1. May/June 2005: we determined in conversations with many Messianic congregational leaders that there was a genuine desire to see the work of Rescue established in Israel.
2. February/March 2006: we met with leaders from 12 congregations (Arab, Israeli, and Russian) to plan and develop unity among the believers for the work of Rescue and to establish the foundation upon which to build the work. Committees were formed and the work of establishing the "purpose, vision, mission and values statements" took place.
The one area that presented the greatest possible division was in the development of the Statement of Faith. For those of us who sat through this process, it became obvious that God was directing because unity reigned along with good discussion and a very positive outcome.
3. April 26, 2006: The newly elected board of directors met for the first time to begin the process of building the ministry of Rescue in Israel.
4. June/July 2006: we continued to work with the new board and to lay the foundation for the establishment of a legal non-profit organization in Israel for RESCUE Israel; a ministry of God to the homeless, the poor and the addicted.
5. July 23, 2006: Papers were signed to establish the work of RESCUE Israel as a legal non-profit ministry.
6. August 16, 2006: We are now a registered and legal non-profit organization in Israel.
7. September 25, 2006: the first meal to the homeless, hungry and hurting was served from a commercial kitchen that we are being allowed to use. 15 people were served on this first day. Meals will be served once a week to begin with.
8. November 2, 2006: we talked with the board president. They are revising the preliminary budget we put together in June/July 2006. Potential donors are beginning to ask for the budget with the intent of helping financially for which we give God praise. Also, things are going very well with feeding, more people coming and there is a need to increase our feeding program from one day per week to two days per week.
9. On March 9, 2007, after interviews of prospective candidates for the position of Executive Director, Gene was selected. After he competes a contract he is currently working on, he will be hired as the director sometime around June 1, 2007. We give God praise for His leading in this selection.
10. From June 16 to October 11, 2007, Gene was in the U.S. where he received training, through RESCUE Israel in the work of Rescue at various Union Gospel Mission and Rescue Missions. He returned to Israel on October 11, 2007 to help further the work of Rescue in Tel Aviv. He has a big task ahead of him. However, he has a good board to work with and together with RESCUE Israel, we believe God will establish a good work - reaching out to those who are homeless, poor and with various addictions.
