Report from Sydney

We decided to begin the High Holiday celebrations with the Russian speakers in Sydney with Rosh Hashanah, and we made an effort through social media and advertising in local communities to invite Jewish people to participate and join us. We were also looking to engage with new people and serve them later on. We had no idea how many people would come and were pleasantly surprised to see almost 40 people attend, most of them nonbelievers. Many of them heard about Jesus for the first time. We had the opportunity to share the story of the holiday, make a Kiddush for Shabbat, and, of course, invite them to stay in touch with us. Holidays are always a great opportunity to reach out to people since they tend to be more open.

One significant moment occurred when our friend Leonid, who was sharing about the holiday, invited people to stand up, pray to God, confess their sins and reconcile with Him. Many stood up or lifted their heads, showing their desire for God’s forgiveness. This opened many doors to further share the gospel with them. We also encouraged them to fill out a survey, asking what they were willing to do next. We found that people wanted to celebrate holidays together, learn English, travel around Australia, and learn more about the Holy Land. Now, we are looking forward to seeing many of them at our next events during the High Holidays and beyond.

Our second event was for Israelis on Sukkot, and it was amazing! Four Jewish people we had in our Rosh Hashanah event, came to attend, knowing full well that we are followers of Yeshua. This time, the atmosphere was even more open and relaxed. Everyone enjoyed meaningful conversations in a warm and friendly environment and BBQ near the Sukkah we built.

We believe this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful friendship, filled with opportunities to share our faith. We're excited to see what God has prepared for us here in Sydney. One thing is certain: a new chapter has already begun!