Ebenezer Operation Exodus - Ebenezer celebrates 20th Anniversary

20th Anniversary of Ebenezer in Jerusalem

“Thus far the Lord has helped us” 1 Samuel 7:12
The culmination of a year’s planning came in January 2011 at the Ramat Rachel Hotel in Jerusalem when 200 representatives of the Ebenezer Operation Exodus ministry from more than 30 countries participated in our 20th Anniversary Thanksgiving Conference.

One VIP who joined us was Elsa Scheller, the wife of our founder, Gustav Scheller. Accompanying Elsa was her younger son, Peter, a pastor in the USA. Peter paid a moving tribute to his Mum and Dad.

It was January 1991, also at a Christian conference in Jerusalem with scud missiles flying over Israel, when Gustav heard from the Lord that it was time to start helping the Jewish people to go home and thus the Ebenezer ministry was birthed.

Now, in January 2011, it was time to celebrate the Lord’s faithfulness which over 20 years has enabled us to assist more than 130,000 Jewish people back to their true homeland in accordance with the Scriptures.

We heard many moving testimonies from our committed leaders how they are continuing to provide comfort and encouragement to Jewish people in the nations during their aliyah process. It was a special joy to meet a young Indian couple newly arrived in the Land who came to express their appreciation to Ebenezer’s Indian representatives who had supported them in their aliyah preparations.

We were also privileged to hear moving testimonies from recently arrived olim from South Africa, USA and the UK, as well as from two more established olim from the former Soviet Union, all of whom had been assisted by Ebenezer.

A number of those attending in 2011 had also been part of that original group in 1991 and it was marvellous to recognise how the Lord has equipped them and given them strategic places of responsibility:

Roger Wolcott member of the EEFI International Board, Joan Thomas EEFI International

Prayer Co-ordinator, Steve Lightle Advisor to the ministry, Eliyahu Ben Haim leader of Intercessors for Israel,

Richard Zevenhuizen Chairman of Ebenezer Holland, Enrique Porras Prayer & Development Co-ordinator for Ebenezer Latin America, Johannes Barthel, National Co-ordinator for Ebenezer Germany.

We were also delighted to have leaders with us from other Christian ministries: Lance Lambert, Ray & Sharon Sanders Christian Friends for Israel, Willhem Glashower Christians for Israel, Wayne Hilsden King of Kings Assembly, Jerusalem and David and Karen Davis, HaCarmel Ministry Center.

Over the 20 years of the Ebenezer ministry, and through the efforts of our teams in the former Soviet Union, excellent relationships have been established with the Jewish Agency.

More recently, this has extended to other parts of the world where Ebenezer is working closely alongside the Jewish Agency in support of the Red Carpet Aliyah programme. It was therefore a particular joy to have a special video message from Nathan Sharansky, Chairman of the Jewish Agency. Click here to watch the video message

Also, with us not only to bring his own greeting but to listen to Chief Executive Alan Field’s vision for the future of the ministry, was Eli Cohen, Director General of the Jewish Agency for Aliyah and Absorption.

Intercessory prayer is the solid foundation on which Ebenezer was established and prayer continues to undergird the increasing activities of the ministry. This was very apparent during the conference when a number of sessions specifically focused on the times in which we are living and the importance of seeking His way forward for the ministry in these days of fast changing economic and political situations around the world and especially in the Middle East.

The beginnings of the ministry’s Aliyah activities were only possible in 1991 thanks to a love offering taken up at that conference which raised $30,000 to help the Jewish people home. It is therefore very appropriate to call for a further love offering 20 years on in 2011 to enable these efforts to continue. Elsa Scheller puts it very clearly when she says: “The Lord will bless those who bless His people.” If you would like to make an anniversary gift to the work of Ebenezer please click here.

So, dear friends of Ebenezer, we want to thank you so much for your wonderful support of this ministry thus far and we look forward to working together with you in the future as we continue to help His people home. Even in the midst of such turbulent times, as we see Scriptures being fulfilled in our own lifetime, we have the wonderful assurance that with God all things are possible!
Every blessing

Beverley Hill
Secretary to the Ebenezer International Board