Category Archives: evangelism

December 15, 2023 · 5:02 PM

Jesus: The Hope of Hanukkah

Shalom in His peace, Merry Christmas, and a very Happy Hanukkah!

Most of what we know about Hanukkah comes from the writings of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and the apocryphal books of 1 and 2 Maccabees, which Jewish people and Christians view as history, not Scripture.

Though Hanukkah is not one of the major festivals listed in Leviticus 23, it was a recognized Jewish holiday when our Messiah walked the earth. The apostle John explicitly mentions the Feast of Dedication—Hanukkah—in John 10:22. Jesus celebrated the holiday and used it as the occasion for one of His most straightforward statements of His deity, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

THE HANUKKAH STORY

Allow me to present a brief summary of the holiday story. We begin with the role of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Syrian Greek ruler of the Holy Land during the second century bce. He persecuted Jewish people, trying in every way to turn the children of Israel into Hellenists and worshipers of the pantheon of false Greek gods. His nickname among Jewish people was Antiochus the Madman, and he did not win many popularity contests in Israel at the time!

He sent representatives to towns throughout Israel, demanding Jewish people bow to his statue as an expression of their political and religious loyalty. As with similar pagan leaders, Antiochus presented himself as a god and not as a mere mortal.

The Jewish citizenry in the little town of Modi’in, still a vibrant city today in modern Israel, refused to bow to the pressure of idolatry. They killed the emissaries of Antiochus and began three tough years of guerilla warfare led by the Levitical priest Mattathias and his sons, whom we know as the Maccabees. They won the war and overthrew Antiochus’ rule over Israel.

However, the Maccabees discovered Antiochus had commanded his soldiers to slaughter a pig on the holy altar within the Temple. This desecration was tragic and infuriated Judah Maccabee and his small cadre of priestly warriors.

Judah and his brothers considered cleansing the altar but tore it down to the last stone and built a replacement altar instead.

THE MIRACLE OF THE OIL

In Jewish tradition, there is another story of a miracle taking place at the same time. It seems the Maccabees only had enough olive oil to fuel the eternal light in the Temple for one day, and it took eight days to crush the olives and cure the oil to make a new batch. The great miracle of Hanukkah is the one day of oil lasting for eight, which is why we celebrate Hanukkah for eight nights. This tale is wonderful and charming, but since this miracle does not appear in the Bible, we cannot be sure it really happened. Nevertheless, I grew up enjoying this story as it became the basis for receiving eight presents during the holiday—one for each night!

Soon after becoming a believer in November 1970, I began to ponder the relationship between Hanukkah, the holiday with which I was raised, and Christmas, a holiday brand new to me. The holidays were just around the corner, and as a new Jewish believer, I felt I had to choose between the two. Often, our friends and family who do not know the Lord believe the holidays identify whether you are a Jewish person or a Christian when we know we can be both! We have a saying I like, “Christmas is really a Jewish holiday,” which celebrates the birth of the Jewish Messiah and Savior of the world.

PARALLELS BETWEEN HANUKKAH AND CHRISTMAS

Some of my brothers and sisters might differ on the date and details of Christmas and various traditions associated with the season. Yet, we all agree Jesus—or Yeshua (His Hebrew name)—was born of a Jewish virgin, as Isaiah predicted (Isaiah 7:14).

He is God in the flesh, and the deliverance we experience through Him is greater than the deliverance Jewish people experienced at the first Hanukkah. Our salvation brings the gift of eternal life and enables us to overcome slavery to sin and death. The national deliverance celebrated during Hanukkah commemorates the deliverance of Jewish people from Greco-Syrian rule and a return to self-governance.

Both are wonderful, but there is no comparison between the two, as Jesus Himself said, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

These two great holidays are “joined at the hip,” yet the bonds go much further than giving presents, lighting candles, and even the wonderful family togetherness we enjoy during this season. The most profound linkage is this . . . if it were not for Hanukkah, there would be no Christmas. Had Antiochus destroyed all Jewish people during the first Hanukkah, the Messiah could not have been born to a Jewish virgin, as promised.

GOD PRESERVES HIS PEOPLE

We might also look at the continued existence of the nation of Israel as another Hanukkah miracle! Every year, Hanukkah reaffirms our belief in God’s faithfulness to His covenants and promises (Genesis 12:1–3 ff.). The Lord will keep His covenant with Israel—His chosen people will never be destroyed (Jeremiah 31:35–37; Romans 11:29).

We can never forget what happened to innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023. Hamas terrorists crossed into Israel with the sinister purpose of destroying human life in the most gruesome ways. They came to kidnap, rape, and slaughter—in effect, trying to burn Israel to the ground. The attacks were inhuman!

The hatred of Jewish people we see today is part of the devil’s plot to destroy Jewish people, embarrass God, and prevent Israel from fulfilling her role in the plan of God!

Jewish people have been the object of Satan’s ire for millennia, and the evil one has used complicit nations to attack His chosen people. We know the battle will be over one day as our one true and all-powerful Messiah, the son of David, will ascend His rightful throne to reign as King over a redeemed and renewed earth.

The Lord promised to preserve His people:

Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; the Lord of hosts is His name: “If this fixed order departs from before Me,” declares the Lord, “then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.” Thus says the Lord, “If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:35–37)

We need to remember the future is glorious, according to the prophets of Israel. Isaiah wrote, “The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate. You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (Isaiah 62:2–3).

HOPE DURING WAR!

We have hope for tomorrow, but we also are grateful for all He is doing today during the difficult and dark days of war. The staff of Your Mission to the Jewish People in Israel is providing love and comfort, meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of those Israelis suffering during the war.

We are serving Israelis who are displaced and evacuated from their homes active soldiers who need blankets, toiletries, food, and more. We are also serving the elderly by providing nourishment and spiritual comfort. So many of them cannot even make it to bomb shelters. They are alone and scared and desperately need our prayers and the comfort that only God can give.

I recently heard from one of our staff serving the Lord in the North, where they are under attack from Hezbollah operating in Southern Lebanon.

Here in Nahariya, we are in a war and waiting for the fighting to spread. Nahariya is a massive military base, and the IDF has set up fighting points on the beaches and main highway. There are armed soldiers all over the place.

The artillery fire on the border six miles away can be seen and heard almost every day. Surprisingly, there have only been two red alerts in the past two weeks. I am reminded we are at war, and the artillery is a harsh reminder.

Pierre and I have been out giving away our soldier gift bags, which have been well received. We are preparing a second wave of gift bags. Or HaGalil Congregation is holding regular meetings and trying to encourage one another.

HOPE FROM HEAVEN

Israelis are now looking for hope beyond this world. Our missionaries are bringing the message of Jesus to Israelis person to person and heart to heart. God will use your support to help our staff help those hurting and grieving in Israel today and tomorrow. Our staff is what our Mission is all about.

Thanks so much for your faithful prayers and very generous support. Israel will survive. God’s work among the Jewish people will continue until He returns, so please help us this holiday season when we think about His gifts to us and our gifts to others!

Israelis will need our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center more tomorrow than today, considering the growing spiritual openness of Israelis due to the suffering of the last few months. The world has changed, Israel has changed, and Israelis are changing. Help us meet the needs of those suffering, especially the spiritual needs of Israelis, young and old, who are now seeking answers to life beyond politics and are more open to God’s help for earthly problems than ever before.

Thank you for standing with us and for caring!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

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November 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

The last several weeks have been incredibly difficult as we grapple with the violence and conflict in Israel. This crisis began on Saturday, October 7. Because it was the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles and it was the Sabbath, the Israelis were thoroughly unprepared to fight as they were resting and celebrating the holiday. It was also the fiftieth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, when Arab invaders chose Yom Kippur in 1973 because they knew the Israelis would be fasting, attending synagogue, and ill-prepared for the attack. 

