Chesvan 5765
THE FALL "RUSH" IS ON!
First, we want to thank all of you who have been praying for our
financial situation, and all of you have contributed financially.
We appreciate you standing together with us at this crucial time
for us. We are deeply grateful for this and especially for you;
and it serves as an encouraging reminder that we are all part of
a team, working together to accomplish God’s work among the
Jewish people. The financial situation has improved, but we are
not "out of the woods" as yet. (We are still $3,200 short
to meet our current expenses.) For those of you not already doing
so, we would ask you to prayerfully consider contributing financially
on a monthly, or other regular, basis. Thank you.
Now that it’s fall, we’ve rushed into the busy schedule
that comes with this season. The Jewish holiday season was great,
bringing with it all the opportunities it usually does. So we’ve
got some new people considering whether a Jewish approach to God
through Yeshua is what they want for their lives. Please pray for
them.
And, we’re also back to teaching classes both at the seminary
and at Sunday schools for churches in our area. In fact, the adult
Sunday school series on the Older Testament that Patrice is teaching
for a church is drawing "rave reviews," and has gotten
people interested in doing even more studying.
Meanwhile, Barb, our associate and trusted office manager, is also
busily involved in speaking and teaching. She recently taught a
couple of sessions on early Messianic Jewish history for a seminary
Church History class, and then also led a discussion on the exodus
for another seminary class on the Torah.
In addition, John just received a phone call from a former student—literally
"just," as right in the middle of writing this letter.
She is a Sunday school teacher at a church nearby. She called to
say thank you and added:
You know, a lot of people in the church are
clueless about the importance of Jewish roots to their faith and
to their lives. I’ve incorporated that aspect into all my
teaching, and people are very interested. I’ve really been
inspired by you.
It’s always an encouragement to hear things like that. And,
that kind of impact is what you make possible by your prayers and
contributions. Thank you!
Then, just this week, we received our copy of the international
Messianic Jewish newspaper, The Messianic Times. It included a review
of our new book on the movie "The Passion of the Christ"
and on the issues the movie raises. The reviewer writes:
The Distortion by Drs. John and
Patrice Fischer is a much-needed response to Mel Gibson’s
highly acclaimed film "The Passion of the Christ." With
patience and clarity the Fischers explain that Gibson’s version
of the Gospel story is not as authentic as many claim. The Fischers
demonstrate how Gibson’s version stands firmly within the
centuries-old tradition of European passion plays. "The Distortion"
seeks to clarify the events as they are actually portrayed in the
Gospel writings themselves.
Others have commented on the book as follows:
"…biblically sound, historically
accurate, and deeply relevant."
"…words that can bring healing
between Christians and Jews, and Jews and Messiah."
"…an important and perceptive
book. It should be widely read."
Also, someone who had just read the book called and said he felt
that the book was "a very useful evangelistic and apologetic
tool." In addition, the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations
is offering the book free to the leaders of their congregations.
We’re encouraged and grateful for the positive responses
we’ve heard. We just pray that the book will, in fact, be
something that God can use effectively in many lives.
Finally, we promised you a report on John’s teaching and
speaking trip to South Africa. Here’s his report in his own
words.
"Two years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to spend two
weeks in Cape Town, South Africa. I had been invited there to speak
at the annual conference of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of South
Africa. Another purpose of that trip was to teach an intensive yeshiva
(Jewish seminary) course, "The Gospels in their Jewish Context."
Both events were very well received.
"Apparently, they were so well received, that I was invited
back this summer! So, I traveled to Cape Town in the latter part
of August. For South Africa, this is the end of their winter and
the beginning of their spring season, so the weather was delightful.
But then, so were the people! The trip was very encouraging, and
quite tiring, but mainly because of the long flights. It took 34
hours of traveling time to return home!
"Approximately 100 people attended the conference of the Messianic
Jewish Alliance of South Africa. I was told that they had come from
all over South Africa, some having traveled 12-13 hours just to
be there. (South Africa is one of the larger countries in the world.)
We had half a dozen sessions together, and the interaction was very
insightful and stimulating. It was a wonderful time of renewing
old acquaintances and beginning new ones.
"After a break of a couple of days, we started the intensive
yeshiva course for this trip. This time I was asked to teach "The
Epistles from a Jewish Perspective." The coordinator, Rabbi
Herschel Raysman, my good friend and colleague, had prayed to have
20-25 students attend this course. (Two years ago we had approximately
35 students.) By the time we were done registering the students,
there were over 60! And, one of the more exciting things was that
three leaders from the half dozen Messianic fellowships in Zambia
came down especially for this course. Truthfully, that is an encouraging,
but also quite humbling, experience. As it was two years earlier,
so it was again, a very exciting time of teaching and learning.
When I returned home two years ago, I had commented that, of all
the places I had taught in America, Europe and Israel, the students
in South Africa were more eager and hungry to learn than anywhere
else. Once again I felt the same way. I had never taught a more
enthusiastic group of students anywhere."
By the way, one of the students who attended the class and conference
two years ago was featured on the front page of The Messianic Times.
He started Zambia’s first Messianic congregation. Now he helps
oversee nine such congregations! Three of the students at this year’s
conference and class are some of the leaders who work with him.
We are always amazed at the often unexpected international impact
God allows us to have.
Thanks so much for being such a strategic part of this ministry
that we share together. Your prayers and contributions enable us
to carry on in these very significant ways.
Most warmly in our Messiah,
John and Patrice |
