(Click on each photo to view a larger version.)
The very first time that the team took to the streets to hand out tracts, UK team member Barry got our first Israeli contact, Rafael. Barry had ending a witnessing conversation by asking, “If I sent you some free literature that explains a bit more about our faith in Y’shua (Jesus) the Messiah, would you be open-minded enough to read it?” Rafael gave Barry his contact details so that we could stay in touch.
While handing out tracts near the Brandenburg Gate, one of our Israeli staff members, Moti, suddenly felt someone poking him in the back. He turned to see a young Israeli who had seen the words “Jews for Jesus” (in Hebrew) written on the back of Moti’s shirt. Soon, Moti was in the midst of an entire bus load of Israelis who all wanted one of the tracts that he was handing out.
Moti also met a German believer named Steven who wanted to say how bad he felt about the Holocaust. Moti replied, “I am a Jew and I am sharing the Good News that in Y’shua there is no guilt … only forgiveness.” When Steven heard that, he shed a tear and said that it really encouraged him. He took one of our newsletters and left. Moti says, “Please pray that more Germans will be free of guilt and will share the Good News with the Jews.”
More from Moti: “When I asked Constanza, ‘Who do you think Y’shua is?’ she answered, ‘I have been thinking about that for the last two weeks.’ So I explained to her why I believe in Y’shua. She asked, ‘If there is God why are there wars in this world?’ I told her that even if we took away all of the weapons people would still have something to fight about. I shared with her from Ezekiel 36: 25-27. I told about the true peace we can find in Y’shua and she can get it today. She replied that she was in a hurry to get to work. But just before I asked for her contact info, she said, ‘You know what? Let’s pray now.’ After Constanza prayed to receive the Lord, she told me that her father is Jewish. Please pray for her spiritual growth.”
Yulia, another member of our Israeli outreach team, was approached by an American Jewish man named Mike who has been studying Buddhism, but wanted to know more about the Lord. And Tigist, an Ethiopian Jewish member of our team, spoke with an Orthodox Jewish man named Aaron who admitted his spiritual dissatisfaction with the synagogue, and acknowledged that he wanted to know more about our faith. He gladly gave Tigist his contact information and said he’d welcome a call and visit from one of our staff.
While handing out tracts on Friedrichstrasse, team member Kata was approached by an older man named Karl who told her with undisguised anger that he was a Nazi. Undaunted, Kata proceeded to tell him that Y’shua loves him and died and rose from the dead for all of our sins, including his. As they talked more, the power of the gospel message touched the man’s heart. Finally, he walked away, perhaps in shame. But a few moments later, he started a conversation with another team member named Linda who stood nearby. By the time both Linda and Kata had finished speaking with him about God’s love, Karl had been moved to tears.
Team member Paula was accosted by three young Palestinians who began shouting some rather hateful words at her. But Paula responded with a declaration of Y’shua’s love for them and an explanation of His gospel. A soft answer really does turn away wrath, and as Paula continued to speak with them, their countenances clearly changed. After challenging them to examine the claims of Jesus with an open mind, two of the young men, Kisimir and Abdelsub, gave Paula their contact information so that we could send them more information.
Paula also met a young Israeli named Anna from Jerusalem who asked what she was doing. Paula explained that she was telling the “Good News” that the Messiah of Israel has already come. She told how Y’shua is the Passover Lamb and our atonement. Anna said that she was living in Berlin temporarily, but was unemployed. She listened intently as she heard that Messiah Y’shua took the punished for her sins and rose from the dead. She prayed to ask Jesus to forgive her!
The team was handing out tracts at the gay parade-half a million people crowded the streets amidst pounding music and outlandish costumes. A young woman named Joanna approached one of our campaigners, Jessica, as her partner darted off. She said she was a Catholic lesbian studying theology at the university. Her posture seemed receptive and her eyes sad. The conversation was pointed and when they got to the issue of sin, Jessica said, “You know, it’s when we do the things we don’t want to do, and don’t do the things we want to do.” Joanna looked quickly around at the scene enveloping them. Then turning back to Jessica, she said in a pleading tone that she was eager to hear the Good News and she gave her contact information. Jessica says, “As she walked away, the Lord Jesus burned in my heart-He wants to cleanse her. Please pray for Joanna, that she would hear the voice of Messiah say to her, ‘I am willing; be cleansed’” (Luke 5:13).
Vova, from our Israel branch, was also handing out tracts at the gay parade when he met Leonid, who he recognized as a friend of his uncle’s family from Ukraine. Leonid recognized Vova as well though it had been more than fifteen years since they had seen one another! Vova says, “Leonid and his wife (who are Jewish) invited me to have lunch with them while I’m in Germany. They were not disturbed by my faith in Y’shua. Please pray for them as I share more about the gospel with them.’”
