Returning to Beit El: Renewed Faith & Family Blessings

1 day ago

10 min read

Welcome to the Shalom Bridge Family!

Shalom, and welcome to Shalom Bridge—a community where Jews and Gentiles come together to celebrate our shared inheritance in G-D’s promises to Israel and walk side by side in the renewed life we find in Messiah.

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Shiloh Campus Update

The woodcutting has slowed a little while the chainsaw chains get some much-needed attention—and a few may be approaching retirement! A big thank-you to my dad and uncle for lending a hand and teaching me the finer points of sharpening older chains. Gary, our neighbor down the mountain, has also generously donated two trees from his yard, already cut and split. That’s a welcome boost to our winter wood supply! Next on the winter-preparation list: topping off the propane tank before conditions keeps the delivery truck from making the trip up to campus.

Meanwhile, the quail are continuing their egg strike, and solidarity among the flock appears unshakable. Thankfully, the chickens have stepped up production and are now providing just under a dozen eggs a day. Judith has done an amazing job dreaming up new ways to put all those eggs to good use—our own little farm-to-table test kitchen! We’ve also enjoyed sharing some with neighbors and family. It’s a blessing to have something to pass along, brighten someone’s day, and perhaps hatch a few new friendships along the way.

The goats continue to provide entertainment, companionship, and their own version of forestry assistance. Whenever I trudge into the woods to cut up fallen trees, they’re right beside me, happily clearing the surrounding plants one bite at a time. I handle the woodcutting; they handle the salad bar. We make quite a team, although their enthusiasm for snack breaks far exceeds their interest in stacking firewood!

The nights are getting noticeably colder, so morning fires are becoming part of the routine—a welcome way to take the chill off and convince the rest of us that it’s safe to come out from under the blankets.

Family Update

Our family continues to keep busy with work, school, and raising the next generation—and we couldn’t be prouder of them all!

Daniel is finishing the classroom requirements for his electrician’s license. He and his wife, Allie, live in Baker City with their two children. Ethan is back in college in Klamath Falls, working toward a degree in computer science. Noah works as an HVAC technician in Michigan, where he and his wife, Megan, are raising their two children. Junior and his wife, Nyla, live in Dallas, Texas. He works at a gun store and shooting range, while she works as a licensed cosmetologist. Between them, they bring a steady hand to both target practice and hairstyling!

Our daughters are equally busy. Ashley works as a church secretary and is a wonderful wife and mother, lovingly caring for her family alongside her husband, Andrew. They are raising our two grandsons, and Andrew—a terrific husband and dad—also serves the community as a detective with the Baker City Police Department.

Amanda works as a paraprofessional bookkeeper and tax preparer. She is a wonderful wife to her husband, Scottie, and helps care for their two dogs and corn snake—a household with both wagging tails and a distinctly quieter member! Scottie is a great husband and serves as an assistant district attorney for our county.

Samantha and her husband, Andi, live in North Carolina with their two boys. She pours love and care into her family and is a wonderful mother to our grandsons. Andi is a hard worker in telecommunications. Between work and raising two boys, they have plenty to keep them on their toes!

My parents and uncle all live together in Baker City. They’re fun to be around, and we’re grateful that they join us each week for our Erev Shabbat gatherings and studies. Those evenings of family, fellowship, and learning together are a treasured part of our week. Judith’s mom, Milly, lives with her youngest and her beautiful family – and soon they will be expecting another baby girl! We recently had a fun few days with Judith’s sister, Yany and nephew, that came to visit us from Miami. Back in Miami, we have our baby nephew that was recently born. We’re thankful for each member of this growing family. Though everyone is spread across several states, there is no shortage of love—or news to catch up on!

