Is this the end or the beginning?

Every beginning has an end, and any end is the beginning of something new. It is autumn time here in Israel and we have just celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The end of the old year and the beginning of a new one. But for us, here at Beit Immanuel Congregation, this is not only the end of the year. We said goodbye to David and Michaela Lazarus after so many years of faithful service to the Lord and the Beit Immanuel Congregation.

As a congregation, we want to thank David and Michaella for their service and the love that they have given us over so many years. As spiritual mentors and, even more so, as spiritual parents for many of us. We gathered together as one big family. The Congregation and the Lazarus family, their children and grandchildren and David’s brother Ken, who has just recently come to faith in Messiah Yeshua.

Rejoicing together before our wonderful God and glorifying Him, but also with a slight feeling of sadness in our hearts. It was a feeling similar to when one of your loved ones moves to another city, and you realize that you will not be able to see each other as often as before. On the other hand, you are glad that the people dear to your heart will be happy there, and this is not the end, but a new beginning. David and Michaela entered a new stage of their lives when they will be able to devote more time to their children and grandchildren and do something new, something they were not able to before in ministry.

In one Spirit, we all bowed together in prayer for them and for their future life and ministry. As servants of God, we always continue to serve Him. It does not matter where we are, as long as our hearts seek to serve the Lord.
Please pray with us for the Lazarus family, as well as for the Beit Immanuel Congregation.

In His wonderful love always,  Aleksey Raikhstadt.