Dear Brothers and Sisters in our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah,
On March 12, 2023, we will be holding a special workshop for teens from ages 11–14 in a congregation in Jerusalem. The topic will be on sexual harassment and assault. As you can imagine, these are sensitive and difficult issues to discuss with young people. Topics discussed will include how to identify, report, and handle sexual harassment and assaults in a manner that will honor and glorify God.
Please pray for us as we present this topic, that the Lord will grant us great wisdom in sharing, and for the youth that they will find truth and hope in what is ministered, and gain confidence in the Lord in how to handle situations that are sadly, increasingly common in our modern society.
We are working on another update regarding our other programs, seminars, conferences, and translation projects into Hebrew. However, that will have to wait for another time. In the meantime, we hope you will be blessed by our new 2023 banner, and the photos shown above.
On May 22 and 23, three workshops will be held in Jerusalem on the topic of online and physical sexual abuse. Each workshop is aimed at a different group of participants: youth counselors, Junior High students, and High School students.
Hanni and Orit will be giving the workshops. They would be grateful for your prayers on their behalf — for protection, grace, and wisdom. The topic is complex, sensitive, and full of information. Most attendees will be from the believing community, though others may also come. Please pray that all those attending will have hearts willing to hear, open to receive, and ready to change.
Dear Friends, Prayer Warriors, and Faithful Supporters,
We have two emergency prayer requests to bring before the Lord of Life.
Kindly note that all names have been changed to protect their identities.
Monday morning (October 19), Lilia is scheduled to deliver twins via Caesarian section. She already has a 3-year-old child and we have been accompanying her throughout the entire pregnancy. She is concerned and apprehensive about the surgery. Please keep her in your prayers for an easy and healthy delivery and speedy healing.
Second, Melanie came to us a few years back when she was abortion-minded. After receiving counsel, she made a decision for life and gave birth to a healthy child who is now 3 years old. She was absolutely thrilled that she had decided against an abortion.
Melanie is now in her twenties and in the first trimester of another pregnancy. She contacted us for counsel and encouragement. Her economic situation is quite bad and she has been seriously considering aborting because of it. We encouraged her to wait, not to rush into an abortion, and we promised to stand by her and help however we can. Please pray Melanie, that she will again make a bold decision like she did four years ago, and that the Lord will honor such a decision and meet her needs in amazing ways.
May these precious women come to know the source of life, and to trust Him with all their lives.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Messiah – and Friends of A Future and A Hope,
This is a special prayer request for a young mom (we will call her “C“). C is in her twenties, has a one-year-old son, and she immigrated to Israel a short while ago. When she discovered that she was pregnant, she wanted to perform an abortion. After she counselled with Irena, she did a total turn-around and was convinced that she needed to continue with the pregnancy. She was and is in serious financial distress.
About a week ago, C‘s gynecologist told her that she was unable to detect the heartbeat of the child developing in her womb. The doctor sent C to the hospital where, after being examined, they told her that there is indeed a heartbeat, that her pregnancy is OK, and that she would not have to abort the child.
C took the results given to her at the hospital to her Ob-Gyn. She was examined a second time by her physician, who told her again that she could not hear a heartbeat, and that she would be given Mifegyne (RU 486) to induce an abortion. The doctor gave her the pill and she took it. Afterwards, she contacted Irena in tears, saying that she can’t even think about the possibility of aborting the child and didn’t know how she could think to do so earlier. She so regretted her earlier intentions and didn’t know what to do. Irena encouraged her in every way possible, but C became very depressed over the possibility of losing the child.
Irena is in touch with her by telephone and learned last night that C tried to commit suicide because she didn’t trust enough that her pregnancy was OK, despite the hospital’s reassurances, and that she had followed the advice of her Ob-Gyn and taken the pill to induce an abortion. A spirit of death is hovering over her and she is having difficulty getting over her decision. A week has gone by since she took the Mifegyne and she still has not aborted the child. Her Ob-Gyn said that if the child is not “expelled” by the end of the day (today), she will have to perform a D&C tomorrow and clean out C‘s womb of any trace of her pregnancy.
We serve a God Who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond anything we can ask or think. He has done so before. We are asking for your prayers that the abortion pill will have absolutely no effect, that C will be delivered from this depression, and be able to continue with a healthy pregnancy.
May this find you well, encouraged, and strengthened during these difficult days.
As we approach the Feast of Passover, a time of God’s deliverance of His people, we want to express heartfelt thanks to you for standing alongside with us, both spiritually and practically. We have shared what we are doing, we have expressed a need for help, and you have responded, encouraging us greatly, along with many women and newborns, who are part of our First Year of Life Program.
