Miri and Alexander are new Jewish immigrants (olim chadashim) from Belarus who arrived in Israel 1 year ago, and who got in touch with us through one of our humanitarian outreach projects. They were so impressed by the humanitarian work that we were doing to aid the needy, and simply loved the spirit of servanthood with which we served the poor.
They quickly became dear friends of our congregation, and started volunteering alongside our humanitarian outreach team, helping to serve others in the communities of our city. Their journey took a significant turn when they joined the Alpha course, where they embraced salvation and faith in Jesus Christ. This newfound faith led them to be baptized in the Jordan River, marking a pivotal moment in their spiritual lives.
However, after their baptism, Miri and Alexander seemed to disappear from our community and ministry activities for a time. It was a period of great concern and uncertainty for us, as we were also unable to make contact with them. But God, in His infinite wisdom, prompted us to pray earnestly for Miri and Alexander, along with all those who had been baptized in the Jordan River the previous month, imploring the Lord that they would continue to follow Jesus and grow as His disciples.
In a beautiful answer to our prayers, this past Saturday, Miri and Sasha returned to our Shabbat service. When we reunited, Miri was overwhelmed with joy and tears. She shared how they had gone through a time of intense turmoil in their lives, which forced them to withdraw from others as their entire focus had shifted to dealing with their problems. However, a few days before, both she and Alexander woke up with a new fire in their hearts, having been touched by the Lord during the very same night.
In answer to our prayers, the Lord had reignited their desire to be part of Beit Hallel Congregation, and they had felt such a strong pull to attend our Shabbat service, they had literally run to the service on foot. Miri’s heartfelt declaration was that this was the result of our prayers, and a powerful reminder to all of us of God’s faithfulness.
After the service, as they were leaving, I stopped them to ask how they had found the Shabbat service. In a spontaneous and touching moment, Alexander ran off. Miri explained that he was so moved by the experience that he wanted to personally thank Pastor Sasson for the Word that he had shared.
Glory to the Lord for placing the desire to pray for others in our hearts and for bringing those who are being saved into His Church. This testimony of Miri and Alexander is a profound reminder of the power of prayer, the importance of community, and the transformative love of Jesus.
We are grateful to witness such miracles and look forward to seeing how God continues to work in their lives and in our community.
Amen!
