April 2026 – Nisan 5786
Dear Family in the Messiah Yeshua! Greetings and blessing from your brothers and sisters at “Holy Land Ministries in Israel”!
Introduction by Steve Chappell – HLM board member U.K.
As we approach the season of Passover, we remember the incredible story of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. God heard their cries, sent His judgments upon Egypt, and commanded each household to mark their doorposts and lintels with the blood of a lamb so that the destroyer would pass over them.
This miraculous redemption, celebrated for thousands of years through the Seder meal with its matzah, bitter herbs, and retelling of the Exodus, reminds us of God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises.
For us as believers in Yeshua, this ancient festival carries even deeper meaning. We see in the Passover lamb a beautiful picture of Yeshua Himself—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Just as the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from death, Yeshua’s sacrifice on the cross provides us with eternal redemption. When we gather around the Passover table this year, we celebrate both the historical deliverance of the Israelites and the spiritual freedom we have in Messiah. The unleavened bread, the four cups, the Afikomen—each element of the Seder takes on fresh significance as we see how God’s plan of salvation has unfolded from Egypt to Calvary.
This year the feast of Pesach (passover) and the feast of unleavened bread starts on Wednesday evening 1st April 2026.
Israelis are likely to be celebrating amidst continuing rocket and drone attacks as they have been doing almost continually from 7th October 2023.
This makes the theme of Pesach much more poignant as they look backward to the exodus from Egypt and forward to the final redemption and the Olam HaBah (the Kingdom age).
“Now when these things (the turmoil of the last days) begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Luke 21:28 New King James Version
We are pleased to be able to include the following article on Pesach (Passover) by our local rabbi and brother in Messiah Yeshua.
Passover 5786
פסח תשפ״ו
וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן גּוֹאֵל, וּלְשָׁבֵי פֶשַׁע בְּיַעֲקֹב–נְאֻם, יְהוָה.
“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and to turn away transgression from Jacob, declares the L-rd.”
The Redeemer Who is mentioned here is the Messiah. It is only by means of redemption can sin, iniquity and transgression be turned away. According to Judaism, the day of redemption is Passover, when the lambs were sacrificed in order to secure redemption for Israel (Jacob). It is certainly not a coincidence that Yeshua was crucified on Passover, at the time when the lambs were being sacrificed for the Passover offering. His blood was far more superior to that of the blood of other sacrifices as it is stated in Hebrews 9:12,
οὐδὲ δι’ αἵματος τράγων καὶ μόσχων διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίουαἵματος, εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσινεὑράμενος.
“But not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered once and for all into the Holy Place, making found eternal redemption.”
This verse not only shows that Yeshua’s blood accomplished eternal redemption, but that His blood is far more precious than that of the blood of goats and calves. Redemption has several purposes according to the Scriptures. First, by means of redemption, one is eternally reconciled to G-d. Second, redemption has the power to take those who are sinful in the flesh, and cause them to be declared by G-d as righteous. This represents a change in one’s identity, and through redemption, there is also a change in location. Having been redeemed by the blood of the Messiah, we find that our eternity has been secured for us in the Kingdom of G-d. Finally, through redemption, we become aliens and sojourners in this world and are made citizens of the Kingdom of G-d.
When examining the first Passover in Egypt, it was due to the power of the lamb’s blood that the children of Israel and the mixed multitude (See Exodus 12:38) came out of Egypt, heading to enter into the Promised Land. This represents a typology, whereby through the blood of Yeshua, the Lamb of G-d, we come out of this world, and are called to express a Kingdom character. It is not by accident that the children of Israel, along with the mixed multitude, were called כָּל-עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, all the witness of Israel.
All the words which appear in the Holy Scripture are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Nothing is written by chance, but through the providence of G-d. The Hebrew phrase, אֶת-כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, teaches that Israel is called to bear witness of the redemption which they received at Passover. This has a most practical application, as through the blood of the Lamb of G-d, believers are empowered to bear witness to the indwelling Holy Spirit which caused those who have received salvation to demonstrate the righteousness of the Law (See Romans 8:4). Over and over in the Scriptures, those who are filled with the Holy Spirit are enabled to demonstrate the power of G-d to submit to the commandments of G-d. Although the Law has no ability to make one righteous, the Holy Spirit can indeed bring about a change to those who walk in the Spirit and enable them to obey the will of G-d and have a righteous witness which documents one’s salvation experience.
It is very important to realise that this obedience does not play a role in our salvation experience, i.e., not a means to salvation; rather it only manifests the fact that one has been saved by the grace of G-d. The final outcome of redemption which this article will discuss is resurrection. It is because of Yeshua’s work of redemption, that every believer will experience a resurrection. This resurrection is necessary and provides the means to enter into the Kingdom of G-d. One cannot enter into the Kingdom in a natural state. Paul states,
Τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα βασιλείαν θεοῦκληρονομῆσαι οὐ δύναται, οὐδὲ ἡ φθορὰ τὴν ἀφθαρσίανκληρονομεῖ.
