Holocaust survivors are not the only ones who need healing. As always in the horror of warfare, it is the children who suffer most unjustly. Chosen People Ministries held a retreat for 50 children, aged 10-14, from cities targeted by missiles.
This was an opportunity for volunteers to help these children and to build relationships with them. It was also another example of a credible witness for the Messianic movement in Israel, and Chosen People Ministries in particular, as this event was actually held in cooperation with the government branch of the Israel Ministry of Education. Maxim reported again,
Shalom dear Mitch,
It is always such a huge blessing to be able to take part in the work of God and in sharing His love. There was recently such an opportunity. This time it was a three-day camp for children from the South—Ashdod, Ashkelon and some other places. They could not enjoy their summer holidays because of constant rocket fire so we were able to give 43 children, aged 10 to 14, a wonderful three-day retreat.
As usual, we had a lot of fun and the children were extremely excited to be involved in all the activities, whether it was a jeep ride, playing games, or a show. For the children it was truly a lot of fun. They could see interesting things and spend quality time with each other and with us.
“From destroyed to restored” was the subject we concentrated on. We invited a woman who is a believer and a social worker. She specializes in working with people who have mental traumas as a result of terrorist attacks. She held a psychological art workshop for the children. The children smashed colored plates and made mosaics out of broken pieces of china. They took the mosaics home as a souvenir to remember that what has been destroyed can be restored and made beautiful again.
Each morning, we started with worship and spiritual fellowship that helped us focus on the day. The weekend coincided with Tu BiShvat—the Jewish festival that is known as the new year for trees. I spoke about the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the choice that was given to man. Deuteronomy 20:19-20 tells us that every tree that does not bear fruit can be cut down.
A person is also like a tree who needs water and, more importantly, spiritual water which we can receive only from Jesus. The choice that we can make is choosing either life or death. In Matthew 3:10, we read, “Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Therefore, we should chose and be determined to produce good fruit. I encouraged the children to do so.
I am grateful for the support and prayers that made this event possible.
Blessings,
Maxim
Chosen People Ministries exists to pray for, evangelize, disciple, and serve Jewish people everywhere and to help fellow believers do the same. The mission was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1894 by Rabbi Leopold Cohn, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant with a zeal to share the knowledge of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah with God’s chosen people.
