Directories HOME CONGREGATIONS LETTERS REVIEWS ARCHIVES RESOURCES IMJA SUBSCRIBE NOW! DONATE ABOUT US CONTACT US International Messianic Jewish Alliance REPORT # 152 EXIT A PIT Dear Fellow Workers, As reported to you in previous letters, we have been sending funds and books in Russian to a young ministry in Far East Russia. The central people are Andrey and Valeria, who live in Birobidzhan in the “Jewish Autonomous Region.” There are about 80,000 inhabitants and the work has grown rapidly through evangelism. Lyle and Brenda Dauber traveled as our designated representatives. This couple attended our international conference in Israel last September, to establish membership among our national alliances. Below is their report: Should I look in the dictionary or in the encyclopedia for “Birobidzhan?” When that word came to my mind 35 years ago and would not stop echoing, I looked in the encyclopedia and discovered that Birobidzhan was the center of the “Jewish Autonomous Region,” where Stalin was sending Jews and other “political dissidents” to work in the stone and mineral mines. Birobidzhan is southeast of Siberia, Far East Russia. The Cold War made the idea of my visiting there, either voluntarily or forcibly, very unappealing. Even so, there was a sense of “calling” inherent in the persistence of the word and its connection with the Jewish people. “Birobidzhan” lay dormant in my mind and spirit until November 2006, when my husband Lyle read Paul Liberman’s essay in an IMJA newsletter. Paul had met a married couple from Birobidzhan, Andrey Zasorin and Valeria Bulkina who have a wonderful ministry there. We knew right away that God’s time had come for us to respond to His purposes in giving us a supernatural connection so long ago. Through Paul, we contacted them immediately. Valeria speaks English, so we were able to develop a correspondence via e-mail with them. Our Ain M’Chitzah Congregation in Bel Air, Maryland and the IMJA brought them to Messiah 2007. Afterward, they ministered in our area for a week, stirring the hearts of people with their testimony of God’s grace in their own salvation and in the Birobidzhan ministry. We had the joy of visiting Andrey and Valeria in Birobidzhan during Passover 2008. The four of us led six Messianic seders. After one of the seders, a young man earnestly told me, “I want to study Jewish history.” I asked Valeria later if these Jewish people know their history. She said, “No. They only know the history of Russia.” We began to pray about setting up a distance learning program, beginning with Bible studies, Jewish history, and the English language. Lyle and I long to see Andrey and Valeria have their own place of ministry. They have no regular place for their congregation to meet for worship and study. They meet in a home for the elderly, if it is available on Shabbat and conduct a regular Monday Bible study in their small flat. There is no room for overnight guests without rearranging their home. Donations of humanitarian aid, Bibles, literature, etc. have to be distributed quickly, as there is no place to store them. Andrey and Valeria receive their basic support and their van from an Australian ministry, “Celebrate Messiah,” which is doing a wonderful work in the region. Other ministries now contribute to special or critical causes connected to this ministry. But the needs are great and the workers are too few. I saw Andrey drive three hours each way to bring a terminally ill man home from the hospital. I watched him repeat the journey to deliver a woman to the airport as she made aliyah to Israel. I saw Valeria deliver food to a young lady who lost both legs in a recent train accident, and to a man living in the same bare flat who suffers with throat cancer. I also climbed four flights of stairs with Valeria to bring food and medical supplies to a helpless diabetic to whom she ministers regularly. Government social welfare programs are inadequate. Andrey and Valeria, while living in reduced circumstances themselves, provide for the sick and destitute, as long as there is anything to give. When asked what they would like the most, they respond: “We need to own a building for our congregation, Club Simcha (Joyful Ones). Without ownership we cannot get ‘registration,’ that is, recognition from the government that we are a legitimate ministry.” Messianic congregations are a new idea in Far East Russia. Our Australian Alliance President, Lawrence Hirsch of Celebrate Messiah, the Daubers of Ain M’Chitzah Congregation and the IMJA are collaborating to foster this highly productive effort. As you read from Brenda Dauber, one needs to own real estate to become registered with the government. The smallest, most rundown apartment would probably cost $100,000, with a $25,000 down payment. It would be nice to think each of the three ministries involved could provide a third of the required amount. If you would like to contribute toward this effort, we will send all such funds received and designated. Surely, this would be a blessing. There is something richly rewarding about ministries working together. I think the Lord likes it. