The Wedding Feast (~19.49) - Moriel Ministries

Immanuel News 2009
Reverend Najeeb Atteih
Ha i f a
mmanuel
hurch
B o o k s h o p H a i f a , I s r e a l
Over the summer, we were happy
to have been able to visit
Germany and Romania for
both business and pleasure, but now we are
back to ministry and service in Haifa. Even
though we were away for a few weeks, a
lot has been happening in the bookshop.
Stunned silence
A man we shall refer to as “J” entered
the shop when we were praying together
with a few others. He stood and waited till
we had finished praying. Najeeb realized
that someone had come in, so he asked
about his need. He replied that he wanted
rosary beads. From the conversation, it
quickly became clear he was from a Catholic
background. He kept all the Catholic
traditions and holidays, and was keen to be
an observant Catholic. For him, Sunday is
a day of rest – a holy day – so he keeps that
day special instead of Saturday, which is
more traditional in Israel.
Najeeb asked him what is the most important
thing, Sunday, or the God of Sunday?
He asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Najeeb explained that the Lord Jesus,
who was crucified on the cross for us,
needs to be the most important thing in our
lives, and began to explain the Gospel to
him. More than five minutes after hearing
the message from Najeeb he was completely
silent. He simply stood and pondered
about what Najeeb had told him.
Najeeb said, “When you came in you
saw that we were praying. Could we also
pray for you, that the Lord would keep the
words that we have just shared in your
heart, to give you strength, and bring their
meaning to your life?”
He accepted, so they prayed for him
and then he left the shop. We believe that
God’s message is powerful and effective,
and even though we didn’t see him make
a step of faith right there and then, we are
counting on God’s promises that his words
will accomplish much in this man’s life:
Isaiah 55:11 “So is my word that goes
out from my mouth: It will not return to me
empty, but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
“They told me I would
find what I was looking
for in here”
Another man came into the shop one
day when Elizabeth was working. He was
Jewish. His first words were: “They told
me that I would find what I am searching
for here in your bookshop.”
I wondered what his needs were – what
could an elderly Jewish man want that was
in our bookshop? I asked him what he was
looking for, and by way of reply, he took a
book out of a plastic bag he was carrying.
He showed it to me and asked me what it
was. I told him it was the Qur’an. I prayed
in my heart that he wasn’t going to ask me
about the Qur’an or any Islamic literature,
but he immediately added, “I already have
the Qur’an, I need the New Testament!”
He continued to explain, “I need it in
big letters because I don’t see so well now.”
I was curious – fascinated in fact, and
asked him why he needed the New Testament.
He already had the first covenant,
the Torah, but what was going on inside
his heart? I asked him why he wanted it.
He answered “I am a man who loves to
learn about religions, so I have already
read the Qur’an, and now I want to buy the
New Testament.”
Q. I asked, “Did you find any light in
the Qur’an?”
A. He said “What do you mean?”
R. I told him that in the whole Qur’an,
even if he were to read it many times
over, he would not find any salvation
in it.
Q. He asked me, “What are you trying
to sell to me here?”
R. I told him that I was not selling
anything, but that it was for free, and
began to share about the unconditional
love and grace that was purchased
for us on the cross when Jesus died for
me and for him and for everybody.
He seemed to be overwhelmed and
said it was too much for him. I invited him
to sit down, and offered him a cup of coffee.
He said, “Please make one for yourself
and sit with me so we can continue this
conversation.”
So we continued to talk about the
Gospel and the real meaning of the name
“Yeshua” which is “salvation.” For many
years, Jewish people have referred to Jesus
as “Yeshua,” which is an acronym in Hebrew
standing for “may his name be forever
blotted out.”
I explained that Yeshua really is our
salvation and that every knee shall bow at
the end of time, whether or not we accept
His salvation.
Eventually we finished talking, and he
said he was really happy to have come and
been able to talk about these things. He
promised to come back and bring his wife
to meet us as well, and chat further about
Jesus and his salvation.
Help the believers in Gaza
Two years ago, a family man was abducted
and executed in Gaza for his love
of Jesus. Most of you heard about it; He
was both stabbed and shot. The Christian
bookshop that he works in had been blown
up a few months before, and the persecution
among the believers there continues to
be severe. While most of his family, along
with many other believers, were able to
flee to the West Bank, it was not possible
for everyone. Those who were left behind
continue to be a light in this difficult place.
We want to inform you about a sister in
Christ called “S” who was told a few days
ago that she had one week to get out of
her rented accommodation. She would be
thrown out even though she had nowhere
to go. She called in tears, saying that although
she managed to find a place, they
are demanding six months’ rent in advance;
something that is simply impossible for her.
The rent is $400 a month, and she must
supply 6 months all at once. If she doesn’t,
she will be homeless in a few days. Can
you help?
Our daughter trains
for ministry
Most of you know that our daughter,
Kareen, recently went to Bible College in
England for a year. The first few days were
pretty difficult for her. At the beginning she
struggled to settle in – to adjust to the new
30 Moriel Quarterly • December 2009