Dear Friends and Family, February, 1999

PRAY FOR TWO STRATEGIC JOURNEYS CONCERNING THE JEWS

Rick has been busy recently with preparations for two key prayer journeys. First of all, he and Tom Hess (convener of "All Nations Convocation" in Jerusalem) have felt God calling them to prepare a tour starting on Passover (March 3/April 1) to the 10 American cities with the highest Jewish populations. Through proclamation (in key churches) and on-site prayer, the team will be praying that God will: 1. Open the eyes of the Church to stand beside Israel and the Jewish people in the shakings we believe are coming upon America and the world. 2. Open the spiritual "gates" of these cities that the Jews may hear God's call to return to Israel. 3. Open the "wells" of revival that multitudes of both Jews and Gentiles will come to know Jesus as their Messiah and Lord.

Secondly, Rick has been asked to lead a prayer journey in Israel April 18-25 which will include a number of key Israeli and American Jewish messianic leaders and American and European Gentile leaders. The thrust will be toward healing the oldest split in the Body of Christ (Messiah), the split between Jews and Gentiles. This group is concerned that, early in Church history, it was decided that Jews who followed Jesus were no longer permitted to keep the biblical feasts, eat kosher, circumcise their sons, eat with non-believing Jews, etc. Every other ethnic group could have their own cultural expression of life in Jesus, except the Jews, whose cultural expression was based on the Old Testament scriptures!

If we understand Romans 11 correctly, one of the key purposes of God in these Last Days is to heal that split, to prepare the way that the Jewish people may recognize Jesus as their Messiah, and that the Church could come back to the Jewish/Biblical roots God gave to it. These roots were replaced to some degree by the roots of pagan Greek philosophies. Rick feels that God is calling him to write a book on some of these issues. He is hoping to do that mid-Feb. through March. Please pray that he may be protected from distractions in order to concentrate on hearing from God and writing during that time.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR MOVE TO WASHINGTON, DC

Some have written to ask if we are changing our ministry, etc. We just want to clarify that we are only changing location, not our ministry. We will not be receiving any salary from the Embassy of the Prince of Peace, and are still living "by faith", grateful for those who feel led to help support our ministry. We will only be living here for however long a "season" God directs. They have asked Rick, when he is already out in the nations, to help network them with more international prayer ministries, and to help them know the situation of persecuted Christians, whom the Embassy helps represent to Congress. In addition, we often lead worship or speak at the Friday evening service here at the Embassy. We will still spend much time overseas. For example, we are to base out of Jerusalem for ministry in the Middle East from mid-April to mid-June. Thanks for your prayers for the family in adapting to a new situation. The girls are doing well in their home-schooling. Bethany is glad to be back at Temple U. in Philadelphia, rooming with two messianic Jewish young ladies. Bethany just updated our web-page, which you can check out at: www.oocities.org\~Ridings

THANKS FOR PRAYING FOR OUR FEBRUARY SCHEDULE:

3-5 - National Prayer Summit - Washington, DC

4 - attending the Presidential Prayer Breakfast - Washington, DC

6 - meeting with Tom Hess and others to pray and plan the Passover ministry mentioned above

7,8 - prayer with a team around Washington (including in the Israeli Embassy)

20,21 - ministry at Agape Full Gospel, in Pine Bush, NY (info: call Pastor Joe Sgandura 914-744-2862)

Thanks again for your loving prayers and support. In His love, Rick and Patti Ridings

(Please address any ministry contributions to: Light to the Nations, 1608 Liz Burns Place, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. Personal corr. may be addressed to us at: Embassy of the Prince of Peace, 3003 Mass. Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008).



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