Partnering with God and Each Other

By Aaron Abramson, Executive Director and CEO

Why does our all-powerful, all-knowing God choose to work through us, inviting us to help build His kingdom? Jesus could have said, ‘I’ve got this!’ and done it all on his own. He could have stuck with the 12 disciples, but He ‘appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest”’ (Luke 10:1-2).

God not only saves us, but He calls us to be His ambassadors on earth. He wants everyday people – people like you and me – to labour together for His kingdom. His amazing love is not only a rescuing love, but it’s a relationship-building love. He wants to work with us, but He also wants us to work alongside one another. 

Jesus showed us God’s heart for including many different people in His work. He has shown us how crucial partnership is in fulfilling His purposes. His kingdom work was too significant, too vast, for a handful of followers to accomplish – and it still is!

If God values collaboration, then so should we. Not only do partnerships build our joy, but they strengthen us and help us face adversity.

In Acts 11, Luke describes how the first believers spread the gospel far and wide because of the persecution they faced in Jerusalem. ‘Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word’ (verse 19). Out of adversity, God multiplied His kingdom – the church in Antioch was born from their efforts and later sent out Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.

We, too, face tremendous challenges and can see God working through them. As atrocious as 7 October was – and as heartbreaking as the aftermath continues to be – believers have partnered together to shine God’s love into the darkness. The needs are always great, yet times of crisis underscore the immense challenges that are beyond any one group to address. The good news is that God doesn’t intend for any of us to do it alone.

In those early months of Israel’s crisis, we were so very blessed to join hands with others – Samaritan’s Purse, the Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (FIRM), countless volunteers and supportive churches and partners like you. Through these partnerships, we fed the hungry, assisted displaced families and delivered copies of the New Testament. In turn, we had thousands of gospel-centred conversations, even with the unbelieving volunteers who served alongside us.

Recently, amid a rising tide of anti-Semitism, a group of Jewish and Christian leaders, including missionaries from Jesus for Jesus, gathered at the ‘United Voices Against Antisemitism’ event in Cleveland, Ohio. Together, we explored the roots of this ancient hatred, its global impact and how to combat it. This wasn’t the work of a single ministry but rather a coalition of groups, including ACT International, CMJ USA, Tikvat Yisrael, Talbot School of Theology and others. This event united Jews and Christians, inspired communities to stand against anti-Semitism and, as a result, opened doors to relationships that no one could have foreseen.

In South Africa, our missionaries helped mobilise Christians to stand with and encourage Jewish people in the face of anti-Semitism. If you haven’t already, you can see Rob Berman’s report in our January newsletter and read how God blessed that collaboration.

Partnership is one of God’s most powerful tools. Together, we’re stronger, more resilient and better equipped to share His love and truth with the world. I see this reflected in our partnerships worldwide, including the churches that share our vision and among people like you who have a heart for the salvation of our Jewish people.

Your support and willingness to stand alongside Jews for Jesus makes all the difference. God uses your partnership to multiply His kingdom, sometimes in ways we can see – from Israel to South Africa to Cleveland. But I know He is also working among people all over the world in ways that remain to be seen, just as he did in the early days of the church.

Thank you for standing with us in this calling. We hope and pray for God to send more partners like you. Will you join us in praying for God to bless and multiply our efforts to collaborate with others who want to take part in pursuing God’s plan of salvation for the Jewish people?