We at Fellowship Church believe that it is the responsibility of the local church to encourage Jewish life throughout Israel, and especially in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, Israel’s Biblical heartland.
And it shall be said, ‘Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.'” – Isaiah 57:14
“And foreigners will build up your walls, And their kings will minister to you; For in My wrath I struck you, And in My favor I have had compassion on you. And your gates will be open continually; They will not be closed day or night, So that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, With their kings led in procession.” – Isaiah 60:10-11
Every year since 2006, we have sent a work group to Kedumim in Samaria, Israel, to do just this: to help build up and extend Jewish life in Judea and Samaria. Most recently, the group was in Israel from February 24 – March 10, 2018 and continued the work at “HaTznirim” park, named after the half pipe geological formation found at the base of the park. This community park sits atop a once – barren hilltop adjacent to the community. An ancient rock quarry had been discovered on the site and now acts as a reservoir. We have built numerous waterways from the reservoir down slopes and over a rock ledge into receiving pools. The water is then pumped back up the hill to the reservoir. This water park and its picnic area have since become popular with the people at Kedumim and from surrounding communities. Families gather there with their picnic baskets for outings. The children play in the streams and shallow pools as the water flows down the hillside.
Through out the year we have worked to raise funds to continue our work with the park. Our heartfelt thanks to all those who participated in the rummage sales, special lunches, aluminum collections, paper drives, egg, jewelry and hot sauce sales. The $20,000 we raise will go towards the purchase of building and irrigation materials, landscaping, and rental equipment for further improvements to the park.
While the building of a community park may seem inconsequential in the greater scheme of things, working shoulder to shoulder with our faithful Israeli brethren has been the highlight of our time in the Land. Not only do we encourage them by our love and support when their Arab neighbors seek their destruction, we function as the “craftsmen” of Zechariah one:
“Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. And I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.” – Zech. 1:20-21
And the “strangers” of Isaiah 14:1
” When the LORD will have compassion on Jacob, and again choose Israel, and settle them in their own land, then strangers will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob.” – Isaiah 14:1
Our presence serves notice to the strongholds in the heavenlies that God has not forsaken these people of faith, but is actively encouraging and supporting them as they put His sovereignty on display.
Please keep this project and our workers in your prayers during this time. For a video chronology of the work, testimonies and people we’ve met on past trips see K’dumim 2010, 2011, 2012.
(Below are photos with members of the 2011 work group).
“For I tell you that Messiah has become a servant to the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed” – Romans 15:8
