February 2021 Personal Letter

FROM SARAH, OUR SABRA
ON THE GROUND IN ISRAEL

Dear Friend,

Greetings from the Holy Land. I am honored to begin with you the journey of what 2021 will bring. No one could have foreseen the exact unfolding of this global pandemic coupled with significant environmental and weather anomalies.

CHANGES IN ISRAEL

In Israel, 2020 brought more extreme weather events (both in terms of heat waves and significant flooding) than we have seen in the 100 years since measuring began. We have also experienced our third lockdown in less than nine months.

Israel’s government has embarked on a most extensive vaccination campaign and is leading the world in vaccinations per capita. You may wonder why Israelis eagerly get vaccinated while other nations exhibit deep concerns over the vaccines’ safety and effectiveness.

The answer is twofold: First, sinister theories about the origin of COVID-19 are not widespread in Israel. Nor do Israelis believe that its solution is connected to End Time prophecies or conditioning the world’s population for events to come. Instead, our government has run ad campaigns explaining the science behind the safety and necessity of the vaccine to overcome the health and financial crises resulting from the pandemic.

The second reason has to do with the pragmatic “can do” attitude among Israelis. Our society has always had to overcome great difficulty with grit and sacrifice, especially when dealing with war and terror attacks. This fortitude has created a “quick to respond” way of handling things — swiftly looking for solutions to problems and quickly acting upon them. Adaptation has become part of our survival instinct.

Looking ahead, it remains unclear how long countries and individuals will take to recover from the ongoing pandemic, especially financially. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis “reinvented” their careers, as job security and availability in certain sectors plummeted.

PERSONAL CHANGES

I too underwent such adaptation. In previous months, I wrote about how the travel shutdown affected my own teaching and singing ministry. Though it is still uncertain whether I will even be able to resume my work, today I want to share with you how God has changed everything in my life through this process.

My husband Evan and I served in the leadership of a Messianic congregation in Haifa for 10 years. About two years ago, God called us and another couple to begin a small home group where we live near Caesarea. There was no congregation in this area.

We focused on building a community of faith that would “live life together.” As time passed, God added local families and young people, as well as older couples, to our midst. It soon became evident that our home would not hold the number of people who wanted to attend.

In May, God miraculously opened a home in our area. Seeing evidence of His leading, our community rented it. As the shutdowns continued and most Israeli congregations had to move their meetings online, our little grassroots group has been able to continue meeting because of our small number. We are, in effect, our own “family” — our own Covid bubble.

Before the shutdown, God had sent a young, new Israeli Believer (“Believers” is short for “believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah”) to our meetings, and I found myself in a brand-new role: disciple maker. I had spent 2019 praying about the Great Commission. I wondered whether in all my serving of the Lord, leading worship, and speaking, I was in fact obeying His command.

Then Yeshua [Jesus] came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:18–20

I had asked the Lord to change me, mold me, and let me lead people to a real, living faith in Yeshua. I inquired whether my life was producing the disciples He wanted. Consequently, when this young woman needed discipling, I found myself Googling (yes … I know) discipleship programs to make sure I was “doing it right.”

I spent most of 2020 discipling my prodigy and other young, new Israeli Believers that God sent to our little community. To my surprise, I already had much to give. God has invested so much of Himself into my life — and I have ingested so much of His Word — that I didn’t need much outside help to kickstart the meaningful stewarding of new faith.

This past year made me realize that many Believers who have been walking with God for years, perhaps since childhood, and who have served the Lord in various ways are well-grounded and prepared for the Great Commission. Yet, you and I may not recognize just how equipped we are. All it took for me to grasp my own readiness was my availability. As you read this letter, let me encourage you to pray for your life in 2021 the prayers that I prayed. Pray that God will give you souls. John Hyde (1865–1912), an American missionary to India, daily prayed fervently: “O God, give me souls or I die.”

Sometimes, I wonder about God’s outlook on His economy. Leading up to 2020, I affected many lives through “short bursts in large events.” I reached many people through media and songs. In 2020, God had me pour myself into a few people at a time. That was the example that Yeshua set for us when He chose 12 Disciples to walk with Him daily for three years.

I am not alone in my endeavor. God has placed me in a community that is also giving of itself to nurture these new Believers. Yeshua never sent His Disciples out alone — He sent them out two by two. In every season, God has the right place for you to walk out your journey of faith with others. Look around you. As John Hyde stated just before he died, “We must exercise the greatest care to be utterly obedient to Him who sees all the battlefield all the time. It is only He who can put each man in the place where his life can count for the most.”

DISCIPLES

In considering the question of making disciples, you must first understand that you need to become a true disciple yourself. Neither you nor I can take people spiritually where we ourselves have not been. When Yeshua called His Disciples, their reaction was extraordinary: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. — Matthew 4:19–20

• A true disciple is willing to leave EVERYTHING at once and follow Yeshua’s calling.
• A true disciple yields him- or herself to the gentle guidance and life transformation that come from following Yeshua daily.
• True disciples let Yeshua’s teachings sink deep within and remain a light unto their path.
• True disciples are not without faults and failings, but always return to Yeshua’s side.

This season has challenged me to re-evaluate once again, to search my heart and ensure that any “offensive way” I am clinging to is removed (Ps. 139:23–24) so that I may walk in the everlasting path of God (Ps. 23:3). Even good things can become the “wrong” things when they are not in step with God’s plan and season.

Following this reflection, my life took a significant turn toward glory. Leaving everything to follow God’s calling for this season was not easy. While the pandemic may have been the catalyst for this breakthrough, the important part of my transformation arose from a deep desire not to miss the mark in terms of God’s plan and design for my life in light of His Word.

