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CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL, MAHARASHTRAwww.cfimah.com

Follow us on Facebook – Christian Friends of Israel, Maharashtra

23rd Kislev5779

1st Dec 2018

(Hear O Israel, The L-RD Your G-D, The L-

RD is One) Duet. 6:4

Quarterly Newsletter - The Winter Edition (Oct-Dec 2018)“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not,

lengthen thy cords ………...” Isaiah 54:2

Dear Friends in YESHUA,Shalom Aleichem, in the name of the Prince of Peace (Sar Ha Shalom), our L-RD and Saviour

YESHUA HA MASHIACH. It has been a long time between our last newsletter and this one. Many events have taken place in this ministry. Below is a summary of the

larger events that we have conducted :

1. Evening Seminar at Miraj : On 19th of May, 2018, CFI (M) conducted an evening Seminar of two Sessions, on “Israel and the Church “at

Richardson Leprosy Hospital in Miraj, along with the newly opened Chapter of CFI (M) at Miraj, under Pastor Rajesh Nand. Miraj is a small

town that is 40 Kms from Kolhapur. The evening Seminar was attended by about 150 grown ups including over 25 Pastors. These servants

of GOD had come from local Miraj and the surrounding areas outside Miraj, including our dear Associate CFI Pastor, Anil Sonule of Kagal,

who came with his family and some Church members.

On the next day, 20th May, being the Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot), the CFI(M) team fanned out into FOUR different Churches, in Miraj and

the outskirts. Pastor Rajesh and his wife Victoria did a great job, in all the well coordinated events, along with the local Israel loving brothers,

Pastor Shashi, Pastor Bunty, Pastor Thomas Bhore and Pastor Ashish Kacchi. We highlighted in each of these Churches, that this Feast of

Pentecost, is in fact, the Jewish Feast of Shavuot (Feast of Pentecost). That this day was indeed the Birthday of the Church. The L-RD

poured out HIS HOLY SPIRIT on 120 people, on this Feast of Shavu’ot (Pentecost).

Simultaneously our other CFI family members, Pastor Vinod Jadhav of Daund, Pastor Yoseph Pawar of Loni Pune, Pastor Sham Kate of

Hadapsar Pune, Pastor Sanjay Alhat of Ghorpadi Pune and Pastor Anil Sonule of Kagal, all taught on this Feast of Pentecost (Shavu’ot) at

the same time. Some of the photos from the Miraj events are seen below :

2. Full Day Seminar at Pimpri, Pune : On 1st September, CFI (M) along with Church of the Living God Pune, conducted a Full Day Seminar

on the subject of “Israel and the Church”. The venue was the Restoration Christian Church India, at Pimpri. This was attended by about 140

people, including 15 Pastors. Pas Sonny Chandra, Bro Reggie Aaron and Pas Nicky Chandra spoke in the three sessions. Bro. M.A.

Lawrence introduced the ministry of CFI (M). It was a blessed Seminar, with several of those who attended expressing their commitment to

pray daily for Israel and also a desire to learn more on this subject. Some of the photos are on the next page :

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3. Feast of Rosh Hashanah (Trumpets) : On 2nd and 9th September, CFI (M) was invited by Good News Herald Family Church, Pimple

Gurav Pune to teach on the Feast of Rosh Hashanah and the Christian connection. We did this for two Sundays as back to back sessions.

On 2nd September Pastor Nicky Chandra taught on the Feasts (Moadim – G-D’s appointments) being the Feasts of our G-D. He highlighted

the Messiah, contained in the first four feasts which have been fulfilled in the first coming of our L-RD JESUS CHRIST (YESHUA).

On 9th September, Pastor Sonny Chandra expounded on the Feast of Rosh Hashanah. He explained the Christian connection and how the

Apostle Paul spoke on this subject as connected with the Rapture. He also explained as to how the L-RD YESHUA used the system of the

ancient Jewish marriage details while talking about HIS ascension to Heaven and the plan to return to take HIS people to HIS “Father’s

house”.

People were deeply blessed and immediately Pastor Felix Akindunni invited us to teach on the next Feast (of Sukkot – Tabernacles). Some

of the photos are here below.

Associates of CFI (M), i.e. Pastor Vinod Jadhav of Daund, Pastor Yoseph Pawar of Loni Pune, Pastor Sham Kate of Hadapsar Pune and

Pastor Anil Sonule of Kagal, also simultaneously conducted teachings and celebrations of the Feast of Rosh Hashanah on 9th September, in

their respective Churches.