More from Jessica: Jessica reports, “I almost did not go out on our first sortie-I had permission to rest and get over my jet lag-but I opened my Bible right to 2 Timothy 4:5, “Do the work of an evangelist.” The Lord was encouraging me to go out and I am glad He did. On a noisy corner in Friedrich Strasse I met a young woman named Esther, a university student studying psychology. She was quietly receptive to the gospel and wanted to hear more. Three days later, I was in the same place on my way to lunch. Up the elevator came Esther. ‘Esther!’ I cried out happily. We spoke briefly and then I asked if I could pray for her.
‘I think I’m okay,’ she said softly.
‘Well, what about your exams?’
‘You can pray about little things like that?’ she asked, surprised.
‘Jesus invites us to tell Him everything, big and small.’
‘Then yes, definitely please.’ After I prayed for her we opened our eyes, we looked at each other. It was time. ‘Would you like to ask Jesus to forgive you now?’ I asked.
‘But how do I do that?’ Very smoothly, we prayed together and I told her that the angels in heaven were rejoicing. She left happy. Please pray for Esther, that she would become a true disciple who stays in the Word, knows the truth, and blossoms into a beautiful woman of God.”
Also from Jessica: “I passed a young woman sitting on a bench and was moved to go back and sit down next to her. She was a beautiful, well-dressed young woman, but a skeleton. I shared the gospel with her. She asked many thoughtful, profound questions; ‘How can Jesus forgive his enemies?’ ‘Does God have a destiny for each person? For me?’ I began to speak to her about how Jesus longs to nourish her spiritually as well as physically. She was listening intently. I shared with her three scriptures (Revelation 3:20, John 10:10 and Psalm 107: 18-19) that the Lord gave me when I was in her condition-anorexic. She wrote them down, astonished that God understood her depression and torment. A burning compassion welled up in my heart for her. It was the Holy Spirit. I told her ‘Satan wants to steal, rob, and destroy you. He says you can’t eat, but Jesus came to give you a full life. Jesus says that you can eat with Him.’ She started to cry and then beamed-relieved. I know that smile because I have smiled it before. I prayed for her.
“When I reconnected with my team leader, Moti, he asked, ‘Did you pray with her to receive the Lord?’ No! I rushed back to the bench, but by then she was walking away. ‘Annika! would you like to ask Jesus to forgive you now?’ I called to her. ‘Yes!’ was her answer. We prayed and hugged. Immediately we felt like sisters. ‘This is amazing!’ she said.
“Later I was asking God for a scripture to reassure me that Annika would continue with Him. My Bible flipped right to Romans 8: ‘For whom He predestined He also called … ‘ Please pray that God would persuade Annika that nothing can separate her from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”
One of our team members, Han, was taking surveys when a young man from Korea began to hurry past. He was listening to his MP3 player and Han doubted that he would stop to answer the three questions. But when Han repeated his request for the young man to answer the questions in English, he immediately agreed. Han reports, “He answered the questions clearly, then I shared the gospel with him and asked what he thought about it. He told me that he is seeking God and I had the impression that he was crying. He really wanted to be led further in faith and God. He immediately gave me his contact address.”
Linda met an eighteen-year-old Muslim girl who said she believed in the Koran and Mohammed. When Linda asked who she thought Jesus was, she said a great prophet. Linda then asked if a prophet could tell a lie and when the girl said no, Linda explained that Jesus claimed to be one with the Father, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. She then asked the girl if she had ever asked Jesus to forgive her, and the answer was, “No, but I want to.” She bowed her head and said, “Jesus, forgive me and I will love you.” After she prayed, she said her heart was happy. Please pray that God will nurture her love and faith in Jesus.
Linda also reports, “A French girl, also named Linda, said believed Jesus was the Son of God and that she wanted receive Him into her heart and have forgiveness of her sins. We prayed and she said, ‘My heart is so happy.’
“I was talking to a Christian friend and Niels, a young man from Denmark, stopped to listen to our conversation. My friend said, ‘I think the young man wants to talk to you.’ I turned to him and he explained that the previous night he had been drinking too much and told his friends that he needed Jesus. So he stopped when he heard our conversation. ‘How can I have Jesus in my life?’ he asked. We talked about what Jesus had done for him. Then we prayed and Niels asked Jesus to forgive him. Afterward he said, ‘My heart is so clean. Thank you. I need a Bible.’ He gave me his contact info and I told him we would send him a nice Bible.”
