Category Archives: evangelism

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!

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

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.

1 Comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

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.

2 Comments

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

June 27, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Ministry Update—2023

I am writing to you with a deep sense of gratitude to God and an expectation about what God is doing among young Israelis in the greater Tel Aviv area.

I would like to ask for your prayers for our new ministries in this region of more than four million Israelis!

First, young Israelis fill our outreach concerts to overflowing. Most are believers who bring their young friends, many of whom are currently serving in the army and are open to the gospel. We do not have enough room for everyone who wants to join us, which is a good problem to have but difficult to overcome in our current rented facility. Of course, this challenge is why we are purchasing a new center nearby. In the new center, we plan to keep doing almost exactly what we have been doing in the old one. Our outreach events, concerts, lectures, meals, and Bible studies are very effective! Until this new location is ready, we need God’s wisdom since there are times when we have to invite fewer people because our space is too small.

Second, we regularly face opposition from local anti-missionaries who try to keep Israelis from attending our concerts, Sabbath dinners, and Bible studies. If I were not a believer in Jesus, I would probably be doing the same. I grew up in a more traditional Jewish home and had strong feelings about Christians trying to convert Jewish people to what I then believed was a foreign religion. Of course, I was wrong and now know the truth because Jesus saved me and opened my mind and heart to the true meaning of the gospel message. We are not trying to turn Jewish people into Gentiles; we help Israelis receive the gift of salvation through Jesus the Messiah and draw closer to the living God of Israel.

Finally, we really need your prayers and support as we continue our outreach online. We have enjoyed an incredibly fruitful response to our Facebook, Google, and other digital ads. Indeed, a couple hundred Jewish Israeli seekers have responded during the last six weeks and requested a copy of our Isaiah 53 Explained Hebrew evangelistic book. Additionally, we are releasing a brand-new website very soon, and we could use your prayers and support as we take out ads to help make the site more visible. The name of the website is LaOmek, which is Hebrew for something deeper or more meaningful. This website is unique because it provides digital booklets based upon the current needs of younger Israelis who are lonely, having trouble with relationships, and so much more. We could not be more excited about what we are about to release because of the great results we have witnessed with the Isaiah 53 Explained Hebrew campaign!

Our new center in the greater Tel Aviv area is at the heart of our outreach strategy.

You will hear more frequently from me as we update you on how the Lord is providing for the facility and as we make progress on the build-out.

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

May 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Reaching Wandering Israelis after Military Service 

Thank you for taking a few moments to read our current issue of the Chosen People Ministries newsletter. Through our newsletters and other publications, we try to keep you up to date with what is happening within the Jewish community, the State of Israel, and with Your Mission to the Jewish People.

TEL AVIV UPDATE

We deeply appreciate your prayers and support. I want to update you on the new Messianic center in Greater Tel Aviv. We continue to work on two tracks. First, we are now in the fifth month of raising funds for this new facility in the greater Tel Aviv area, which is home to about four million Israelis! Second, we have started construction on the buildout of this commercial space in a brand-new building. We have to add walls, floors, heating and air conditioning, and bathrooms . . . well, you get the picture! This new space will house our Bible studies, weekly outreach events, a café, concerts, future congregational activities, and so much more.

We could not be more excited about the future as openness to the gospel, especially among younger Israelis, is moving like an unstoppable wave across the country. We are doing all we can to make our Messiah known and discipling those who come to faith.

Please pray and join us in building a future for the Messianic movement in Israel through your generous support. There is more information about how you can give toward the new facility at the end of the newsletter.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO TEL AVIV

Over the past few years, we continued to see the common cultural practice among Israelis of traveling the world after serving in the Israeli military. Thousands of young people explore other countries and cultures, and Your Mission to the Jewish People established youth hostels and teams of staff and volunteers to meet these wonderful young people. We show them the love of Jesus the Messiah through hospitality and by creating a home away from home during their travels. We are now meeting thousands of young Israelis outside of Israel and proclaiming the good news to them as they tour. Once back in Israel, we invite them to meet others with similar experiences and spend an evening or attend a reunion event at our current rented center in the greater Tel Aviv area.

We serve this wandering Israeli population in New Zealand, Japan, other parts of Asia, Australia, and the United States. We provide a place for them to stay or connect with Jewish believers in Jesus and Christians who love the Jewish people and invite them into their homes. We proclaim the gospel in both word and deed; and we generally do not say much about the gospel until they ask—which our Israeli guests often do! Of course, we provide Hebrew New Testaments and other resources for them to read if they are curious. We simply offer unconditional love, good food, a listening ear, and prayer as requested.