On October 7, 2023, at 6:30 AM, more than 1,500 Hamas terrorists broke through the Gaza border into Israel and began slaughtering more than 1,400 innocent men, women, and children, including almost 300 soldiers. 

Hamas fired missiles into southern Israel and killed and kidnapped the Israelis in their path. At the southern kibbutz of Kfar Aza, the terrorists murdered more than 100 civilians, decapitating some, including babies! They murdered at least 260 young people at a music festival. Though our staff are safe for the moment, they personally know people, including Holocaust survivors and young adults, who were killed. Some of our volunteers, staff, and their children are now on the front lines of the war. 

This unprecedented massacre of Israelis reminds me of the dire need to pray for Israel and work toward peace for all people in the Middle East. In Psalm 122:6, we are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I hope we all take this mandate for prayer seriously. Please pass this along to your family, Bible study groups, and local congregations. The more we pray, the greater we will experience God’s blessing. 

Psalm 122:6 is an often-quoted verse, but the entire psalm has a richness and depth I invite you to explore with me. 

THE PSALMS OF ASCENT

Psalm 122 is considered one of the psalms of ascent. These psalms are known by this term 

because the children of Israel probably sang them as they climbed the craggy and dangerous paths toward Mount Zion to celebrate the three pilgrimage festivals: Passover, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles. King David is usually recognized as the author of this beautiful piece of divinely inspired poetry. 

The psalms of ascent include Psalms 120–133. Thematically, this section of Psalms begins with repentance and concludes with the psalmist extolling the virtues of community. You might be familiar with the beginning of the last psalm in this group, “How good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity” (Ps 133:1). 

There is a pattern to interpreting the Psalms. Most commentaries or Bible studies on the Psalms identify the central theme as worship. Indeed, there is much in Psalm 122 about worship, as in verse 1, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (Ps 122:1). Then we read, “To give thanks to the name of the Lord” (Ps 122:4b), which could specifically refer to the offering of thanksgiving sacrifices at the Temple, not simply to singing songs of thanksgiving. 

However, a closer reading of the psalm reveals the real focus is the destination of the pilgrims— Jerusalem. The great theme of Psalm 122 is Jerusalem: where their feet are standing (v. 2), built compactly (v. 3), to which the tribes go to give thanks (v. 4)! This city is the home of the Temple, where sacrifice and all other forms of worship took place. David’s intent was to highlight the city. There is no reason for us to do any differently or read other meanings into the words of the text. 

THE FIRST FIVE VERSES

There is much to learn from the first five verses of Psalm 122. They set the scene by describing a pilgrimage whereby members of the tribes of Israel were obedient to God and traveled to Jerusalem to worship the Lord—probably on one of the three great pilgrimage festivals. The phrase “give thanks” may very well refer to the thanksgiving offerings outlined in Deuteronomy 16:16–17: 

Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.

Then, in verses 3–5, the psalmist refers to the tight-knit construction of the city, thrones of judgment (referring to the courts), and thrones of David (referring to the role of the Davidic kings). All these images lead to the appeal for prayer in verse six. 

A FOCUS ON VERSE SIX

The psalmist instructs the pilgrims: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you’” (Ps 122:6).

The psalmist calls upon the people of God to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The very name Jerusalem includes this hope for peace. The English term -salem in “Jerusalem” comes from the Hebrew word shalom—peace, wholeness, and completeness.1

When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are praying not only for the cessation of temporal hostilities (such as terror and missile attacks, the enmity between Israelis and Palestinians), but most of all for the return of the Messiah—the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Our hope is for the personal peace of those who live in the Holy Land!

A COMPARISON BETWEEN PSALM 122:6 AND GENESIS 12:3

The blessing attached to this call to prayer is important and harkens back to the Abrahamic Covenant, in which God promised blessings to those who bless Israel and Jewish people. As the Lord told Abraham, “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

God’s promise to Abraham is clear: The reward for blessing Israel is blessing! However, the benefits God had in mind are not primarily materialistic. The fulfillment of this promise comes to us in many shapes and forms and should not be limited to what this world offers. When we are in a right relationship with Him and obedient to His Word, the blessings we receive will be myriad! 

Psalm 122 parallels the Abrahamic Covenant as David promises those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem will “prosper.” Curiously, the promise is for those who “love Jerusalem,” and therefore, we understand the prayers are motivated by love for God’s holy city, as the psalmist writes, “May they prosper who love you” (Ps 122:6b).

The Hebrew term for “prosper” is shalah, which can easily be translated as “have peace and quiet.”2 The prosperity described is a quality of soul and life. This calmness enables those who love Jerusalem to enjoy a similar personal peace as enjoyed by God’s chosen city. 

If we bless Israel, we are participating in unfolding God’s promises to Jewish people, directly impacting Gentiles. One of the ways we can bless Israel and Jewish people is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. When we do, we will receive what money can never buy—God’s presence in our lives—the very source of peace and prosperity! 

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING

Thank you so much for joining us as we pray for the Prince of Peace to reign in the hearts of individuals in the land of Israel and worldwide to experience the abundant life the Messiah promised so many years ago (John 10:10). This prayer would include the Jewish people who live in Jerusalem, Israel and around the globe as Jerusalem is often used in Scripture as a stand-in to refer to the entire nation. We must also pray for the Palestinian victims of Hamas who have suffered terribly for many years, especially in Gaza. Join us in praying for those who live in all the lands promised by God to Jewish people—including what is now known as Gaza (Joshua 15:47). 

Please remember to pray for the work of Chosen People Ministries in Israel, especially as the country mourns the tragic deaths of more than 1,400 Israelis and enters what might be a long and complex military conflict. The nation of Israel is in shock, grieving for her lost children and traumatized by the insecurity of living in the Holy Land. Our people desperately need the gospel, and we pray for many Israelis to be open to hearing about the Messiah Jesus. 

As we provide food, needed items for displaced families, love, and counsel for those who have lost loved ones and have family members in harm’s way every day, we already have many opportunities to proclaim the love of Jesus to Israelis. 

We are grateful for your support and prayers, as we could not continue this work without your sacrifice and generosity. 

Thanks for caring.

1 William Lee Holladay and Ludwig Köhler, A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament: Based upon the Lexical Work of Ludwig Koehler and Walter Baumgartner, 12. corr. impr. 1991, reprinted (Leiden: Brill, 2000), 371, 73.

2 Ibid, 370.

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November 8, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Israel War Update

I remember the day I started writing this letter. It was during the fall Jewish holiday season, and I was filled with hope and excitement for the Jewish New Year, which usually falls in September or October on the Gregorian calendar. I wrote the letter in good faith, and, as usual, I asked God to lead me as I wrote to you. I was satisfied with what I wrote and sent the letter to our Chosen People Ministries publications department for further editing and review.

Then, the world as we know it changed dramatically.

On October 7, more than a thousand Hamas terrorists broke through Israeli defenses. They attacked innocent civilians while the country observed the Sabbath and the last day of the final fall holiday, the Feast of Tabernacles. It was supposed to be a day of rest and rejoicing. But no one on the Israeli side was prepared for what would happen next. By Sunday, October 8, Israelis realized 1,400 men, women, children, babies, and elderly Jewish people were brutally slain by Hamas terrorists, and—horror of horrors—about 200 Israelis were kidnapped and brought to Gaza. Thousands were also injured—many seriously so!

I do not need to go into gruesome detail about what the terrorists did to the individuals they killed and captured. We know the torture and pain were indescribable and inhumane, often leading to death. October 7, 2023, was a day of primal brutality against Jewish people, the likes of which we have not seen since the height of Hitler’s reign of terror.

These atrocities still weigh heavily on my heart each moment of every day. Israelis are grieving lost loved ones, and the families of the abducted are hoping and praying for their release.

