Annual Report - 2022

-

 



Shalom dear friends, brothers and sisters, and partners in service for Zion. I would like to report to you in general about this past year.

I hope that each year makes us all wiser, more experienced, more dependent on the Lord God, and more willing to do His will.

2021 was remembered by many for the difficulties with Covid (I personally spent nine days in the hospital, and thanks to the Grace of God I survived.), then 2022 became a year of many corrections.

Unfortunately, Covid did not go away in 2022. Unfortunately, the war between Russia and Ukraine began, we saw troubles and flows of refugees in Europe, and we saw new immigrants and refugees from this war in Israel. All this causes a lot of sadness and expectations of future upheavals. The Holy Scriptures write about “coming upheavals,” but the main instructions for us in this context are the words: “... do not fear what they fear, serve the Lord your God ...” and “... raise your eyes to the mountains; from there Salvation will come".

So, to sum up the year:

Personal: 2022 has been a blessing for my family – our eldest daughter got married. There was a certain conflict with the Israeli Interior Ministry. They did not want to allow her fiancé to enter Israel, but thank God they are together today, and I thank everyone for their prayers.

Trips: This summer alone I had to make four trips – to Norway, Cyprus, Finland, and Germany. But this is a good sign – a sign that our international ministry is being renewed and that the borders are open. These were special meetings and services, sermons about Aliyah (the return of the Jews to Israel), the renewal of the youth ministry, as well as meetings with believers from the Arab/Palestinian churches. In September 2022 the international conference of Messianic Russian-speaking pastors was dedicated to the issues of Aliyah, refugee migration in Europe, and humanitarian projects.

Congregation: We have grown in numbers. As always, we emphasize the spiritual development of our youth and young leaders. Please pray for this. We are currently in a deep overhaul of our home groups. Their number has grown from 9 to 14, and I think we will add more. In the new scheme, groups have not only believers from the community, but also new people. Please pray for this.

Our humanitarian ministry has grown tremendously. Because of the Russia/Ukraine war, many donations came to support those who left the war for Israel, and “Return to Zion” works persistently and effectively with this group of people.

Last year 15 to 17 families a week passed through our Humanitarian Aid Center. Now in 2022 we receive about 40 families a week and sometimes more. I want to thank you for every shekel/dollar and euro you donate to the support of these people. Money cannot heal their pain and the horror of war. Only God can do that through our prayers; nevertheless, good help from you and us provide relief and encouragement for them.

We continue to provide hot food for elderly / incapacitated people, in about the same numbers as in the past. We are now praying for the opportunity to rebuild, upgrade and improve our kitchen.

As you know, for many years, on a permanent basis, “Return to Zion” has been supporting families who brought their children to Israel for medical treatment. This support requires huge sums of money, and I thank you for donating to this project.

Music school: everything is going well. Thank God. We enrolled about a hundred students at the beginning of this academic year. We are no longer beginners; we provide an advanced music education program that offers professional music lessons. I think this is good evidence of the Grace of God and creativity in serving people through music and mentoring. With God's help, we plan to develop a Department of Drawing and Modeling. We also pray for a computer course for children. (But there are not enough hands and manpower for everything.)

HTI – Haifa Theological Institute. We are not a big educational institution. We have about thirty students. It's not much, but in our format it's normal. We are waiting for the “wave” that will show us how to develop further; your prayers are welcome in this direction.

Oasis Media – TV ministry via the Internet. There are no significant breakthroughs, but still 30-35 thousand people visit our programs every month, and I dare say this is probably the largest media resource for Messianic Jews in the Russian language. Thank you for supporting this ministry.

Holocaust Survivors. Since the beginning of the pandemic, this ministry has become very insignificant. The number of these people is dwindling. We do what we can. This year we gathered them for dinner/concert three times. We hope to see them again at “Return to Zion” before the end of the year. I ask for your prayers for these people. They saw a lot, they suffered a lot, and the Peace of God is essential for their hearts.

A significant event during this outgoing year was a trip to the Sea of Galilee by our whole congregation. After the lockdowns of the pandemic, it was a great time together. We had rest and prayers, "Tvila" (baptism) and a boat ride on the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). Our leadership’s aim is to continue strengthening our congregation.

I want to thank you, your congregations, ministries, organizations and churches for sharing this year with us. Your prayers, help and friendship are huge blessings for us. I thank the Lord God for each of you and pray for peace and prosperity for you and your loved ones.

Feel free to share this report with your friends.

I believe that in 2023 we will be able to continue walking together in serving Israel in the name of Yeshua the Messiah.

Sincerely,

Leon Mazin

You can support or learn more about our mission here: www.Shaveitzion.org

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Three Types of Unities and the Power of the Risen Messiah

-
Image
In this article, I will continue my reflections on Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. Paul ’s central thought is the restoration of the three types of unities. They were all part of God's plan , but they all became degraded for various reasons. Adam was meant to bring restoration to these unities , b ut the sin of the first people aggravated everything. However, when the last Adam – Yeshua of Nazareth – died and rose from the dead, powers were revealed that did not exist before – p owers for the consistent restoration of everything! Unity of Heaven and Earth Ephesians Chapter 1 says that Yeshua united / restored / healed the heavenly and the earthly in Himself. " … that all things in heaven and on earth may be united under the head of Christ." (Vs. 10) O ur role in this ongoing process is essential, but not very clear . Important concepts sometimes challenge our ability to understand. Still, it is important to think about our role in this process. In Him
Read more

Imitating the Messiah's Humility

-
Image
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Messiah, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Mashiach Yeshua: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Yeshua every kn
Read more

Keep yourself clean...

