Dear Friends and Partners,
I don’t believe I’ll ever forget my first encounter with a Messianic Jew. I had just walked into a hotel lobby in Tel Aviv after a refreshing walk on the Mediterranean sand. A Messianic Jewish rabbi greeted me and invited me to Shabbat service at his local synagogue. That encounter forever changed my life.
It is what led me to start Lifting up Zion in 2014; and it has been my privilege to serve you and our Jewish brothers under this banner.
Earlier this year, a new opportunity came to me: to join the Assemblies of God World Missions team under the banner of Jacob’s Hope.
Jacob’s Hope is everything I dreamed that Lifting up Zion would someday become. Here is what they do: (1) they are involved in Jewish evangelism around the world (especially Israel, Ukraine, Ethiopia, France, and Argentina); (2) they support Messianic Jewish ministries on a big scale (they give to some of the very same ministries Lifting up Zion supports); (3) they train believers around the world to do Jewish ministry and evangelism.
After much prayer and consultation with Lifting up Zion’s board of directors, we have decided to dissolve Lifting up Zion and join Jacob’s Hope for greater impact for God’s Kingdom and Jewish ministry.
I want to thank you for your faithful support of our Jewish brothers through Lifting up Zion. Your prayers, your giving, and your encouragement have had a profound impact on Messianic Jewish ministries and families.
We saw our peak impact in 2023 following the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel. You sent over $20,000 in just a few weeks to help our Messianic Jewish friends meet the needs of their Israeli neighbors in the name of Yeshua.
The work of Jewish ministry is ever-widening, and your support is needed now more than ever. I invite you to join me in partnership through Jacob’s Hope. Just as under Lifting up Zion, more than anything, I covet your prayers.
…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-19).
Secondly, I invite you to partner with me financially. My first task in my new role with Jacob’s Hope is to raise support. Your partnership will put my feet on the ground sooner.
Third, if you pastor a church or lead a Bible study group, would you consider inviting me to share the vision of Jacob’s Hope not only to raise support, but to inspire a new generation to engage in Jewish ministry? We are familiar with the words of Yeshua that “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37).
Thank you again for your faithful partnership. I thank the Lord for you, and I look forward to what’s to come!
For the salvation of all Israel,
Akaya Kitchen
