God Causes the Growth

“That’s Wes Taber!” Neal said, pointing to the cover of The Bridge magazine.

Max was surprised. Max, a Gentile believer, had recently joined Life in Messiah (LIFE) as field staff and was building prayer and financial partnerships. He had asked Neal, an older Jewish believer, if he would join his team. Max was delighted when Neal said yes!

Max thought it would be great to show Neal a copy of The Bridge magazine that featured a timeline of LIFE's History. He could never have anticipated the look of recognition that crossed Neal’s face when he saw Wes Taber, LIFE’s former Executive Director, on the cover.

“He was the one who gave me my first gospel tract at a beach outreach,” Neal said.

In the course of the conversation, Neal told Max it was an American Messianic Fellowship (AMF) gospel tract he received while in college that God used in Neal’s coming to faith in Jesus back in 1975. [American Messianic Fellowship was our ministry’s name from 1953 until 1993.]

The ministry’s headquarters was located on Chicago’s north side, where many Jewish people lived. Every afternoon, Wes and his wife Lori went out as a team of two, using AMF’s “L’chaim” tract to strike up gospel conversations with people relaxing outdoors.

One of those individuals was Neal.

This encounter was the first “domino” God used to precipitate Neal’s journey to faith in Yeshua (Jesus)!

After Max heard Neal’s story, he had to tell Wes! Later, Wes and Neal were able to reconnect. Their lives had intersected briefly almost 50 years ago, when the first seed that later blossomed into faith was planted in Neal’s heart. Today, Neal is partnering with a new generation of Life in Messiah staff to bring the gospel to his own people.

God has brought this story full circle – but imagine the countless others still unfolding! Every seed planted and every step taken in obedience matters. You may never know your full impact this side of heaven, but be assured: Our Father is at work, faithfully drawing the lost sheep of the house of Israel back to His fold.

Would you consider making a special gift today to support the Lord’s work among His people? Every gift goes towards sharing the Good News of Yeshua with Jewish people like Neal. By giving today, you could become part of someone’s unfolding faith journey.