Love Haifa 2011 05/19/2011
 
On Thursday May 19 2011, the Haifa New Covenant Church, with the cooperation and support of local and international Christian organizations, undertook a wonderful humanitarian project to provide basic staples and supplies for the city’s needy families.  The project was called “Love Haifa.”  Parcels and food packs for over 300 families were distributed without reference to religion or ethnic background.  Over seventy local and international brothers and sisters volunteered to serve in the preparation and presentation of the care packages to those who came.

The honorable Yonah Yahav, mayor of Haifa, embraced the concept and empowered all the relevant departments of the municipality to help the church and brothers and sisters for the success of the endeavor.  The municipality also provided the community center, Beit HaGefen, from which to base this project.  The municipality Social Welfare Department provided registrations of needy families and invited them to the community center while seeing to strict confidentiality and taking into account the feelings and privacy of these families. 

It is worth noting that there is a high percentage of underprivileged families here, particularly single-parent homes or divorcees with children.  Thus it is incumbent upon all of us to care for them with such expressions of generous love and concern.  We take great encouragement and joy from the grateful responses which came from all involved--which points to the fact that kindness still prevails in our beloved city of Haifa.
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Most of you by now have heard of the horrible fires that raged near Haifa on Mt. Carmel for the past week.  As God's people we pray for his mercy in the situation in general, for those who have lost loved ones and homes, and for the many who bravely fought the blaze.  God is answering prayers already, for finally the winter rains have begun.  We pray too for a spiritual downpour from heaven's courts!
It is our hope that from the ashes of this tragedy, some good would emerge.  Perhaps the unusual cooperation that we have seen between Israel and her neighbors can be a small step towards harmony in our region.
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In moments of loss and devastation, we must respond in the grace and power of God.  The New Covenant Church already has taken some first steps.  During the crisis we prepared about 1000 sandwiches and drinks to feed all the people fighting to extinguish the fire.  It was a real blessing for all of us to be involved helping those who risked their lives to protect us.
Pray that God would guide us, not only the New Covenant Church, but all the believers, in responding to the needs of our land in the aftermath of this tragedy.  One thought is to participate in the massive tree planting efforts that will be needed.  In every way, physical, social, and spiritual we want to reflect the love of the Messiah for this people.  This is a particular opportunity for that love to be expressed across the traditional barrier of Arab-Jewish hostility.  May the Lord redeem many and renew his work in our day!
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The New Covenant Church celebrated the baptism of 13 new believers who decided to follow the Lord in baptism. It was in the Jordan River.  After that the church gathered in a park for a fellowship picnic.

Samer- 23 years ago he had come to faith and served the Lord alongside his friends in a music band.  But the lure of fame and pleasure led him away from the Lord and he returned to his old ways in the world.  Just a few months ago Samer came back to faith and is serving God.  In particular he is playing the drums at church and also helping out with the studio ministry.

Rohy and Jihan- Since they met the Lord last January, everything in their life has changed. They were delivered from the bondage of the devil. Both of them found good jobs, and their economic situation is improving. Jihan’s family also has come to the Lord. God has done a great miracle in their lives!

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2010-09-06 

The Party organized by the Sunday School teachers and the youth of the church.  Scores of children from the ages of two to twelve were in attendance.  The celebration included dances, songs, and entertaining games.  Everyone also enjoyed a great performance.  At the end, all shared refreshments and sweets and received gifts.  We wish all our students and children a successful year and best wishes.

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2010-07-07

 A few weeks ago, we received an urgent phone call requesting that we "Please come to pray for my dad.  He is dying."

We entered the emergency room of the main hospital of Haifa and found the whole family waiting outside for this man to breathe his last breath.  They told us that he had been in a coma for two days, and that the doctors didn't give much hope for recovery.

 

When we entered the room, we found this man lying on his bed connected to a machine that was pushing oxygen into his lungs to keep him alive.  His daughter tried to wake him shouting, "Dad, Dad, wake up!"  But there was no reaction or movement.  I held his hand and prayed, "God, if this is the time that you want him to come to you, please take him now.  If not, please heal him now."  A long time after this prayer, there was silence.  No one said anything.  

 

We returned home, but after four hours, I received a phone call.  "Pastor, my dad is awake, and he is eating his dinner!"  and he will go home.

Glory to God!  This 90-year-old man received another chance to live, but this time it is different.  He understands that in the coming days, He should live only for the Lord and for His glory.