THANKFUL AMID TRAGEDY?

It is almost hard to believe we are entering the season of Thanksgiving. It seems so inappropriate to be thankful at this moment in time. I will admit I am having trouble thanking God in light of these last several weeks. I know the apostle Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), but I find it hard to be thankful given the events of these days. I continue to ask the Lord for a deeper biblical understanding of suffering. The pictures of little children and babies kidnapped and killed by Hamas haunt my every waking moment. These are my people—a nation called by God for His holy purposes—yet the sovereign and all-powerful God allowed evil people to perpetrate crimes of the most repugnant nature against my Jewish people.

I am not trying to find some good from what happened. Yet, after what I would call “forced reflection,” I have found some reasons to be grateful amid tragedy.

First, we discovered some friends and family we knew as ordinary people became heroes when Israel needed them. We are only now hearing some incredible stories of heroism during the events of October 7. Parents protected their children and sacrificed their lives in the process. A mom and dad hid their children and distracted the terrorists, but were shot and killed in the process. I am grateful for their love, their sacrifice, and their exemplary actions!

It will take time to uncover all the stories of bravery and heroism we must hear and tell. Jewish people honor their heroes, and I am thankful for this part of my culture, where we remember our heroes for years to come. One example is how we still commemorate those—Jewish and Gentile—who died at the hands of the Nazis for saving others.

I am thankful today for our Israeli staff’s courageous and compassionate response to the tragedy. For instance, one of our staff families heard there was a dire need for baby supplies among those who evacuated southern Israel. They promptly purchased pacifiers, baby food, and other resources to help these people who had to flee their homes at a moment’s notice. They have continually provided emotional, spiritual, and practical support for hundreds!

How can we come to grips with what happened and be thankful? How can we keep ourselves from being consumed by hatred and a desire for vengeance? How can we be grateful during this season of Thanksgiving in light of these tragic events? The answers are all the more elusive because of the graphic nature of the crimes appearing so often on social media, the news, and websites replaying the horrors, not letting us forget. The images stick in our minds, and I, for one, find them impossible to shake!

Yet, I know God wants me to be grateful—not for what happened, of course—but for His grace and mercy we find on the path of suffering. I am so moved by Jesus’ example described in the book of Hebrews:

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2, emphasis added).

His example is so powerful. Not only can we be thankful, but we can even find joy as we suffer because we know He overcame this world and, one day, all suffering will cease. He will wipe every tear from our eyes, and we will live with Him forever. This hope transforms the saddest experience into a moment of sober joy, knowing one day He will return, reign as King from the land of Israel, and take back His world. We long for His return. Today’s tragedy drives me to the cross to find the comfort and hope needed to live a thankful life.

I can also tell you I am grateful for my fellow followers of Jesus who have called, texted, emailed, and written notes asking if I am okay and if our Chosen People Ministries staff are safe. I cannot believe the generosity of individuals and local churches who have sent funds for ministry in Israel to express their love for the Lord, the Jewish Messiah, and Jewish people. Tragedy often leaves us feeling helpless, so we do what we can to alleviate the suffering and grief of Israelis, for whom Jesus died!

I believe giving to our ministry, especially during this season, is motivated by the noblest of Christian motives. I am grateful to be part of the body of Messiah, which is capable of such great love, compassion, and sensitivity.

We are still renovating a new space near our current Messianic center in Tel Aviv, which will enable us to expand our fruitful ministry to young Israelis. This facility is more than twice the size of where we are now. With so many young Israelis being called up to serve in the military during this crisis, ministering to young adults in Israel is more important than ever! I believe we are building this new center to handle all those who will seek the Lord as a result of the tragedies of October 7. We pray it becomes a haven of hope for Israelis.

To learn more and discover how to be part of the new Tel Aviv Messianic Center, go to http://www.chosenpeople.com/telaviv.

THANKFUL FOR YOU

As I consider how God has blessed Chosen People Ministries, I am humbled by the passion and generosity of those like you who pray for and support this historic ministry, which begins our 130th year of Jewish ministry in January.

On behalf of the entire Chosen People Ministries family, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Remember, your family at Chosen People Ministries is thankful for you!

We need your continued prayers for the Peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), especially for those who lost loved ones and for those who are seriously injured or being held captive by the terrorists in Gaza. Let us also remember to pray for Palestinian noncombatants whom Hamas put in harm’s way and who need His mercy and grace as well.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and generous support for this historic work among the Jewish people—in Israel and beyond!

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October 20, 2023 · 8:30 AM

How Can a Good God Allow Human Suffering?

Horror and war have erupted in Israel.
 
Our entire team, including our dedicated staff and missionaries, is profoundly saddened and shocked by the terrorist acts.

However, we can find comfort when tragedy strikes as we look forward to the day when our Lord will “wipe away every tear from [our] eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain” (Revelation 21:4).
 
Our hope does not mean we do not face suffering before the wondrous day mentioned in Revelation 21:4 (John 16:33). Brutality like what the Hamas terrorists did may stir us to cry out, “Why, God?! How could You allow such crimes to happen?”

Our evangelistic newsletter this year seems especially timely—“Purpose-Filled Suffering.”

Many think a good God would never allow people to suffer because suffering hurts, and a good God should alleviate pain. If removing pain is beneficial, and an all-good, all-powerful God exists, it would make sense for this God to eliminate all pain, right?

Religious and non-religious alike have posed this question. For some, it is the reason they abandon their beliefs. For others, this question is why they commit themselves more deeply to faith. Those who turn from faith see the matter as a logical argument either against the existence of a good and powerful God, against the existence of God at all, or both. They reject the idea of worshiping the God of the Bible in the face of excruciating suffering. Those who embrace biblical faith despite the existence of suffering view the dilemma as resolved by the presence of a good and powerful God. They find peace and solace in following Him.

How do we reconcile these divergent views? One key could be to differentiate between suffering caused by moral failure and suffering caused by other reasons. However, no matter what the cause, pain and suffering are always emotional situations, which adds to the complexity of the problem.

Consequences of Moral Evil

Some suffer because of moral evils like theft, murder, and rape. Yet, people also suffer from cancer, miscarriages, and hurricanes destroying homes. Moral evil is when humans intentionally cause suffering. However, not all suffering is the result of moral evil.

Sometimes, when we consider the problem of evil and suffering, our own experiences can easily blind our hearts and bend our logic. So often, we cannot find the reasons for our suffering or the pain of a loved one. We seek comfort in the answers but find little help making suffering sensible.

Maybe suffering causes us to run from God when we should consider running toward Him instead. Divine help and wisdom are always available by simply reading the Bible. The Psalms have long comforted those who have faith in God and those who do not. The psalmist’s words eloquently mirror our pain and lead us to a God who identifies with our suffering. Knowing this often provides some relief from the loneliness of suffering—we are not alone.

The Intellectual Problem

The Bible and our shared experiences indicate God created humans with self-determination—the ability to choose and perform evil acts. Those choices are ours. Our poor decisions do not stain the One who made us. For example, two virtuous parents can give birth to a child who becomes a murderer, but the child’s evil acts do not mean the two righteous parents are not virtuous.

Why would God create humans and permit them to do evil deeds? It could be because God also wants us to experience love. Love, by definition, can only be freely given. No one can program a robot to love genuinely. No one can force someone to love another person. Love must be a freely chosen decision. Since love cannot be compelled, human beings must have the freedom of choice to experience it.

We should also reconsider whether God abolishing all moral evil is desirable. Choice is a significant theme in the Hebrew Scriptures. If God were to take away the possibility of making the wrong choice, making the right choice is no longer a choice at all. The Bible considers the consequences of bad choices when we are told, “I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity” (Deuteronomy 30:15). Yet, God still tells us to “choose life in order that you may live” (Deut 30:19). He gives us the ability to choose so we can choose to love.

