March 2002

Shalom everyone -

Spring is coming, there are robins in my yard, the snow is mostly gone, and the tulips in Holland are coming up. It is hard not to feel an excitement for warmer days, gardens in bloom and relaxing outdoors. We at the En-Gedi Center have been very busy lately - an answered prayer that the Lord would use us.

En-Gedi Fellowship Dinner!

We had a wonderful time at our first fellowship dinner a few weeks ago. About 40 or so friends came out to share their excellent cooking and get to know us and each other. We were especially pleased to have several folks from farther away come to get to know us.

We now can connect more faces and feel like our friendships are growing. After supper we told the story behind our name - the imagery of living water in the Bible, and how the springs of En-Gedi symbolize our mission. And then we updated folks on what we are doing. We had a wonderful time! In the future, we hope to have these dinners about 4 times a year, and have a special speaker or theme at each one.

Recent Letter        

If we have your mailing address, you should have gotten a letter from us recently with information about the upcoming seminar with Dwight Pryor and about becoming a member of En-Gedi, but if you didn't get one or would like to be added to our list, please provide us with your mailing address.

Preparing for Pryor

We are still preparing for Dwight Pryor's visit - making plans for the Sabbath dinner (there will be four kinds of cheesecake for dessert!) and for the Saturday seminar. Dwight is a well-loved speaker who radiates a deep and passionate love for the Lord. It will be wonderful to have him with us. Once again, we anticipate that the seating will fill considering the response we have had so far, so if you are planning to sign up, don't delay. You can use our online ordering center on the website or send a check. See the link for more details. We have hotel information there, and even a link for coupons for area hotels.

Pastor's Breakfasts Continue

Our monthly breakfast seminars for pastors and seminarians are still going strong. In January, Pastor Bill Boersma looked at a recent sermon he gave on Luke 5, which includes Jesus' preaching from a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. Bill walked through the research he did to find illustrations about fishing and cultural nuances to bring the Bible text alive.

At last week's meeting, I gave a talk on the imagery in the biblical Passover celebration, and we experienced some of the elements of a traditional seder meal together.

Next month (April 11th) Dwight Pryor will be speaking on Jesus' Jewish life and what it said about His message, and on May 16th, Titus Baraka, a pastor/evangelist from Uganda will be speaking on how traditional African cultures still "hear" the gospel with ears of the first listeners because their culture is very similar to that of the ancient Israelites. These breakfasts are 7:30 - 9 AM one Thursday each month at Holland Heights Christian Reformed Church. See the Breakfast Series section. Please tell any pastors and seminarians who you think might be interested.

Biblical Hebrew Class Information Available

Last fall many of you heard Randall Buth talk about his experiential Biblical Hebrew class that he is teaching in Israel this summer in 6-week sessions. We heard several people express an interest in attending. If you want more information, we have brochures. Or you can check the website at www.biblicalulpan.org. Look on the [Testimonies] page for our testimony with a picture of Mary and me floating in the Dead Sea with our textbooks!

Passover opportunities

We have put a few announcements for Passover celebrations on the calendar of our website, if you would like to take part in this ancient biblical celebration. Today is the last day to sign up for the "Seder Experience" at Temple Emmanuel (a reform Jewish synagogue) in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, March 20. There still are some seats available at the Christ Memorial Church Seder on Tuesday, March 26th. Call the church (396-2305) to sign up. Bentheim Reformed Church is having a Christ in the Passover supper on Maunday Thursday, March 28th (call 616 751-5882 for details). See our calendar for addresses and times.

As we are approaching Holy Week, we hope that you have been especially mindful of Jesus' life and sacrificial death for all of us. May the coming holy days be especially blessed for you.

Shabbat shalom -