4. Full Day Seminar at Nala Sopara, Mumbai : On 15th September, CFI (M) was invited by Amaris Travels P. Ltd and Rays of Life Church,

Nala Sopara (Mumbai) to conducted a Full Day Seminar on the subject of “Israel and the Church”. Pastor M.A. Samuel of Rays of Life

Church is a senior Pastor with over 10 Churches under him. Evg. Selvam Ramakrishnan who is the Managing Director of Amaris Travels P

Ltd., conducts tours to the Holy Land and encourages all those travelling to the Holy Land to attend these Seminars with CFI (M), as it helps

prepare them and set the right context for the Israel trip. The Seminar was attended by about 250 people, including about 15 Pastors. Pas

Sonny Chandra, Bro Reggie Aaron and Pas Nicky Chandra spoke in the three sessions. Sis. Ritu Chudhary introduced the ministry of CFI

(M). The feedback fron the Seminar was very positive. Pastor M.A. Samuel has given us an open invitation to come whenever we desire, to

conduct the Level 2 Seminar with his network of Churches. Some photos of the event are below.

5. Feast of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) : On 22nd September, CFI (M) and Jesus Loves Fellowship (JLF) Loni, Pune jointly observed

the Feast of Yom Kippur, at JLF Loni. This Feast is the holiest day in Israel, with all life virtually coming to a standstill on that day. It was a

blessed time of celebration. Sis Ritu Choudhary shared the Word, which was a CHRIST centered focus on the Feast of Yom Kippur.

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Simultaneously, this day was observed by our CFI family members, Pastor Vinod Jadhav and their church at Daund and by Pastor Anil

Sonule and their Church at Kagal. Some photos are below :

6. Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) : CFI (M) was invited by the Church of the Nazarene Wadgaonsheri, Pune and by Good News Herald

Family Church Pimple Gurav Pune to celebrate and teach upon the Feast of Sukkot. Pastor Nicky Chandra shared the Word at Church of the

Nazarene, while Pastor Sonny Chandra share the Word at Good News Herald Family Church. The message was focused on the fact that the

Feast of Sukkot is seen as an event of the past but also has a future prophetic angle, based on Zechariah 12 to 14, which points to a time

when the L-RD will sit in Jerusalem, with living water flowing and then all the Nations of the World will come to Jerusalem to worship The

KING and to celebrate the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles).

It was a tremendous blessing with many reduced to tears, and stirred up, to carry the future prophetic message of the return of the L-RD

YESHUA as the KING of Kings and L-RD of Lords, to their friends and relatives. Some of the photos are here below.

7. Inauguration of the Pentecostal Faith Mission Church, Daund :

CFI (M) was invited for the inaugural service of the Prayer Hall which is under construction of our partner and associate in Daund, Pastor

Vinod Jadhav of Pentecostal Faith Mission Church. It was a wonderful time with over 400 people present. Pastor Sonny Chandra ministered

the Word of G-D and then prayed along with the other Pastors who were present for the Prayer Hall, which is still under construction.

However, since that Service the Church has started holding Services at this new premises.

8. Inaugural Regional (Marathi) Seminar - अमरावती – इस्त्रायल आणि मंडळी (पहिला मराठी सेमिनार) 22 ऑगस्ट 2018) : ख्रिच्चन फ्रेड्स ऑफ इस्त्रायल महाराष्ट्र येथील पा. जोसेफ पवार आणि पा. प्रशांत खवाडिया ( CFI Team members Pune) यांनी, 22 ऑगस्ट 2018 रोजी कोठारा बॅपटिस्ट चर्च, येथे प्रादेशिक भाषेतील मराठीमध्ये पहिला सेमिनार घेतला. यामध्ये अमरावती जिल्ह्यातील 12 पाळक उपस्थीत होते. या सेमिनारला 150 लोकांचा उत्तम प्रतिसाद मिळाला. इस्त्रायलचा भुतकाळ, वर्तमान काळ आणि भविष्य काळ त्याच बरोबर मंडळीचे नाते यावर हा सेमिनार आधारीत होता. पा. प्रशात आणि पा. जोसेफ यांनी तीन भागामध्ये शिकवले. त्याच बरोबर सेमिनारच्या शेवटी इस्त्रायलासाठी विषेश प्रार्थना करण्यात आली.

अशा प्रकारचे शिक्षण मिळण्याची अनेकांची पहीलीच वेळ होती. पा. गवई म्हणाले, “ हे शक्षण अतिशय उत्तम आणि मंडळीच्या उन्नतीसाठी फायद्याचे होते.” पा. प्रशांत गायकवाड ज्यांनी हा सेमिनार आयोजित केला होते ते म्हणाले, “हि तर खरी सुरुवात आहे आणि अनेक मंडळ्यांना ह्या शिक्षणाची गरज आहे” काही पाळकांनी ह्या शिक्षण त्यांच्या मंडळीमध्ये घेण्याची इच्छा दर्शविली.

