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                Spiritual Ministry:
 

             In the past couple of months, we have highlighted some of the physical aspects of the work we are involved in at the Aliyah Return Center (ARC).  As you know, we try to keep a good balance between helping physically and helping spiritually.   We see our role in the spiritual area growing quite a bit as we spend time in Israel and people get a better sense of our hearts and spiritual maturity, by His grace and to His glory.  

             As a couple, we are now recognized as the spiritual leaders for the ARC.  This encompasses being available to help with any necessary counseling, correction, or just lending an ear when needed.  Les has been asked to be actively involved with organizing regular prayer and worship and leading in team devotions. There is also a team meeting every Monday at 1:00 pm that is specifically for corporate prayer for the team.  We hold this prayer meeting in the Vertical building.  See more about the Vertical building below.

             Many ask, how do we get fed spiritually? We have plugged into a local congregation (At least as much as we can due to COVID-19).  Les has had the opportunity to share the word of God during an afternoon service on Fridays.  This does give us a chance to interact and fellowship with other believers.  We also are involved in a Bible Study Tuesday nights.  

             Finally, our opportunities to share the Gospel remain discreet and usually divine appointment oriented.  It is always amazing to see how God opens doors or forms relationships that allow conversations to come around to spiritual matters.  We do know that a lot of that has to do with regular prayer support.  So, you prayer warriors out there…keep it up!  Thank you. 
 

          Interesting Facts about Israel

              The country of Israel has an exceedingly small landmass compared to other countries.  The total area of Israel is a little over 8000 square miles.  When comparing that to the United States, the US is 473 times bigger than Israel.  It would be fairly accurate to compare the size of Israel to the size of the state of Massachusetts.  Israel’s length from north to south is 263 miles long at its longest point.  The width is another story as the widest part from east to west is 71 miles, and the narrowest part in the extreme northern part of the country is only nine miles wide.  To give you an idea of how small it is, in a recent interview with Bibi Netanyahu (Israel's current Prime Minister), he shared that one of Israel’s fighter jets could travel across the width of Israel in three minutes.

           An amazing new ministry at Aliyah Return Center (ARC) is called The Vertical Galilee House of Prayer.  Through a very generous donation from a woman in China, the renovation of a building has been made possible for a dedicated room for worship and prayer.  The long-term desire is to have a facility filled with worship and prayer on a 24/7 basis.  The vision for this building is to create upward, vertical worship, a rising up of praises into the throne room of the LORD God through our praise and adoration, who alone is so worthy of it. Ultimately the hope is this building will create amazing encounters with God in the Galilee of Israel.

            Many years ago, Catherine had a special encounter with God in a similar format.  Her church, Christian Outreach Center in Goldman MO, started a 24-hour prayer and worship vigil for an entire month.  Catherine volunteered for one hour every evening at the 8:00 pm time slot.  This is her description of what happened next.

Catherine has always treasured this special encounter with God.

                       

          On May 28, this dedication was an event of double portions of blessing in that it was in conjunction with the celebration of Shavuot (Pentecost), a hugely significant day for the church as it was the beginning of the empowering for the great commission as the disciples were given the power to go out and spread the good news of Christ.


            Please pray for the Vertical Galilee House of Prayer, and make sure to visit us for prayer and worship if you are ever in the Galilee.