us and prayerfully consider supporting phase 2 of the Jerusalem Assembly ministry center.
Helping the Sudanese refugees
We continue to support the Sudanese refugee's church in Tel-Aviv in paying the rent for the church and for needy families and with other needs as they arise.
Two men are fully supported and are studying in the bible school in Nazareth (teaching in Arabic), We truly need your help in continuing supporting them.
Please prayerfully consider such partnership.
My wife and I thank you all for your prayers and support!
In the love of our Messiah Jesus,
Meno and Anat Kalisher
John 16:20
Supported through – Friends of Israel gospel ministry.
Donation information for those who are from the USA – Church building and ministry:Friends of Israel gospel ministry
P.O.Box 908
Bellmawr NJ 08099-9900
www.foi.org
Donation information for those who are not from the USA:A personal check should be payable to: “Know and Live”, and mailed to:
P. O. Box 10608
Jerusalem, Zip code 91105
Israel.
For bank wire transfer please use this information:
a. Name of bank – Bank Ha-Poalim
b. Address of bank – King George street Jerusalem
c. Number of bank – 12
d. Number of the branch – 690
e. Number of account – 38368
f. Name of account – Know and Live
g. Swift code – POALILITJLM
h. IBAN – IL 89012690-00000000-38368