[Note: These are Eitan’s thoughts, spoken at the dedication of the Fields of Wheat house in Katzrin, Israel, December 1, 2022. As we move into a new calendar year, We are thrilled to celebrate with each of you this profound step. A fruitful future has been set in motion by God’s provision.]

This night, this place, is a miracle of God.

The journey to establish a physical home to equip young people began 7 years ago in 2015. But God taught us…taught me…a valuable lesson. He’s more concerned with people than property.

Thank You’s and Recognition

In order to arrive at this evening, He gathered a truly dedicated local ministry team: Yoel and Teresa, Cody and Liat, and Ruby. It is a privilege to serve alongside them.

But before this team came together, there were other pioneers– David Shishkoff, Chaim Mailspin, Dean Bye. Oded Shoshani, Anis Barhoum, Leon Mazin, and Ari Sorko-Ram have anchored the Israeli NPO, along with our US team: Steve, Debbie, Lyle, and Michael. We pause to remember our dear brother Gary Morrison, a founding member of our U.S. board who passed into eternity before seeing this miracle.

There have been many hundreds of friends, donors and intercessors who stuck with the vision. They continue as essential workers in the harvest. To you we also say a hearty “Todah Rabbah-Thanks Mightily.”

REVOLUTIONS

Revolutions are made by young people. At the University of California in the 1960s I became a radical. I quit school and joined a revolution for peace.

Later, frustrated, I left society altogether, hoping to change world through communal farming. Finally, at 24, I met Jesus, the greatest Revolutionary of all times and joined the Prince of Peace in His revolution.

HARVEST IS GREAT…LABORERS FEW

While still living in the high mountains of North America, as a new follower of Yeshua, I was reading my Bible in the field one morning and came to these words  Matt 9:36-38 “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

I understood harvest language, because we’d been intensely focused on the physical harvest, throwing ourselves into growing our own food. But now Yeshua spoke to me about His harvest.

I prayed as the Lord instructed. His answer? “You go.” So, we returned to “civilization” and began learning to reach the lost, as His harvesters, bringing Yeshua’s love and salvation. We’re still learning about His harvest, and still praying for harvesters.

THIS HOUSE: EQUIPPING FOR HARVEST

That’s what this house is for, what it’s all about. One of our names for it is “Beit HaKotzrim/Harvesters’ House.” In a fascinating “coincidence” we are located in the town of Katzrin. The name “Katzrin” stems from the word for harvesting crops by hand, old style! Here, we believe that by His Spirit, God will call harvesters and prepare them, both Jewish and Arab young people, to change this nation and the world.

In Joel 2:28, the prophet (Is it no accident that our Executive Director’s name is Joel?) emphasizes the role of youth in the last days outpouring. “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions”.

DEDICATING OURSELVES

And so, this evening we are dedicating more than a place. We are dedicating ourselves, and all who will pass through–to the holy purposes of God, no matter how modest our efforts…to participate in the end-time harvest He’s preparing. For Yeshua said “the harvest is the end of the age.“

We dedicate this dwelling and its grounds to train up the youth and young adults who will be Yeshua’s “revolutionaries”–the workers and leaders in the final harvest leading to His return.

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P.S.  SAVE THE DATE for our next FOW Zoom call on Thursday Dec 15^th, at 6pm Israel time. We are already looking forward to this time of fellowship and intercession – especially since it will be right before our next Chanukah Katzir (Harvest) youth camp. See you then 😊.