Suffering and the Existence of God

Now, regarding the problem of suffering not caused by the evil of others, we must ask if human suffering and the existence of a good God are mutually exclusive. Can we show how human suffering does not necessarily negate the existence of an all-good and all-powerful God? Is it possible to show how suffering can produce good?

It is understandably challenging to see how good might come from suffering while we are still going through it. As a result of our circumstances, we may see suffering as an argument against God’s existence or His goodness. We can be prone to viewing suffering as always evil. But if we can show how the experience of suffering might produce something more meaningful than the suffering itself, it might produce the very solace those hurting are seeking. Discovering faith in the midst of suffering takes reflection and courage, especially when you may not have been brought up in a home where God was part of your everyday life. Sometimes, we simply need to see the good suffering can produce when viewed through the eyes of faith.

Good Can Arise from Suffering

We have all experienced temporary pain, especially physical pain, producing some good, including necessary surgery, physical exercise, or a dental visit. Emotional discomfort can also lead to good results when we, for example, forgive someone. Pain and suffering do have obvious benefits at times.

If suffering were inherently incompatible with goodness, then there would not be any benefit from these sources of pain. However, we know this is not the case.

Not only can these discomforts produce positive outcomes, but they may also prevent greater suffering later. The pain endured following heart surgery is inconsequential compared to dying without the surgery. Pain experienced when exercising sometimes helps prevent future injury and sickness. The uncomfortable interactions we endure when apologizing and forgiving sustain relationships and families. Persevering through suffering can sometimes prevent greater suffering later on.

When Suffering Seems Pointless

What about pointless and involuntary suffering?

It is impossible to know precisely why we or our loved ones suffer outside of some obvious physical ailment or disease. We may never find the key to unlock the door to those unfathomably dark moments of personal suffering. The reasons for suffering often remain mysterious.

We often live with doubt, uncertainty, and the temptation to declare life’s greatest struggles meaningless. But we must fight these temptations. Faith while suffering is a much healthier response to our painful situation than logic and an over-analysis of what, in all probability, will remain shrouded in mist. We are the created—not the Creator—and therefore, we do not know everything, even about ourselves. We need to look to One who is above and beyond ourselves and has greater wisdom, understanding, and power than we do.

In the New Testament, the great Messianic Rabbi Saul (the apostle Paul) cried out in one of his letters, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). As difficult as it may be to believe, the Scriptures encourage us to trust God and seek His presence for the healing of our souls during times of suffering. He has a greater purpose for our pain than we realize. As the Hebrew prophet Isaiah wrote, “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isa 55:8–9).

The Ultimate End of Suffering

Still, it is fair to say, “If an all-good and all-powerful God exists and suffering exists, then God should provide a solution to my suffering.” According to the Scriptures, God is our rescuer and redeemer. So much suffering in this world arises from human failure, which the Hebrew Scriptures call “sin”—my sin, your sin, others’ sin, and even our collective sin. Thankfully for us, God provides a way for our sins to be forgiven (Jeremiah 31:34) and for us to be transformed and begin the long process of being remade in His likeness—spiritually, morally . . . and from the inside out. As predicted by Isaiah,

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. (Isa 53:5–6)

This prediction of a suffering Messiah who bore the sins of the world was fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah. He is the ultimate example of meaningful suffering as His death and resurrection provide forgiveness for the sins of all humanity—both Jews and Gentiles—by faith. If we submit our lives to Him, Yeshua also invites us to become like Him—someone who brings comfort and compassion to others experiencing suffering, enabling us to show God’s love to those who are suffering. We await His return, when He will wipe away every tear, and suffering will be no more—what joy awaits those who follow Him.

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October 3, 2023 · 9:33 AM

Ministry Amid Political Conflict

Shalom in His grace. Political turmoil within Israel, from protests to judicial change, is playing out for all the world to see these days. I thought I would comment on these tensions and provide some background for Israel’s recent struggles.

DIFFERENCES AMONG EARLY IMMIGRANTS TO ISRAEL

Zionism started as a secular movement in Western Europe primarily through the efforts of an Austro-Hungarian-born Jewish journalist, Theodor Herzl (1860–1904). His sole desire was to save the Jewish people from antisemitism and persecution. He could not have imagined the scale of destruction European Jewry would experience thirty-five years after his death at the hand of another Austrian—Adolf Hitler. Eventually, Herzl’s initiatives would secure a safe haven—a Jewish state—to protect the children of Israel from the virulent and vicious expressions of government-led antisemitism.

Inspired by the hope of a Jewish homeland in Zion and the words of Theodor Herzl, the founders of the State of Israel were mainly of Ashkenazi background (European Jewish people). Soon after the establishment of the state in 1948, there was a large wave of Sephardic Jewish immigrants to the Holy Land from North Africa. By the early 1950s, the Jewish population of Israel was 1.5 million. Of these immigrants, 650,000 came from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Tunisia, and many other countries in the Middle East and North Africa. As European colonialism declined between 1945 and 1960, Muslims took control of their newly established nations and forced the Jewish populations to leave because they vehemently opposed the establishment of Israel.

For years, Islamic nations grew increasingly intolerant of Jewish people in politics, business, and academia. These countries came to restrict Jewish people as stringently as European nations did in the days before the Holocaust. The early Israeli settlers forged a common bond over the experiences of persecution, loss of jobs, and fleeing to a new country.

DIFFERENCES LEAD TO CONFLICT AMONG ISRAELIS

The Middle Eastern and North African Jewish populations had a distinct culture and religious life compared to European immigrants. The differences between these major groups of early Israeli settlers touched on every area of life, including marriage customs, cherished foods, synagogue liturgy, and even how they celebrated the Jewish holidays. Marriage between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish families in the early days of the modern nation of Israel was rare. Israel was a divided country from the beginning because of these cultural and religious variances. 

ISRAEL’S DEMOCRATIC POLITICS

From the very start, the Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish communities in Israel inherited a British-designed parliamentary system. This structure includes a prime minister, a set of democratic principles (without a constitution like Britain), and elected representatives. For the Eastern European Jewish population under communism and the Middle Eastern Jewish population, who often endured despotic leaders and persecution in Muslim countries, Israel gave them a chance to organize their lives to reflect historic Jewish values rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures.

These freedoms are some of the values Israel and the United States have in common. The two nations are democratic cousins and believe in the legal right to peaceful protest, an option most Jewish people did not have in Eastern Europe or Middle Eastern countries. Israelis also have the power of free elections—which is unique among all her neighbors—and can vote out the current government at the next election if the majority chooses to do so.

Yet, Israeli politics represents a complex mix of cultures and religious expressions, resulting in continued conflict and tension!

SECULAR/RELIGIOUS DIVIDE LEADS TO CHALLENGES

Vast religious differences within Israel, mainly between the secular and the religious, also flame the fires of political conflict. The ultra-Orthodox Jewish people, called Haredim, have a completely different worldview than those who are secular, whether they hail from North Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, or Europe. The ultra-Orthodox want to maintain their religious observance but are also eager for Israel to become a more religious state. You know what I mean if you have toured Israel during the Sabbath! For example, you might face the long wait for a Sabbath elevator, which stops on every floor of your hotel. Public transportation is limited on Saturday, and restaurants (kosher or not) usually close before sundown Friday evening, especially in Jerusalem, and stay closed until Saturday night. (If you would like to see this for yourself, we have a very special tour coming up in December to dedicate our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center. You can find more information about our once-in-a-lifetime dedication tour by visiting chosenpeople.com/dedicationtour.)

