When we moved to Jerusalem in the Autumn of 2016, we were vaguely familiar with Isaiah’s description of Jerusalem as a furnace (Isaiah 31:9), but it wasn’t until we lived there for a few years that we understood why. Besides having the most disputed real estate in the world, it’s also ground zero for the Gospel. Israel is intense, especially in Jerusalem, where agitation, fear, and confusion are palpable. They hang in the atmosphere like the exhaled smoke issuing from the cigarettes dangling from the lips of Jews and Arabs alike, leaving a look of sobriety on their faces and anger and uncertainty in their eyes. Short-term visitors seldom notice it, but the threat of conflict is in every local’s field of vision.
St. Paul knew this tension well. There’s an easy-to-miss but recurring theme running throughout several of his letters, a theme that took on new meaning for us after living there. Paul and his companions were burdened by the realities of living in Jerusalem as a follower of Jesus (Yeshua). They were motivated to help ease their suffering and give relief to the saints who lived there, and St. Paul wasn’t shy about asking for help either. See (Acts 11:29, Romans 15:25-27 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 Corinthians 8)
We get it.
Jewish believers and other Christian workers laboring in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and other regions are under immense physical, emotional, and spiritual strain. In fact, physicians in Israel report that the entire population is on the spectrum of P.T.S.D., from mild to severe.
After a visa run to Cyprus in 2017, we began to imagine how we could help relieve the suffering of those serving in Jerusalem by providing a free place of refuge in Cyprus. We tested the idea a year later when we sublet a villa for six weeks and took some Jewish believers with us. We watched as they rehydrated like dried-out sponges, later telling us it was the most relaxing retreat they’d ever had.
The following year we received two grants enabling us to return and lease a suitable property where we could begin receiving guests. It’s not a guided retreat in that sense, simply a beautiful place to come where you’ll be housed, fed & cared for.
We think of this project as sort of a spiritual M.A.S.H. unit (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital), where people serving in Israel can come for much-needed relief, respite & restoration for as close to free as possible. (You may incur expenses like a rental car, sightseeing & dining out.)
Our team hosts from 1 to 2 ministry couples and small families monthly, people with an immeasurable reach within Israel. Our guests make their way to Cyprus at their own expense, as the 30-minute flight comes at a minimal cost. Upon arrival, we will arrange for their transfer to the property and provide free room and board for the duration of their stay. Our guests receive a much-needed respite from the intense atmosphere in Israel, and opportunities for encouragement, counsel, and ministry, along with worship and prayer at a nearby prayer room. Not to mention the many recreational opportunities on this quiet & beautiful Mediterranean island.
This project needs to be underwritten financially and there are several ways you can get involved.
- We need financial support.
- Sponsor a Family.
- We need volunteers.
Volunteers should be seasoned veterans… mature believers who can get away for 30-90 day stretches—people who do hospitality well and have experience with prayer ministry/deliverance & inner healing.
Won’t you please consider donating to help our team bring relief to the saints in Jerusalem?
Email us to find out how you can help through monthly support or by sponsoring a family.
Cyprus.respite@gmail.com
