This summer, Haifa, the city on the slopes of Mt. Carmel was under attack. Fire fell on the mountain but not the sort Elijah called down. This was a different fire - not from heaven but from Hizb'allah. Fire from Katyushas brought this busy city to a standstill for some 6 weeks.

Childrens' Sukkot Party

For us who live in the north, Haifa is our capital. The familiar Israeli proverb explains, "In Jerusalem you pray, In Tel Aviv you play but in Haifa you work." There is real truth to this, Haifa is the blue collar bastion of Israeli industry and technical know-how. But for Leon Mazin and the congregation of Shavei Tsion, Haifa is a field white unto harvest.

Shavei Tsion Congregation (Returnees to Zion) marks its 5th anniversary this December. Haifa has churches a plenty but Leon desired to see a congregation of believers that would express their identity and heritage of Messianic Jewish worship. What started out as a home group quickly grew into a Messianic congregation. Leon and these first "Returnees" boldly preached the good news and just as in Elijah's day many new believers returned back to the God of Israel.

FINDING A HOME

The fledgling congregation quickly outgrew their home fellowship and settled into a new facility. Within a few months they were forced to move out as anti-messianic forces pressured the building owners to turn Leon and his flock away. With no facility they settled for renting meeting time in Haifa's Arab/Jewish Peace Center. This was intended as a stop-gap until the congregation could find a new home.

For over three years Leon sought to find a suitable place. Time after time he would enter negotiations for a lease (these things take time in Israel) and time after time negotiations would break down. On three occasions Leon and the owners had reached an agreement in principle and needed only to sign the final documents when the deal was cancelled at the last moment. Always it was the same - fear of reprisals from anti messianic instigators.

"I was very frustrated," Leon explained. "I would work for months to get a contract and each time it would collapse without any apparent reason. After the last refusal God spoke to me, the next time would work." Two weeks before the war started Leon met with a Haifa businessman to inquire about a long term lease on a downtown building. One week later they had signed off on the deal and Shavei Tsion had a home.

VISION AND CALL

Misha and Leon

A building does not make a congregation but there is a spiritual correspondence here. Just as the early Zionist pioneers established a beach head of Jewish communities and structures in Israel, so the establishment of a building in downtown Haifa creates a focal point of spiritual activity. Leon cannot say for sure if the years of waiting were from opposition or according to God's sovereign choice but he clearly sees the hand of God in providing this facility. Located on the top floor of a five storey building the lease comes with access to the magnificent flat top roof. From the viewpoint one looks out over Haifa bay, the downtown skyline and Mt. Carmel looming up behind. Leon remarked, "As soon as I looked out from the roof I knew this was it." To the east is Haifa's famous sail shaped government building, to the north is the port, the center of economic activity and the site marking historic aliyah. To the south are the Baha'i Gardens, a stark reminder of our calling to raise the banner of truth and preach the good news and to the west is Mt. Carmel, God's memorial to His covenant faithfulness to Israel set in immovable stone. Leon saw the dynamics of Shavei Tsion's call represented in the sweeping vista of their roof line.

Leon: "As I looked out over the view God spoke to me to establish a pray center not only for our congregation but as a focal point of intercession for Israel for believers from all over the world." God has deposited in Leon Mazin a visionary heart. But here is no dreamer sidelined in contemplation. Leon is a get your hands dirty; tuck in your shirt doer of the first order. In five years Shavei Tsion has:

• Established a Russian speaking messianic newspaper with a distribution in 10 countries of over 12,000 copies. The Russian version of Oasis is now being distributed in shops across Haifa.
• Planted a congregation in Nazareth and opened a soup kitchen there. Leon also pastors this congregation. God is raising up local leaders, Alexei B. and Pinchas Y. in this work.
• Established a discipleship/leadership program. No one is called to work independently. Leon is assisted in shepherding Shavei Tsion by Misha M., Ephraim K. and Sasha B. Along with these three leaders they are training and discipling other young leaders for the work of the ministry.
• And just recently ... opened a men's homeless shelter with a focus on alcohol and drug recovery. In the midst of a move into a new facility and on the heels of a war that wasn't exactly conducive to planning, Shavei Tsion has partnered with a believing farmer couple to start a shelter for homeless men who struggle with substance abuse. This is an exciting new project. The men work on the farm, providing much needed labor and learning valuable skills. At the same time they are finding freedom in the Messiah from drug and alcohol bondages. This is all without having any settled base of operations!

Leon's energy and passion emerges out of his deep conviction that our time for action is now. He told me,"I believe we are getting close to a time that requires us to increase our effectiveness. We must be salt and light like Yeshua. Our effectiveness is built on our intimate connection to Yeshua and our partnership with believers from around the world."

Activity without the Spirit's guidance and leading is vain; working in partnership with others activates the Body of Messiah to function according to our biblical pattern and purpose. There are opportunities here for believers from the nations to partner together with Shavei Tsion in vibrant and substantial ways.

Nina and Leon on the roof

God has provided Shavei Tsion a wonderful new facility with an awesome view. The Spirit is speaking to us to lift up our eyes and survey the expansive horizon. The fields are white unto harvest and the master commends us to work while it is yet day. The backdrop of Mt Carmel serves as a witness to God's passion to restore His people even when their hearts are far from Him.

Please pray for Leon, his wife Nina and the other workers mentioned in this article. God has given them a huge commission and there is opposition in the heavenly realms. The fire of heaven still falls today to turn Israel back to her God. If you would like to get in contact with Leon you can email him at: leon_m@netvision.net.il

By Marty Shoub

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