End of Year 2011 Report

Dear Friends of Ariel Ministries Australia,

During the last 12 months we shared the Gospel with Jews and Gentiles, answered questions by both believers and unbelievers regarding the Messiahship of Yeshua (Jesus) and responded to questions on Biblical topics, in person, via email, skype and Facebook

It is only in hindsight as we calculate the number that we realise how many studies and sermons the Lord enabled us to give. This year we presented 51 Bible Studies, gave 9 Sermons and dedicated a baby to the Lord.

The studies were well received in each group. Comments were made about the depth of material, how they have never heard the Jewish frame of reference before, and all want to hear more. We truly praise the Lord for this.

Australia is a big country, and that was reflected in our driving, we drove almost 4000 km and flew almost 2000 km for ministry purposes.

More, we invite you to read the Ariel Australia's End of Year 2011 Report.

---

January - February 2012 Prayer Guide

We had two Muslims (mother and daughter) pray to receive the Lord. We also had one Italian gentleman, one Greek gentleman and his wife, and one Armenian woman pray to receive Yeshua. What a gift as more light shines with each addition to God’s Kingdom. May they grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.

We thank God for the continued outreach to Jewish homes. Just a few weeks ago, four sets of Bibles were given out on Jack and Sharon’s street. We know which addresses and home to pray for! That means that 20 percent of the block took the Bible.

More, we invite you to read the January - February 2012 Prayer Guide (PDF) and pray! Thank You.

---

December 15, 2011

Dear Friends of Ariel Ministries

Another year is ending and for us it has been a positive year. During the two previous years, we have suffered from the economy. Although the economy has not changed or improved, each year we manage to remain in the black. For this, we are grateful to the Lord. But elsewhere, things have greatly improved. Let me share just a few of these things with you. More, we invite you to read Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum's Annual Year End Letter.

---

Ariel's Fall 2011 Magazine

My Hanukkah Story by Mottel Baleston

Let me describe a true event: The year was 1960, the place was Brooklyn, part of New York City, and in a housing project a six year old boy looked up at an eight story apartment building. All eight living rooms are stacked one above another, and in the early winter twilight, each window displayed the same thing: the twinkling lights of a Jewish Hanukkah Menorah. It was the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, all eight lights, plus the servant light, glowed brightly. Looking around, the boy saw an even more remarkable sight. For it was in those other buildings surrounding him that he saw a total of 23 apartment buildings sitting on a single plot of land. The vast majority of all these other living rooms also had Hanukah Menorahs burning brightly. It was easy for the boy to imagine, as he did, that most of the world was Jewish!

More, we hope that you will enjoy Ariel's Fall 2011 Magazine (PDF).

---

Premiere Issue

Ariel Ministries Magazine

We are excited to present the first issue of Ariel Ministries Magazine. Although our premiere issue is somewhat small, we pray for God's provision as we aim to grow our publication into a full-fledged magazine. Our premiere issue is very similar to its predecessor (the quarterly newsletter); however, as pages increase so will our content. We seek to keep you informed on all aspects of Ariel Ministries worldwide. The goal is to provide quality content that fulfills our purpose statement - be it through news, Biblical teaching, or human-interest stories. There is so much to report back to you! God is moving in the lives of Jewish and Gentile believers worldwide, and we want to be able to share many of these exciting stories with you.

More, we hope that you will enjoy Ariel Ministries Magazine (PDF).

---

The Feast of Shavuot

So what is the Feast of Shavuot? Before we dig deep into the meaning of this Jewish festival, let's make sure we can pronounce the word correctly ... “sha-voo-ot”. Got it? Okay, now we're ready to learn! Please read the below excerpt from Dr. Fruchtenbaum's Messianic Bible Study, “The Feast of Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost)”:

The Feast of Shavuot is the fourth holy season in the Jewish calendar. Among the Jewish people, this feast is known as the Feast of Shavuot (or Weeks). Among most Gentile believers today, the same festival is known as the Feast of Pentecost, which is a one-day festival. On this occasion, two loaves of bread made with wheat were to be placed on a single sheet and waved before the Lord. The loaves were to have leaven, which was unusual, because this was the only feast where leaven was permitted as an offering. When it is used symbolically in Scripture, leaven is a symbol of sin. The reason God permitted leaven to be used on this occasion is because those represented by this offering were sinners. The exact date for this feast is the sixth day of the month of Sivan, which means that it is seven weeks and one day after the second day of Passover. The count actually began on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and once it reached the fiftieth day, the Feast of Weeks would be observed.

The Feast of Pentacost was fulfilled by the Birthday of the Church, which is composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers united into one Body. One loaf represents the Jews, one loaf represents the Gentiles, and the single sheet represents the fact that Jewish and Gentile believers are united into one Body (Ephesians 2:11-16; 3:5-6).

We would like to thank all of you who support and pray for this ministry. As a small token of our appreciation, please click here to download for FREE — Dr. Fruchtenbaum's complete study on The Feast of Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost).