Barry reports, “My team was suffering in the hot sun with very little fruit from our efforts. I asked God for help and soon people began to give us their contact details. I spoke to two young Israelis: Rona and Yuval. They took our survey and Rona agreed to give her email address. Later God brought two more young Israelis who gave their contact details. Hallelujah!
A group of four young Arabs approached me and I gave them tracts. One asked, ‘Are you Jewish?’ When I said, ‘Yes.’ They immediately gave the tracts back to me. I said, ‘Wait a minute! I respect you. Please respect me!’ They agreed and took the tracts again. One of them told me, ‘I am Ahmad; I am a Palestinian. Your people hate me.’ I said, ‘I don’t hate you, I am your brother.’ I offered my hand. He shook it. I said, ‘This is about Jesus. Would you like to know more?’ He gave me details for follow-up.”
More from Barry: “Today I shared my testimony in public in front of a small crowd at the Brandenburg Gate! The whole team marched from Friedrichstrabe Station to the Brandenburg Gate. We blew the shofar on the way and exclaimed, ‘Jews for Jesus! Jesus for everyone!’ At the gate, we sang hymns and Hebrew songs and six team members from six different countries shared their testimonies!
“I felt so moved to march from Friedrichstrabe Station because that was where the Kinder-transport carried 10,000 Jewish children away from the Nazis to England while others boarded trains that led to death. My mother was one of the children who were rescued.
“After we shared our testimonies and sang songs, we went into the crowd and shared the gospel. One Jewish man came to faith and many people gave contact details for follow-up! Hallelujah! We returned home, marching and singing more hymns. As we marched, we told people ‘Jesus loves you!’ So we had marched from a place of death with a message of life in Jesus!”
Shelley spoke with a young woman named Sarah and her mother Ilana-they were Israelis living in Berlin. They both took the survey and Sarah was signing for her mother, who is deaf. Shelley reports, “After the questions and hearing Sarah’s opinions on life after death, I asked if I could share my belief. Sarah was polite but Ilana was eager to hear! At one point Sarah stopped signing. I asked Ilana if she could read my lips and she said she could a little, but she doesn’t understand English very well. But she said she loves God and wants to know about Jesus. I had brought a New Testament in Hebrew, hoping for someone who would want to read it. Praise God, Ilana was happy to receive it! Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. May Ilana be drawn close to Messiah, see her need, and receive Him.”
Shelley also reports, “We were at the square and I asked a tall man named Jon to take a survey and he agreed. But when I asked the first question about God, he said he didn’t want to go through the questions but would talk about God. I asked him who Jesus was to him. He told me Jesus was a good man and I agreed but said the Bible tells us He is much more-that He died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead to bring us to God. Jon became angry and yelled that what I said was rubbish. He was angry and raised his voice. He then told me of his own beliefs. I asked if I could tell mine, and he listened as I told him how I received Jesus as my Savior. He ended the conversation with a handshake and said, ‘Goodbye my sister.’
“Twenty minutes later, I was talking with a tour group and I noticed Jon waiting to talk to me. I asked him what he wanted to say and he said, ‘No War.’ I did not understand this. He pulled a sandwich from his bag and he wanted me to sit with him and eat. I sat with him. I held up the hot sandwich and thanked God for the man’s ‘peace offering.’ Jon was raised a Catholic; he has read the Bible and believes in God. He told me he felt bad for having raised his voice earlier. This was a homeless man that spent money to make peace with one sent from God. As we parted, I asked him to open his Bible and ask God if Jesus truly died for his sin and rose again. We looked into each other’s eyes and he was very respectful. I asked God to make peace in Jon’s heart so he can receive the Peace Offering of the Messiah, Jesus. He said, ‘I thank you, my sister’ and shook my hand firmly.”
Metin, a Turkish Muslim, approached one of our campaigners, saying, “You’re the ones who killed Jesus. You sold Him out.” “Wait a minute,” the campaigner said. “Did you know that Jesus Himself told his disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem, would be delivered over to the gentiles, would be killed, and then rise from the dead after three days?”
Metin kept insisting that the Jews killed Jesus but the campaigner (who was not Jewish) patiently spoke of why Jesus went to the cross and how through His blood, we have the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
Gradually Metin’s attitude changed. He agreed to read a copy of the New Testament and allowed the campaigner to pray for him, that God would reveal the truth to him and that Metin would receive this truth. Please pray for his salvation.