As you would imagine, while we extend this level of kindness, the younger Israelis want to learn more about our motivation. In a world so filled with anti-Israel (and often antisemitic) activities, we stand out to them because of our love, and they want to know why we care. We tell them about our belief in what the Bible teaches about God’s love for Israel and the Jewish people and, most of all, the love God offers through His Messiah—Jesus!

STORIES OF GOD’S WORK AMONG TRAVELING ISRAELIS

Beit Samurai (“House of the Servant”) in Tokyo, Japan, is our newest hostel. Our team there has already received dozens of Israeli visitors and reported several amazing stories. Here is just one of them:

Ori* and a friend of his stayed at Beit Samurai for a few days. He planned to go to New Zealand. He mentioned one of his friends in Israel was Messianic. Sensing his openness, one of our staff invited him to have lunch together before he headed to the airport. As we waited for our food, he suddenly asked, “So, how do you explain ‘Messianic’ and Yeshua to Jewish people?” Our team member was a bit stunned. Not only was he open—he was asking directly to hear the gospel.

After listening to our staff member’s testimony and hearing about encounters with Yeshua within the Messianic faith and community, Ori asked if there was a Messianic congregation he could attend. He also expressed a desire to read the Bible for himself. Our missionary invited him to attend services with him when he comes back to Japan. Since he is going to New Zealand, he also connected him with a Messianic congregation there.

This staff member gave Ori a copy of Isaiah 53 Explained, which he gratefully received. Through our Chosen People Ministries global network, staff put Ori in touch with Yitzhak,* a Messianic leader in Auckland, New Zealand. They connected right away. Ori asked for a copy of the New Testament to read, so Yitzhak gave him a Bible. The following week, Ori came back to Yitzhak with another Israeli. Yitzhak also told him the full gospel of Yeshua. This Israeli also decided to stay with Yitzhak for the next several days.

Our network of hostels and homes welcoming traveling Israelis also expanded to Taiwan in 2020. During the past three years, we have built Beit Simcha (“House of Joy”), a hosting network in ten cities around Taiwan, connecting many families and teams from different churches to participate in the Israeli backpacker ministry. God is wonderfully using the network as His cords and bonds of love to draw Israelis to Messiah (Hosea 11:4). In one home alone, we hosted 140 Israeli backpackers and families. Many continued to visit other Beit Simcha homes and kept hearing the gospel while traveling around Taiwan. We have heard numerous testimonies from Beit Simcha partners.

Planet Zula in New Zealand, however, is one of our oldest and busiest hostels. It is still the center of a vibrant ministry. A few months ago, our staff there sent us this story:

During one of our weekly Monday evening Bible studies, one of our Israeli guests joined us. We always have lively discussions, and he jumped right in and asked amazing questions. Afterward, he and our Israeli volunteer dug deeply into the Hebrew Bible for hours. The next morning, when he came to say goodbye, his face was shining as he told us he now had a completely new understanding of the New Testament. He realized how the Old and New Testaments fit together—and demonstrated by interlocking his hands. He expressed his desire to read the New Testament and took one of the free copies we offer.

Hosting traveling Israelis has proved a fruitful ministry for several years—and shows no signs of slowing down! On the contrary, we plan to continue expanding this hospitality network to other places. 

*Names changed.

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

May 1, 2023 · 12:20 PM

Bringing the Light of the Gospel to Tel Aviv

We are now moving ahead rapidly with the new Tel Aviv Messianic Center. The plans are complete, the permits are coming through, and the workers are beginning to build out the empty 4,000-square-foot concrete shell. Our general contractor is an Israeli believer, and it is comforting to know we have someone leading the charge who is both good at his job and prays as he works!

Once finished, the building will be beautiful. The auditorium, or sanctuary, can hold about 130 people. In addition, we will be able to set up tables and chairs for 100 people to enjoy fellowship dinners, holiday celebrations, and our monthly Sabbath dinners. We will also have ample space for Bible studies and children’s rooms.

Our current rented center, which is less than half the size of the new space, is known for its excellent coffee bar, where most gospel conversations take place during events. The new café layout will have an enlarged area where dozens of young people will be able to sit, drink coffee (an Israeli pastime), and talk about the Lord! When we move into the new center, it will be an even more prominent place to gather and talk with espresso in hand.