Now we are turning to you for continued prayer regarding two situations, shared below.
New Website Design
When you visit the site this time, you will notice that our new logo is now displayed, along with a slightly updated appearance of the site. We hope you enjoy the new look.
Thankfulness and Praise
In addition to the newborns who made their grand entrance as Israeli citizens in recent days, we are truly thankful for the support that we receive that enables us to help moms and tots who struggle to make ends meet.
In this regard, we arranged with a local merchant to deliver special, holiday care packages to a number of the women, who chose to give life to their pre-born children. As part of our First Year of Life Program, we were able to supply each woman with three separate gift baskets, valued at NIS 500 each, containing meat, fruit, vegetables, snacks, sweets, diapers, and toilet paper, among other items. These were all delivered to the women’s apartments (without entering inside – according to government regulations). The baskets were delivered to them with a note expressing our love for them and wishes for a joyful Passover.
The thanks and praise that we receive from them are due to your partnering with us and being involved in the continuing miracle of life.
Items in the gift “basket” sent to each mom.
Gift card reading: With Love and Happy Holiday, from A Future and a Hope!
Pictured: Photos sent to us by one of the moms, representative of the items delivered to each woman.
Special Prayer Needs
Mother and Needy Son Stuck at Home
Karen (not her real name) is a single mom and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She came to us for counsel when she was three months pregnant and made a bold decision for life. A month ago Karen gave birth to a healthy son. She has another son, four-years old, who is also suffering from PTSD. Both he and Karen were victims of violence from the father of the children, who is now in police custody.
The older son is exhibiting destructive behavior and, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, he is not able to receive any professional support or treatment that would otherwise be available through the Department of Welfare. Furthermore, again because of the country-wide lockdown, Karen and her children are unable to leave for any reason, and cannot receive social assistance for herself. Her parents, who had helped out in the past, cannot even visit her or the children because of the present health crisis. Furthermore, now her parents are also sick (not with the virus, thankfully!).
Please pray for strength, wisdom, and grace for Karen and for other single parents, who are trying to cope under extremely difficult circumstances.
Wisdom for Hanni and Teachable Spirits for Listeners (April 7 “Zoominar”)
This coming Tuesday evening (tomorrow), April 7th, at 8:00 p.m. Israel time, Hanni will be giving a “Zoom” presentation to 30-50 youth counselors. She will speak about the unique challenges that teenagers face, particularly during this health crisis, when they are forced to remain at home and are spending a considerably increased time on the Internet.
Among the topics that will be discussed are:
The current situation (how much time children and youth spend on-screen and what they do);
Dangers of prolonged Internet use and social media interaction;
Challenges (lessons on the use of Zoom, if they have nothing else to do with their time);
Specific challenges for youth during the Covid-19 crisis.
Please pray for wisdom for Hanni in sharing, and for attentive and teachable spirits on the part of the youth counselors.
Passover Blessings to You
May you be blessed by the One, Who is the Lord of Life and Who gives life eternal to those who put their faith and truth in Him. He kept us from the plagues imposed on Egypt, He will free us from the plague of the Coronavirus.
Hag Pesach Sameach (May you have a joyful Passover)!
Dear Brothers and
Sisters in Messiah – and Friends of A Future and A Hope,
We
have been truly blessed this year with decisions for life. Some mothers were
fearful to carry their pre-born children to term, but afterwards were thankful
that they did.
In
line with this, we are happy to report that this month five women either gave birth, or are due to give birth, through this
important ministry. Another three women will
be giving birth in December. All
of them were originally abortion-minded and have
chosen life for their children.
As
part of our First Year of
Life Program, we made a commitment to assist women who make courageous
decisions for life, despite difficult circumstances, both personal and
economic. The tiny hand of a new born grasping the finger
of a the mother who had once considered aborting her child, is opening avenues of joy and blessing for both of them.
We
are turning to you with a request for assistance at this time. Each First of Year of Life package
of necessities for the newborn’s first year cost approximately US $1,100 (CAD 1,457 or £855). Our resources are
limited, but we serve a Creator who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond
anything that we can ask or think.
It
is a time of blessing, but we are
facing challenges in meeting the
needs of these women. You can help. Please visit our website for information on how to donate. You
can designate a gift for one or more of the women, or for general needs, and we will see
that it is used for the purpose intended.
Thank you again for your prayers and support. You share with us in the eternal blessing of every life saved.
Blessings,
Marvin S. Kramer General Manager A Future and A Hope
P.S. The baby in the picture was born this month! Praising the Lord for this precious life!