The ultra-Orthodox also have very large families (with an average of seven children) and believe in divine birth control! As a result, Haredi population growth has been significant over the years. Some demographers in Israel predict the ultra-Orthodox will become the largest Jewish population in Israel in the next twenty or thirty years. One estimate says the Haredim will comprise 16 percent of Israelis by the end of the decade. Currently, their number is approximately 1.3 million, or 13.5 percent!1 Although the religious Jewish community has different reasons than believers for their views, Christians around the world appreciate some of the values of the ultra-Orthodox as they oppose abortion, transgenderism, and, of course, believe the Hebrew Scriptures and are convinced God Himself pledged the Land of Israel to the Jewish people.

In a recent survey Chosen People Ministries sponsored, we discovered how the whole country—even the young people—are becoming more traditionally Jewish. This does not mean secular young people are turning to ultra-Orthodoxy, but it does mean many more believe in God, the coming of Messiah, and the idea they are God’s chosen people. More than 70 percent of those surveyed in Israel say they believe in God.2 So, “the times, they are definitely a-changing”—to echo the words of Bob Dylan.

LOVING ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE

As believers, we are called to love and proclaim the gospel to all people—despite whatever disagreements we may have (Luke 10:27; Matthew 28:16). Moreover, we are called to love and bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3; Psalm 122:6). We do not need to agree with the broad sweep of political views in Israel. We are to love all the diverse groups of Jewish people in the land and outside of it “because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts . . .” (Romans 5:5).

When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), we are praying the Messiah—the Prince of Peace—will reign in the hearts of Israelis and all Jewish people. Specifically, we are praying for supernatural unity to enable Israel to thrive, remain safe, and allow the gospel to go forth in peace and power during these difficult days. When conditions are unsettled, the gospel roars with power.

YOUR MISSION TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND TO ISRAELIS

We are seeing the power of the Holy Spirit among young adults, particularly in very secular Tel Aviv. As you know, Your Mission to the Jewish People recently purchased a property in the greater Tel Aviv area. We are now in the process of building and furnishing the new Tel Aviv Messianic Center so we can offer a safe, wholesome, peaceful place for believers and seekers to worship, study the Bible, and enjoy one another’s fellowship. It will be an oasis of peace in the world of political turmoil.

We are excited about this young adult movement taking place in Israel today as the remnant is growing in the Holy Land. So, what is next? We believe the words of the prophet Zechariah will soon come to pass, and Jewish people, whether religious or secular, Ashkenazi or Sephardi, will turn to the Messiah in droves, and then the Messiah will return:

I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. (Zech 12:10)

We can have a part in the salvation of Israel and the blessings of the Lord by proclaiming the gospel to Israelis.

We are standing for the Lord in Israel despite missile attacks, military threats, cultural disarray, and political differences dividing the nation and even families. It is not easy!

Thank you for caring, and I hope you found this explanation behind Israel’s recent struggles helpful. Your friendship, prayers, and support mean everything to us!

P.S. We cannot tell you how excited we are to see the build-out of our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center underway! The center is our response to the growing body of Messianic believers, especially among the young people in greater Tel Aviv. The Lord is working powerfully, and we are increasing our “tent.”

1 Judah Ari Gross, “Haredim Are Fastest-growing Population, Will Be 16% of Israelis by Decade’s End,” Times of Israel, January 2, 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/haredim-are-fastest-growing-population-will-be-16-of-israelis-by-decades-end/.

2 To learn more about this fascinating survey, check out: chosenpeople.com/new-2023-survey.

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September 21, 2023 · 3:56 PM

“Let the Children Come to Me”

Shalom in His grace. Thank you for taking a few moments to read and reflect on the ministry and concerns of Chosen People Ministries—Your Mission to the Jewish People.

Our mission statement reflects the teaching of Scripture:  “Chosen People Ministries exists to pray for, evangelize, disciple, and serve Jewish people everywhere and to help fellow believers do the same.”

I am grateful for your prayers and support! Without you, we could not continue this great and historic work among Jewish people!

THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH EVANGELISM

The Bible builds a powerful case for the importance and urgency of Jewish evangelism. We are all, hopefully, familiar with verses like Romans 1:16, 11:11, and the words of encouragement from the Savior Himself who told us, “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). We can also learn from Paul’s strategy in the book of Acts, where he consistently went to the synagogue to reach his fellow Jewish people even as he exercised his calling as the apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul passionately expresses his broken heart for his own Jewish people in his letter to the Romans (Rom 9:1–3, Rom 9–11):

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (Rom 9:1–3)

I deeply identify with Paul’s sentiments. Passages like these from Romans and others form the biblical foundation for Chosen People Ministries, which has not changed in 129 years. Chosen People Ministries’ history is important to understand as our past helps shape our future!

THE HISTORY OF CHOSEN PEOPLE MINISTRIES

Chosen People Ministries’ founder, Rabbi Leopold Cohn, left his home in Hungary and immigrated to the United States in 1892. Soon after he arrived, the rabbi heard the good news about the Messiah from a young Polish Presbyterian missionary to the Jewish people. After receiving the Lord, Rabbi Cohn studied theology in Scotland and returned to Brooklyn in 1894 to begin what is now known as Chosen People Ministries.

God called Rabbi Cohn to reach out to his fellow Jewish people immigrating to the United States. At that time, the Mission served the material and spiritual needs of the growing population of Jewish immigrants.

Several decades later, our staff served the survivors of the Holocaust—a tragedy of astronomic proportions. Today, we still assist elderly Holocaust survivors. Most are in their nineties and living in Israel!

Our staff love God’s chosen people, and we do whatever it takes to support their needs and present the gospel message at the same time.

Our focus has always been on a people, not a particular country. In the 1990s, when millions of Russian-speaking Jewish people left the former Soviet Union for America, Germany, Canada, Australia, and, of course, Israel, we were there to help and show the love of Jesus the Messiah to our people.

With God’s help, Chosen People Ministries is eager to reach Jewish people of the twenty-first century. Our strategies, methods, and materials have changed with the times and will continue to adapt—which is part of our DNA. Yet, the gospel we proclaim remains the same: We preach an unchanging message of God’s power to save, “to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). We preach this message in Hebrew, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, French, English, and as many languages as it takes to reach our people!

We began as a global ministry, and by His grace, we will continue this way until the great day when, as Paul writes, “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). Only then will our work be done.

“HELPING OTHERS DO THE SAME”

Chosen People Ministries relies on the help and partnership of our brothers and sisters in the Messiah to help us reach the 15 million-plus Jewish people in the world today. Our mission statement affirms we not only reach Jewish people with the gospel but also help the church do the same.

To understand how evangelicals perceive the Jewish people, we decided to study Christian involvement in Jewish evangelism by sponsoring a survey of more than 2,000 evangelicals.1

This survey discovered approximately 70 percent of evangelicals look favorably toward Israel, and 86 percent agree proclaiming the gospel among Jewish people is important. We found this fact very encouraging. However, we also learned age makes a big difference! According to the survey, evangelicals age 65 or older are 10 percent more likely to agree “sharing the gospel with Jewish people is important” than evangelicals ages 18 to 34.2

We looked at other organizations’ surveys to see if this interest in Israel and the Jewish people among younger Christians was waning and how it might impact their willingness to be active in reaching their Jewish friends for the Lord.

A survey by the Brookings Institution in 2021 found support for Israel among young evangelicals dropped all the way to 34 percent from 75 percent in 2018. Within just three years, support for Israel plummeted 41 percent!3 So, our research and the results of others confirms younger evangelicals are becoming less favorable to Israel and are likely growing cooler toward Jewish evangelism as well.

We suspect support of Jewish missions increases when those engaged have a favorable view of Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Since this favorability is lessening among younger evangelicals, we should be concerned about Jewish evangelism decreasing among this group as well.

INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF JEWISH EVANGELISTS

How do we pass the baton to a new generation who might not necessarily embrace the full package of evangelical views and values cherished by previous generations? Though generations and cultures change, God’s character and Word do not. We believe affirming the ongoing role of the land and people of Israel in God’s plan is part of being faithful to Scripture. So, we should care about helping younger evangelicals appreciate this key theme in the Bible.

