The annual UMJC Prayer Campaign through the seven weeks of counting the Omer (Lev. 23:15-16) culminated on May 18-19 and May 22-23 with special offerings for Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks (Lev. 23:15-17; for a discussion of the dating, see "Dayenu or Not" on the home page). The prayer campaign followed the theme of “WALKit!” based on Isaiah 52:7—“Ma Navu, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” The Shavuot offering also followed the WALKit! theme as it put feet to our prayers by raising money to support Messianic Jewish efforts in Israel.

Offerings from UMJC congregations and supporters are still coming in (and you can still contribute; see below). Half the offering will go to efforts like Be’ad Chaim, the Israeli pro-life association; projects under the Jerusalem Institute of Justice that help Israeli children, elderly, and holocaust survivors; and Hands of Mercy, offering help to victims of terrorist attacks. The other half of the offering goes to support the work of the UMJC in welcoming Messiah home throughout the Jewish world.

The two halves of the offering reflect the two loaves offered to the Lord on Shavuot in ancient days. They symbolize the partnership between the UMJC and our Messianic Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel. In addition, as a visible Messianic Jewish organization sends aid through Messianic Jewish efforts in Israel, it not only meets humanitarian needs in Israel, but raises the profile of the worldwide Messianic Jewish community. Yeshua is the ultimate source of our help and involvement, and he ultimately gets the credit.

Rabbi Russ Resnik

Join this year’s Shavuot offering and support Messianic Jewish efforts in Israel and around the world! Donate online at www.umjc.org/prayer, or send your gift marked “Shavuot 2010” to UMJC, 529 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108.