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World Cup at NCC 10/31/2010
 

2010-07-06
Many of you know that the World Cup soccer tournament is taking place in South Africa these days.  Soccer is the most popular sport in Israel as well as in the rest of the world.  Many people are taking days off from their jobs in order to watch the games.  A few years ago, the games were played in a time zone that wasn't so convenient for watching, but it didn't matter.  People still woke up at 2 or 3 in the morning to watch them and then went back to sleep after they were over.  
 
During this World Cup, we were concerned that this would cause people to neglect coming to church, so we decided to invite our church family, both young and old, to join together after the worship service to watch the game together.  It was so fun to see people wildly cheering for their favorite teams, but at the same time fellowshipping in love with one another.  
 
As a church, we need to always recognize the interests of the people and to use those things for reaching out to them.  Our community is becoming more and more selfish and independent.  Everyone spends his time at his computer or watching his TV at home alone.  These kinds of activities bring people together as one body to fellowship together.  
 
 
"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:1-3).

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2010-02-18


God Turns Disaster into a  Blessing
Last month a young engaged couple of the ages 18 and 24 died in a tragic car accident.  Relatives of this family are part of our congregation.  The father of the young lady who died was not a believer. For three days he and his wife were in their home crying over the death of their daughter. On the third day the father and his wife were grieving and broken. He asked God for forgiveness for his sins and he repented. He asked God for a sign that He had answered his prayers and forgiven him. Suddenly a small light appears in his room. A huge cloud filled the room and suddenly the light spread to two lights that moved around the room. The lights left behind tails of light.  He was scared when he saw the huge light. His wife shouted " do you see what i see?" "What do you see?"  "I see the light"  "I see the same thing!"
The light came to their faces and it touched them. They felt heat from the light. They began to worship and they were comforted. He now testifies, "I have joy in my heart. The joy of the Lord filled me."  Since then, when people from the community, muslims and christians, visit this family they say they feel the presence of God. Many have come to the church as a result of their witness.

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2009-12-31

The New Covenant Church celebrated Christmas and New Year on 27.12.2009 in our new building. The celebration included a variety of programs and many talents:  dances by the little children, Christmas carols, poems and the finale was a one man comedy show.

 A few women from the church prepared a unique dinner, and after the celebration everyone went to the church fellowship hall and ate dinner together.

 Santa Claus gave presents to the children and some elders of the church.

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2009-12-12

 On 12/12/2009 the New Covenant Church hosted a Christmas celebration led by the musical team “Alrab Rayati”(The Lord Is My Banner). There were more than 450 people gathered together in the church praising and worshiping God. 

Pastor Yousef Dakwar opened the celebration with a short prayer, wishing everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The host, Gasan Ode, from the evangelical church in Kafar-yasif  led the program which included Christmas carols, worship songs and some reading from the Bible.

The team “Alrab Rayati” with their Pastor Khaled Dalle preformed the songs in a unique and special way, which made everyone enjoy the celebration.


Some of the songs were choreographed with dancing by the group “Kings Kids."  and The “Bells Team” led by Fadi Hana, performed 3 Christmas songs, using special bells. 

For the first time, Cross Media broadcast the Christmas celebration video live on the internet. 


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Feeding Project 10/31/2010
 

2009-11-10
The New Covenant Church led a feeding project in Haifa on the 10.11.2009, joined by Christian groups both from abroad and  from all around the country. The project was performed under the name “Love Haifa.” It was a social program designed to give the needy families in the city of Haifa their basic supplies. 

The packages were delivered to more than 170 needy families without regards to their ethnic, racial or religious background. 

The mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, welcomed the idea and gave support in every way he could, insuring that the program would succeed. The social department in the municipality of Haifa municipality provided a list with the names of the most needy families, and invited them to the center were the packages were delivered, insuring the people that there would be privacy and secrecy.

There were more than 50 volunteers from the country and out of the country who helped prepare the packages and deliver them to the needy families.

Pastor Yousef said, “the purpose of this event is to encourage the church to participate in social projects and reach out to the community around them, no matter what background they come from. We are the salt of the earth, which is why we need to be moving among our community, showing the love of Christ through our life and actions.  

He continues to say, "the purpose of the project is not to evangelize the people. We do not need to use the weakness and needs of the people to lead them to Christ. Instead, they need to make the decision of following Jesus when they are physically, emotionally and intellectually sound and settled."

Some people from the municipality of Haifa came to the center and were amazed how the project was organized, and how efficiently the supplies were given to the people. One of the families who received the supplies shared, “we are a needy family and our situation is very bad. We go to many official and governmental centers to get supplies and what we received there is bad treatment and supplies that were expired. But what we see here is something different. The way the volunteers welcome us and smile at us is something we are not used to.”

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