Together in Faith: Building a Stronger Community
- Dr. Eugene
- Aug 4
- 9 min read
NewsletteR
Welcome to the Shalom Bridge Family!
Shalom and welcome to Shalom Bridge—a community where Jews and Gentiles unite to rediscover our shared heritage in G‑D’s promises to Israel and to walk together in the renewed life found in Messiah.
News
Shiloh Campus Update:
Answered Prayer
After weeks with no water in the house, we're praising God—water is flowing again! What started as a hopeful fix turned into an upgrade: the spring isn't just working, she's roaring like a mountain river. Huge thanks to Ethan, our youngest son with a real knack for problem-solving—he was the missing piece that finally got water flowing again.
And speaking of answered prayers—thanks to the faithful giving of our Shalom Bridge community, we've hit a huge milestone toward our livestock goal! "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). We've made a deposit and will soon welcome 5 goats—1 buck and 4 milking female goats! Beyond fresh goat's milk (Judith is already dreaming up cheese and soap projects), these goats will be a wonderful teaching resource for visitors. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who gave and has been praying!
Meet the Goats (Sort Of)
Since word got out that goats are moving in, we've entered the "measure twice, fence three times" phase of goat-proofing. We've been warned—repeatedly, and seriously—that goats treat fences the way toddlers treat "no." One neighbor told us about a goat who opened a latch, escaped, and was later found standing on top of a parked truck like it was the Alps. So, we're not just building a fence—we're building a legacy of humility, one goat-sized loophole at a time. Pray for our sanity!
Meanwhile, the quail have taken "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28) seriously—we now have about a dozen eggs a day! We even made an adorable basket of quail eggs, ready for new homes soon.
Every hoof and feather here has a purpose as part of building a campus that blesses visitors, students, and ministry leaders while teaching Scripture in a real, rooted way.
Upcoming Need: Fencing
Fencing runs $2.50–$5 per foot—every $50 secures 15–20 feet of pasture. Our goal is $2,500, bringing us closer to hooves on the hillside this fall!
This summer, help grow Shalom Bridge. For just $5 a week—less than a cup of coffee—or $25 a month, you can help us foster understanding, provide teaching, and strengthen connections among Jews, Gentiles, and all who need to hear the good news of Yeshua. Every gift, whether large or small, helps reinforce the bridge we are building together. If you are already giving, thank you—your faithful partnership is deeply appreciated.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/partner-with-shalom-bridge-making-disciples-of-yeshua
Update: Thank you for your support. We now have $450.00 toward our $2,500.00.
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, synagogues and Messianic Jewish congregations around the world will be reading and reflecting on Parashat Re'eh (רְאֵה), meaning "See" or "Behold," from the book of Devarim, "Words" (Deuteronomy). Found in Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17, this portion continues Moshe's final exhortations to Israel, presenting the stark choice between blessing and curse and calling the people to faithful obedience to the covenant.
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.
Parashat Re'eh Devotional
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 11:26–16:17 opens with a divine ultimatum: "See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse" (Deut. 11:26). Not a suggestion — a "seeing." Moshe doesn't ask Israel to merely hear the covenant; he demands they behold it, let it penetrate their vision of reality.
For those of us grafted into this covenant through Messiah Yeshua, Re'eh speaks with startling relevance. The blessing and curse were never abstract theology — they were meant to be lived out in the land, in the harvest, in the treatment of the poor, the widow, the orphan, the stranger. Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) doesn't merely inform us; He transforms sight into obedience.
Notice the portion's rhythm: destroy idolatry, centralize worship, care for the vulnerable, observe the appointed times. This isn't legalism — it's love made visible. Yeshua Himself echoed this heartbeat when He said the greatest commandments were to love G-D and love neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). Re'eh had already woven these together: right worship and right compassion, inseparable.
Deuteronomy 15:11 promises "the poor will never cease from the land" — not as fatalism, but as a perpetual invitation to generosity. "You shall surely give... your heart shall not be grieved." G-D's blessing flows through open hands, not clenched ones.
As Messianic believers, we live in the tension of "seeing" — already grafted into covenant blessing through Messiah's finished work, yet still called daily to choose obedience over the curse of a hardened heart. The Spirit within us doesn't erase this choosing; He empowers it.
This Shabbat, ask the Ruach to open your eyes as He opened Israel's. Where is blessing being set before you that you haven't yet truly seen? Where might obedience — costly, tangible, love-shaped obedience — be the very doorway into the fullness G-D has prepared?
See. Choose. Walk in it. Baruch HaShem.
Prayer: Avinu Malkeinu, our Father and King,
Thank You for Your faithful provision and for leading us each step of the way. Teach us to walk in obedience, to trust in Your Word, and to remember You in every season—whether in need or in abundance.
Guard our hearts from pride and forgetfulness, and help us to live humbly before You. Through Yeshua our Messiah, strengthen us to follow Your ways with faithfulness and devotion.
