January/February En-Gedi Newsletter

January/February 2004

Shalom, friends -

Greetings from Michigan where it is very cold and the beautiful white snowflakes are piling high everywhere! As we look around, we are reminded of the sovereignty of the Lord and His plans. We are anxious to tell you about how we are interpreting and acting on those, so please read on ...

Fellowship Dinner - Thursday, March 4: Click here to RVSP Online

We would like to invite you to our upcoming Fellowship Dinner on Thursday, March 4 at 6:30 PM at the Zeeland Community Center.

Streams of Living Water

En-Gedi gets its imagery from the spring that flows in the desert of Israel that makes the hot, barren land lush and green. Our evening's presentation will be called Streams of Living Water - it will be about what has En-Gedi has been doing lately to spread "living water" to the world both spiritually and physically. Of special interest to many will be a digital slide presentation on what the Lord is doing in Uganda, and we will share some other current and upcoming opportunities as well. We hope all of you who have been regular participants will join us, and please help us "expand our territory" by inviting your friends too.

Like always, our dinner is potluck-style, and the cost is simply a voluntary contribution. We just ask you to bring a dish to share - we will provide tableware and beverages. We also ask that you RSVP by email (egrc@egrc.net) or phone (616) 355-2200 and give each of the names of those planning to come. Location: Zeeland Community Center, 14 S Church St., Zeeland, MI.

Study Opportunity in Israel:

The Life and Land of Jesus -New dates: July 9 - 22
A Study in New Testament Backgrounds and Biblical Geography in the Land of Israel, with Dr. Steve Notley

For those of you interested in going to Israel, we have an update that may make it possible for you to come with us - the dates have been moved back from May to July. They are now: July 9 - 22.

Please consider joining us on a study trip to Israel with Dr. Steven Notley as guide in collaboration with Emmaus Educational Services. For 16 years Dr. Notley lived in Israel, where he taught at Jerusalem University College and was chair of New Testament and directed field study programs. He is also one of the most knowledgeable scholars around on Jesus' Jewish context. From living in the land and taking hundreds of trips with students, Dr. Notley will show us the important, "non-touristy" places that you can't see with others. Academic credit is available for students and seminarians - see www.emmausonline.net for details.

The cost of the trip will be $1,725 plus the airline ticket to Israel (estimated at $1,000 from Grand Rapids, MI). This is an outstanding value, and our guide will be one of the best. Emmaus leads trips every year, but this year, En-Gedi's directors will be going and encourage you to consider coming along with us - we don't plan to do this often. If you are just thinking about it, please let us know (egrc@egrc.net, 616-355-2200). Deadline for deposit is March 31, but please contact us as soon as you are considering it so that we can keep you updated. More details are available at this link or at www.emmausonline.net.

Pastors, there's still time to register for the Haverim School March 8-12 with Dwight Pryor at the Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids.

"Dear Friends & Fellow-Ministers,

Keren and I invite you to join us for a very special adventure in discipleship, designed expressly for pastors, teachers and Christian leaders. For five intensive days, together as "Haverim" (study companions) we will return and rebuild the foundations of our faith in the Messiah of Israel, becoming 'covered in the dust' of Rav Yeshua - the Rabbi Jesus. In the context of community, in a beautiful retreat setting, we will take a fresh, in-depth look at many of the central, even core issues of our faith and practice.

Our point of departure will be the Hebraic perspective of Jesus, his Apostles and the First Church. Our journey will draw from the wells of evangelical scholarship and the wisdom of Israel's sages. Our goals will be personal and corporate - to become more focused and fervent as disciples of Jesus, and better equipped to serve, strengthen and shepherd His body, the Church." Dwight A. Pryor, Founder & President, Center for Judaic-Christian Studies

About 30 have already signed up to join us, but there is still room. Those of you who have heard Dwight Pryor speak before know he is a man of great depth of understanding. Out of our own experience, En-Gedi's directors can say that this will be a powerful week of growth and renewal. See this link for more information about the conference.

New Payment Option! In an effort to make this available for every pastor, the JCStudies Center is willing to spread the payment for this seminar over the course of one year at the monthly rate of only $100. Please call the Center directly to take advantage of this offer. Their number is: 800-308-6506 or 937-434-4550. Ask for James Whitman, Executive Director. Their email is thecenter@jcstudies.com.

New "Hebrew For Beginners" Class, March 15 - 19

Last fall 35 people joined us for a week of evenings of Hebrew for the absolute beginner. The class enjoyed it immensely, and Dr. Randall Buth was invited by some of his students to return to teach it at their church! This time it will be at Calvary Church (777 E Beltline) in Grand Rapids, March 15-19. Email egrc@egrc.net or call 616 355-2200 to sign up. The class will meet from 6:30 to 9:30 each night. The fee for the class is $100.

The course takes a new approach to learning Hebrew, using the latest research in language learning, which finds that the most efficient methods are also the most enjoyable. We will be immersed in Hebrew -- listening, singing and praying in the language of the Bible Jesus read. Pastors will also enjoy this refresher course. Please consider joining us!

... or if you can't make it to Grand Rapids, you can take it in Israel!

For those who want more than a beginning, consider studying at the Biblical Language Center with Dr. Randall Buth in Israel. For the absolute beginner, there is a six-week beginners Biblical Hebrew class between June 13 - July 23, 2004. In 2001 the En-Gedi staff participated in it and enjoyed it immensely, walking and talking Hebrew in the land of Israel. Classes are held in a beautiful Christian retreat center about 10 miles outside of Jerusalem in the Judean mountains. Students will take field trips around the land as part of the class.

Pastors often tell us that they wish they could brush up on their Hebrew but just can't get away for a 6-week class. For them, the BLC has specifically created a 3-week Intermediate Hebrew class June 20 - July 9, 2004 which will tour the land of Israel, and read the texts in Hebrew at the various sites, and discuss the nuances that are apparent in the original language and setting. Nothing like this has ever been done before, and we heartily encourage you to participate! We are planning on being a part of it ourselves. See the www.biblicalulpan.org website for details and sign-up.

Current En-Gedi Classes In the Area

Currently we are teaching a 7-week large-group women's Bible study at Christ Memorial Church called Seeing Jesus in All the Scriptures, which asks the question, when Jesus was walking along the road to Emmaus and talking about how the Bible spoke about Him, what did He say? We are examining events in Jesus' life that have much greater significance when seen in light of the rest of the scriptures. We are recording our talks and hope to make them available to order or online to a wider audience in the near future. The class meets on Wednesday mornings from 9:15-11 AM at 595 Graafschap Rd, Holland, MI and all women are welcome to join us.

Beginning January 25th, we started teaching a 4-week series at Harderwyk Christian Reformed Church called "Walking with Jesus and His Disciples" on Sunday evenings between 7 - 8 PM. We will be using powerpoint slides to describe what the life of a rabbi and disciple was like - what rabbis expected of disciples, how rabbis taught, how they prayed, and a major theme that our rabbi taught about, the kingdom of God. Anyone is welcome to join us - Harderwyk is at 1627 West Lakewood Blvd, Holland, MI.

We are also pleased to have a new opportunity to study in depth with a group of pastors in the Grand Rapids area. A group of South Grand Rapids pastors led by Rev. Dan Gritter received funding through a Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program of the Christian Reformed Church to form a regular study group with En-Gedi as facilitators. We are discussing the book Jesus the Jewish Theologian by Brad Young, and looking at the implications of the gospel texts in their Jewish context. We are enthusiastic at the opportunity to grapple with these important questions with these church leaders.