Like the older rental, our new center will also provide a follow-up location for Israelis who have traveled around the globe after their army service. These young travelers go abroad and return to Israel after their overseas adventures. We envision the new center as a place of many happy reunions for those who traveled to faraway places like New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, and even the United States, where they met Chosen People Ministries staff and godly volunteers who hosted them in their homes. We will continue the conversations they started while they were traveling. Our team is always ready to reach them with the gospel!

DEDICATION TOUR OF NEW CENTER

I recently returned from Israel, where I had the joy of walking through our new building site with the architect, contractor, and our leader in Israel. As we previewed the empty space, we imagined the voices of children singing and laughing and adults passionately worshiping the Lord while quietly praying for the salvation of friends and loved ones.

I prayed over the new center and would appreciate your joining me in asking the Lord to fill this new place with His Spirit and glory! Let me remind you we are planning a new center dedication tour to Israel in December, which coincides with the Festival of Dedication—Hanukkah!

The tour will include eight days on the ground. On one of those days, we will light the Hanukkah menorah in the new center and dedicate this facility to the Lord. You will find more information by going to www.chosenpeople.com/dedicationtour/. It is not too early to register, as we only have room for thirty-nine people.

The plan for the tour is to arrive in Israel on December 6 and leave on December 15. Hanukkah begins the night of December 7, but we want to be ready for the festivities and allow some time to get over our jet lag! We will enjoy the warm, golden glow of lit menorahs rising over the entire nation of Israel as millions of Israelis celebrate the same feast Jesus observed (John 10). It will be a little chilly and not very crowded at that time of year in Tel Aviv, and we will all be in a celebratory mood as we praise God for the new center and for all He is doing among Israelis.

MAKING GOOD PROGRESS

Thank you for your support and prayers. We are now more than 65 percent toward our goal of raising $6,500,000 to pay for the building, renovation, furniture, etc. We know the Lord will provide the additional $2,500,000 because He is merciful, generous, mighty, and loves His chosen people more than we ever could!

God made promises to the Jewish people, which He will certainly fulfill. We believe this new center is one tool the Lord will use to turn the nation to the Messiah.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

I know you are familiar with the Great Commission, but let me clarify how our outreach to the Jewish people is a central component of our fulfilling the Great Commission. After all, we would never want Jewish evangelism—reaching Israelis and Jewish people like me living outside the land—to become the great omission of the Great Commission!

Matthew records Jesus telling His disciples,

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
(Matthew 28:18–20)

There is a link between the Lord’s command to go and make disciples of all the nations, the Great Commission, and what I refer to as the great mandate found in Romans 11:11. Paul wrote, “I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.”

These two great gospel threads flow seamlessly in the apostle Paul’s writings, and I hope it will be the same for you.

Paul also reminds us the salvation of the Jewish people is a vital part of God’s divine strategy to reclaim His world and place it under the dominion of His Son! According to Paul, the salvation of Israel in the last days is the final human step leading to the second coming of Christ. The Messianic Jewish apostle wrote in Romans 11,

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
(Romans 11:25–29)

Jewish evangelism is the gateway leading to blessings for the nations.

Paul previously told the Gentiles the turning of Israel and the return of Christ would bring about God’s blessings for the Gentiles. “Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! . . . For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead” (Romans 11:12, 15)?

God chose the Jewish people for a unique role, and one day, this assignment for Israel will become even more evident as the end-time remnant of Jewish people repents, and the Lord returns (Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 9:6–7; Acts 3:19ff.).

Gentile believers have a critical role in the second coming of Messiah, especially by sharing the gospel with Jewish people!

Another critical passage revealing God’s heart for the Jewish people is Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Jewish evangelism must never become one of the side jobs of the churches. Paul reminded the Romans to prioritize Jewish evangelism when the gospel was just beginning to spread in the early church. Therefore, including the Jewish people in our evangelistic planning is critical.

God chose the Jewish people to be a bridge of redemption to the world by providing the Scriptures and the Savior Himself, who was born of a Jewish virgin. The Jewish people brought the message of eternal life to the Gentiles. He now calls upon the Gentiles to bring the message back to the original messengers!

Reaching Jewish people for Jesus should be an intentional strategy for every Christian and every local church because God loves His chosen people and because the second coming of Christ depends on Jewish evangelism. God calls us to live today in light of tomorrow, as Jesus could return soon—and then our evangelistic work will be done.

Thanks for caring about the salvation of the Jewish people. May the Lord give us many fantastic opportunities to reach our Jewish friends and families for the Lord. Thanks for standing with us!

