18 Responses

1. Awesome interview. God bless you on your mission to Nepal! Be strong!

2. This was a cool episode, Joel! I’ll almost bet most viewers like me had no clue of the great opportunity to witness to young Israelis regarding the gospel of Jesus. For generally, it is the young and searching that a potentially great harvest to plant seeds into young Jewish hearts of the love of Messiah Jesus for them can be plowed into their hearts. I watched this with great interest.

   Blessings!

3. Nepal is an interesting place. The Hindu religion was started by Abraham’s descendants after Abraham sent the his children by Keturah eastwards towards India where they settled in the Indus and Ganges River plains and they worship a single God as Abraham had taught them. Jethro, Moses’ father in-law was a descendant of Abraham’s second Family. During the time of the Persians, as recorded in the Old Testament, the Persian kings sent out statues of themselves to be installed in all the temples in their dominion and worshipped as gods. From that point in time the Hindu religion gained many gods to worship. The religion of Buddhism also started at this time. If you consider many of the Hindu religious practices, one can see the influence of practices of the Israelites being displayed.

   Another little know fact is that the largest yearly Passover feast takes place in Kathmandu and many Israelite scholars make the journey to partake in it from all around the world.

   Nepal has been on my heart since my first visit in Nov. 1996 and since then I have visited as often as possible and supported them as much as I could afford. Nepal is one of the few countries in the world where it was the returning Nepalese people who took the Gospel back to their home country from around the 1950’s and today Christianity is rapidly expanding despite opposition from India and the fanatical home grown Hindus.

   Sadly, the “church” has exported to Nepal many of our excesses in understanding and worshipping styles.

   In the year 2,000 on a visit to the Peace Bridge, on the main road to Tibet from KTM, I observed eagles soaring high above the mountain peaks and had a vision that from the High peaks of Nepal the Gospel would flow outwards into the whole world as it was carried by people who had been in the Land of Nepal so that the whole world would hear the Gospel of Salvation through Christ Jesus..

   There is a passage in the OT, which I can recall but not find again at present, which promises that God will teach the Israelites on the hills besides the flowing streams in the ravines where they are living when they are redeemed so that they can minister to the people around them as they travel (time wise) to the very ends of the earth when god will bring them back to Zion.

   May the Holmes’ ministry be part of this plan of God during their life time.

   Shalom.

4. May the Lord bless you and the family as you go serve in Nepal… I enjoyed listening to the broadcast and listening to your heart and being lead by the Spirit of God to this very place… May the Lord reap a harvest as you share the Good News with the Jews, (A nice rhyme) May the Lord bless and keep you, May the Lord open many doors of opportunities for it is He whom we serve…

5. Great episode Joel!! I recently started reading Stephen’s blog after you tweeted it out the other day and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It matches closely with John Harrigan’s book which I’ve also started reading.

   The full gospel is good news indeed and I am thrilled for people like Stephen and his family that offer themselves as living sacrifices for the sake of Christ. The passion in his voice was beautiful and inspiring. Praise Jesus!!

6. After hearing this fine young evangelist put forth his God-given vision for the work there in Nepal, the Scripture that came to my mind is this:
   How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace; who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, and who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Isaiah 52:7. May the initial anger that a young Israeli might at first feel give way to curiosity, and curiosity to questions, and questions to answers, and answers to resounding faith in the very One who came first for the lost sheep of the house of Israel! I absolutely love this!

7. Joel, you must have had a pretty passionate house church group: Greg, John, Stephen, yourself. Makes me think about how great the Kingdom will be when we fellowship all together.

   Stephen’s voice broke at that one point and showed his heart. May we all have our hearts broken for what breaks God’s heart.

8. We had a pretty special group for sure. Another great family is in Jordan the past three years. Another in Nepal. I really miss it.

9. What an amazing interview. Who would have thought that Nepal would be a place to reach the Jews? We are reevaluating our giving this year, and would like to direct some funds to ministries such as these, as well as to supporting those who are working with the underground churches in restricted countries. So thank you for providing the links where we can donate to support Stephen and his family. We will be praying for them as they prepare to embark on this journey.

10. Thank you so much Jeanne! Love it.

11. Outstanding interview! I never even envisioned Israelis traveling to Nepal in great numbers every year to backpack and travel. What an opportunity to share the Gospel. We’ll be donating for sure. Thanks for sharing.

12. Great to hear how the Lord is sending Gentile believers to take the gospel to the Israeli Jews in the East. There are also Israeli Jewish believers who do the same — in Nepal, in India, in Thailand. There are also Christian host families in places like New Zealand who welcome Israeli travelers, usually after their military service.

    Stephen is so right — and bless him for his heart-felt emotion — that so many Jewish people are living for nothing: let’s eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. May the Lord Jesus give him and his family all that they need to be effective there in Nepal.

13. What a blessing that was.
    To see the emotion he expressed is my emotion too – I am so touched when I see someone else express the longing that is in Gods heart for His people Israel.
    He must be so looking forward to hearing them welcoming Him back.
    May the Lord bless this little family abundantly – always provide for and protect them.
    Always give them many opportunities to share the Good news – to show Israelis their Messiah.
    Glory to God.
    I love it.

14. I’m blessed and humbled.

    Humbling to see a young man of God getting it – and stepping out.
    I can’t help but wonder if the partial hardening was reflected in our efforts (or lack of) to reach the Jews. Seeing people like Stephen focus on reaching the Jew…..inspiring.

    God Bless you Stephen. Great interview Joel.

15. I can so identify with Stephens burning heart to reach young Israelis. This was so encouraging to watch – I watched it a 2nd time with my husband and we want to sow into their family. I personally love sharing Yeshua with all the young Israelis who come to my city to sell skin care products… There are so many opportunities. I am glad Stephen is going to Nepal but I wish he could convey his heart & revelation for Israel in the western church as well… so needed! Thanks for sharing Joel.

16. I’m just super blessed that there has been such a great response. Its a good sign! Blessings Estee!

17. Hi Joel,
    I made a small donation to Stephen Holmes and family yesterday, and I intend to continue making a monthly
    contribution. I noticed the proceeds are being received by a Ricky ……. (I forget the last name). Is he an approved person?
    There is no need to post this on the website, but please reply privately.
    Ben

18. Yes. That’s his dad.