ISRAEL-LEBANON CONFLICT SPECIAL APPEAL, August
2006
The CCM team are fully stretched at the moment, and we hope
soon to be sending you reports of 1) The rebuilding of Sister
Nina's farm in Latvia [this is already well underway] 2) A
new ecclesia in Finland and 3) Exciting Progress In Estonia.
However, we're interrupting the flow of messages to make an
urgent appeal for prayer and support for our suffering brothers
and sisters in Israel at this time.
CCM workers have baptized over 70 brothers and sisters in
Israel in the last 10 years, mostly Russian immigrants. Many of
these are amongst the poorest in Israeli society. Around 20 of
them live in settlements in northern Israel which are in the
direct line of fire in the present conflict. Those settlements
have some of the lowest property prices in Israel because of the
constant threat of bombardment, and therefore they've
attracted poor Russian immigrants. One sister even lives in the
top storey of an apartment block, because the rent on the top
floor is cheaper, given the risk of the building being hit.
Despite maintaining contact with most of them in the initial
stages of the conflict, we've lost contact with a number of
them after the severe bombardment of the last few days. We are
relieved to hear that our sister organization, the CBM, have
accounted for about 3 brothers and sisters in the endangered area
with whom they're in contact; we so appreciate this news.
However the majority aren't in contact with the CBM and of
those, we are seriously concerned for those who are single
mothers or elderly and with no relatives elsewhere in Israel to
whom they can move for the duration of the fighting. What contact
we have been able to make indicates a serious need for relocation
to safer areas at least for the duration of the bombardment, and
financial assistance relating to loss of income, phone calls, and
the many sundry expenses which accompany relocating and an
interruption to normal life through spending most nights in bomb
shelters, the elderly needing medication, difficulty in
collecting pensions and medication, etc. In addition, several of
those in need have nobody on the ground to assist them in their
immediate practical needs.
We've therefore decided to make an emergency visit to them
in order to assess need and provide immediate help. We ask for
your prayers for our brothers and sisters, for those making the
visit, and also for your financial support if you can. As the
visit will be leaving within the next few days we'd
appreciate anything you can send soon. Our donation details are
at http://www.carelinks.net/about/donate.htm
One amazing thing has been the number of unbaptized contacts
in Israel who have gotten in touch recently. We see in this a
small indication of the latter day prophetic scenario which we
expect- that Israel's suffering at the hand of her enemies
will lead the Jews to accept Christ. So far as is possible, the
planned trip will also include them and we are willing to assist
them too in any basic humanitarian immediate needs as
appropriate.
We wish to say that we are mindful of the suffering of our
brothers and sisters in Lebanon too, although so far as we
understand they are safe and have the support of their extended
families.
A verse in today's Bible Companion readings seems
appropriate: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together
with [us] in your prayers to God for [us]; that [we] may be
delivered from them that are unbelieving, and that [our]
ministration which [we] have... may be acceptable to the saints;
that [we] may come unto you in joy through the will of God, and
together with you find rest. Now the God of peace be with you
all. Amen." (Romans 15:30-33)
With love and joy from your brothers and sisters of CCM