Christine was approached by two Israelis who notice the Star of David on her T-shirt. When they discovered she was not Jewish, they expressed amazement and gratitude that she would so openly identify herself with Jews in the streets of Germany. They also expressed concern that somebody might attack her. Christine explained that she felt completely safe as she went out in the name of Y’shua, her Jewish Messiah and hero. She was amazed by how attentively they listened to her explanation of the gospel. Please pray for Ronit and Victor to be saved.
And once again, from Linda: “Carlos was sitting on a bench with a friend. I asked who he thought Jesus was. He said the Son of God. As we talked, he realized he didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and that he wasn’t sure if he were to die that he would go to heaven. I asked him if he would like to receive Jesus and ask Him to forgive him. He said yes, and after praying he told me how his mother had packed a Bible in his suitcase and told him never to forget God. I saw him later in the afternoon and he smiled and waved as he said ‘Linda with the beautiful message from Jesus.’
“Soon after I prayed with a homeless man named Michael to receive Jesus in his heart. He said, ‘I feel great joy.’ Next, a German woman named Sanya prayed to receive Jesus, but she didn’t want to give her address. She said she would email us. Right after lunch I met Rachel, a Jewish girl of 26 who wanted to know more about Jesus. I gave her the book of John in Hebrew. Then Alisha, a Jewish German girl asked about Jesus and she said she was ready to ask Him to forgive her. She prayed to receive Jesus and said her heart felt clean inside. I gave her two books in German.
“Then suddenly it felt as though my throat had closed and I was coughing non-stop. I couldn’t speak and felt this was an attack by the devil. But the enemy could not prevail. The coughing stopped and I witnessed to two Muslim women about Jesus.
Many more heard how to be saved, some were not yet ready, but almost persuaded.”
As you can see, God has used your prayers to strengthen our hands, to direct us to those who are searching for Him, and to open the hearts of the people with whom we speak. Thank you for standing with us on the streets of Berlin!
Please pray that God will ground these new believers in Him so that they’ll bear lasting fruit to the glory of His name. Pray that those who are still seeking the truth will not be turned from that path.
Metin, a Turkish Muslim, approached one of our campaigners, saying, “You’re the ones who killed Jesus. You sold Him out.” “Wait a minute,” the campaigner said. “Did you know that Jesus Himself told his disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem, would be delivered over to the gentiles, would be killed, and then rise from the dead after three days?”
Metin kept insisting that the Jews killed Jesus but the campaigner (who was not Jewish) patiently spoke of why Jesus went to the cross and how through His blood, we have the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
Gradually Metin’s attitude changed. He agreed to read a copy of the New Testament and allowed the campaigner to pray for him, that God would reveal the truth to him and that Metin would receive this truth. Please pray for his salvation.
Christine was approached by two Israelis who notice the Star of David on her T-shirt. When they discovered she was not Jewish, they expressed amazement and gratitude that she would so openly identify herself with Jews in the streets of Germany. They also expressed concern that somebody might attack her. Christine explained that she felt completely safe as she went out in the name of Y’shua, her Jewish Messiah and hero. She was amazed by how attentively they listened to her explanation of the gospel. Please pray for Ronit and Victor to be saved.
And once again, from Linda: “Carlos was sitting on a bench with a friend. I asked who he thought Jesus was. He said the Son of God. As we talked, he realized he didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and that he wasn’t sure if he were to die that he would go to heaven. I asked him if he would like to receive Jesus and ask Him to forgive him. He said yes, and after praying he told me how his mother had packed a Bible in his suitcase and told him never to forget God. I saw him later in the afternoon and he smiled and waved as he said ‘Linda with the beautiful message from Jesus.’
“Soon after I prayed with a homeless man named Michael to receive Jesus in his heart. He said, ‘I feel great joy.’ Next, a German woman named Sanya prayed to receive Jesus, but she didn’t want to give her address. She said she would email us. Right after lunch I met Rachel, a Jewish girl of 26 who wanted to know more about Jesus. I gave her the book of John in Hebrew. Then Alisha, a Jewish German girl asked about Jesus and she said she was ready to ask Him to forgive her. She prayed to receive Jesus and said her heart felt clean inside. I gave her two books in German.
Metin, a Turkish Muslim, approached one of our campaigners, saying, “You’re the ones who killed Jesus. You sold Him out.” “Wait a minute,” the campaigner said. “Did you know that Jesus Himself told his disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem, would be delivered over to the gentiles, would be killed, and then rise from the dead after three days?”