We asked our staff and friends to suggest some ways we can help a new generation of Christians care about the Jewish people.

To most effectively spur the next generation to support Israel and passionately proclaim the gospel among the Jewish people, we need to start educating at a young age. Childhood and adolescence are key times to learn about the world and form opinions about complex topics. We should reach children at home, through kid’s programs at local churches, and at Christian camps. As kids mature, we can cultivate conversations about Israel and the Jewish people through youth groups and student ministries.

For this reason, we are producing new materials to help children learn about and love Jewish people. We are excited about our new animated video and teaching materials for children on the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). This video is available now, and I hope you will watch it and pass it along to your children, grandchildren, children’s pastors, and homeschooling groups.

The video is by no means our only strategy for reaching younger generations! For years, we have run summer camps and winter weekend retreats for children and adolescents. These programs have shaped hundreds of young people’s relationships with the Messiah and have influenced their understanding of Israel in the Bible. These camps are only growing!

Another way to inspire younger generations toward Jewish outreach is through our new Host Israelis ministry. We are currently recruiting host families for this new ministry where you can have young Israelis stay in your home. This will not only be good for the Israelis who will see your love for the Lord through your hospitality, but it will also help your kids or grandchildren who might be meeting Israelis for the first time. You can then follow up by teaching these children about God’s plan for Israel and the Jewish people! Stay tuned to hear more about our Host Israelis ministry in our November newsletter!

We believe one way we can influence a new generation of Christian young people for the Lord is to foster from a young age their interest in Israel and in outreach to their Jewish friends.

I am sure you will enjoy this newsletter, and please join us in praying for the next generation of young people who will carry the banner of the Messiah and Jewish outreach to a future day . . . until He returns!

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September 7, 2023 · 12:00 PM

Same gospel—new tools!

I hope you have enjoyed a lovely summer! Much has changed over my twenty-six years as president of Chosen People Ministries. One of the best examples is the rapid growth of digital tools for evangelism and discipleship. They have opened many new doors I could not have foreseen when I first started in ministry—nor could Leopold Cohn when he founded this mission in 1894!

To be clear, our message has stayed the same. We proclaim the gospel of Jesus the Messiah as “the power of God for salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). But methods can and should change. From gospel tracts to televised ads to social media, we are ready and able to use whatever creative ways the Lord allows to spread the timeless gospel message.

Producing digital resources has been a critical part of our work for several years, and we see this avenue of gospel communication continuing to expand. As I write this letter, our digital media team is diligently working on several innovative projects designed to glorify Jesus in a distinctly Jewish way.

Here are some of the highlights:

Evangelistic Tools

Millions of people have viewed video testimonies of Jewish believers since we first released them on our I Found Shalom website (IFoundShalom.com). This site has proven to be a powerful resource for Jewish seekers to meet Jewish people who believe in Jesus. We continue to add more Jewish testimonies online as the Lord has been using them to turn Jewish hearts to Jesus the Messiah!

We are now taking our gospel storytelling one step further. We call this new effort The Seeker, a dramatized online series based on some I Found Shalom testimonies. This new cinematic format will speak powerfully to old and young alike. Like I Found Shalom, our hope and prayer for The Seeker is to inspire many Jewish people to ponder the all-important question, “Could Jesus be the Messiah?”

Producing a series of three twenty-minute online video-based stories is a time-consuming and expensive process. But the fruit we have seen through I Found Shalom tells me these powerful stories, attractively presented, could reach a new generation of Jewish people.

A few months ago, we launched a new Hebrew-language evangelistic website called La‘Omek, which is Hebrew for “going deeper.” This online platform offers digital booklets addressing significant issues young Israelis regularly experience. Let me list a few of these themes:

  • healthy relationships
  • loneliness
  • depression
  • anxiety

Many younger Israelis are grappling with life’s great questions and are remarkably open to spiritual matters. These booklets offer them support grounded in the timeless truths of the gospel. Thousands of Hebrew speakers have downloaded our materials already! This high level of response greatly surprised us, and it was challenging to follow up with all the Israelis who downloaded a booklet or contacted us through live online chat. It is a wonderful—although not easy—problem to have.

Please pray this digital tool will open doors for Israelis to come to one of our events, meet with one of our staff in person, and ultimately place their trust in Jesus as their Messiah.

One of our younger workers heard from a woman twice her age who was having relationship problems and had downloaded the booklet to get some help. I was in Tel Aviv then and asked our staff member what problem this woman was trying to solve. She told me this woman had broken up with her boyfriend, and he was having trouble letting go. She was searching for answers on the web and responded to one of our online digital ads.

This young staff member was not sure what to do or say but knew she could turn to God for guidance. She rightfully offered some quick advice, a Bible verse or two, and then prayed for this woman who was not yet a believer. The dialogue ended well, and the young staff member realized God could use her even when she did not have all the answers!

Please pray for this woman who is hurting, for God to heal her and, most importantly, bring her into the relationship-above-all-relationships with Jesus the Messiah, who loves her and died for her sins. We anticipate many other conversations, live chats, and emails like this to lead to in-person ministry over the next year.

Israeli Travelers

Over the past several years, our strategic ministry among post-army traveling Israelis has grown to include more than a half dozen countries! We operate youth hostels in popular destinations like New Zealand and Japan. Our welcoming staff and volunteers are attentive to the incredible opportunities God gives us to begin spiritual conversations with these traveling Israelis.

These conversations arise naturally over a Sabbath meal or board game. This ministry to post-army Israeli young adults encouraged us to build an international network of Christian hosts to provide a similar hospitality ministry in their homes. If you are interested in hosting Israelis, learn more at hostisraelis.com.

Of course, this outreach fosters in-person interactions between hosts and guests, but this network also involves some essential digital tools. In collaboration with our Chosen People Ministries global family of ministries, we created websites and apps to connect travelers with hosts.

Many of our hosts remain in contact with their former guests and even visit them in Israel. If an Israeli traveler is interested in learning more about what we believe, our staff in Israel are always available to follow up with them upon their return. We also point them to the Scriptures and Hebrew gospel resources like our Isaiah 53 Explained book and our new website La‘Omek.

Educational Tools

Another area of ministry we are expanding is our resources for children. Teaching the next generation about the role of Israel in God’s purposes and the importance of bringing the gospel to His chosen people is essential. We are creating new tools to help families, churches, and congregations understand these crucial topics.

Our first effort is an animated clip about the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33–44) or, in Hebrew, Sukkot. This project creatively illustrates the biblical and Jesus-centered fulfillment of this holiday. The video we will release this month will be a fun, engaging lesson to help your kids (and you, too!) better understand this fall festival. We plan to do an entire series of videos on the Jewish holidays. One staff member wrote, “I cannot wait to watch this video with our young kids!” This month’s newsletter will tell you more about our Sukkot video and other children’s ministry resources.

The Chosen People Bible Institute

Another brand new digital initiative we are offering this fall is our Chosen People Bible Institute. Through this online opportunity to see the Bible through Jewish eyes, students of all ages can take classes on Jewish evangelism, the life of Paul, and Messianic apologetics, which will help learners answer the tough questions our Jewish friends are asking us about Jesus. Our online instructors are experienced Chosen People Ministries staff who will provide high-quality and lively instruction on topics you deeply care about!

All our courses will emphasize the Jewish cultural backgrounds of the Old and New Testaments. The Chosen People Bible Institute is a significant step forward in deepening the faith of Jewish and Gentile believers. It offers an excellent opportunity to learn how to witness to Jewish people. Two courses are already available at cpbi.chosenpeople.com, but stay tuned as more are coming, and you will want to sign up for our classes as soon as they are released!

PARTNER WITH US!