“But this I say brothers (and sisters), that flesh and blood, the Kingdom of G-d is not able to inherit, nor the corruption inherits the incorruptible.” 1 Corinthians 15:50
Only when one examines this verse in the original language can an extraordinary truth can be learned. The Greek word κληρονομῆσαι is actually in the Aorist tense. This is the past tense. Although Bibles do not translate this fact, it is important for the student to understand the reason for this. The Aorist tense shows completion or something in its entirety. This means that by means of the resurrection, one should fully expect to become incorruptible. The Greek word ἀφθαρσίαν is found at the end of the verse and relates to one becoming immortal. This is another proof that when one accepts the Gospel, there are several changes which take place in the spiritual realm. According to this verse, through faith in the Gospel, one becomes immortal and should never doubt one’s salvation experience or the fact that as a new creation in the Messiah, the believer will be welcomed into the Kingdom of G-d.
The word which is implied and should be embraced by all believers is assurance. It was precisely because G-d the Father raised His Only Begotten Son from the dead that every believer can be absolutely assured that he or she will be received into the Kingdom of G-d and viewed by G-d as both righteous and a saint. Such assurance should cause one not to boast in himself or herself, but rather be a source for praise, thanksgiving and worship, both for the Father’s plan concerning His Son and to the Son Himself, Who submitted to it and gave His life so that His followers could experience all the numerous blessings that come from faith in Him and in His perfect work on the Cross on Passover. It is only through what Yeshua did on Passover, shedding His blood and purchasing us through His blood, that we can experience for all of eternity all these wonderful privileges, knowing both His promises and blessings forever and ever.
May you all have a blessed Passover and a meaningful Feast of Unleavened Bread!
חג שמח
Outreach to the Elderly in Ashqelon, Beersheva and Haifa
The outreach to the elderly and needy in Ashqelon, Beersheva continues despite the current trying situation. We are now also reaching the poor and elderly in Haifa also, thanks to the efforts of Leon (pictured on the left with our ward Kateryna) , a committed member of the HLM team in that area.
Leon, his wife Ludmilla and their son Shimon live in Haifa where Leon works as a nurse in a mental health institution. He has been working with HLM for sometime and is now a member of the Executive Committee in Israel. Leon suffers from the effects of an accident and has trouble with his legs that can make walking painful. Leon values the prayers of the believers around the world as he seeks to live out his witness for the Lord in Haifa.
It is a great blessing to our wards that the HLM volunteers and workers are still able to visit, even in the midst of the trying and anxious situation now prevailing daily in Israel.
One of the unexpected events of the situation is the fact that Pastor Vecheslav has
had his visa automatically renewed for a further 3 months, something he sees as the Lord’s favour and grace to him personally. He rejoices that he will be able to continue proclaiming the Good News for another 3 months.
As mentioned in the previous newsletter the Lord has already blessed his ministry with some of our wards responding to the Gospel message.
Pictured on the left is Michael Teleshevsky from Beersheva who recently prayed with Pastor Vecheslav a prayer of repentance and has asked the Lord Yeshua into his life. He is reading the scripture and praying, seeking to grow in his faith.
Please pray for Michael that the Lord will “build him up in his holy faith” and that the Lord will bring his healing touch to Michael.
Please also pray that the Lord will continue to bless and use Pastor Vecheslav as he seeks to spread the Good News to those he meets.
HLM Partners in Kirgistan
Our partners in Kirgistan continue to reach out to their local orphanage and the elderly, practically and through their testimony as Yeshua’s disciples. They also continue trying to combat the endemic anti-semitism that is prevalent in this majority Muslim country.
Please continue to pray for these dear brothers and sisters for the Lord’s strength, grace and guidance.
HLM Partners in India
Pastor Chandra and his congregations continue to reach out the the poor and needy in their local area through the operation of regular “Soup Kitchen”.
He has also started to reach out to the “Untouchable” community as described in the last newsletter.
There was however a slight “hitch”. HLM were due to send boxes of Matzah (unleavened bread) to Pastor Chandra for use in his Pesach Seder. But with the situation in Israel due to the war with the Iranian Revolutionary regime and the ensuing closure of the airports it was impossible to send them.
Thankfully a long time friend and former volunteer of HLM Tamzin and her husband Matthew stepped in and arranged the despatch of the Matzah from the USA.
Please continue to pray for Pastor Chandra and his congregations that the Lord would continue to strengthen, guide and bless them and that they will receive fruit from their labours.
Holy Land Ministries 