Final Day of Fellowship in London

     On my way back to Paris, soon to be under the English Channel. I had three full days here with Larry Trishkin and his congregation. Larry overseas a Messianic congregation and a Russian speaking church that is Messianic oriented. Spoke to many Jewish believers some who came from Ukraine or Russia so I was really in my element. The level of their hospitality and openness reminded me of my days in Odessa. The congregation in London has a good vision of where they want to go and I would be surprised if they did not reach what they want to see - a Messianic Jewish congregation that walks in the Spirit and in truth, that is dedicated to the Word of God and. and that yearns without apology for the salvation of the Jewish people. Please pray for Derech HaShem in London. Shalom. David Schneier.

Larry Trishkin and I at the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London

Dear All,

   It took just 2 hours and 15 minutes to ride the train from the center of Paris to downtown London yesterday. At the famous St. Pancras station (I called it Pancreas) I met Larry Trishkin who is the messianic leader of the IAMCS congregation, Derech HaShem. The congregation joined the IAMCS in July and this was my first visit for ministry to England. Last night we gathered together 20 members of the congregation for their Erev Shabbat meeting and it was a wonderful time together. They really have a Messianic vision for their congregation and for England. We all sensed something new will be happening in the Messianic movement in England which needs a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit. Tonight I will be meeting with the leaders of the congregation and tomorrow before returning to Paris I will be speaking at a church. Hope you enjoy the photos below and please pray for my time in England. (One of the photos is of me presenting the IAMCS certificate of membership to Larry for Derech HaShem Congregation.) Shalom from London. David Schneier

Norwegians boycott of Israeli goods

Israeli oranges bleeding with the blood of Palestinians? Some Norwegians thinks so. So they will boycott a supermarket chain that dares to defy their demands to stop selling products from Israel. Funny but there doesn't seem to be any interest by these boycotters about products from "Palestine" after the Palestinians indiscriminately fire rockets into civilian areas killing Israeli civilians (which happens to be a war crime). What can I conclude about this bias - that these particular Norwegians are just simply anti-Semites which means they hate Jews. Why is it that the rest of Norway doesn't seem to get it. Shalom. David Schneier (Graphic from CFCA article, 11/23/11, www.antisemtism.org.il)

Scientologists demonstrate in Paris

Scientology protestors in Central Paris opposite the Palais de Justice ("Justice under influence. We accuse!)

"Equal Justice for the Scientologists" 

Palais de Justice (Palace of Justice)  I was just minding my business riding on the #96 bus when I noticed opposite the Palace of Justice a crowd of people carrying signs and playing drums. It was the Scientologists and they were not happy with what was going on the court opposite from their orderly "manifestation" (demonstration). An appeal was being heard of the 2009 fraud conviction of the Church. The demonstration today was aimed at what a spokesman for the Celebrity Center of the Church, Eric Roux, called bias on the part of the court against the Church of Scientology. After a ruling against the Church being able to view certain records in the court file, the representatives for the Church left the appellate courtroom according to Mr. Roux, citing this as one example of bias by the Court.

    Mr. Roux said there were approximately 45,000 Scientologists in France and that the Church was going to continue its appeal especially as they believed the current appelate court was going to support the fraud conviction. Ultimately he said they may have to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Since this is the first conviction of the Church of Scientology according to Mr. Roux, the Church, he said, will vigorously defend itself against what it feels is a bias against it.

   While I do not accept any of the precepts of Scientology, as a lawyer I am concerned how this kind of a ruling could be used against the Free churches and Messianic Judaism in France. There is discrimination against churches, who are not Catholic or Reformed, in where they can rent and locate their operations. And what is a cult for one person is the faith of another. Gratefully the Messianic movement has not been under governmental pressure - yet.

     Ultimately how do we oppose what we believe is spiritual blindness? Probably like Paul did with the truth, Yeshua the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world. Shalom from Paris. David Schneier

Updated Schedule for the Schneiers

Here is our updated schedule for the winter and spring,2012: 

• January 7-11: Orlando,FL for IAMCS Rabbis conference
• January 12-13: Mt Dora, FL at the Garden Gate 
• January 15: Brunswick, GA, 6pm, Christian Renewal Church
• January 21: Orlando,FL at Congregation Gesher Shalom
• January 27-28: Tampa and Lakeland  FL with Congregations Shoresh David 
• February 18-19: Shreveport, LA  with Congregation Messiah Now! on the 18th and the Christian Center Shreveport on the 19th
• March 3rd: Ormond Beach, FL at Congregation Beth Judah
• April17-19: IAMCS regional leadership conference in Nikolaiv, Ukraine
• Possible trips in April or May to Spain and Italy
• Possible leadership conference in France or Belgium in April or May

Shalom from David Schneier

Messianic Jewish Leadership Retreat in Crimea, Ukraine

Dear Friends of the Schneiers,

      As we approach Thanksgiving, Leslye and I thank you so much for your prayers and financial support in 2011. It means a lot to know that you are interested in what the Lord is doing amongst the Jewish people in Europe. Please keep in touch with us at schneiers@aol.com, at our website at www.messianicinitiative.org and at our blog at www.closeupsfromfaraway.blogspot.com.