-
Image
  Dear friends, brothers, and sisters in Yeshua. First of all, I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support, which help us in Israel to serve the One Lord and proclaim the Name of Yeshua the Messiah! The weekly chapter the Re'eh (Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17) leads to some thoughts that are relevant in our time as well “ Behold, I offer you today a blessing and a curse: a blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today, but a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God … ” Deuteronomy 11:26-28 The commandments of the Lord were never intended for our salvation. Salvation is God's sovereign action based on His mercy and love for us. But the fulfillment of the commandments determines the quality of our life. And the HABIT to act according to His commandments strengthens this blessing – mak ing our lives “usually correct!” Today, some are looking for extreme sports, but as soon as a person gets older, h
Read more

A whirlpool of events... And this is from the Lord!!!

-
Image
  Congregation news: lots of meetings. Feast of Trumpets, day of atonement, Sukkot and, of course, Simchat Torah (Torah holiday). We have had lots of guests from all over the world — from China to Latvia and Norway. We have seen the ministry of prophecy and words of knowledge, and it was a special time to be renewed in the presence of the Lord and with family and friends from all over the world. WE ARE GLADLY TIRED. Everyone wanted this celebration, and in a sense, in the "incomprehensible situation" that is around us, it was a wonderful time from the Lord. The “situation around” is not clear with our government elections (I ask for your prayers for the Will of God). There are a lot of military rumors around, and the situation with the Russia / Ukraine war has a very strong influence on us. With the influx of NEW OLIM (IMMIGRANTS) AND REFUGEES, we urgently need to “examine” our finances!!! We have helped hundreds of people from Ukraine and Russia in recent months as more an
Read more

New government, new promises, and GOD'S WILL for everything!

-
Image
  Dear brothers and sisters in Yeshua. Peace and blessings to you and your loved ones from the Lord God of Israel. Thank you so much for standing with us in prayer and supporting us! Together we serve the preaching of Yeshua the Messiah in Israel! Regarding our everyday life, as you know, God determines who will govern the people. In our current reality in Israel, we have a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, with many orthodox parties aligned with him. Religious parties, in their coalition demands to Netanyahu (editorial note: the government can only be approved upon reaching a coalition consensus of the parties, after the elections), insist on changing the “Law of Return” (the law which allows Jews from other countries to obtain citizenship in the State of Israel). The aim of these parties is to prevent the grandchildren of Jews from coming to Israel, to make Aliyah, based on this law. Advocates of such changes claim that, in their opinion, the third generation of Jewish descenda
Read more

The Life/Death of Sarah

-
Image
 Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” The Hittites replied to Abraham, “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.” Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.” Genesis 23:1-9 NIV Until now, Abraham and his clan wandere
Read more

Let your Light Shine!

-
Image
  Habit. Sometimes, you get used to an environment full of blessings and kindness, you quickly forget the "dirt" from which you came out, and the light of God becomes something ordinary for you. And just then, a temptation enters the heart, the same, old, and very dangerous in the style: "eat from this fruit and you will be stronger." This is the ancient way in which the "evil inclination" (Satan/"old serpent") tempts us. And it's important to be alert. “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking’s, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1 Peter 2:1-3 Peter writes his letter to already believing people and once again raises the same old problem that strikes us now when we GET USED. And we stop moving forward. He says that malice, deceit/gossip, envy, and slander can destroy the Divine life in
Read more

Proclaiming the Light of the Messiah to others!

-
Image
  Thank you for being with us throughout 2022. With your support, we were able to serve the Lord effectively in Israel! Passing into the new year 2023, we feel the importance of the words of Yeshua , who commanded , “When the Holy Spirit descends on you, you will receive strength and will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 In recent weeks in the congregation we have been studying Ephesians. Paul says, “You may see my understanding of the mystery of Christ, which was not proclaimed to former generations… so that even the Gentiles may be joint heirs, who are one body… in Christ Jesus .” Ephesians 3:4-6 We know that attempts to evangelize the Gentiles have been constant in the history of Israel. For example, the bible tells us about Abraham with his hospitality, his stay in Egypt, with the opportunity to speak to the Egyptians about the One God . And we read about the attempts of the kings David and Solomon to bu
Read more

The Battle of Gog & Magog

-
Image
  Post-apocalypse, or pre-apocalypse, what times are we living in now?! (See Ezekiel 38:1-6) I think this question worries a lot of people today. We have witnessed the ongoing Covid epidemic, we constantly hear about earthquakes in various places, we’ve seen war in Syria and other armed conflicts in different parts of the world. And of course now, the war between Russia and Ukraine. Many from the former USSR would never have thought of a war like this to even happen. Of course, looking at all this, many are wondering "is the world coming to an end?". This question is still difficult to answer. Similar pictures were drawn during the Napoleonic wars, and at the beginning of the 20th century, and those who are a little over 50 years old remember that during this half a century of ours, the end of the world was foreshadowed more than once or twice. I was born in the USSR, and I can say with confidence that the difference between an Ashkenazi Jew and a Sephardic Jew is much gr
Read more