BethEl Russian Messianic Congregation and Ministries

P.O.Box 360165.  Cleveland, Ohio 44136, USA.

Igor B., Missionary and Pastor

pastorigorbethel@yahoo.com

 Dear Friend,

Grace and Shalom to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah! Thank you very much for your sacrificial faithful support by prayers and giving. We are greeting you with Shavuot- Pentecost Feast, which occurred in the beginning of June. Shavuot means weeks in Hebrew. It is celebrated on the 50th day after Passover. According to tradition- this is the day of giving the Torah to Moses on Mt. Sinai. In the New Testament this day is called the Pentecost, meaning from the Greek word 50.

A great miracle happened on that day. Before his ascension, Jesus promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit will come upon them. Pentecost is the miracle described in the Book of Acts 2:1. In the Bible this feast is known as the feast of harvest, and the first sheaf had to be dedicated to the Lord. When Yeshua was in the desert 40 days and 40 nights and was tempted by Satan, Yeshua told him, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). He is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, pointing to the main gift of God- His Holy Word. In fact, this is the essence of the Jewish celebration Pentecost. Liberation from slavery wasn’t enough to make Israel “kingdom of priests and holy nations.” Without God’s word, Israel would just be a group of freed slaves, assimilated in other nations and eventually wiped out from the sagas of history. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the people of Israel were born as a nation in Sinai. Pentecost is the celebration of the Birthday of God’s covenant nation.  In the same way we can say that salvation, which Yeshua made available to us through the cross, wouldn’t be enough to build the church on Earth. Of course, He saved us from darkness and slavery of sin by his atonement. But if he didn’t say what to do next, his disciples would go back to being fisherman. But Lord needed “fisherman of men” (Mt 4:19). He needed people that would listen to his Word and spread it throughout the World. It becomes possible through an outpouring at the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. That’s what Yeshua told his disciples in Luke 24:48-49 and in Acts 1:8. Before receiving the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, disciples were weak and lost. Now they had power, wisdom, and force, needed for them to become apostles. Without receiving Ruah Ha Kodesh (in Hebrew), Holy Spirit, there would be no church, no gathering of believers, united under apostles, who spread all over the Earth, among all nations Good News about Messiah Lord Jesus. Pentecost is the birthday of the church. This year Shavuot begins in June at Sunset.

In April, by God’s help, I witnessed to more than 2000 people in Minneapolis, Portland, Boise, and Cleveland OH.

In Boise ID, we went to a Farmers Market. The state of Idaho is conservative, but there are a lot of Mormons and other unbelievers living there. But Boise is very liberal with a very strong homosexual community. We met and witnessed a lot, but people were mostly not interested. Some even were aggressive and showed their middle finger. One woman took our brochure and started reading. After that she returned it and said that Jesus is not her God. We asked: “who is your God”? She became angry and said: “Better for you to leave “. An outside of the Market we met lesbian woman who told us that she attends a church and is Christian. I said that she must repent and change lifestyle. We figured out that the evil one has a different tactic today. Many of his servants doesn’t say publicly against Christianity anymore but try to show themselves as people who go to church and that they could “serve” Jesus by being gay. It’s what we see a lot today. They perverse Gospel. But it does not surprise us, because devil comes as “angel of light” and even antichrist in the beginning going be like “Christ”. When I told her about need of being born again, she said that she does not need to be born again.

 We also found that there is a lot of witchcraft activity in the city. In a store I met a witchcraft couple. When started witnessing to him he said that why I am doing this if I know that he is a satanist. I said that power of Blood of Lord Jesus can set him free. After I said that Christ defeated devil on the Cross. He looked at me, lightly hit my shoulder and said: “We will see it”. It’s not a joke. It’s a spiritual war. Devil fights but many Christians fell to sleep. Wake Up Church!

Thank you again for your prayers and partnership. My family is very appreciative for your prayers. Also please continue to pray so that God will send more faithful supporters to our ministry. We need solid prayer and financial support to continue. We trust in God! 

 If God leads you to start or continue to send us your financial help, please send your donations to Beth-El Messianic Congregation and Ministries, P.O. Box 360165, Cleveland, OH, 44136. All donations are tax deductible.

May the Lord God of Israel richly bless you. Maran Ata!  

Shalom in Yeshua, Beth-El Messianic Congregation and Pastor Igor