Happy Shavuot!

---

Have You Seen this Funny Little Box?

It's called a QR Code — and it's popping up everywhere! Some of you have seen these codes all over magazines, books, catalogs, blogs, television commercials, on buses, restaurant menus, direct mail flyers, advertising billboards and posters. At your local supermarket, you might have even seen them emblazoned on bags of your favorite coffee beans! And some of you may be asking yourself, “What on earth is a QR Code?” More, read the full article (you'll learn some interesting history about this code and more importantly, why it is relevant to Ariel Ministries).

---

Spring 2011 Newsletter

Benjamin Disraeli, a Messianic Jew who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1874-1880, once wrote, “The youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity.” Nowhere is this more important than in the nation of Israel.

This is one of the best known and most quoted verses from the Book of Proverbs. In general, it means that parents should teach their children the ways of God from a very young age since this is indeed the way that a child should go for a full, productive life. This is presented more directly in Ephesians 6:4: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

More, we invite you to read the Spring 2011 Newsletter and learn about the Netivah Youth Ministry, Gefen International Israeli Outreach and much more!

---

Two going on Twenty-Two

In this upcoming summer season, I will be returning to the program for the 20th consecutive summer. Not only will we have the opportunity this year to lead the music ministry and children's program, but this will be the first year that I teach one adult session called Design for Discipleship.

I have seen how the summer programs' goal worked itself out in my life. This was designed to disciple and influence believers, growing them and rooting them in the Word of God. I see its powerful influence in my life and in the lives of many others who have attended. More, read the full article.

---

Jewish Evangelism in The Windy City

God has been paving the way for our ministry within the Chicago area! As the Lord has given us a passion for reaching the Jewish people, Hannah and I have dedicated time to minister with the Israelis who work at the malls in Chicago, selling Dead Sea facial products. While we have been praying since September concerning direction in this area, the Lord has moved mightily. More, we invite you to read the Gabizon's October-November Newsletter.

---

Fall 2010 On The Road

This summer at Camp Shoshanah... the courses taught were Old Testament Survey and New Testament Survey. We also started a new one-week program called The Life of the Messiah from the Jewish Perspective. That course is also taught during the three-week program, but we knew we did not have enough hours to teach the entirety of that subject. So this summer, the Lord led us to try something new: teach the full 26-hour course in one week. ...We were amazed at the many students who came to that program; students who were either in pastorates or in missions. ...People came from all over the world to study with us — including Israel, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, and all throughout the U.S. More, read the complete Fall 2010 On The Road (PDF).

---

The Messianic Movement... what's your role in it?

As more and more Jews are being led to the one true Messiah, there seems to be a growing need for sound biblical doctrine and discipleship that both teaches and encourages the Messianic believer. The AMC (Association of Messianic Congregations) was formed just for that purpose. What began nearly seven years ago is now a voluntary fellowship of like-minded congregations, all of which are actively involved in the Messianic movement. “My own Messianic congregation illustrated the need to start AMC,” explains Mottel Baleston, a Messianic Jewish teacher in New Jersey who also serves as AMC's founding board member. More, read the full article.

---

Q & A with John Metzger

Author of the new book:

Discovering the Mystery of the Unity of God

We caught up with Ariel Ministries' very own John Metzger to discuss his new book on the tri-unity of God. Metzger explains why he wrote this book, and how he took this complex and rather complicated subject matter and turned it into something that is understandable for both Jewish and Gentile believers and effective for Jewish evangelism. More, read the full Q & A article.

---

2010 Camp Shoshanah Wrap Up - A Strong Finish

Two weeks more, but there's still time to sign-up! For those who have been blessed with the opportunity of attending, Mac and Alison Leauanae of New Zealand are continually “blown away” by their experience at Camp. As third-year attendees, the Leauanaes' continue to encourage others to take part in what has significantly shaped their lives as believers in Yeshua.

“Camp Shoshanah is life-changing,” says Mac. “We came, we saw, and we were blown away by the depth of teaching, the like-mindedness of fellowship, and the forming of long-term relationships. Our own walk with Messiah has grown exponentially since first attending Camp.” More, read the full article.

---

Meet Our New Missionary Couple

Ariel Ministries recognizes the importance of actively recruiting gifted young people and training them for ministry work in our mission. It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you Michael and Hannah Gabizon. As of July 1st, these two have joined our Ariel Ministries family as representatives in Chicago and the surrounding region. Michael and Hannah met at Moody Bible Institute where they were enrolled in the Jewish Studies Program. More, read the full article.

---

Come and Be Fed

As the weather turns lovely and warm, the thought of going to Camp Shoshanah again this summer has the whole family eagerly anticipating a great camp experience. What began several years ago as a “meat seeking” experiment has quickly become an important part of our lives, one that has changed us all. More, read Denise's full article.