I have spoken to many Jewish people who want to post their testimony online because the Lord used a video testimony to bring them to the Messiah. I think of one young man—let’s call him Jacob—who received one testimony from a friend but could not stop watching a dozen more. He eventually received Jesus as his Savior.

Another young Jewish man, Samuel, responded to a digital ad, downloaded a copy of Isaiah 53 Explained to his computer, and read it. This well-developed argument from the Word of God changed his life. He is maturing in his faith, and one of the ways he is growing is by working through some of Chosen People Ministries’ online discipleship studies.

I would never have conceived of this type of digital ministry fifteen years ago. We serve a God who is not limited by time and space. He is eternal, above all, and beyond all.

Thank God we can reach people today in person and through modern digital tools. We could only do this because you stand with us, encouraging us to look ahead and adapt to the times. I cannot thank you enough for your support and prayers.

As you know, there was a time when Christians began using television and radio for the sake of the gospel! We want to use whatever tools are available to speak to current and future generations about Jesus. I pray the Lord will raise a new generation who will learn to use new and creative means to proclaim God’s glory.

Please join me in embracing the future by using these new tools to preach the good news to Jews and Gentiles!

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August 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Building for the Future

I recently returned from an exciting, long-awaited conference in Jerusalem. More than 300 of our staff, board members, and families from around the world converged on God’s holy city, Jerusalem, to encourage and inspire one another in our crucial evangelistic work among Jewish people. Our conference theme was “Building for the Future,” based upon Nehemiah 2:17–18. After hearing the testimonies of our workers around the globe, I am happy to tell you the future of the Lord’s work among the Jewish people is bright!

After all, proclaiming the gospel among Jewish people is the only form of evangelism with a guarantee. As Paul wrote, there is “a remnant according to God’s gracious choice” (Romans 11:5). We see this remnant growing today—especially in Israel!

Our conference was a wonderful occasion to strengthen our global relationships. We heard updates on our work in fourteen of the twenty countries comprising our Chosen People Global Ministries network. The Chosen People Ministries attendees came from various nations, cultures, and languages. We confirmed our commitments to one another and our sacred task echoed in Paul’s words, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Romans 10:1).

Our theme of building for the future came from the book of Nehemiah. The Bible often compares the building of the church with the construction of a building! Many ancient cities—Jerusalem included—had walls built around them for protection. As God used Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, we see the Lord working through our global family of ministries building the modern Messianic Jewish community. Paul also mentioned the movement of Jewish people coming to the Lord in Romans 11:25–29 as a sign of the last days!

Though Nehemiah faced opposition, his little ragtag team succeeded in rebuilding the wall in a staggering fifty-two days (Neh 6:15). In Jewish ministry, we also endure opposition, both from individuals and the spiritual forces Paul described in Ephesians chapter 6.

To build successfully, we must build according to His plans detailed in Scripture and with trust in the One who has called us to this ministry!

After hearing the many incredible testimonies from our partners across the globe, I can confidently confirm God is at work. We see people coming to faith and growing in discipleship.

Again, I cannot tell you how encouraged I am by what I see God doing today!

BUILDING GLOBALLY FOR THE FUTURE

May I tell you a few stories?

Last November, in partnership with a young couple in Japan and one of our Israeli staff who has a great heart for reaching traveling Israelis in Japan, we began a guesthouse in Tokyo. In less than a year, they welcomed 120 Israeli guests.

This couple stays in contact—sometimes daily—with several of their guests. While in Israel for the conference, they even hosted a reunion event in Tel Aviv, where they continued to build upon the relationships formed with Israelis they met in Japan.

Another outreach we recently launched is our Host Israelis Global Network. We are asking believers to open their homes to traveling Israelis. We already host thousands of Israelis backpacking after their two or three years in the Israeli army at our youth hostels around the globe, which are great tools for this ministry. But the bread and butter (bagel and cream cheese?) of this ministry is Jesus-loving believers hosting these young adults in their homes and showing them the love of the Messiah in both word and deed.

If you are interested in hosting Israeli travelers in your home, go to http://www.hostisraelis.com. You can find out more by watching an introductory video and reading reports of how God is using everyday believers to bring the good news to Israeli travelers.

UKRAINE UPDATE

We also heard updates from our staff leading the outreach and relief efforts for suffering Ukrainians, both within Ukraine and within Israel. Since the start of the crisis, our partners in Poland have helped distribute hundreds of tons of food in addition to hygiene products, medicine, and other necessities. Some of our partners and volunteers have traveled very close to the eastern front war zones, and we praise God for keeping them safe.

We also support hundreds of displaced brothers and sisters who fled from eastern Ukraine to western cities, like Lviv. We provide food, rent money, medicines, and more for these dear people, many of whom were part of Messianic congregations Chosen People Ministries planted or supported in Ukraine over the last four decades.

As one of our staff said, “We do not bring food only; we are bringing hope.” We long for people to see the love of Jesus through us. Even in these dark, heartbreaking situations, God is at work. Ukrainian Messianic congregations in our network are growing, and dozens of people have come to faith. We have brought thousands of Bibles into the country, even in the midst of war.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE IN ISRAEL

Our ministry in Israel has grown tremendously over the past thirty years. At first, we had only a few Israeli staff members, but now our team includes about thirty workers, and all of them are Israelis! I believe the Messianic community in Israel has a bright and vibrant future. We witnessed it for ourselves as we interacted with these dear Israeli brothers and sisters.

One of the highlights of our Israel conference was a visit to our Tel Aviv Messianic centers—both our current rented center and the commercial space we recently purchased. Our outreach there includes three or four events (concerts, dinners, lectures on practical and biblical topics) per month, along with Bible studies, small groups, and one-on-one ministry.

After visiting our current center, we visited our future one. The new center is two-and-a-half times the size of the present, rented center. We will have room for our children’s programs, Bible studies, and training classes. Thee first floor will house a conference room, a coffee bar, and ample space for Israelis to sit, relax, and chat. The second floor will be our main auditorium, where we will host larger events like worship nights, concerts, and cultural programs.

A PERSONAL INVITATION FOR YOU!

I would like to invite you to become a partner in supporting our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center. Please pray the renovation process goes quickly and smoothly so we can open the new center for ministry as soon as possible.

If you want to see the new center for yourself, we invite you to join our dedication tour this December 6–15, during the week Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication! We will light a menorah in the sanctuary of our new facility, tour this beautiful country, worship together, pray, and hear about what God is doing through our staff. I know you will love this once-in-a-lifetime trip!

We will explore Israel during the beautiful season of Hanukkah, when the country is lit with menorahs from north to south and east to west. It will be really spectacular, so join us! We might not be completely done with the build-out of the new center, but we should be well on our way. To learn more and register, go to http://www.chosenpeople.com/dedicationtour.

As always, thank you so much for your prayers and support. We are so glad we are joining what God is doing in Israel to build the future of Jewish evangelism together!

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August 2, 2023 · 4:35 PM

Messianic Jewish Music: A Testament to God’s Faithfulness

We see the dramatic rise of new Messianic music today and musicians, especially in Israel, including Joshua Aaron, SOLU, MIQEDEM, and others who are writing Israeli-style Messianic music, unlike the older, more eastern European tunes. The older style gave powerful testimony to a generation of post-Holocaust Jewish people, confirming you can be Jewish and believe in Jesus. At the same time, these new Israeli sounds make it clear Israelis who believe in Jesus are not only still Jewish but, by culture and nationality, proudly Israeli.

Many Messianic congregations worldwide have embraced this new form of music, and it is an authentic part of our worship life and witness to how you can be Jewish and believe in Jesus. What a joyful Jewish testimony for the Lord!

MESSIANIC JEWISH MUSIC FOR ALL

Rabbi Stuart Dauermann1 is one of the early fathers of Messianic music who continues to lead worship and write today. I asked my dear friend Stuart about his pilgrimage in Messianic music and wanted to tell you some of his thoughts.