Can you now join me in rejoicing as we look ahead and see brighter horizons as God answers our prayers? Next month, I plan to share with you some of the new Israeli Believers’ testimonies and their experiences in becoming disciples of Yeshua in Israel today.

Im tirdefu lada-at oto —
“Press on to know HIM!” (Hosea 6:3 NLT),

Sarah Liberman

P.S. Do you have a testimony of God changing your life in 2020? Please write and tell me your story. I would love to hear it!

Zola Tours: Next Year in Jerusalem

At the end of the Passover meal, participants speak the phrase “Next year in Jerusalem!” May those words be prophetic as we look toward our upcoming tours to Israel. We are all in for this October. Lord, let it be so! Assuming the borders are open and flights are landing, we pilgrims will return to our beloved Holy Land. Please contact our travel manager Sandra at 214-696-9760, travel@levitt.com, or levitt.com/tours. She can help you prepare for your journey of a lifetime!

A Note from David and Kirsten Hart

Sarah — You, your family, and your country have been in our thoughts and prayers nonstop. Most Believers and non-Believers alike are experiencing reinvention due to COVID-19. I’m calling it a “life pivot” season. Still, the Scriptures tell us that we’re not the first people to endure extreme challenges in our world and lives. God has called many to redirect their lives (Genesis 12:1, Matthew 4:18). Those unexpected reinventions usually turned out (sometimes unexpectedly) better than ever imagined. Thank you for sharing personal insights and Biblical wisdom.

Many in ministry around the world have undergone personal and vocational assessments regarding how what we do fits into this new reality we’re living. Can we continue to financially survive when our outlets are shut down? Sarah and we Harts are creatively addressing our musical channels.

Zola Levitt Ministries is also taking steps to endure this unsteady season. We have set our sights toward the finish line and continue running the good race with perseverance. Now is not a time to get lax about our calling. We need to take our vitamins, strengthen our muscles, and prepare for the next leg of our ongoing, spiritual marathon. Question: How does a ministry accomplish its role in The Great Commission? Answer: Faith, prayer, spiritual guidance, wisdom, and support.

Just as an athlete is surrounded by a support team, so all of you readers and viewers function as our support team. Individual donors like you have sustained ZLM for four decades. Now, more than ever, we need to rally to keep delivering God’s Word to the masses.

This ministry constantly seeks God’s guidance and wisdom in reaching ever more souls for His Kingdom. How can we best advance God’s Word, spread the Good News of Yeshua, and positively affect our world? ZLM leverages the synergistic combination of national television, bulk mail, social media, and www.levitt.com. While such endeavors are costly, they’re also efficient. So, I ask you today, would you wisely invest to keep this ministry strong? Generous one-time gifts and steady, smaller monthly gifts are what keep ZLM healthy and effective.

The vision that Zola had in the late 1970s lives on even as we continue to build on that solid foundation. We believe that our most productive ministry days lie ahead. Thank you for trusting and believing in Zola Levitt Ministries.

Our Jewish Roots TV programs in February

This month we conclude the Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace) series in which Dr. Jeffrey Seif reviews Jesus’ principal teachings passage by passage. You’ll also see a brand new “letters” program where we discuss questions and comments from viewers. Dr. Seif has no idea what questions he’ll be asked, so we’ll hear his spontaneous responses together.

Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace)

Explore what it means to walk in the footsteps of Israel’s Messiah through dramatic re-enactments produced in Israel and performed by Israelis.

God’s Material Provisions (Matthew 6:24–7:6)

Jesus challenges followers to serve either God or possessions. Blessings abound to those who serve Him. Being forgiven, we must not rush to judge others.

God’s Spiritual Provisions (Matthew 7:7–20)

Jesus addresses tenacity and God’s benevolence in the Christian’s life, the “narrow path” we must walk, and how our “fruits” testify on our behalf. And He warns of those whose lifestyles and teachings stand as an indictment against them.

Yeshua: Foundation Sufficient for Salvation (Matthew 7:21–29)

God works despite evildoers, not through them. Deception of self and others gives way to truth at Day’s End. Jesus advises us to build our hope for salvation on the right foundation: Him. Jeff reviews the entire “Sermon on the Mount.”

Letters and Faith of Our Fathers Preview

Before we show you snippets of our brand-new series Faith of Our Fathers, we hand Dr. Seif some “meaty” questions from viewers. Jeff’s responses are frank and insightful.

We wish you could meet our whole TV crew. Viewers see us — Kirsten and David — and Jeff on camera every week. But what about our crew? They’re the ones behind the scenes who make everything happen. Caleb Colson, the father of five girls (pray for him, people!), has been with Berg Productions since 2006. He’s one of our two “Bearded Bible Brothers” whom you can meet at https://youtu.be/YpmpvDMFpuU. Caleb is the man behind “camera 2” when we’re taping the studio portions of OJR. Whenever you see the opening shot for the program, or a “3 shot” of the two of us with Jeff, you’re seeing it through Caleb’s camera. As Jewish as they come, Caleb also portrayed Paul in our series, In the Footsteps of the Rabbi from Tarsus!

Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim! —
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!” (Psalm 122:6),

David & Kirsten

P.S. Kirsten and I urge you to pray for and financially support this vital Messianic outreach. You can be sure that we all pull together to be thrifty and use donations appropriately. You see with your own eyes the teaching your funds enable us to deliver. Todah Rabah (thank you very much), dear friends.