Every year pastors and elders of congregations in Israel gather for a special retreat for the purpose of spending time together before the Lord, or as the event has been named, Sitting At Yeshua’s Feet (SAYF).
The acronym “SAYF” also represents the fact that the retreat is a safe place for congregational leaders to get alone with the Lord and share times of prayer and reflection with fellow ministers.
The first SAYF retreat took place in 2000 when a group of pastors from around the country decided to get away from the busyness of ministry and, without any agenda, sit together at Yeshua’s feet.
“This is not a time for making connections or for promoting your own ministry,” Howard Bass, leader of Nachalat Yeshua congregation in Beersheba, told KNI. “It is a time for those in ministry to come together and seek the Lord. Hopefully it is also a time which will refresh us for going forward to our ministries.”
While SAYF began with only Messianic Jewish pastors and leaders, several years ago participants agreed it was necessary to include Arab Israeli congregational leaders as well.
“This added something positive,” Bass shared. “We are one Body in the land.”
The retreat is 48 hours and is located at either in Sde Boker in the Negev desert or at the Maagan Kibbutz by the Sea of Galilee. For every two gatherings in Sde Boker there is one at Maagan.
“Sde Boker is better for really getting away as it is in the desert, but we also gather in Maagan so as to encourage more participation,” Bass reflects. “Many of the Arab leaders minister in the North.”
The gathering is inspired by the scriptures in which Yeshua, speaking to Martha who was very busy with serving, affirms that Mary had chosen the good part in simply sitting at His feet, listening to what He said (Luke 10:38-42).
“Each person spends about five hours alone from the early morning either in the mountain or in the desert,” Bass explained. “Then, we come together and share if we received anything worth sharing. Praying together and for each other is also a big part of it.”
This year 33 people attended, although there have been years with more than 50 participants. In addition to leaders and elders, young people coming up in the ministry and already serving in their congregations may be invited.
In can be a struggle for everyone to attend, Bass acknowledged.
“One problem is that there is a growing number of things to do in ministry,” he said. “You have to see that SAYF is important and you have to choose to come. We have to trust the Lord that He will take of things at home and that He will meet with us on the retreat.”
Although SAYF tries to keep political and theological differences out of its gatherings, both have played a part in keeping people away.
“Some leaders on the Jewish side stopped coming because they did not want to sit with those associated with the Christ At The Checkpoint (CATC) conference. They feel that CATC undermines the Jews’ right to be in this land,” he said. “And some of the Arab brethren don’t feel comfortable to come because, although they might not be against Israel, they feel it is a place where they see that their Palestinian fellow Arabs are suffering.”
“I personally feel that, unless someone is in out and out sin or is clearly not a brother in the Lord, we should try to come together and promote unity. As Jews and Arabs we are one Body in Yeshua. If we are calling Yeshua Lord then we are coming together to let Him deal with us, get peace with each other, forgiving one another, and being reconciled to God and to each other on some of the difficult issues.”
“By faith we would like to see more congregations represented at the gathering,” Bass said.
Avi Mizrachi, pastor of Adonai Roi congregation, wrote about his experience at the recent SAYF gathering this spring.
“The last night was the highlight of the gathering. We partook of the Lord’s Supper together, proclaiming our unity in the Lord,” he wrote. “It is amazing to experience the encouragement of Yeshua through His Holy Spirit when brethren gather together.”
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1