Galina is a Russian immigrant who made “aliyah” to Israel a while back and lives at one of the retirement centers our evangelism teams visits. She did not know the Lord but is good friends with another lady at the retirement home, Sima, who is a believer.
Sima is a long-time Beit Hallel member and a constant source of encouragement. She often shared the Gospel and testified of her experience at Beit Hallel to her friend. After a while, Galina became curious and had many questions about the message and salvation. This led Sima to ask our outreach team to meet with her and her friend to open up a greater understanding of the Gospel message and salvation.
During our time with Galina, we shared our personal testimonies as well as the Gospel. She had numerous questions concerning the difference between a synagogue and a Messianic congregation and what exactly it meant to be saved through Yeshua. We explained that salvation is a free gift of God given through repentance and faith in Jesus. Once you give your heart to Him, you are spiritually born anew and are conveyed from the kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom.
Galina surprised us by immediately asking if we would pray for her and her loved ones. Delighted at this request, we joined with her in prayer for the protection and care of her family. Feeling the Holy Spirit’s presence at work, we then invited Galina to pray the prayer of salvation and receive the gift of Jesus’ grace and forgiveness. Galina responded enthusiastically to the precious gift she was being offered. As we finished the prayer, we looked up to see tears in her eyes and a big smile. We knew she had just received the gift of peace and grace in her heart.
Before we left, we invited Galina to join us for our monthly excursions with the elderly and join us for Bible study at the retirement home. She assured us she was looking forward to growing in her newfound faith and would be attending services with her friend whenever possible.
Galina is proof that it is never too late, and you are never too old to come to the Lord and be born again. Sima is proof that the word of the Lord never returns void. We must always be ready and willing to share the message of the cross with those around us. We are sowers of the seed that will bring the Kingdom Harvest!
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11