NEWS RELEASE

IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: RABBI SCOTT SEKULOW

JUNE 18, 2001 (770) 806-8410

CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES TAKE MESSAGE OF HOPE AND LOVE TO VIOLENCE-TROUBLED ISRAEL

(Atlanta, GA) – Israel’s Harvest Ministries and Good News in Bad News Places – two Christian ministries – said today violence in Israel provided a unique opportunity to share the message of Jesus Christ to thousands of Jews and Palestinians during a recent trip to Israel.

“We were warmly received by the people of Israel,” said Rabbi Scott Sekulow, who heads up Israel’s Harvest Ministry – an Atlanta-based Messianic ministry that shares the message of Yeshua (Jesus) with Jews.

“The Intifada provided us with a unique opportunity to share the Good News of the Prince of Peace in a non-peaceful environment,” said Jerry Davis, an evangelist who heads up Good News in Bad News Places – a Texas-based ministry that specializes in disaster relief evangelism.

The two organizations joined together for a trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories from April 24^th through May 4, 2001. The ministry partnership traveled to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat, Ashkelon, and the West Bank with a five-member team and worked closely with other ministry groups based in Israel.

“The on-going and unpredictable violence created a climate of fear in Israel – but at the same time, this climate of fear opened the door for unbelievable evangelism opportunities for our team,” said Rabbi Sekulow. “Crisis time is God’s time and even with the violence it was clearly the right time for our trip to the Holy Land,” said Evangelist Davis.

Sekulow and Davis put together a 5-member team that focused on providing the message of hope and love found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jewish and Palestinian people in several ways.

Davis and his team of professional musicians conducted street concerts called “Music for Peace” – often putting Christian lyrics to popular rock-and-roll songs. At the same time, Sekulow and his team talked with curious spectators and presented them with a letter entitled “An Open Apology to Jews from Christians” which explained that true Christians do not blame the Jews for the death of Christ and that message of Jesus centers on love – not hate. A similar letter of apology was used in the Palestinian areas that focused on an apology from Christians to Muslims for past persecutions by the church.

“Our team was able to share with thousands of people the fact that Christians love and support Israel and the Jewish and Palestinian people. It was a powerful message that was very well received,” said Davis.

Sekulow and Davis said that while there were some encounters where people rejected the literature and message, many more welcomed the opportunity to hear what the evangelism team had to say.

Thousands of people were touched by the music and the letter of apology,” said Sekulow. “We know that many accepted the Gospel of Yeshua during our visit. Messianic groups inside Israel are now working to follow-up on the seeds that were planted during our trip.”

Sekulow and Davis said the trip to Israel was so successful that they will partner together again and return to Israel in the future.

“We met a lot of wonderful people who were truly interested and grateful for the message of hope and love that was shared,” said Sekulow. “We look forward to returning to Israel to continue this unique evangelism.”

Israel’s Harvest Ministries is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and Good News in Bad News Places is located in Houston, Texas.

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If you would like to contact Rabbi Scott Sekulow, you can reach him at 770-806-8410. Evangelist Jerry Davis can be reached at 1-800-FOR-SOUL.

Both digital photographs and video are available concerning this evangelistic outreach. For photos or video, please contact Rabbi Scott Sekulow at 770-806-8410 or you can email him at scott@israelsharvest.com.