July 29, 2004

Grace and Peace to you Beloved of God:

I’m writing first of all to thank you that because of you we are steadily releasing funds to many ministries in Israel; both to the Jewish Messianic Community and Arab Christians in the land. This years report as of March 2004 totaled approximately $140,000 designated by you and sent through Gratefully Grafted Ministries to the many ministries there. For this we give thanks to God concerning you for your Christlike generosity toward those laboring in the fields of harvest in Israel.

We are believing God for many more opportunities to bless His ongoing work in the land. Today however, I want to share with you a need that is not normally thought of and that is administration. Keeping the wheels turning here on the home front is also a very important aspect of supporting ministries in Israel and that means meeting salaries, insurance, office supplies, printing, mailing and so on.

On this front I regret to report that we have been coming up short month after month this year. So much so that instead of being able to add much needed staff, we have had to cut hours drastically. This personnel cutback has of course meant an even greater workload on Cheryl and I as we have been striving to hold to the standard of service that we have committed to.

Friends, we are so very thankful to you and God for your unwavering prayers and financial support. At the same time, in a very real way, we need your help and that of your fellow intercessors, church bodies and friends in order to hit the mark. We are a very frugal ministry and had there been any excess funds over and above our staff needs we would have either add much needed staff or released the extra to ministries in Israel.

Would you please join us as we pray for these essential needs to be met? We really need to restore our staff back to their full-time and part-time status. We are also looking to add a part-time graphics designer and web master to our ranks in order to expand our labor in the land.

Right now my wife Cheryl is taking a course in order to form our own travel agency and help the ministry, you and others to save money as we continue to travel into Israel. This is another step of faith that we are embarking on to further our impact on the Israel economy and to build camaraderie and faith among our brethren in Israel as they work and we come alongside, not only monetarily, but physically as we travel into the land and stand side by side, holding up their hands like Aaron and Hur.

May the Lord, El Shaddi, the All Sufficient One, bless you as you stand in the ranks of the righteous and ever press on with us as we pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and His eminent return.

Shalom, Pastor Rick (Continued on page 2)

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