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REFLECTING ON THE BLESSINGS FROM THIS PAST MONTH
Dan: Though it was hard to do my late autumn trip to the States without Patty, it ended up being one of the best trips ever, not only in visiting Tikkun Congregations but also connecting to the churches.
The trip began in Dallas with the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders. I wrote about this in our November newsletter. During this segment of the itinerary, I met with the leaders of the International Pentecostal Church of God, a classical Pentecostal denomination I had never heard of. They have about 1000 churches in the United States and 5000 in other countries. I was very impressed with their head bishop, Wayman Ming. They feel very drawn to Tikkun. I also had a wonderful time with the leaders of The King’s University. We met with our own Dr. David J. Rudolph as well as Wayne Wilks to talk about cooperative education in Israel. On Shabbat morning we had a great time with a new congregation courting Tikkun that is led by Rabbi Joey Benami, Sukkat Shalom. This is a vibrant growing congregation with a strong and capable leader.
After Dallas it was three intense weeks of driving between the Middle Atlantic States and the states in the North East. There were wonderful highlights in the Tikkun congregations, including Ohev Israel in Northern Virginia, Beth Am Messiah in New City, New York, and Adat Chaim near Kingston, New York. The Northern Virginia Congregation is now led by Aaron Allsbrook, with Mike Rudolph still being a full time Rabbi alongside Aaron. They are doing wonderfully. They are in great unity, growing and full of hope. I think they are now the largest they have ever been. I was also very pleased with the visit to Kingston. The young couples there are growing into greater responsibility under Peter and Debra Lundgren's steady hand. They give us great hope for the future. Beth Am Messiah is undergoing a leadership search as Jack Jacobs is seeking to retire from the head leader role. We had a great time preaching, and also a wonderful time with a new candidate. Sunday evening and Monday morning just before my return to the States was a most wonderful time meeting with the regional leaders of New York, including Kingston, New York, New City, New York, and Allentown, Pennsylvania. The times of sharing and prophecy were amazing.
I was also able to share in three churches during my travels. I consider the one in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to be very important. New Covenant Christian Community, under Pastor Jack Groblewski, is an important apostolic church built on land previously owned by the Moravians. This goes back to Ludwig Von Zinzendorf (early1700s) who embraced many of the values that Tikkun also embraces. They really do see us in partnership.
Our unity with Eastern Gate International House of Prayer under leader Gary Depasquale continues to grow stronger. This combination church and 24/7 house of prayer is a wonderful model. Their commitment to the restoration of the Messianic Jewish community is very strong. We are seeking to help them become more effective in Jewish ministry.
Patty put together a great itinerary. Her work with airline tickets, hotels, and car rentals was flawless. I don’t know how she does it. However, we are so very glad to be back together. We really do not want to do another whole month apart.
We received many newsletters from ministries we appreciate noting that last Tuesday was the annual Giving Tuesday. They encouraged a larger than usual gift for Giving Tuesday. Why is Giving Tuesday important? Because it is just before the end of the financial year when tax deductible gifts can be finally be given. We missed Giving Tuesday. However, those of you who pray for us do hear from the Lord when you are called to give financial support. It is Giving Tuesday and giving 7 days a week for 52 weeks when the Lord speaks to you. And we are so glad He does.
Covenant Partners
We encourage you to become a full covenant partner of Restoration from Zion Our partners commit to prayer and regular giving (monthly is so helpful), so that our work outside the United States can be carried on. The work of mentoring leaders, traveling to bring alignment to the Messianic Jews and the streams of the Church, and helping to strengthen congregations, is only possible because of those who regularly support us. We ask that you would pray and ask the Spirit to show you if you are to become one of our Covenant Partners. Then do let us know.
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Beth Am Messiah in New City, NY
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A SEASON OF TRANSITION
Ben: I just recently returned to Israel after a very fruitful three-week trip to the United States. In last month’s update, I shared a brief summary of my participation in the Global Prayer Alliance hosted just outside Houston, TX. This was followed by a week in Maryland for our Tikkun America apostolic team meetings. We prayed together, strengthened our relationships, and sought the Lord for vision and strategy for the American network in the coming year 2020. There is such blessed unity among our team. The environment intentionally encourages open dialogue regarding differing points of view — no one is a “yes man” on the team. Yet, we have a clear sense of shared purpose and trust for one another that we are able to come to unity on decisions for the network.
Tikkun America is in the midst of transition, and I am taking on more and more leadership responsibility following my installation as the President for the Tikkun America network. We are blessed that this transition is not being made out of reaction to emergency or an immediate necessity, but rather the outworking of leading of the Lord and confirmed by our network leaders. We have been planning for it and covering it in prayer. So, we are asking you to stand with us in increased prayer specifically for these transitions. Please pray for my dear wife Lorena and our three children, as we consider how best to enter this new season. Pray for continued vision and direction, both for our growing participation in teaching and equipping through Restoration From Zion as well as for wisdom for nurturing and growing our more than 25 Tikkun America congregations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. We so appreciate you and know that we could not advance without your support, friendship and prayer.
In the coming months, I will share more of the fresh and renewed vision that God is stirring in my heart. If you are also getting a sense from the Lord, I would love to hear it. Please let us know.
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Worship in the Desert
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THE POWER OF WORSHIP
Patty: Like most of you, I sometimes go through seasons of dryness in my devotional life. I hate these times and find myself clinging to the words of the psalmist in Psalm 42:5 ”Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Sometimes one needs to go to the desert in order to get away from distractions and to find the streams of living water during the desert seasons. This is what I was able to do for three days while Dan was in the States for a month. A group of us in Israel were so blessed to have three days in a Bedouin tent in the desert worshipping God without any agenda except to seek his face. Heidi Baker was present for the whole time and I received so much impartation from her by just drinking in her passion for worship. From previous teachings I understood that every morning she would spend hours in the presence of the Lord, in intimate fellowship, seeking his face. She found out that she got more work done during the day when she took this time of actively adoring her savior and later seemed to know what needs she was called to attend to. Many problems would resolve themselves. There was also a sense of greater divine protection and provision.
I left the desert with renewed strength and a fresh hunger for experiencing his presence.
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ABOUT RESTORATION FROM ZION
Restoration From Zion is the International apostolic and equipping ministry of Daniel and Patricia Juster based in Jerusalem. The ministry purposes to form solid networks of leaders around the world to partner towards the restoration of five-fold ministry (Eph. 4:11-13), building up the body so that we can all advance the unity of faith for Israel and the Church.
Restoration From Zion is a ministry under the apostolic covering of Tikkun Global, a family of several apostolic ministries led by leaders with deep historic covenant relationships and mutual accountability. In addition to many years of fruitful service in the Kingdom of God, the Tikkun International Board of Directors has had years of proven integrity in managing funds together and in each of their respective ministries. This includes audits, disclosure, and low administrative cost percentages that reflect our high standards of efficiency. For more information about Tikkun, please visit www.tikkuninternational.org.
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ITINERARY:
December 15-20:
Welcoming the King of Glory Conference, Tel Aviv
Ongoing ministry in Israel, mentoring, building up the body of the Messiah. Dan functions as elder at Ahavat Yeshua and Ben at Melech HaMalchim
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Continued abundance of provision for all our Tikkun related ministries in Israel and around the world
- Grace as the final transitions are made to move the Tikkun International office to Dallas, TX. The Tikkun America office will remain in Maryland.
- Grace and fruitfulness in Israel as the Justers continue to minister in various venues
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