B’shem Yeshua, Amen
Antisemitism Watch | July 29,-August 04, 2026
Montreal, Canada (Aug 1) — Kosher restaurant Nöam in Côte-des-Neiges was destroyed by an overnight fire; police are investigating possible arson. Source: Combat Antisemitism Movement, https://combatantisemitism.org/
Antwerp, Belgium (Aug 1) — An art student was found selling shirts showing the Virgin Mary crushing a Star of David, with the slogan "Goyim Lives Matter." Why it's antisemitic: "goyim" is the Hebrew/Yiddish term for non-Jews; the slogan is a known rallying cry of antisemitic networks and mimics "Black Lives Matter" to falsely frame Jews as an oppressive force over non-Jews — while the image casts Jews as enemies of Christianity. Source: Combat Antisemitism Movement, https://combatantisemitism.org/
Breinigsville, Pennsylvania (Aug 2) — A Jewish family was confronted by a Burger King employee who, after learning the father was Israeli, repeatedly shouted "Free Palestine"; the family requested a refund and left. Source: Combat Antisemitism Movement, https://combatantisemitism.org/
Zurich, Switzerland (Jul 30) — Graffiti reading "KILL JEWS" was spray-painted at a Greifensee-area fitness center near Zurich, reported via CAM's "Report It Now" app. Source: Combat Antisemitism Movement, https://combatantisemitism.org/
New York City (Jul 26) — Advocacy group "End Jew Hatred" rallied to demand Mayor Zohran Mamdani's removal, citing his revocation of the city's IHRA antisemitism framework following the earlier stabbing deaths of two Jewish men, Chok Sung and Moshe Grunhaus. Source: The Jerusalem Post, https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-904156
Please join us in praying for protection over Jewish communities, wisdom and courage for leaders confronting antisemitism, and hearts transformed so that hatred against the Jewish people would be exposed, restrained, and ultimately overturned.
חָזָק (Chazak): The Heart of Courage
Taste and See!
As we strengthen ourselves in the Lord, I sense the Holy Spirit drawing us into a season of deep spiritual nourishment and divine alignment. In Psalm 34:8, Holy Spirit whispers a prophetic invitation: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” This is a call to step into a deep, heartbeat-to-heartbeat connection with Him.
How do we do this? We “taste and see” by lingering in God’s presence. It happens when you quiet the noise, tune your ears to His still, small voice, and let His love saturate your heart. It is the intimate moment where your soul finds rest in worship, your mind is renewed by His Word, and you choose to actively lean into His faithfulness, even when the world around you is shaking. God doesn't just want to be a topic you study; He wants to be the living bread that sustains you.
This divine intimacy is meant to be shared. On behalf of all of us here at Shalom Bridge, our pastoral heart is to see you encouraged and equipped for kingdom purpose.
This is where Ephesians 4:11 bridges the gap: “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.” As a Messianic ministry, we know these fivefold leadership gifts are Heaven’s alignment designed to help you identify, sharpen, and release the specific flavor of grace God has placed inside you “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12-13, ESV) Your personal intimacy with God is the fuel for community transformation.
Our Chazak Call to Action
Do not sit on the sidelines. This week, let us be strong and courageous:
Share your taste: Share a testimony with someone in our community – and even outside of your community - of how you have tasted God's goodness recently.
Step into equipping: If you are not clear on your specific calling, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you. Then, let us help you sharpen and develop that calling using the gifts in this ministry, Shalom Bridge.
Let's step out, taste His goodness, and build together!
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.
🎬 Calling All Creatives! We Want You! Join our Shalom Bridge Ministry Team!
Do you have a heart for ministry and a gift for video editing? We are looking for someone to help us bring Shalom Bridge Ministries to life on screen! Once a week, we would send you raw footage, and you would work your magic — cutting it together into one beautiful, shareable video. If this sounds like something you'd love to pour your gifts into, we would love to hear from you! Reach out to us at connect@shalombridge.org or (720)722-2375.
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.
Explore & Engage
1. Our Story & Values
Meet the heart behind the Bridge: a Spirit-led mission to minister across hearts and heritages, anchored by the Holy Scriptures and the ancient texts that shape our journey ShalomBridge.org
2. Invitation to Wonder
Browse articles, teachings, and resources exploring “How do the ancient texts speak to us today?” and “What does it mean to live in the unity that Yeshua directed?”
3. Join Us in Real Time
Link into online fellowships, find local gatherings, and join intimate circles rooted in dialogue, prayer, and love-in-action.
Partner With Us
We’re launching with an invitation -
become a partner with Shalom Bridge—through:
Prayerful support
Participating in conversations
Inviting friends into community
Giving financially to our ongoing growth
The work is just beginning—and your presence matters.
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” — Sha’ul (Paul) Galatians 3:28
At Shalom Bridge.org, we believe that unity is the heartbeat of truth and that love across lines, fulfills the vision G‑D gave us. Thank you for being part of something sacred—and for choosing to build bridges where walls once divided.
With deep gratitude and hope,
The Shalom Bridge Team Bridging faith. Growing love. Finding shalom.
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