The above photos are of the first ever CFI (M) regional language Seminar on Israel and the Church, held at Amravati, which was attended by

approximately 150 people. It was a great blessing to those who attended. Several attending Pastors from the surrounding areas, including

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Nagpur have asked for such seminars, to be conducted (of course, in Marathi), in their interior areas; and we are faced with this problem: ‘the

labourers are few’. We now have to pray to the L-RD of the Harvest, to raise up SPIRIT filled labourers. We believe, HE will, Amen!.

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THE WORD OF LOVE IN THIS SEASONPsalm 81:10 “I am the LORD, thy GOD Who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.”. With much love,

the L-RD reached out to HIS people, Israel. The Bible records the disobedience of Israel, the L-RD’s broken heart over Israel, the warning of

punishment, the prophecies of the disobedience, the prophecies of the punishments that would come, (and did come), including the World

Wide scattering of the Chosen People (Children of Israel), and the prophecies of their last day restoration back into the Promised Land, (the

ALIYAH), never to be uprooted again. At this stage (the prophecies say), there will be new blessing released upon Israel – the “opening of

their eyes” and eventually, their recognizing/ identifying of their MESSIAH (Zechariah 12, 13 &14). The Church correctly reads this MESSIAH,

as being the L-RD JESUS CHRIST (YESHUA).

The Church of today, is blessed to see this scenario slowly but surely unfolding. The process started crystalising from 14th May 1948 (rebirth

of the Nation of Israel); shaping, reshaping, and getting strengthened. Their “rising and shining” (Isaiah 60:1), and the fulfilling of so many

extra-ordinary prophecies, including the prophesy of the Redeemed Israel feeding the World (Isaiah 27:6:.) and rebuilding the waste land/

cities and vineyards etc, and the prophecies of their never again being pulled out of the Promised Land (Amos 9:14 etc), the opening of the

graves, the L-RD’s SPIRIT in them, the “great Army” (Ezekiel 37:1 to 14 – the Valley of Dry Bones), prophecy vision with interpretations, yes

all these prophecies are suddenly being fulfilled, right in front of our eyes ! Our earlier generations only read about these; they generally did

not understand many of them. Some of our generations didn’t believe that these prophesies would ever be fulfilled and a vast majority of our

earlier generations, never believed that the Jews will ever come back into the P/L. But, these prophesies are the Word of G-D ! They had to,

and are at last, being fulfilled. The key is, the L-RD’s timing, not ours! And, all this is happening, right in front of us. OUR GENERATION IS

BLESSED, TO SEE, READ (THE BIBLE), interpret/ understand it, and recognize that indeed, IT IS HAPPENING! Amen, Amen, Halleluyah!

For this is the Fig Tree that JESUS talked about, now back to life – Born Again Israel. And in the Promised Land; ERETZ ISRAEL!!

At the end of this Calendar year 2018, where around the World, the Church at large is preparing for the Christmas Season and remembering

the birth of the L-RD JESUS CHRIST we, CFI (M) (Christians Friends of Israel, Maharashtra) salute the Jews (all over the world) and the

Jewish Nation. We say, Israel, our elder brother, The L-RD JESUS loves you. We, the Church, have wronged you over the centuries. IT WAS

A SINFUL ERROR ! But HE, the L-RD JESUS, loves you. We, the Church have been horrific in so many of our actions. The Spanish

Inquisition, the Holocaust, and the unending anti Semitism surfacing time and time again, the Crusades, etc; they were horribly wrong and

sinful. We ask for forgiveness. Please accept our apologies. With our folded hands we ask for forgiveness. But, please don’t reject the L-RD

YESHUA, on account of the sinful acts of the Church. The L-RD JESUS LOVED AND LOVES YOU. HE WILL COME FOR YOU (Is 35:4).

We at CFI (Mah) and CFI International, love you, O Israel, G-D’s chosen. At the start of this season, when we remember the birth of the

LORD YESHUA (JESUS CHRIST), we, reach out to you. We join Ruth the Moabite, saying to you, O Israel, “YOUR G-D IS OUR G-D; YOUR

PEOPLE ARE OUR PEOPLE”, Amen! We are brothers, indeed, two sides of the same coin, Amen.

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Upcoming events to be prayed for : 3rd to 10th December : Feast of Hanukah. The salient points of the Feast are :

(a) Hanukah means ‘Dedication’.

