With the appearance of the our logo on the back of the book, the En-Gedi Resource Center has become a full-fledged publisher! Through the experience of producing our first book from start to finish, we learned that we are well-equipped for publishing Hebraic material and that doing so ourselves is a cost effective way to make it available to our audience. We have been developing a substantial amount of material through our teaching and website over the years, and are eager to move ahead with publishing it in both book and multi-media form.

July Israel Trip Report:

On July 10, 32 participants in En-Gedi's study trip in Israel arrived from around the world – coming from Michigan, Colorado, California, New York, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong and Uganda! We spent 14 days touring with Dr. Steven Notley and Dr. Wink Thompson of Emmaus Educational Services.

Our guides, both college professors in Israel for years, have taken hundreds of students on study trips around the land. We were able to go to many sites off the beaten path and in the West Bank, like the Herodium, near Bethlehem. Our itinerary often grew when we were able to visit archaeological digs in progress, or go on the Temple Mount. At no time did we feel unsafe.

We are tentatively planning our next Israel trip for May of 2006. If you are interested in coming, please call or email us to add your name to the list of those wanting updates as we get them.

Fellowship Dinners and Pastors’ Events

Last month 60 people joined us for dinner with Rev. James Whitman, Executive Director of the JC Studies Center in Dayton, Ohio. He talked about “Walking in Rhythm”, discipling ourselves to be like Jesus in his keeping of time. The next morning, pastors heard and discussed the implication of that same message in the context of ministry. This is now our fourth fall of pastor’s breakfast seminars, and staff from over 60 churches have participated.

We invite you to join us again on Thursday, October 28, for “Sprinkling Living Water on Your Dry and Dusty Hebrew” at 7:30 AM at the Zeeland Community Center. Lois Tverberg will share some rich, preachable insights that come from Hebrew word study, and some resources for finding them. See egrc.net for more.

Over the past year, we have also been involved with a group of South Grand Rapids pastors led by Rev. Dan Gritter as part of the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program of the Christian Reformed Church. We have acted as facilitators for a monthly discussion of the book Jesus the Jewish Theologian by Brad Young, looking at the implications of the words of Jesus in their Jewish context.

Subscriber Update

Our Website will soon reach 35,000 hits and En-Gedi monthly email articles are now read in more than 24 countries!  These include Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Ireland, Norway, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom and the United States!

Uganda / Kenya Report

En-Gedi has been involved over the past couple of years with Water Missions International on a project to supply safe water for villages in Uganda. Dan Aukeman and Bruce Okkema went in December 2003 for three weeks on a successful site assessment and preparation trip. Now Bruce has now been invited to go again as a liaison for a team from Providence Christian Reformed Church to break ground on their “Mukono House” project. During this trip he is hoping to meet with authorities to secure a document granting duty-free import of the water treatment equipment which has thus far prevented their installation. After the Uganda portion of the trip, he will go on to Kenya to survey and assess potential sites in Nairobi. Please be praying for protection and blessing on these uncertain assignments from October 11 – November 4.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

• Oct. 7 – Listening to the Language of the Bible Book Signing / Presentation, Zeeland Book Shoppe, 139 E. Main Street, Zeeland, 4 – 7 PM

• Oct. 8, 9 – Sukkot Festival sponsored by JC Studies Center and Church of the Messiah, Dayton, OH.

• Oct. 11 – Nov. 4 – Please pray for Bruce in Uganda and Kenya, working with Providence CRC and Water Missions International, and for expanding the ministry of En-Gedi to Kenya

• Oct. 28 – Pastors’ Breakfast, “Sprinkling Living Water on your Dry and Dusty Hebrew,” 7:30 – 9 AM, Zeeland Community Center

• Nov. 11 – Hebrew Refresher Night, Gary and Sharon (Buth) Alley, 6:30 PM - Zeeland Christian School

• Nov. 13 – Book Signing / Authors Day, 11 AM -3 PM, Baker Book House, 2768 East Paris Ave, Grand Rapids

• Nov. 28 – Listening to the Bible through Jesus’ Ears, Part 1, Christ Memorial Church, Holland, 10:30 AM.

• Dec. 19 – Listening to the Bible through Jesus’ Ears, Part 2, Christ Memorial Church, Holland, 10:30 AM.

Please continue to support us with your financial gifts, they are deeply needed. But most of all, please lift us up in prayer as often as you think about us -- we appreciate that so much. Our prayer is that our work will always help you grow closer to, and more in wonder of our God!

May the Lord bless you!

Lois Tverberg & Bruce Okkema
En-Gedi Resource Center Directors

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14