Call to me, and I will answer you, (Je.33:3)
Rev. I. Krutogolov
When in 1997 the Lord changed my heart, along with the words of thanks in my first prayers was a request to give back my family that I lost when I was in prison. I asked Him for the return of my beloved ones: my wife and children and also my father, whom I had not seen for 33 years. In 2000, the Lord gave my back my wife and children. He not only gave them back to me but in His wonderful grace gave them faith in Jesus Christ! So, the first part of my prayer about the family was answered during first two months after I was released, while I continued to pray about the father. There were periods of time when I was very close to giving up and thought that maybe he is not even alive. This year God answered the second part of my family prayer. He gave me a meeting with my dad who now lives in Israel. Our God is an awesome God, Who knows the very intimate desires of our hearts.
I came to Israel with my son, and It turned out that we met many other of my relatives who live there. In a few days we gathered together in the house of my father – more then 20 people. We shared a meal and fellowship, and I showed a DVD about my ministry in Russia. Many of them came and personally thanked me that I found them and came to Israel to meet them. They organized a little tour for me and my son.There is a saying in Israel: Jerusalem prays, Haifa works and Tel-Aviv rests. We went to Nazareth, walked to the top of Masada-fortress, climbed to mount Carmel, saw Bahia’s gardens, swam in the hot springs of Khamad-Gader, dived into the Mediterranean and Dead seas. In a short time frame we were able to see many things, and there is yet much more to see. Israel is a land of wonders.
The Lord gave me a few possibilities to witness to my relatives. Some of them heard me with eyes tearing. My dear brothers and sisters, please join me in my prayer for relatives in Israel.
The impressions of Carmel mountain and the Temple wall in Jerusalem I can not compare with anything else. In both places the prayer flowed as a river out of me. I felt that I do not need to look for words, I prayed, prayed and prayed about everything! Friends, family, ministry and even people I did not know well.
When I was at the Dead Sea, which is so salty that you can hardly sink, I glorified God for all his miracles, for the land that He created and all of His awesome works. “Halleluiah! Praise to the Lord for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Ps. 150:1).