I am so grateful to Stuart for his treasure trove of musical contributions to the corporate life and testimony of today’s growing Messianic Jewish community. Singing songs expressing our love for the Lord is always a sign of a vital and growing movement of the Spirit.

Our Messianic Jewish music is so essential to our identity as Messianic Jewish people and for our witness. If the number one objection Jewish people have about believing in Jesus is they would no longer be Jewish, then our music might be the loudest and sweetest testimony to proving we keep our Jewish identity. At our core, we are always who God made us (1 Corinthians 7:18), even more so when we recognize He created a covenant people whom He called for His specific purposes.

Every Jewish believer in Jesus we meet is a testament to God’s covenant faithfulness. When we lift our voices and sing Messianic songs within our hearts, we not only affirm we are Jewish followers of Jesus but also identify with and love our people.

Enjoy the rest of the newsletter, and please continue praying the Lord will put a new song in the hearts of Jewish people worldwide. You can help make this happen by praying and standing with Your Mission to the Jewish People.

AN INTERVIEW WITH STUART DAUERMANN

How do you define Messianic Music?

I used to define Messianic music as Jewish in flavor and apostolic in doctrine. I no longer define it that way because it left out the element of communal location. I now favor this definition: “Messianic music is music that is Jewish in flavor, apostolic in doctrine, and expressive of the covenantal and social location of Messianic Jews as part of the remnant within Israel and not outside of it.”

How did you begin writing Messianic music?

I attended an American Board of Missions to the Jews (Chosen People Ministries’ older name) meeting in New York City, where the leaders sought to communicate in Jewish ways to Jewish people. However, as I told the director there, the music in the meetings sounded very un-Jewish. The music actually implied that Jewish people who believe in Jesus lose their identity as Jews. Since I was going to music school then, he challenged me to write some better music. So I did!

What might the future of Messianic music look like?

Messianic music will lose its power and lose its way if those responsible for it themselves lose clarity on their identity as Jewish believers in Jesus. The music must not only be biblically and theologically sound but must also be an authentic expression of Jewish faith in Jesus the Messiah. To achieve this, over the past thirty-five years, I have increasingly written music based on Jewish liturgy, which itself expresses the voice and soul of the Jewish people. Only by hitting the right biblical, theological, communal, and cultural notes will it be possible for Messianic music to be spiritually enriching and something not only lively but alive.

1 Dauermann earned music theory and music education degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. He later completed a PhD in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary.

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July 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Transforming the Landscape of Our Work among Israelis

Shalom in the great name of Jesus our Messiah. My wife Zhava and I are spending quite a bit of time in Israel coordinating and participating in a host of fruitful activities. It is impossible to express my excitement about all the Lord is doing in Israel right now . . . but I will try!

God is moving among second-generation Israeli young believers who are actively proclaiming the gospel among their friends, and many are coming to faith in Jesus the Messiah!

I can only describe this movement as a second-generation movement of the Holy Spirit. Their parents and pastors have done a great job leading this next generation to the Lord and providing opportunities for their discipleship.

Your Mission to the Jewish People is also playing a part in the discipleship of these zealous young adults. We are working alongside these godly parents in preparing their kids for the challenges of mandatory military service and the social and spiritual issues they face in the Holy Land today. These sons and daughters of Israel work both in the secular world and in full-time ministry. They use their vocations to help their fellow Israelis come to know the Lord. They are leaders in their congregations, ministries, businesses, and the military!

THE LIVING WATERS MENTORING PROJECT

Chosen People Ministries created the Living Waters mentoring project in response to the growth of this young adult movement in Israel. Living Waters focuses on the present and immediate needs of ministry, but even more so, Living Waters casts its gaze toward the future through mentoring young leaders. We are helping to train a new generation of young adults who are even now leading the next generation of the Israeli believing community into greater spiritual maturity and service.

The growth of this second-generation movement is transforming the landscape of the Lord’s work in Israel!

Let me briefly explain what we do at Living Waters. Each year, we gather about forty younger leaders along with their spouses and children (if they have any) and provide a retreat for them, which includes Bible teaching, fellowship, and practical ministry training. We also help meet some of the everyday needs of walking with the Lord and serving Him through their congregations. Additionally, we connect these young adults with one another and encourage peer-to-peer friendships as well as partnerships with Israelis in different parts of the country.

Just a decade ago, at some of our early Living Waters retreats, everyone from all over Israel seemed to know one another. But today, the movement has grown to the point where most young leaders are meeting one another for the first time! This trend is another visible sign of the expansion of the Israeli believing community.

By connecting these young leaders to one another, we are creating an atmosphere for fellowship and ministry partnerships to bless the entire body of Messiah for years to come. We have already seen this happen as our Messianic Jewish testimonies project, Ifoundshalom.com, grew out of relationships built at Living Waters.

The pastors who recommend their young people attend Living Waters are delighted with the program. Additionally, most of the pastors of those who attend Living Waters view the program as an opportunity to enhance their own ministries. They recognize we are helping them train their future congregational leaders.

It is wonderful to see relationships built between young leaders and those who come to teach and mentor them. As a result, doors have opened for further ministry, funds have been raised, additional training received, and new relationships and connections developed from the discipleship experienced through Living Waters.

Israeli leaders need friends and mentors outside of Israel to pray for them and help gather resources, funds, and training to continue their work in Israel.

We take great joy in helping deepen these relationships between our American-based mentors/speakers and the Israeli participants.

THE NEW TEL AVIV MESSIANIC CENTER

Another response to this growing movement in Israel is the expansion of ministry space in Tel Aviv—the city with the largest concentration of Israelis in the country. We recently purchased a commercial space to use as a Messianic outreach center. This new space is two-and-a-half times larger than what we currently rent, and this center will be one of the few facilities owned by believers in Tel Aviv and the surrounding suburbs. It is another sign of God’s favor on the growing Messianic movement in the Holy Land!

I am diligently raising funds, working with architects and contractors, and securing building permits. Please pray for this work, as it is going to be very challenging because some ultra-religious Jewish politicians have a more significant role in Israel’s current government and strongly oppose our efforts. I am hoping God will grant us favor with the officials so our permits to build will come quickly.

We plan to dedicate the new center this December during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah (which means “dedication” in Hebrew). If you want to join us on this unique and memorable tour, you can find all the details and register at http://www.chosenpeople.com/dedicationtour/.

Please pray about coming on the Israel trip of a lifetime!

A CHOSEN PEOPLE GLOBAL MINISTRIES REGATHERING

Another major event took place this past month in Israel as we gathered for fellowship with many on our worldwide staff at a hotel in Jerusalem. More than 300 of our Chosen People Global Ministries family were able to see each other face to face for the first time in many years. We worshiped, prayed together, and heard some great messages about the future of Jewish evangelism in Israel and worldwide. Everyone was inspired, encouraged, and energized to serve the Lord.

We also invited families to bring their children. We ended up engaging about fifty-five kids in our children’s program.

So, we not only envisioned the future but were able to see it right in front of us.

A NEW HEBREW-LANGUAGE EVANGELISTIC WEBSITE

I also spent time working with our Israel staff on our new online evangelistic website—LaOmek (the Hebrew word for “going deeper”). This new website offers digital booklets addressing various significant issues among younger Israelis, like healthy relationships and the challenges of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Thousands of Israelis have already downloaded our booklets. Our Israel staff is now busy following up with them!

The summer will also be busy around the globe as we conduct short-term evangelistic campaigns in Israel, New York City, London, and more!

I cannot thank you enough for your generous support of Chosen People Ministries and your prayers and encouragement. I have more to tell you about new outreach initiatives in the United States we are kicking off this fall, but I will save these updates for another time.

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