CPM International News Winter 2022

RUSSIAN FAMILY SERVES HUNDREDS OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN ONE MONTH

One of our missionary families from Russia devoted one month of their summer vacation to helping people in need from Ukraine. They served several times at the border between Ukraine and Russia, bringing food, medicine, and clothes. They met one Ukrainian Pentecostal family who had to flee their home in Ukraine.

Our staff found them a place to sleep at the local Pentecostal church. They brought a paralyzed elderly woman to the border; she suffered from large bedsores on her body. Our missionary family bought a special anti-bedsore mattress for her. During this month, our missionary family was able to provide assistance to many Ukrainian families. They also brought several tons of food and drinking water.

Our missionary family expressed the hardships they witness frequently, “In general, this year was very difficult. But we put our trust in the Lord and His might and continue to pray for peace between the nations.”

NEW GUESTHOUSE OPENS FOR TRAVELING ISRAELIS IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL!

Recently, one of our staff families opened the doors of our new guesthouse in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to welcome traveling Israelis! It has been a long journey of waiting and much preparation. This month, group of Israeli believers will be staying at the guesthouse so they can reach out to other Israelis who are also visiting Rio. Their outreach strategy is to meet fellow Israelis, tell them about our guesthouse, and discuss their faith in Jesus with them.

This evangelistic plan may sound a little simplistic, but our missionary invited Israelis to two other new guesthouse ministries in South America, and this is the method he used there. In Buenos Aires, our staff member went to the airport and waited to find Israelis arriving in the country. When he spotted three Israelis exiting customs, he introduced himself, told them about the guesthouse, and invited them to come stay.

The Israelis eagerly jumped in the car with our missionary and stayed at the guesthouse for a week! For weeks after, more Israelis continued to contact them to reserve beds because the Israeli traveling community is so connected. Thank you for praying as our staff takes steps to begin inviting Israelis to stay at the guesthouse in Rio! So much of this ministry will be to gather people around common interests, create a friendly environment, and allow space for the Holy Spirit to stir the hearts of young Israelis to faith in the Messiah.

Please pray that God will send many Israelis to our guesthouse so they can hear the gospel. Pray their hearts will be open to the truth that Jesus is the Messiah.

AN ORTHODOX JEWISH COUPLE COMES TO FAITH IN JESUS!

An Orthodox Jewish family visited a Messianic Jewish congregation some of our missionaries attend. After a clear message by one of our missionary- pastors and another presentation of the gospel by another staff member, the father and mother both accepted the Lord! Rejoice with us! Coming from Orthodox Jewish families, they will likely face persecution for their faith in Jesus. Please pray for this family!

HASIDIC JEWISH MAN MEETS WITH MISSIONARY

Another one of our staff has also been interacting with many Orthodox Jewish men. One day on the street, our missionary met Jacob* and asked him a question about the book of Deuteronomy. To our staff person’s amazement, Jacob suggested they go and talk in his apartment! He never received that kind of response before! A few minutes later, our missionary was in Jacob’s studio with the Bible wide open. They had a full two-hour discussion on Deuteronomy and other texts.

Although Jacob is a fully committed Hasidic Jewish man, he was open to looking at the Bible with our staff member. They exchanged numbers and arranged to meet again. The next time they met, they began a discussion about the origins and value of the Oral Law and then about how the five books of Moses were written and compiled! The two men now meet regularly and text questions and answers to each other! What an incredible breakthrough!

Please pray that Jacob grows increasingly open to the Messiahship of Jesus through this new relationship and through the wrestling with shared texts.