(b) This eight day feast commemorates the Re-dedication of the Second Temple at Jerusalem at

the time of the Maccabean (Jewish community) revolt against the Syrians/ Greeks, i.e. the

victory of the Maccabes in approximately 165 BC, over the Syrian Army,

(c) It is also known as the Feast of Lights. Eight candles are lit, over eight days, i.e. one each day,

(d) According to the Talmud, the wicks of the Menorah miraculously burned for each of the eight days continuously, although there

was only enough sacred oil, for one day. That Feast is a memorial for this ‘miracle’,

(e) JESUS (YESHUA) celebrated the Feast of Hanukah. Please see John 10:22 & 23, where HE declares HIMself as the Messiah,

(f) YESHUA said HE is the light of the World (John 8:12). Co-relate to Revelation 1:12 & 13 - we see YESHUA in the Menorah!

Many Christian Congregations around the World are commemorating this Feast, in their Churches and Prayer Groups.

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30th December : Evening of Prayer for India and Israel. Venue is the Church of the Nazarene, Last Bus Stop, Wadgaonsheri,

from 5:30 pm to 9 pm. Please do join us as we collectively Worship the L-RD and intercede on behalf of our Nation and for Israel,

27th January ‘19 : Is the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Historically, on 27th January 1945 the death Camp of

Auschwitz was liberated. In the Holocaust, 6 Million (60 Lakh) Jews were ruthlessly murdered by the Nazi regime only because they

were Jews. The Nazis also killed 11 Million other people. CFI (M) will be holding simultaneous services in our various Branches to

commemorate this day. We also request the Pastors of Churches, to please commemorate this day in your Services and specially

pray for Israel and the Jewish people all over the World, during your Services on 27th January. Let’s declare our oneness with them.

23rd February ’19 : Full day Seminar on Israel and the Church at Nala Sopara, Mumbai. This will be jointly hosted by the Palghar

Zilla Pastors Association along with Amaris Travels Pvt. Ltd., Please do join us for this Seminar, if possible. Please do remember us

in your prayers.

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Stop Press – Sudden Rise of Anti Semitism in Europe and USA, is in the News!! We are all aware that in the last few months, the ugly face of Anti Semitism has been appearing all over Europe and in USA. In Europe in

particular, it seems to be the natural spill over of almost 3 Million Moslem refugees entering European countries.

Similarly, we are aware that on 27th October 2018, an armed ‘Christian’ gunman entered a Synagogue on a Shabbat morning in Pittsburg,

USA and gunned down 12 Jews who were praying, yelling, that all Jews are pigs and animals who must be killed!!

During the last one week, BBC and CNN have been carrying news items/ commentaries following a

survey by some independent source that between 70 to 80% of today’s generation (Christians) between

the ages of 20 to 40 have never heard of or are not even aware of the Holocaust. That, among the

Moslems, virtually none had ever heard of the Holocaust; and those that had heard of it, totally deny that

it ever actually happened.

Among the Christians in India (Catholics and Protestants) almost 90% of the same age group seem to be ignorant of this fact of history. In

the urban/ educated sector, it seems, a cold awareness exists, as “a Second World War tragedy”. Most Christians in India dismiss the

Holocaust as a misadventure of Adolf Hitler ….. That’s it! The less educated/ uneducated seem to be totally unaware of this historical fact.

One reputed interviewer, on BBC, on the subject of the Holocaust and Anti-Semitism highlighted the reasons for this being, (1) Almost no

preaching on the subject, in the Churches, (2) A sub-conscious revulsion against the Jews, as being JESUS killers, (3) Very successful

propaganda spearheaded by the Islamic world, who are controlling many reputed news channels around the World, in different degrees, (4) A

total lack of actual study of Scriptures prophetically concerning Israel, the last days and the return of the L-RD JESUS CHRIST to the

Promised Land, (A VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF CHRISTIANS HARDLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS WILL RETURN TO ISRAEL

TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF G-D IN JERUSALEM) and the well established Anti-Semitic attitude in a vast majority of Christians.

This is a very important point of prayer for all Christians all over, particularly in India, where the Holocaust Memorial Day, observing

the tragic event, has an almost zero profile in the Church calendar.

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Web-Site of CFI (M)

Please do visit our website www.cfimah.com. Prayer Requests and inquiries about the ministry can be logged in at the Web-Site.

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We wish all of you a very blessed Season of Christmas. Till March 2019 (Hebrew month of Adar A, 5779), when the next newsletter is

expected, on behalf of CFI Maharashtra, in the name of our L-RD and Saviour YESHUA HA MASHIACH - Blessed be ADONAI, G-D of

ISRAEL – The G-D of Avraham, Yitzhak and Ya’akov - Amen!

ברוךאתהייאלוהנומלךישועהעולםWith greetings and blessings, Shalom Aleichem,

Pastor Sonny Chandra