Malaysia is a beautiful, predominantly island country between the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is a country with a vastly diverse population, with 137 living languages spoken across the land. The general populace is represented by a number of various religions. However, Islam is in the majority including some sixty percent of the population. Because of the drastic number of Muslims in the nation, Islam is the official religion of Malaysia.

As an Islamic nation, there are no political relations between Malaysia and Israel, and Israeli citizens are not allowed to travel there for any reason.

Even in the midst of the current Israel-Gaza conflict, most of Malaysia supports Hamas, so much so that Hamas flags are often seen flying and anti-Israel rallies are common.

More disappointing than any of this is that, typically speaking, even believers in Malaysia are anti-Israel. Replacement theology runs vehemently rampant throughout the Malaysian Body of Messiah. Even many of the Christians within the nation of Malaysia actually stand in unison with the Muslims in supporting and defending Hamas and speaking out against Israel. There is a drastic break in the theological and practical positions of the Malaysian Body of Messiah and the Jewish Scriptures that these Christians rely upon.

It is in the face of so much opposition and the real physical danger facing him that Messianic Rabbi Tzahi Shapira, of Ahavat Ammi Ministries, representing the ministry’s arm to the nations called Operation Or L’Goyim (Light to the Nations), traveled to Malaysia. From Aug. 1–4, Shapira ministered to about 1000 people over the course of the four days. In this audience, there were also around 100 pastors from some 20 different countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, who came to hear the heart of a Messianic Jewish rabbi sharing the historic Hebraic roots of the faith.

In and of itself, this event was miraculous. But it wasn’t only the gathering of a 1000 people that made it miraculous, it wasn’t only that there were people from 20 distinct countries that made it miraculous, it wasn’t only that this was occurring in a predominantly Islamic country that made it miraculous. One of the most miraculous points about the entire conference is that Tzahi was not only a Messianic Jew in a country that despises Jews, but he is also an Israeli citizen who, by the hand of God, was able to minister in a country that does not allow Israelis to even enter.

Some reading this may be wondering, ‘What is so special about a Messianic Jewish conference in Malaysia? Isn’t there a rise of interest in the Body of Messiah toward the Jewish roots of the faith everywhere?’ Yes, that is correct, there is a revival of interest. However, this event which seems to be the case with almost everything God is calling Tzahi to do recently, is unprecedented in that it was orchestrated in an Islamic country that has quite literally ran out most of the Jews that used to reside there. It is also a country, as mentioned earlier, in which almost all of the churches there are impacted by an anti-Semitic spirit. Not to mention that it is also a country in which it is illegal for Believers to proselytize at all. Many true, Bible believing communities are underground houses of worship.

Tzahi shares about the conference, “A couple started a small Messianic fellowship, called Tree of Life in Malaysia about seven or eight months ago. This couple got the Messianic vision for the restoration of the Nations being joined in, grafted into Israel. They felt led by the Lord to ask me to come and lead this conference.”

This couple singlehandedly approached a number of churches on their own to find one that would host the gathering. Many of the churches they spoke with said they wanted nothing to do with Messianic Jews. They felt there is no relevance for Messianic Judaism and that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s favor.

However, there was one church that even against their better judgement, miraculously agreed they would allow the conference to be held in their facilities. Grace Church, a fairly large church in Kuala Lumpur, in conjunction with the small, seemingly out of place, Tree of Life Messianic Fellowship began to put together what became a four- day conference.

Shapira said, “The name of the conference was Restoration/ Shuvu, Shuvu being restored, restoration of the Nations back to the Olive Tree. We put together initially a three-day conference, and we didn’t really know what to expect from three days teaching, not just about end times, but teaching about restoration: What does it mean to be joined in, to be grafted into Israel? Then, by faith, we added a fourth day to the conference, and this fourth day focused on pastors and became a pastors’ conference.”

Tzahi expressed his passion for the vision, “This is a couple with a Messianic ministry, the only one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, that decided in faith that this is going to happen and God is going to breathe life into these things. What happened was nothing short of supernatural in the miraculous.”

For four days, believers convened from all 20 different countries — Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Madagascar, Germany and many others. The facility was jammed full of people who caught a vision for this work of restoration and redemption Adonai is fulfilling in bringing His Body of Messiah back to the roots of the faith. Each person who attended the conference, and all those to whom Rabbi Shapira ministered in various underground congregations around Kuala Lumpur, came together in one mind and one accord to be blessed and taught by a Messianic Jewish rabbi. There was a continual Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) burdened gathering for prayer for Israel and the Jewish people. This coming from many Christians who, prior to this, had next to no interest or concern for Israel. Some of them even made it a point to say they’ve always prayed for the Palestinians and Hamas’ protection. The crowds even came together, faced toward Jerusalem and for the first time proclaimed, “Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad” (“Hear O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is One”), the central prayer of Judaism coming from Deuteronomy 6:4.

In regard to this amazing Spiritual renewal being birthed in Malaysia, Tzahi described how he opened a giant tallit and had the attendees stand under it and grasp ahold of the tzitzit and fringes all around, “It is a fulfillment of Zechariah 8:23 [Thus says aDonai-Tzva’ot, “In those days it will come to pass that ten men from every language of the nations will grasp the corner of the garment of a Jew saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you’.” (TLV)] Where literally a thousand gentiles came and stood under and held the tzitzit of a Jew and are being restored. It was a spiritual hotbed. I did not anticipate what was going to happen there. I never have in all my ministry seen so many people impacted by the Ruach HaKodesh in such dramatic fashion.”

The pastor of Grace Church who attended the conference and was blessed and encouraged by the Word God spoke through Shapira. He approached Rabbi Tzahi and said next year the conference will be held in the main auditorium of the church where there can be 5000 plus in attendance.

The pastor also shared his heart about what God was doing through the event. “This is the season for realigning and reassigning of nations according to their relationship with Israel. From now on Israel, the firstborn nation among all nations, will be the center-stage of world focus and attention as a symbol of Divine excellency, dignity and might. Israel as God’s double Rainbow Nation will continue to triumph in the midst of floods of destruction and winds of change to receive rainbow favors and favors like life-giving rain.” MT