      Lots of joy in Ukraine: I, David, just returned from nine days in Ukraine splitting my time in Crimea at a leadership retreat for IAMCS congregations and interested unaffiliated Messianic leaders and pastors and in Odessa. Our hall was filled at the evening meetings with about 300 leaders and congregational members for three joyful days of worship, teaching and fellowship. One of my key topics was a biblical view of the power of Joy in our lives. It's interesting how many times joy appears in the Bible and the varied ways it manifests itself. I was surprised at sources of and effect that joy has us and how we need to see joy as more than something we can have only if we are happy. "The joy of the Lord (is truly) our strength."  I took this verse to mean that both His joy over us and our joy over Him is our strength. However you look at it we have access to a joy that is so powerful is unspeakable no matter the conditions around us witnessed by Paul and Silas praising God after being beaten and thrown into the darkest, innermost prison. So, if nothing else, be thankful and joyful this Thanksgiving because of  the hope you have that will never disappoint you.

      We were so blessed to have Pastor Barry Boucher share at the conference and thank God for his recovery after surgery. Also we had leaders from Czech Republic (Jarda and Rut Kupka) and from Amsterdam (David & Caroline Warnink) who lead IAMCS congregations there. It was the Warninks first time in Ukraine and I can say that they loved what they experienced with the Ukrainian Messianic believers. Last but not least, we so enjoyed our visitors and new friends from Shreveport, LA. They were a team of five led by Pastor Timothy Carscadden. They had a blast and joined in on dancing and praising the Lord in a new way.

      Here are some movies that give a picture of joy amongst a people who could have very little in this world to be joyful about. (You can see the movies on YouTube at  http://youtu.be/sa6xOjDX7Wk. The title of the movies are MVI_2478.AVI and MVI 2463)

Worship at the conference in Crimea, Ukraine

Victor with hand made iron

Menorah

 Team from Louisiana, Barry Boucher, me and leaders from Czech and Amsterdam

 New IAMCS congregation in
Ukraine from Uzgorod

Meeting of IAMCS congregational leaders at conference





                                                                                 

Torah procession at the retreat

Three key leaders in Ukraine: Yura, Victor and Sasha

Torah reading in Odessa

  




A call to England: We have been sensing a call to journey to England to be with a Messianic congregation there that just joined the IAMCS. It's interesting that at a popular English bookstore in Paris we met a group of Macedonians. I reminded them of Paul's Macedonian call which they were familiar with. This was further evidence to me to act on this call to England, so I will spend three days in London from December 2-4 encouraging a Messianic congregation there and possibly speaking in a receptive church. Please pray for my travels to and from London and for inspiration as to what exactly the Lord wants spoken there. I am sensing a similar call for Leslye and I to travel to Spain and Italy this spring to connect with Messianic believers and perhaps to hold small conferences to encourage the Messianic movement there.

      Challenges ahead: Our children are all facing challenges involving either health, finances, business decisions and other personal issues. Please pray for them when you think of us. We are also going through a transition with our finances due to the recession, the illness of a key donor and the scheduled ending of a foundation in 2012 whose annual gift formed a large portion of our support. We see some interesting developments in this area from sources that we did not expect (we love that). Please pray for our financial needs and consider in this season an end of the year gift and monthly support no matter how small or big that might be. There is information below on how you can help us to do what the Lord wants us to do here in Europe.

       Winter & Sping Schedule: We know some of our schedule for the winter and spring which is:

• January 7-11: Orlando,FL for IAMCS Rabbis conference
• January 12-13: Mt Dora, FL at the Garden Gate
• January 21: Orlando,FL at Congregation Gesher Shalom
• January 27-28: Tampa and Lakeland  FL with Congregations Shoresh David
• February 25: Ormond, Beach, FL at Congregation Beth Judah
• Late March or mid-April: IAMCS regional leadership conference in Nikolaiv, Ukraine
• Possible trips in April or May to Spain and Italy
• Possible leadership conference in France or Belgium in April or May

      Updates to this schedule appear at www.closeupsfromfaraway.blogspot and www.messianicinitiative.org. Let us know that you are coming! Any Messianic leaders and congregants or anyone on our mailing list who want to attend our leadership conferences should get in touch with us personally at schneiers@aol.com.

      Development for Eastern & Central Europe: Right now there are 26 IAMCS congregations with 20 in Eastern and Central Europe. In our last IAMCS Steering Committee meeting I proposed the formation of an official IAMCS Region for Eastern and Central Europe to recognize what the Lord was doing there and to promote local initiative amongst these congregations. I have been appointed to be the Interim Director of this Region until such time as local leadership rises up to take the lead.

      Again, thanks so much for your prayers and support in 2011. If you would like to financially partner with us you can do so as follows:

Please send your check, made payable to Glory of Zion Int’l Ministries, to:

The Schneiers

c/o Glory of Zion Int’l Ministries

PO Box 1601

Denton, TX 76202-1601 

(Please include a note with your check that it is “For the Schneiers.” (Your gifts are tax deductible).

    If you would like to make a credit card donation, go to www.glory-of-zion.org, click on "Donate" on the left side of the home page, fill in your credit card info on the "Send a Donation" page, in the "Put Toward" section click on "Designated Gift" and in the "Enter Recipient" section fill in "The Schneiers." This last step will insure that  your gift goes to our ministry. You can indicate in the comment section if your gift is one-time or to be charged monthly on the date you provide.

   Blessings in 2012, Love and Shalom,

       David & Leslye

Red Flags over Odessa

It was November 7, 2011 and the bedraggled band of about 70 communists celebrated the revolution, surrounded by an equal number of policeman, probably  marching somewhere, singing about the glory of their former days and hoping for the return of a new Stalin and Lenin to lead them on. So many have died here at the hands of the old regime and yet there are those who long for the good old days. It was sad for me to see such lingering nostalgia for probably the most brutal regime of all time rivaled only by Mao. Let it go says I. Shalom. David Schneier