February is missions month at our church. Every year our pastoral team chooses a focus country and a project in that country for special attention and fund-raising. The decision of which country and project to sponsor is made many months in advance of the upcoming February. Thus the decision to choose ISRAEL as the February of 2024 missions focus was made in the summer of 2023, well before the events of October 7. What a divinely inspired decision that turned out to be!
Our fund raising this February has been for F.I.R.M. – the Fellowship of Israel-Related Ministries. FIRM is a group of almost 70 Christian ministries in Israel with boots on the ground throughout the country. To discover from our guest speakers FIRM founders Wayne & Ann Hilsden, and current CEO Michael (& Vanessa) Mistretta that they have been overwhelmed with needs and opportunities over the past months, during Israel’s war with Hamas, is no surprise. Our church’s goal to raise $130,000 to support these various ministries is so worthy.
One of the places we have celebrated Israel during February is in CLA’s Inspired Arts Gallery. In December last year, our resident gallery curator Jeanie asked me to gather some of the photos I took in Israel during our 2019 trip, for a photo display.
Earlier this year Chris S. (who went to Israel in the summer of 2023) and I had our chosen photos printed in 8″x10” size. One long evening in late January we spent mounting those photos and captions on black cardboard. Our joint exhibition of 77 photos of Israel has been up in the CLA Gallery throughout this month. A Gala this coming Saturday night will put a special emphasis on the land and our project. The photos are for sale and all proceeds will go to FIRM.
Photos from Israel displayed in CLA’s Inspired Arts Gallery during February 2024. (Photos © Chris S. and Violet N.)
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: / ‘May they prosper who love you. / Peace be within your walls, / Prosperity within your palaces'” – Psalm 122:6,7 (NKJV).
Violet Nesdoly 