---

Australian Tour Report

Arlie Francis has asked me to briefly report on my teaching time with Dr Fruchtenbaum at the Wyee camp in Australia. Dr. Fruchtenbaum taught on Genesis 1-8, the Books of Jude and Galatians and gave his testimony. It was my pleasure to co-teach during this camp and speak on two subjects, The Eight Covenants of the Bible and a visual representation of The Tabernacle with Messianic Foreshadowing. More, read the full article by Paul Cohen.

• Newsletters
• On The Road
• Prayer Band
• Arielnik Toons

New Ministry Staff: John and Sharon Metzger

I am both grateful and happy to announce that John and Sharon Metzger will once again minister to the Body of Messiah through Ariel Ministries effective February 1st, 2010. John will continue to do church meetings, speak at conferences, and represent Ariel at various association meetings all in an effort to broaden the Church's awareness of Ariel Ministries' rapidly expanding catalog of Bible teaching resources. He will also introduce programs for use in fostering evangelism among the Jewish people and to help grow a stronger and doctrinally sound foundation among both Jewish and Gentile believers in Messiah Jesus. More, read the full article by Arlie Francis.

---

Celebrate Hanukkah!

Hanukkah originated over 150 years before Yeshua (Jesus) was born. God's people, the Jewish people had fallen to hard times, a clear warning that their relationship with God was on the outs (see Deuteronomy 28). Israel's enemies to the north attacked and took control of the Jewish state. The invaders made it illegal to worship the one true and living God. If any Jew was found studying or even obeying the laws of the Bible, he would be executed. Many Jews were even forced to worship idols. When the evil soldiers came to the town of the Hashmonean clan, now known as the Maccabees, to force this idolatry, the town's patriarch named Mattathias refused to offer sacrifice to the false god.

More, we invite you to read CELEBRATE HANUKKAH (PDF) written by Steve Shermett of Congregation Beth Sar Shalom (Tucson, Arizona). It provides a historical overview and instructions on how to observe the holiday in your own home: including the lighting of the Menorah (Hanukkiah), a potato Latke recipe, worship songs, how to play the Dreidel game, and more puzzles and fun for the children. Please visit the Congregation Beth Sar Shalom website for more information about their ministry. Shalom!

---

The Fall of The Wall

Today is a very special day for us in Germany. Exactly 20 years ago, the Berlin wall fell. Over the last couple of weeks I've been watching numerous documentaries on the events leading up to this. It just is amazing to see how God orchestrated this event in history. It is undeniable, that this was a miraculous event. It could never have been achieved by human efforts. More, read the full article by Georg Hagedorn.

---

Ariel Heads To Israel

According to a September 2008 article in the Jerusalem Post, “There are 13.3 million people around the world who identify themselves as 'Jewish,' and 41.3 percent of them live in Israel.” Consequently, it shouldn't be a surprise that we have been looking for just the right people to represent us among the Jews living in Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel).

Last year, Dr. Fruchtenbaum suggested that I speak with a young couple he had met some time ago. Sasha and Lyana G. came to see me in Jerusalem while I was leading a tour in January. There was an immediate sense that we had found exactly what we were looking for. More, we invite you to read the Fall 2009 Newsletter (PDF).

---

Opening Our Hearts and Our Front Door

Despite being about 10,000 miles from Israel, New Zealand has for some years been a popular destination for Israeli travelers. Most of those who travel here are in their twenties, having recently completed military service with the IDF. I live with my wife Sheree and our four homeschooled children on a rural lifestyle property 60 miles north of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. Late in 2004, we made the decision to open our home to Israeli travelers. It has been a remarkable and rewarding experience hosting more than 350 Israelis in the intervening period. More, we invite you to read the SUMMER 2009 EDITION NEWSLETTER (PDF).

---

When Hakn A Chainik Really Becomes A Problem

Irving Salzman is the Messianic Rabbi of Beth Messiah Messianic Congregation of Livingston, New Jersey. Beth Messiah is the home congregation of Mottel Baleston, a featured teacher around Ariel Ministries. I had the great joy of visiting Beth Messiah on July 11th, 2009. It was a joyous time of fellowship and great teaching. I invite you now to listen to Rabbi Salzman's sermon from my visit. Periodically, we will profile the teaching of other doctrinally sound expositors from around the Messianic community.

Please visit Beth Messiah's website for more information. Listen to Rabbi Salzman's sermon by scrolling to "When Hakn A Chainik Really Becomes A Problem" in the multi-media player at the top right side above.

---

A Response To Messianic Good News

At least two people came to me personally, who were both on our mailing list and theirs, told me how disturbed they were by what was written since they know that it was not my position and never was and the accusations were simply quite false. One of the two even personally wrote to them asking them to print an apology for such mishandling of my material, but that was not forthcoming. Therefore, I promised to write a detailed response to be put on our webpage and that is the reason for this article. More, read the full article.

Copyright © 2011 Ariel Ministries. All rights reserved.