Update from Julia Schatz - Nov '23

Dear Pastor Mike,
GREETINGS AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

As we witness the turmoil in the world around us I think we are all eager to set aside a time to give God thanks and praise for the wonderful peace we have in our hearts because of Jesus, the Prince of Peace! I pray you can deeply ponder this powerful truth with family and friends as we pray for those who a reeling and mourning the loss of loved ones in the Middle East and beyond. May God draw them near and give them comfort.  

As promised, here is the news about the ministry in the Republic of Georgia and Azerbaijan.... continued from my previous newsletter. 

(Please let me know if you didn't get a chance to read the newsletter I sent prior to this one, with news from the ministry we did in Israel.  I will gladly resend it to you.  [email protected].)
Thank you for sending me! 

Republic of GEORGIA: When we landed in Georgia my co-leader and I were a bit exhausted and just a little shaky. We had spent more than 40 hours at the airport in Israel because of cancelled flights. The awesome team with us the previous week in Israel were able to depart on time, safe and sound, THANK GOD!  This all happened very close to the exact time the attack on Israel happened. Steffoni and I did not leave on time!  About 40 hours later we were on our way, and miraculously to the place we had planned to go to begin with!  The Republic of Georgia!  Our small but amazingly compassionate medical team, including a doctor from Georgia, was already there and had completed the first day of clinic. Everything went as scheduled for our time in Georgia. God raised up an awesome team and we were blessed to serve with brothers and sisters in Georgia. It was also a great vision casting trip - a time to plan for future partnership and ministry in Georgia.  
We are invited back next fall! 

The Republic of Georgia has close to 4 million people.  It's a small country in many respects, but it has 39 people groups, 16 of them are unreached. 80% of the people are culturally Christian, they do not have the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace. Less than 2% of the population are born again believers.

This country first came to faith in Christ in the 3rd century. God sent a single woman named Nino to Georgia to share the Gospel and heal the sick. After God healed the Queen of Georgia and miraculously saved the King from death, they both came to faith in Christ. Georgia borders the Black Sea and is located north of Turkey. Georgia and Armenia are 2 Christian countries surrounded by Muslim countries and Muslim territories of Russia.

AZERBAIJAN: When we departed Georgia, Steffoni and I went on to the country of Azerbaijan to train and equip in Trauma Healing. Thank God for the 12 believers we served in this beautiful country. We spent every day for 7 days in a row with them! Wow, it was a powerful time!  We went through all 7 sessions in New Hope Trauma Healing and we also had a chance to share the gospel with another group of young people - some who did not know the Lord. Please pray for them. They are being followed up by our brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan.  

This group expressed great gratitude for all they learned and plan to begin to lead groups in Trauma Healing.  That's what we long to see!  That's what our Lord desires!  Multiplication!  We are excited to continue with them by zoom and to help them start their own Trauma Healing groups in Baku!  Believers who receive healing from past trauma in their lives become bold and confident Ambassadors for the King of Kings!  
 
Equip the Saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ!  Ephesians 4:12

Please click here if you would like to give.

Good News!
There is actually good news coming out of Israel and Gaza.

• Praise! 4 hostages have been released so far
• Praise! There have been multiple salvations that we know of
• Praise! Believers are sharing their faith-even on the front lines
• Praise! Jewish and Arab believers are praying together for God's glory
• Praise! The gospel is being shared in Gaza, and in Judea and Samaria
• Praise! God is comforting and strengthening the traumatized
• Praise! Worship continues as believers gather in trust and expectation
• Praise! Much needed supplies are getting to those who are desperate
• Praise! Attacks meant for evil have been thwarted
• Praise! False news reports are being corrected day by day

Please click here if you would like to give.

​Hopefully you will get a kick out of this photo. While enjoying our tour day, someone we partner with while doing the ministry in the Republic of Georgia asked me to try on this hat! They is famously worn in this part of the world!  Hey, I like it!  I think it will work well in Ohio too!