MIDEAST UPDATE 12/7/2020 “God is Good!”

It is hard to believe how fast this year has gone by. Here we are nearing Christmas already in 2020. What a year it has been! 2020 became a year like none other in memory. The convergence of extraordinary events around the world, including inclement weather, increase in geological events, Biblical signs in the heavens and strange cosmic events, rumors and threats of war, societal breakdown and riots and chaos in so many of this world’s cities. Every new day we receive news about increasing threats of widespread famine, pestilences, disease, and death.  

On top of everything, the entire globe has been affected by the COVID-19. Not only have there been millions afflicted with this virus but the economies of nations around the entire planet have been adversely affected.

It is of course always the poorest and most vulnerable that get hit the hardest. I have written about the effects of the virus on the people in the Mideast that the House of Blessing missionaries are ministering to for many months now and the conditions continue to be difficult–especially now that the winter is coming on. As is the case every year, there is a great need for tents, blankets, mattresses, warm clothing, medicine, food, and of course, Bibles. 

The House of Blessing has done everything it can in past years to provide a little extra especially at Christmas time. Even though Christmas is not celebrated in Islam, most Muslims are aware of it. Telling the real story of Christmas is an opportunity to share who Jesus Christ really is.

In the previous update, I told the story of how Brother Omar, while in prayer, had been given some specific ingredients to put together and give to those suffering with the virus. Since then, all locations having HOB communities of believers have been giving people the ingredients to eat and also as a hot tea with the same ingredients. As of the last call I received from Pastor R, this mixture has been very effective. It has been given throughout at least 85 refugee camps up in the Idlib–Aleppo alone. There are underground HOB communities of believers scattered all across the Middle East, all the way from eastern Lebanon, throughout parts of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and western Iran. There are reports of people being healed by the many hundreds of, not only the virus, but likely also the flu that people are afflicted with every single year. One report came in from some of the HOB leadership that three men who had become ill and died, were raised from the dead after having been dead for over a day and a half! How amazing is that? Does God still do miracles today??Absolutely!

The HOB missionaries are not just ministering healing to the sick. They are continuing their work of sharing the Good News about the real Messiah, Jesus Christ. It continues to be a story of hope that people in the Muslim world have not had and people are anxious to accept the free gift of Salvation offered through the Blood of Jesus. It provides an assurance of an eternity in God’s Kingdom that nothing else does, and they quickly recognize this. Pastor R, Raddi and Yussef stay very busy praying and ministering to the long lines of people waiting for prayer. Believers all across the Mideast gather for communion as often as they can. Even these worshippers are drinking the special tea during their celebrations to help them stay free of the virus. 

The harvest of souls continues! We won’t know until we all gather in the presence of Jesus how many souls have had their eternal destiny changed since the beginning of this project in early 2012, but the number identifying with the House of Blessing community of believers is well over 700,000, and that is a conservative number. Your prayers and your support have made this possible. Thank You!

Here in a few days, we have an unusual heavenly event that is going to take place. We will witness the two largest planets in our solar system converging to within .1 degree as we see them from planet earth. This has not happened since sometime in the 1200’s AD and won’t  happen again for another 800 years. Is it a sign of the soon return of Jesus Christ? I believe it is one of many that we have seen within the last decade. Our Messiah and KING is coming very, very soon! I would like to leave you with one short passage of Scripture as I conclude this update:

Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up, and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor…Hebrews 12:1-2a Living Bible 

Thank you all again for your prayers and support for the House of Blessing and their large community of believers. God answers prayer!

Forever in His Service,

Jake Geier