March En-Gedi Newsletter

March 2004

Shalom, friends,

We are always glad to give you an update and hope you will be able to join us ...

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

Don't forget to RSVP soon for the upcoming Fellowship Dinner on Thursday, March 4 at 6:30 PM at the Zeeland Community Center.

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 news as well. We hope all of you who have been regular participants will join us, and please invite your friends too.

Like always, our dinner is potluck-style, and the cost is 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 if you are coming.
Click here to RSVP by the website or call (616) 355-2200. Please give us 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 - July 9-22, 2004
A Study in New Testament Backgrounds and Biblical Geography in the Land of Israel, with Dr. Steve Notley

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 - 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. 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.

Pastor's Haverim School with Dwight Pryor, March 8-12

This month En-Gedi is co-sponsoring a week-long conference for pastors with the Center for Judaic-Christian Studies (www.jcstudies.com). About 30 pastors will join us to examine the foundations of our faith through the eyes of our Jewish Messiah Jesus, with Dwight Pryor, president of the Center, a very respected lecturer in this area. Joining him in teaching will be Dr. Timothy Brown, of Western Theological Seminary, and Pastor Rob Bell, of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville.

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

"Hebrew For Beginners" Class, March 15 - 19

Last fall En-Gedi hosted an interactive Hebrew class for the absolute beginner. 35 people joined us for a week of evenings and enjoyed it immensely. Our teacher, Dr. Randall Buth was invited by some of his students to teach it again at their church! This time it will be at Calvary Church (777 E Beltline) in Grand Rapids, March 15-19. The class will meet from 6:30 to 9:30 each night. The fee for the class is $100, or $20/night for each night you can attend. Each night except Wednesday it will be held in the choir room - come in by entrance I. To sign up, call Ruth Gudbrandson at Calvary Church at 616 956-9377 x 204.

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!

For those who want more than a beginning, consider studying this summer with Dr. Buth in Israel. A six-week Beginner's Biblical Hebrew class will be held between June 13 - July 23, 2004. Classes are held in a beautiful 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. For those who can't get away for a 6-week class but want to brush up on Hebrew they already have taken, there is 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. See the Biblical Language Center website for details.