Richard Gibson Appeal: Your help is needed in Leeds
As Joel gasped ‘Yes’, he didn’t know it would be one of the last words of his life . . .
Joel isn’t his real name — I’ve changed it for the privacy of his family. But his face-to-face encounter with eternity was real as he laid upon his deathbed . . .
You see, Joel had fought against God for most of his life. A Jewish man who’d turned to atheism after he couldn’t imagine an all-powerful, loving God in a world where unbelievable suffering exists.
‘How can God exist in the same world as Auschwitz?’ Joel would exclaim.
Of course, there are truths that are very hard for some people to accept this side of eternity. That’s why I’m convinced that the eternal message of Jesus is best shared in both word and deed.
And that’s why I’m writing to you today. For the sake of Jewish people like Joel . . . and for the sake of our faithful ‘missionary message bearer,’ Richard — who, like you, is compelled by God to win hearts like Joel’s.
For over two decades, Richard and Joel met to talk about Jesus. In fact, they read through the Bible together — exploring the prophetic tapestries that all wove together to reveal God’s promised Messiah in Jesus.
But Joel couldn’t take the step of faith. Rather, he filled a small notebook with his objections and unanswered questions. Yet, God had given Richard a deep love for Joel. Really, God has given Richard a deep love and longing to see all Jewish people saved.
In his decades-long mission to the Jewish community of Leeds, Richard serves as a missionary, mentor, and friend — making himself available to the over 7,000 Jewish people living there.
Over the last ten years, Richard has also been our Director of Ministry, overseeing and managing all our missionaries. He has trained and mentored the many new staff who have joined us and continues to sacrificially pour himself into their lives.
Richard has invested himself in the support and development of our missionaries, and we are so grateful. But this sacrifice has meant that his own support has been impacted, and now Richard faces a significant financial gap of £30,000 that he needs as soon as possible.
My prayer is that the Lord is already moving your heart to give a generous gift to enable Richard to continue to effectively honour God’s call.
Your gift today will be an investment in expanding God’s kingdom and in bringing God’s salvation to the hearts and lives of Jewish people like Joel.
Joel was grateful for Richard’s friendship. He asked Richard often if they could still be friends even if he would never believe in Jesus.
Of course, Richard agreed. And he was there for Joel . . . even at the final moments of his life, as Joel lay dying in a hospital bed.
When Richard received word that Joel was in intensive care and would soon pass away, he tried to reach him multiple times until he finally got through.
Richard asked Joel one last time if he wanted to know the forgiveness, love, and peace that God offers only through Jesus . . . Joel gasped, ‘Yes!’
It was one of the last words Joel uttered before dying.
Then Richard prayed with his friend.
This is the kind of eternal life-change you are helping to bring to other Jewish people like Joel when you support the mission and ministry of Richard.
Your prayers and generous gift will fuel the Kingdom work that is embodied in the life of Richard. He, like you, is burdened to see all Jewish people come to a saving faith in Jesus.
That is why I am asking you to send a generous gift, as the Lord leads, by clicking the button below. You can also give over the phone by calling 01865 887830.
Please let me hear from you soon. I want to be able to let Richard know that you’ve blessed him with your support.
Yours in the Messiah,
Rev. Joseph Steinberg, CEO
International Mission to Jewish People
P.S. After Joel passed away, Richard helped his family clean out his flat. Richard was amazed to find an open Bible on Joel’s desk. Joel had been reading Luke 4:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ (Luke 4:18-19)