Beth-El Messianic Ministries and Congregation
PO Box 360165, Cleveland Ohio 44136.
Igor Bagirov, Missionary and Pastor 
(440) 532-1127; email: pastorigorbethel@yahoo.com 
On YouTube: Bethel Bible Russian Messianic Ministries.

 Dear Friend in the Lord Yeshua the Messiah,
Warmest greetings to you in Emmanuel’s Precious and Exalted name! (Psalm 57:5 and 11). As 2018 draws to a close, I pray you are well and that this letter will be a great blessing to you. I thank God for each friend who is sacrificially giving and remembering this work of the Lord in their prayers. I thank God for your fellowship in the Gospel, and I praise Him for your help in showing the Jews the love of their Messiah. We know our service of love to Him among the Jewish People is pleasing to the Lord. (Mark 14:6c; Genesis 12:3).  We know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Please pray that Lord will supply our spiritual and financial needs as my support depends partially of my traveling that the ministry and my family may have enough finances to do the ministry and for the living.  December 31 will be the last day in 2018 when you could (by leading of the Lord) send your donation for The 2018 Year than we may send you a receipt for your taxes. Please pray to give as we need financial support to continue. We need to cover the cost for a better quality laptop i need for the ministry and better tires for the winter time as I help our members with rides. It could cost more than $1500. Could you please pray and consider to give an extra toward this needs?  I want personally thank you of all encouragements by you, and for standing with me to bring the Gospel to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and for everyone. I would also like to wish you abundant blessings for this bright holiday season of Hanukkah and Christmas!
Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication or Feast of Lights) is celebrated for a period of 8 days.  On the first day, every Jewish home lights up for the hanukiah (Hanukkah menorah). According to the tradition, the shammas (helper light) is lit first. Then, from the shammas on additional light of the menorah is lit each night. It is a Jewish tradition among many. However, it contains such a deep messianic meaning, such an evident symbol of The Messiah. Just like the shammas- the candle bearing the light, has separated from other candle lights of the Menorah and placed higher above higher above the others- God has exalted the Messiah Jesus “to be Prince and Savior” (Acts 5:31). The shammas candle is placed on the Hanukiah as the ninth candle, but it is as if it’s not to be reckoned on it (for the days of the holiday are 8 in number). Is it not the same as the Bible presents Israel to us? As a “people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations” (Numbers 23:9). Is it not the same as Jesus not being counted among the sons of Israel? “He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). Is it not only the same, as the ones who are saved by Him are lit up not from an independent light, but only from the Shammas- the light of His resurrection? At the end of each year, are 2 holidays, the history of which are full of light and great wonders –Hanukkah and Christmas. It was not the light of Hanukkah that renewed the world with great hope, but the One whom the Lord has sent into the world “that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9) HE allowed for His temple to be destroyed, but God has built Him up, again. He resurrected the Christ from the dead and lit up as the Everlasting Shammas. Christmas- is a holiday of those who burn along with him in the same Hanukiah, the holiday of everyone born again through Him and His resurrection.
In the month of November we witnessed by God’s grace to more than 500 people. Our work was in Cleveland OH, Spokane WA, Portland OR, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh PA. As always in my letters, I share with testimonies happened in previous months.
In Pittsburg, one week after murder in Synagogue, we went sharing Gospel. I know Squirrel Hill area, where the tragedy had place, pretty well as we also do an outreaches there. This time we choose witness in a Strip District. We figured out that people on that day were much more open for the Gospel than previously. Maybe it’s because what happened there, maybe not, but respond was very blessed by accepting Scripture and other literature. Some people stopped and asked questions.  Sure, we had some people who were complaining and aggressive. I remember a woman, who was passing me and saying that "God is dead". I responded that God is not dead and He is coming back to restore His Kingdom, and that He loves her very much!
In Denver CO, for the first time in our ministry, together with brothers from a local churches there, we were sharing Good News in Downtown. Thousands of people were there. Two police officers were protecting us from an aggressive groups. I remember about an atheist man, who were provoking me and wanted to have a discussion. He tried to prove that God is not exist, and tried do it in a very aggressive form. I told him that I am not taking any discussions, and if he would like to listen the message he can. After while the man left. Another young people tried to interrupt me when I was preaching publicly, but a police officer told them to calm down and they calmed down. Some people accepted Scriptures. We were witnessing about great work of Lord Jesus, especially about His victory on the Cross and Hope for all people.
In Cleveland I met an Arabic lady who told me that she is a Christian and her name is Miriam. When I pointed that she has a beautiful Hebrew name she was complaining with me that Miriam is not Hebrew but Arabic name. The lady did not like that I associated her name with Hebrews. Anyway, I gladly witness and spoke about what it means to be a Christian and be born again.
I also met a Palestinian who told me that he hates Jews even that he is a "Christian" and is from Church of Nazarene. I had a long conversation with him. He told me that God of Old Testament is God of the Jews, and that Old Testament is not connecting to New Testament, because Jesus was Palestinian and Jews killed Jesus. Wow... What kind of delusion. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask him who is his pastor... He left with anger, but I told him that Jesus first is God of the Jews, was born as a Jew and is King of the Jews forever and beyond, and that Old and New Testaments are one Bible. I also told him that he needs to repent and be born again. Another Arabic man from Morocco with two other Muslims accepted Gospel of John in Arabic.
We continue reaching Russian speaking Jewish people in Cleveland. Please pray for this part of the ministry.  Month or so ago I wrote that one woman who is half Jewish, repented in our Congregation service. She was visiting her mother's funeral. We gave her info about a church in the city she lives. A Pastor from there recently contacted me and said that she is preparing for baptism. Praise God!
Thanks again for your kindness and faithfulness, prayer and partnership. 
If God leads you to start or continue send your donations to help the ministry, please send it to: Bethel Messianic Congregation, P.O.Box 360165, Cleveland Ohio 44136. Our donations need to be increased. We need your prayer and also financial support. Please pray about it and help us for Lord Jesus sake. 
May The Lord-God of Israel richly bless you, and Happy New 2019 Year.