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Alan Buterworth Family Update
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Newsletters - click "Get Resource" to see complete PDF version with photos and more
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Entries from
December 2004
December 2004 Newsletter
Wednesday, December 01, 2004 :: 379 Views :: Newsletter
Welcome to our very first electronic newsletter! Please pass it along to your friends so they can pray for us and, if they wish, sign up by e-mail at: scinfl@aol.com.
In order that we might be more effective in our stewardship of resources and in order that we might bring you more and better information - we are experimenting this month with a new PDF format. Because this is a PDF document, there are no links to jump from one place to another... just page changes. We hope this is helpful to you, our supporters! You will see photos from the various fields, some in full color. We are including more than just mission reports. We want to share prayer requests, a little history, and insights into personal evangelism.
At this Hanukkah and Christmas season, we recognize that we have much to be thankful for. In the midst of a world that is torn by news of war, man’s inhumanity to his fellow man, insurgents, suicide bombers, and haters of peace... we know that the Prince of Peace - Y’shua quiets the heart and grants us forgiveness from sin.
Alexey Shepelev became our first “foreign” missionary in July. He has spent a few years getting to know us both from near and afar in his home in Moscow. He is seen here with LCMS President, Rev. Jerry Kieschnick, at a pastors gathering in Dallas this fall. Alexey spent about a month in the US learning more of the ministry and starting to raise his mission support of $30,000 for the coming year. [Ed. note: we leave his English as is so you get the flavor of his speech]
New Horizons:
1. In December- January we plan to start translation of new books “Jewish Festivals” write by Rev. Dave Born and
“Beginning from Jerusalem” write by Steve Cohen.
2. In December, we start our internet project, we plan to open to two web pages one for nonbelievers and for people who not sure if they believe in something or not and second web page in Russian and English where we share our experience with Christians and give them a tools how they can reach out nonbelievers, both Jews and Gentiles.
3. In January, we start preparing to second AOHE seminar, this seminar must be longer perhaps for two days
The Apple of His Eye is a faith mission!
In order for us to conduct our ministry, each of our missionaries relies on the generous
donations of individuals and congregations. Our fiscal year is May 1 to April 30. For ease of comparison for 2004, we have used a calendar year income and expense picture.
Financial pie charts listed
Giving Thanks???
By Gary Timm
Ever feel like not giving thanks?
Many times it’s difficult for us to focus on “giving thanks” when we don’t feel like it. We get caught up in our own worries and feel like we’re not making any impact for the Lord’s kingdom. Although I proclaim the Gospel on a weekly basis I don’t see many results in the people I speak with. It is vital in this kind of ministry to remember that the results are up to God, our role is to remain faithful in planting seeds of hope.
Although I’ve felt frustration in my personal ministry, I do see friends around me who are producing much fruit in their personal lives. I share in their joy because I know that in some way, the Lord has used me to equip and encourage them for enlarging the Kingdom. For this, I am very thankful to the Lord.
For example, a friend of mine, I’ll call him Bob, has a Jewish co-worker. They talk about Messiah Jesus, but it’s always the same thing... “Jesus is for you because you’re a gentile, but I’m Jewish.” His pastor and I encouraged him to leave his Bible open to Isaiah 53 for his co-worker and ask his co-worker’s opinion. It took a little coaxing, but he did it. His Jewish co-worker responded, “that’s talking about Jesus.” When he saw it was from Isaiah, their conversations became more substantial. Now they agree that belief in Jesus is not just a “gentile thing”. This is an encouragement to me!
Another friend, I’ll call Cindy, had some Jewish friends visiting from Israel. She too brought up Isaiah 53 and asked their opinions. One of them said, “It’s talking about Jesus.” Cindy was a little surprised by that response. Her friend continued, “I believe Jesus is a prophet.” She was very excited when she told me the story. This, too, is an encouragement to me that she was willing to speak of her faith.
Blessings – 2004 by Alan Butterworth
1. My wife, Pam, has put up with me for another year...26 in all!
2. Even though my son Josh went to serve in the Army in Iraq after just 6 months of marriage to Jenn, they have not given up; Lord willing, we will see them Dec. 29!
3. Josh has been protected, and his faith is growing! He was in the same vehicle for three terrifying near misses; it has a cross in it made out of parachute cord! He shares that the Lord has protected him!
4. Josh is also maturing. When he left, he tended to look at all Iraqis as the enemy. Now he sees that most just want peace.
5. Jessica has been doing well in school (elementary education) and working at Wal-mart.
A LITTLE HISTORY IS GOOD FOR YOU...
Delitzsch Fights “Blood Libel”,
and a Rabbi Believes! - by Alan Butterworth
This story is about two giants of Jewish Missions in the 19th Century. Franz Delitzsch, a Lutheran theologian, was born in Germany. His friends went to the US to found the LCMS. He remained in Germany, and devoted himself to study of the Old Testament, the Talmud and other writings of the Rabbis.
The other man, Isaac Lichtenstein, was born to Orthodox Jewish parents in Hungary. He became the District Rabbi in the town of Tapioszele, Hungary.
Rabbi Lichtenstein was surprised by Delitzsch’s involvement. He wrote: “Mockery, scorn, blows, and all manner of humiliation, have been our portion even at the hands of Christian children... I came to think that Jesus Himself was the plague and curse of the Jews — the origin and promoter of our sorrows and persecutions.”
But when the Rabbi read Delitzsch’s document, he was curious about the New Testament references. Thirty years earlier, he confiscated a New Testament from a Jewish teacher. He found it, blew the dust off it, and began reading.
He wrote: “I was astonished... I hadn’t been told of half of the grandeur, power and glory of this book.” For two years, the Rabbi tried to keep his new faith a secret. But his members were amazed at the difference in his Bible studies. So, he began preaching that Jesus was the Messiah and Redeemer of Israel. He later wrote to his son, a doctor: “From every line in the New Testament... the Jewish spirit streamed forth light, life, power, endurance, faith, hope, love, charity, limitless and indestructible faith in God.”
Win-Some Witness 101 Precept
One of the most fascinating scenarios of Jesus resurrected life is the story of the two He met on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:17-29). These unnamed Jewish men were discussing the topic of the hour, the resurrection. Jesus comes alongside and, by recounting Israel’s history and demonstrating what the Law and the Prophets spoke of, expounds all of what God’s plan intended in the first place. We can look to the Jewish festivals and the Messianic pictures clearly shown in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament to help undergird the case of the Messiahship of Jesus. In order to do that, we ourselves need to be more knowledgeable of those things in the Scriptures so that we can accurately communicate them. Win-Some Witnesses are life-long students of the Bible so that they might better know God and make Him known.
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