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9) The disciples went out by two. When a number of unrelated people shoulder a task, they are putting aside self interest, and the glory of achievement can go to the Lord Himself, since no man is seeking credit. The IMJA loves supporting volunteer efforts of people who are unable to raise money themselves. We have an opportunity here, and the Lord is in it. You may be interested in knowing that we usually support volunteer ministries or undertakings in conjunction with other Messianic donor organizations. We have been sending Andrey and Valeria financial gifts. It was in Berlin at a conference of Russian-speaking congregational leaders that the IMJA began to take an interest in the efforts of Andrey and Valeria. Valeria explained how she met her husband. They were the only two Jewish believers in their city. Andrey had been imprisoned for 22 of his 38 years. This was due to drug trafficking, possession and murder. While incarcerated, he acquired extensive and visible tattoos, even on his neck. He was without education or skills. His family had moved to Israel and his friends were in jail. With all this working against him, employment seemed impossible. Valeria prayed for Andrey. Eventually she went to him and said, “You are in a very deep and dark pit, and I’m going down into it with you. We won’t come out until we can do so together.” They did come out. They saved money for the painful process of tattoo removal. He developed reading and writing skills. Andrey was able to get a job driving a taxi. They married and about two years later, they had a son. Andrey and Valeria had climbed out of the pit together. Valeria’s confidence that Providence had put them together as Jewish believers was vindicated. Now, as a couple, they looked around for another person who was in a pit, where they could make a commitment. Then there was another person and another. By the time I met them in September, there were ten people. They were told if they won more Jewish people to the Lord and had 20 petitioners they could form an alliance and become an official part of the IMJA. In September 2007, we held our international conference. Andrey and Valeria were invited, as they had 40 people in their group which had grown through this unusual evangelism. This is a holy thing! Andrey and Valeria’s story is an example to us of the potential impact by following the Scripture of Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Messiah.” Love is the fruit of commitment. By actively acting on behalf of others, we are filled with our Messiah’s love. Giving of ourselves is a meaningful way of “preferring one another” (Romans 12:10). We are not a flashy ministry. It is gratifying to see so many of you who feel led to empower the Messianic movement through us. We are blessed, and so is our Lord. In Him, Paul Liberman Executive Director International Messianic Jewish Alliance What We Do Israel Support: Home for the elderly Humanitarian aid of goods from local warehouses Unwed mothers and widows Civil Rights Defense for Messianic Jews in Israel Jerusalem Headquarters utilized by Ethiopian Jewish Believers Among the nations: Fostering the growth of New Testament Messianic Congregations (now numbering 750, including 120 in Israel). Small Ministries—Poor Countries: In many countries fund raising is not a practical possibility, especially for Jewish work. These works are volunteer efforts where even small amounts go a long way. It is our fervent wish to do what we can to facilitate Jews and Gentiles worshipping our Lord together. Witness: Jewish outreach and evangelism New Testament Jewish roots Jews & Gentiles in joint worship National Alliances Argentina Australia Brazil Canada Colombia France Germany Great Britain Holland Israel Mexico New Zealand Russia South Africa Switzerland Ukraine United States Uruguay Foreign Translations The Fig Tree Blossoms is a primary book about our Movement translated into Hebrew, Russian and now Spanish. It is a 30 year old classic and explains why accepting a Jewish Messiah, foretold by Jewish Prophets in a Jewish Land is a very Jewish thing to do. Distributions of the Holy Scriptures are available in 17 languages: Yiddish English Armenian Bulgarian German Greek Hungarian Italian Portuguese Romanian Russian Spanish Swedish Hebrew Ukranian Endeavoring to Support: "The Messianic Times"- Publisher Israel Legal Defense Jewish/Gentile Fellowship International Conferences Forum for Debate Emigration to Israel Dispute Mediation International Affiliations Monthly Essays Theological Papers Early Foundations: Our Alliance was originally established in England in 1925. During the Nazi era, some of our European affiliates were decimated. The remaining groups worked together to fund the escape of many fellow Jews. This life saving work was officially recognized by Great Britain. Our earliest leaders were honored i.e. Sir Lawrence Levinson was knighted by royal decree and Harcourt Samuel was given the “Order of the British Empire” (OBE). In 1976, the IMJA, in conjunction with two other founding charities established the Ebenezer Home in Haifa, Israel. This institution continues today and the IMJA annually helps fund its operation. It is home to 30 individuals, without regard to original nationality, race or religion. Food, clothing, medical care and transportation are provided. About a hundred people can be seen at some of its social events and there is always a waiting list to become a resident.