BethEl Russian Messianic Congregation and Ministries

P.O.Box 360165, Cleveland, Ohio 44136 , USA.

Igor Bagirov, Missionary and Pastor

pastorigorbethel@yahoo.com

 

Dear Friend,

Grace and Shalom to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah! Thank you very much for your sacrificial faithful support by prayers and giving. We are greeting you with Shavuot- Pentecost Feast, which occurred on the end of May this Year…Shavuot means weeks in Hebrew. It is celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover. According to tradition- this is the day of giving the Torah to Moses on Mt. Sinai. In the New Testament this day is called the Pentecost, meaning from the Greek word 50.

A great miracle happened on that day. Before his ascension, Jesus promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit will come upon them. Pentecost is the miracle described in the Book of Acts 2:1. In the Bible this feast is known as the feast of harvest, and the first sheaf had to be dedicated to the Lord. When Yeshua was in the desert 40 days and 40 nights and was tempted by Satan, Yeshua told him, “ It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by word that proceeded out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). He is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, pointing to the main gift of God- His Holy Word. In fact, this is the essence of the Jewish celebration Pentecost. Liberation from slavery wasn’t enough to make Israel “kingdom of priests and holy nations.” Without God’s word, Israel would just be a group of freed slaves, assimilated in other nations and eventually wiped out from the sagas of history. It would not be exaggerated to say that the people of Israel were born as a nation in Sinai. Pentecost is the celebration of the Birthday of God’s covenant nation.  In the same way we can say that salvation, which Yeshua made available to us through cross wouldn’t be enough to build the church on Earth. Of course, He saved us from darkness and slavery of sin by his atonement. But if he didn’t say what to do next, his disciples would go back to being fisherman. But Lord needed “fisherman of men” (Mt 4:19). He needed people that would listen to his Word and spread it throughout the World. It becomes possible through outpouring at the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. That’s what Yeshua told his disciples in Luke 24:48-49 and in Acts 1:8. Before receiving mighty power of the Holy Spirit, disciples were weak and lost. Now they had power, wisdom and force, needed for them to become apostles. Without receiving Ruah Ha Kodesh (in Hebrew), Holy Spirit, there would be no church, no gathering of believers, united under apostles, who spread all over the Earth, among all nations Good News about Messiah Lord Jesus. Pentecost is birthday of the church. This year Shavuot begins on June at Sunset.

Thank you very much for your kindness and faithfulness, prayers, partnership and giving. As quarantine is continuing and most churches still be closed, I don’t have any meetings and speaking arrangements yet. It’s very harmfully affected to our financial support of the ministry. Thank you that you remember us and continue praying and financial giving. May God of Israel richly Bless you.

In this letter we will share some witnesses from previous months. In Atlanta, GA we had an opportunity to witness to a very big crowd who came to attend Oprah Winfrey’s special event. Thousands and thousands were in downtown State Farm Arena. People were staying in a line to enter the building. I shared Gospel loudly and publicly, by using speakers. We distributed lot of Christian literature. Many people told us that they did not know that Oprah is a member of New Age “church” which is a satanic movement and that she also supports abortion, and many other evil things. Within few hours we were blessed by God to remind people about love of the Messiah Jesus.

In Chattanooga TN, at a Walnut Bridge area, we also had an Evangelism. We met some unbelievers, shared gospel and distributed Bibles. In Minneapolis MN, we went to Downtown area, and spoke with many homeless people, witnessed and distributed brochures and Bibles. There, we had an opposition from some people, who wanted us to stop preaching.

In LA, CA my Lyft driver was from Ethiopia. I learned that she is an Orthodox Christian… Because it was shared Lyft, one woman also was in a car. After 5 minutes of my conversation with a driver about Lord Jesus, the woman started scream at me, and telling me close my mouth because, she said, does not want to hear about Jesus. I responded, that my conversation is with the driver and I have a right to speak with the driver. The driver kindly asked me to finish the dialog, because another passenger become more and more angry. When we dropped her off, the driver told me that the angry woman was from Israel!  I did not know this, but I understood why she was angry. Because she did not want to hear that Yeshua is Lord and the Messiah!

My Lyft driver in Cleveland was a Jewish. God opened his heart and he accepted NT. I met an Arabic woman in a bank, and she was open to accept Christian literature in her language. While I was visiting our Congregation member, I met a Jewish woman. When she learned that I believe in Yeshua she became very angry at me, started almost screaming and telling me to leave the area, even I was at allowed public parking spot waiting our member...

During this few months, through our Ministry on YouTube, few people accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. One was a Muslim…now former Muslim. Praise God! Amen!

Thank you again for your prayers and partnership. People from our congregation send you shalom and thanks. My family is very appreciative for your prayers.

Please continue to pray so that God will send more faithful supporters to our ministry. We need solid prayer and financial support to continue.  If God leads you to start or continue to send us your financial help, please send your donations to Beth-El Messianic Congregation and Ministries, P.O. Box 360165, Cleveland, OH, 44136. All donations are tax deductible.

May the Lord God of Israel richly bless you. Maran Ata!

 Shalom in Yeshua, Beth-El Messianic Congregation and Pastor Igor