“For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share in their material blessings.” Romans 15:27

Day Two: Today was just as enlightening as yesterday, yet on a much different level. It started with a one hour bus ride to Tel Aviv to one of the worst slum areas of the city. After all, as one leader told us today, “Why would you visit Israel and not go to the places Jesus would have visited?”

As we traveled we heard about the history of the church in Israel, the relations surrounding the Jews, Christians, and the Messianic Jews, and the growth of the Messianic Jews since Israel was declared a nation again in 1948. We learned that growth has gone from 23 Messianic Jews to 30,000, but there is much work to be done – and we learned through a few organizations how God is reaching out to His chosen people.

We first went to the Red Carpet Nail Center – a safe haven for women involved in sex trafficking, prostitution and drug addiction. Jewish, Arab, and former Soviet Union women are welcomed here to feel the love of Christ without demands or limits. It was very emotional hearing the stories of these women who are desperate for healing from the Holy Spirit. The desire of the center is for each woman who enters their doors to recognize she is the King’s daughter, worthy, valued, precious, and loved.

From there, we went to Kitepride. A business that helps to partner with the Red Carpet Center in getting jobs for the women who want to leave the prostitution industry. Their goal is to speak to the women regarding their future hoping they can let go of their past, and then, lead them to a destiny God has planned for them. I encourage you to look at their website Kitepride.com and read their story of how they are making bags from repurposed kites and employing these women who create them.

After lunch, we heard from one of the leaders from One for Israel. An organization that is reaching Jewish people for Christ by starting the only Hebrew Bible College in the world – and its in Jerusalem, which is a miracle!

You may be familiar with the One for Israel testimonial videos. If not, get on YouTube and watch one. These videos were started to reach the next generation of young, technologically savvy people.

The testimonials were started because the organization saw that a non-believer, whether atheist, Jewish, or Muslim would more likely watch a video in private than listen to a message in public. These videos as of today have been watched 90 million times! People are hungry for Jesus!!

As far as our Biblical sites today, we did have lunch on the Mediterranean Sea where Jonah ran from the Lord.

“But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.” Jonah 1:3

Here’s a picture of that port today:

From the port we walked to Simon the Tanners house where Peter was staying in Joppa when he received his vision from the Lord regarding Jews and the Gentiles.

“He said to them: ‘You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean....Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism  but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” Acts 10:28;34-35

Just beyond this door is where Peter had his vision of the church today:

Today, I was challenged. Challenged in my own walk and spiritual purpose. What is God calling me to do? What do I have a heart for? Am I going to follow my heart or ignore it?

I think these are questions God wants us consistently asking ourselves. After all, we are His hands and feet, and He longs for us to experience His power as we step out in faith for Him. What is God calling you to do today?