This Week's Parashah

(A parashah or Parashat is a term meaning portion~ in this case, it is referring to a portion of the TORAH)

This Shabbat (shah-BAHT), synagogues and Messianic Jewish congregations around the world will be reading and reflecting on Parashah Lekh L’kha (לֶךְ־לְךָ, pronounced lekh leh-KHAH, meaning “go forth”), the third portion of the book of Bereshit (Genesis). Found in Genesis 12:1–17:27, this portion begins with G-D’s call to Avram to leave his homeland and journey to a land He will show him, promising to make him a great nation and a blessing to all the families of the earth. Accompanied by his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot, Avram travels to Canaan, where his faith is tested through famine, family conflict, and uncertainty about the future. The portion recounts his separation from Lot and later rescue of him, G-D’s covenant promises, and the birth of Ishmael to Hagar. It concludes with G-D changing Avram’s name to Avraham (Abraham) and Sarai’s to Sarah, promising them a son named Isaac, and establishing circumcision as the sign of His covenant. Throughout these accounts, we encounter enduring themes of faith, obedience, covenant, and the courage to follow G-D into an unknown future.

Prayer: Blessed are You, O L-RD our G-D, King of the universe,

Who sanctifies us by YOUR Word

And has commanded us to live in and through Your Word.

Bah-ROOKH ah-TAH ah-doh-NYE eh-loh-HAY-noo, MEH-lekh hah-oh-LAHM, Hah-meh-kah-DAYSH oh-TAH-noo beed-vahr-KHAH, Veh-tsee-vee-TAH-noo leekh-YOHT beed-vahr-KHAH oo-veh-em-tsah-oo-TOH.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמְקַדֵּשׁ אוֹתָנוּ בִּדְבָרְךָ, וְצִוִּיתָנוּ לִחְיוֹת בִּדְבָרְךָ וּבְאֶמְצָעוּתוֹ.

Returning to Beit El

Parashah Lekh L’kha | Genesis 13:1–4

Sometimes the next step of faith takes us back to a place we have already been.

In Parashah Lekh L’kha, Avram travels from Egypt toward Beit El, returning to the place between Beit El and Ai where he had previously pitched his tent and built an altar. Scripture marks this homecoming with a simple statement: “There Abram called on the name of the LORD” (Genesis 13:4).

The familiar altar becomes a place of renewed worship. Avram does not need an entirely new destination to take a meaningful step with G-D. He returns to a place where he had already called upon Him—and calls again.

There is encouragement here for us. We often imagine spiritual growth as constant forward movement: new understanding, greater responsibility, another achievement. Yet sometimes growth begins with returning. We return to prayer after allowing busyness to silence it. We return to Scripture after seeking direction everywhere else. We return to obedience after discovering how easily our own plans can crowd out our attentiveness to G-D.

Our return does not require recreating yesterday. The circumstances may have changed, and we may carry questions we did not have before. Still, we can approach G-D honestly in the present, bringing both gratitude and need.

Where is your Beit El? Not necessarily a geographical location, but a practice of faithful attention you have neglected: an unhurried prayer, a quiet reading of Scripture, a moment of thanksgiving before the day begins.

This Shabbat, make room to return. Set aside the need to appear spiritually accomplished. Call upon G-D with the faith you have today.

Prayer: G-D of Avraham, draw our hearts back to You. Renew our willingness to listen, our courage to obey, and our delight in Your presence. Teach us that returning to You can be our next faithful step. Amen.

Antisemitism Watch | October 14-October 20, 2026

The Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Antisemitism Research Center reported 231 incidents worldwide in its October 18 weekly update. The organization said this was nearly 75% above its 2026 weekly average.

United States: Threats disrupt Jewish education

Bomb-threat hoaxes reported at four Jewish day schools

An October 15 report in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle described bomb-threat hoaxes directed at four U.S. Jewish day schools. CAM’s weekly summary separately recorded evacuations or lockdowns at four Jewish schools and identified a bomb threat that forced the evacuation of a Jewish preschool in Boca Raton, Florida.

Jewish emergency responders reportedly rejected

CAM’s weekly report included an incident in Toms River, New Jersey, in which a traffic-crash victim reportedly refused assistance from Jewish emergency medical responders and demanded the “real 911.”

Germany: Shopkeeper reportedly assaulted

Reporting published October 12 described an attack on a Berlin shopkeeper who uses a wheelchair after he displayed posters opposing antisemitism for the October 7 anniversary.