Metin kept insisting that the Jews killed Jesus but the campaigner (who was not Jewish) patiently spoke of why Jesus went to the cross and how through His blood, we have the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
Gradually Metin’s attitude changed. He agreed to read a copy of the New Testament and allowed the campaigner to pray for him, that God would reveal the truth to him and that Metin would receive this truth. Please pray for his salvation.
Christine was approached by two Israelis who notice the Star of David on her T-shirt. When they discovered she was not Jewish, they expressed amazement and gratitude that she would so openly identify herself with Jews in the streets of Germany. They also expressed concern that somebody might attack her. Christine explained that she felt completely safe as she went out in the name of Y’shua, her Jewish Messiah and hero. She was amazed by how attentively they listened to her explanation of the gospel. Please pray for Ronit and Victor to be saved.
And once again, from Linda: “Carlos was sitting on a bench with a friend. I asked who he thought Jesus was. He said the Son of God. As we talked, he realized he didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and that he wasn’t sure if he were to die that he would go to heaven. I asked him if he would like to receive Jesus and ask Him to forgive him. He said yes, and after praying he told me how his mother had packed a Bible in his suitcase and told him never to forget God. I saw him later in the afternoon and he smiled and waved as he said ‘Linda with the beautiful message from Jesus.’
Metin, a Turkish Muslim, approached one of our campaigners, saying, “You’re the ones who killed Jesus. You sold Him out.” “Wait a minute,” the campaigner said. “Did you know that Jesus Himself told his disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem, would be delivered over to the gentiles, would be killed, and then rise from the dead after three days?”
Metin kept insisting that the Jews killed Jesus but the campaigner (who was not Jewish) patiently spoke of why Jesus went to the cross and how through His blood, we have the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
Gradually Metin’s attitude changed. He agreed to read a copy of the New Testament and allowed the campaigner to pray for him, that God would reveal the truth to him and that Metin would receive this truth. Please pray for his salvation.
Christine was approached by two Israelis who notice the Star of David on her T-shirt. When they discovered she was not Jewish, they expressed amazement and gratitude that she would so openly identify herself with Jews in the streets of Germany. They also expressed concern that somebody might attack her. Christine explained that she felt completely safe as she went out in the name of Y’shua, her Jewish Messiah and hero. She was amazed by how attentively they listened to her explanation of the gospel. Please pray for Ronit and Victor to be saved.
And once again, from Linda: “Carlos was sitting on a bench with a friend. I asked who he thought Jesus was. He said the Son of God. As we talked, he realized he didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and that he wasn’t sure if he were to die that he would go to heaven. I asked him if he would like to receive Jesus and ask Him to forgive him. He said yes, and after praying he told me how his mother had packed a Bible in his suitcase and told him never to forget God. I saw him later in the afternoon and he smiled and waved as he said ‘Linda with the beautiful message from Jesus.’
And once again, from Linda: “Carlos was sitting on a bench with a friend. I asked who he thought Jesus was. He said the Son of God. As we talked, he realized he didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and that he wasn’t sure if he were to die that he would go to heaven. I asked him if he would like to receive Jesus and ask Him to forgive him. He said yes, and after praying he told me how his mother had packed a Bible in his suitcase and told him never to forget God. I saw him later in the afternoon and he smiled and waved as he said ‘Linda with the beautiful message from Jesus.’
“Soon after I prayed with a homeless man named Michael to receive Jesus in his heart. He said, ‘I feel great joy.’ Next, a German woman named Sanya prayed to receive Jesus, but she didn’t want to give her address. She said she would email us. Right after lunch I met Rachel, a Jewish girl of 26 who wanted to know more about Jesus. I gave her the book of John in Hebrew. Then Alisha, a Jewish German girl asked about Jesus and she said she was ready to ask Him to forgive her. She prayed to receive Jesus and said her heart felt clean inside. I gave her two books in German.
“Then suddenly it felt as though my throat had closed and I was coughing non-stop. I couldn’t speak and felt this was an attack by the devil. But the enemy could not prevail. The coughing stopped and I witnessed to two Muslim women about Jesus.
Many more heard how to be saved, some were not yet ready, but almost persuaded.”
As you can see, God has used your prayers to strengthen our hands, to direct us to those who are searching for Him, and to open the hearts of the people with whom we speak. Thank you for standing with us on the streets of Berlin!
Please pray that God will ground these new believers in Him so that they’ll bear lasting fruit to the glory of His name. Pray that those who are still seeking the truth will not be turned from that path.
Did you know that Germany is helping Israel with their submarine fleet?
JFJ is bringing ‘the Good News’ to Germany!
“GOD works in mysterious way , his miracles to preform.”
May He Bless and Keep you!
“GOD bless us everyone!”