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: Russian Hebrew Christian.

 

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 2020 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 2020 when you could (by leading of the Lord) send your donation for The 2020 Year than we may send you a receipt for your taxes. Please pray to give as we need financial support to continue. Thank you very much for your generosity. 

I want 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 Tulsa OK, Cleveland OH, Spokane WA, Lincoln NE, Miami FL and Minneapolis MN. As always in my letters, I share with testimonies happened in previous months as well.

In King of Prussia Mall, PA I met a Turkish man. He witnessed that he is an Islamist, and declined to take NT. Even so, I had an opportunity to share Gospel and he listened. Young lady from China, accepted Gospel of John in Chines and whole NT in English. An Israeli said No, but 2 American women, who work for another Israeli owner were listened and took NT in Hebrew for their boss. Two African American Muslim women become angry when I said that Jesus is Lord and only the way to be saved. 

In Chattanooga TN, I shared Gospel with my friend V. to a Palestinian man in a Mall, and he accepted NT for himself and for his parents. While I was waiting for a flight, in an airport, I met an Orthodox Jew. He was with a child. When I said to him that Yeshua is promised Messiah, he very fast took his child and quickly walked away from me. It was very sad. O, how people of Israel are blind. Another 2 Spanish speaking women in an airport, told me that they don’t have Bibles and they didn’t read the Word. Praise God, I was blessed to offer them and they accepted.

Three men from Somalia, Muslims, received witnesses, and one accepted NT. Some Orthodox Jewish students received Gospel brochures. I also had a very good conversation with an Orthodox Rabbi from Jerusalem, who is a professor of a University. He rejected to accept NT, but listened my testimony about Lord Yeshua. Another Rabbi from JerusalemI met told me that he is a part of 8 generation of his family living in Jerusalem. It was from God that brought us together. After that, I had very blessed dialog with him about Yeshua. The Rabbi was very kind and listened. Only God knows, maybe this Rabbi one day will accept The Messiah Yeshua, our Lord and Redeemer.

We continue to reach Russian speaking Jewish people in Cleveland. One Russian speaking woman accepted Bible. Please pray for this part of the ministry.  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 2021 Year.