Ireland: Conference delegates’ hotel bookings canceled

An October 15 report described the cancellation of 70 hotel rooms booked for delegates attending an international antisemitism conference in Dublin.

Italy: Jewish educators cancel planned visit

An October 14 report said Jewish teachers canceled a trip to Italy amid what they described as “antisemitic pressure.” The educators were reportedly concerned that pro-Palestinian activists in Reggio were scrutinizing their personal profiles.

France: Online incitement and an important correction

Antisemitic conspiracies accompany unrest

In findings published after the weekend, CAM reported identifying 1,384 posts on X between October 16 and 18 that linked unrest in France to Jews or Israel.

Synagogue break-in: Antisemitic motive not established

The Ohalei Yaakov synagogue’s temporary premises in Paris were broken into overnight on October 17–18. Prayer books, tefillin, and other objects were scattered, while the Torah scrolls appeared unharmed.

What this week’s reporting shows

The clearest recurring concerns were threats to Jewish communal life, hostility toward visibly Jewish people or organizations, and the spread of collective-blame conspiracy theories.

חָזָק (Chazak): The Heart of Courage

Though You Have Not Known Me

My personal Bible reading today was Isaiah 45, and one phrase continued to stand out to me: “though you have not known Me” (Isaiah 45:4–5, NKJV).

As I read these words, I began reflecting on my own journey with the Lord. Before I truly knew Him, before He delivered me and drew me into a relationship with Him as an adult, He was already at work in my life. Looking back, I can see His hand upon me even in my childhood, guiding me from place to place and using each experience to lead me toward Him.

Perhaps you can look back over your own life and recognize His hand, too. Even in seasons when you did not know Him, He knew you! Isaiah 45 reminds us that He alone is God, the One who created the heavens and formed the earth. Stop and think about that for a moment! The Creator of the universe, the One who holds eternity in His hands, has called you to be His own. He declares that He will make crooked places straight and reveal treasures hidden in secret places so that we may know that He is the LORD, the God of Israel (Isaiah 45:2–3).

What a beautiful reminder that our lives are not beyond His reach! Even when we cannot understand our circumstances or see what He is doing, He is able to make a way where there seems to be no way. He desires more than for us simply to know about Him; He invites us to know Him personally, to trust His character, and to walk with Him through every season.

So, where are you in your walk with the Lord today? Are you facing a difficult season, longing for direction, wanting to know Him, or simply needing someone to stand with you in prayer? Please reach out to us. It would be our honor to stand in the gap for you and pray with you. May you be encouraged today: the God who knew you before you knew Him is still at work in your life! This is a great season to return to the House of God!

Prayer: יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃ יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃ יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם׃

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Through this prayer HIS name has been placed upon us!!! (see Numbers 6:27) May we walk worthy of HIS name!!!

Resources

Podcasts and More. Did you know we also host a weekly podcast called “Shema Shalom”?

Each episode is designed to encourage your faith and deepen your walk with the L-RD. You can listen anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, or directly on our website.

We’d love for you to join us—wherever and whenever you listen!

You can also stay connected with Shalom Bridge on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, where we share updates, encouragement, and teaching throughout the week. You’ll find our podcast episodes and weekly Parashah blogs anytime on our website at www.shalombridge.org.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and generous support. Your partnership enables us to continue sharing this message of hope and reconciliation with the nations. We are deeply grateful to walk this journey with you.

Stay connected with us at www.shalombridge.org or connect@shalombridge.org.

B’Shalom, Dr. Eugene & Judith Saunders

Partner with us to make disciples for Yeshua. Pray about making a gift today to support this ministry? There are many ways to give. You can give online through our Website using Zeffy, give via Cash App, Zelle (through 503-816-7599), or send a special offering to Shalom Bridge at 12745 South Rock Creek Lane, Haines, Oregon 97833. Please prayerfully consider partnering with us. Your help and support are greatly needed and appreciated.

*The photo below is the evacuation zone lines. The blue dot is our house.

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