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First Impressions of The Holy Land
As Pastor of Missions and Global Church Planting at Harvest, I’ve had the privilege of traveling the world -- except I had never been to Israel. Being commissioned by the church to lead the “Risen For The Nations” team, I immediately got excited about all the Harvest churches we would visit and was looking forward to exposing all of you to what God is doing in these places. To be honest, I really didn’t know what to expect at our first stop in Jerusalem.Thank God we had Pastor James with us who knows Israel well. He took the time to show us the landscape, explain the sites, and remind us all of the significance of this place called the Holy Land.
At the Jewish cemetery on the southern slopes of the Mount of Olives, I was caught off
guard -- this was the location where events in the life of Jesus related to the Gospels took place and where in the Book of Acts it is described as the place from which Jesus ascended into heaven. Over 150,000 graves cover the slope, as Jews want to be buried in the place where Jesus will one day return. I expected to just tour and see the scriptures come to life -- but instead, my heart was pounding. My mind was wrecked thinking of all the promises God made to His people, the claims Jesus made about Himself, and our inheritance to come. At the same time, I ached for lost people wandering aimlessly, without hope -- without Christ. Oh that people would turn from their sin, embrace Jesus Christ by faith and be saved! He is the fullness of God.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
In Israel, I was renewed in my (in our) mission to make disciples. He has made known to us the mystery of His will and has set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. We are called His witnesses. Israel helped me see that more clearly again.
Now on to Malaysia where I get the opportunity to show you Harvest Kuala Lumpur and where Pastor James will minister to the hundreds of people who make Harvest KL home. I’m so excited to move on to Malaysia with all of you where we have a local church in passionate pursuit of the mission of our church: to glorify God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Come along with us and pray for God to work powerfully among us.
Go therefore…
Kirk VanMaanen