1 Comment

Filed under evangelism, Holocaust Survivors, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

April 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Yeshua the Messiah: A Prophet Greater than Moses

Thanks for taking a moment to catch up with Your Mission to the Jewish People, especially during the Passover and Easter season when the connection between the Old and the New Testaments is so clear. During this time of year, we see the death and resurrection of Jesus foreshadowed in the Old and gloriously fulfilled in the New!

In this issue, we explore the relationship between two of our greatest Jewish biblical heroes—Moses and Jesus. It is fascinating to consider how these two centerpieces of our faith spoke about one another: Jesus referred back to Moses, while Moses pointed ahead to Messiah. Indeed, the Bible describes both Moses and Jesus as prophets. The tremendous messianic prediction in Deuteronomy 18 is probably familiar:

The Lord said to me, “They have spoken well. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.” (Deut 18:17–19)

This prophet will speak God’s last word for humanity; therefore, we must obey him!

THE IMPORTANCE OF MOSES FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE

I grew up in a traditional Jewish home in New York City. My religious training was Orthodox, and I knew Moses was the most important Jewish person who ever lived. He was greater than David, the prophets, and even Abraham! God gave the Law on Mount Sinai through Moses, and in almost every version of modern Judaism, Moses is the central figure of the Jewish faith. For Jewish people, no one is more important than Moses.

We learn, especially those raised Orthodox, the Messiah will come and be a great leader, but he will not necessarily be more significant than Moses himself. You might ask if Jewish people believe Moses is more important than a future Messiah. In the down-to-earth, everyday understanding of Judaism, the vote would be very close!

Because of this view, the following words of the writer of Hebrews may have struck a discordant note, even back then, in the hearts and minds of whoever read this brief treatise:

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. (Heb 3:1–6)

Judaism also tells many stories about the greatness of Moses; he is Moshe Rabbeinu, our most excellent teacher of all time—or so most Jewish people think! According to the very words of Moses himself, however, there is more to his story of redemption.

JESUS’ SUPERIORITY TO MOSES IN THE NEW COVENANT

The writer of Hebrews argued more explicitly than the passage in Deuteronomy for the superiority of Jesus and the New Covenant He inaugurated. Hebrews 3:1–6 describes how Jesus would in all ways be superior to Moses, especially verse 3: “For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house” (Heb 3:3).

Hebrews 11 also reveals this point of Jesus’ superiority. The author took us on a tour of the “Heroes of Faith,” biographical snapshots of previous giants of the faith. The author focused on their faithfulness and achievements, underscoring the entire premise of the book of Hebrews.

The argument of Hebrews is simply this: Jesus is superior to all those who came before Him. He is better than the angels, Moses, the Levitical priests, and even the high priest. He also provides a better rest, a better sacrifice, a better covenant, and a better hope!

However, by asserting Yeshua is better, the author does not suggest the angels, the patriarchs, Moses, the Levites, and the Old Testament are no longer valuable! Instead, it means Yeshua is God’s ultimate revelation for the world’s blessing:

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Heb 1:1–3)

The apostle John also records Jesus mentioning Moses while speaking to Jewish people who were still trying to make up their minds about Him and His claims:

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? (John 5:39–40, 45–47)

Jesus certainly believes Moses wrote about Him and urges His listeners to consider Moses’ words. These passages in Hebrews and John summarize the relationship between Jesus and the Hebrew Scriptures, and how the New Covenant fulfills the Old Testament. The Old Covenant and the great saints listed in Hebrews were part of the plan of God, which ultimately led to the glorious fulfillment in the Messiah Himself.

JESUS, THE PERFECT LEADER

I. M. Haldeman, a fiery Baptist preacher who pastored the First Baptist Church of Manhattan for forty years and was a great friend of Chosen People Ministries, wrote about the uniqueness of Moses and how he foreshadowed the Messiah Jesus:

The life of Moses presents a series of striking antitheses. He was the child of a slave, and the son of a queen. He was born in a hut, and lived in a palace. He inherited poverty, and enjoyed unlimited wealth. . . . He was educated in the court, and dwelt in the desert. He had the wisdom of Egypt, and the faith of a child. He was fitted for the city, and wandered in

the wilderness. He was tempted with the pleasures of sin, and endured the hardships of virtue. He was backward in speech, and talked with God. He had the rod of a shepherd, and the power of the Infinite. He was a fugitive from Pharaoh, and an ambassador from Heaven. He was the giver of the Law, and the forerunner of Grace. He died alone on mount Moab, and appeared with Christ in Judea.1

I would love to have heard this powerful and passionate pastor preach these words! What a beautiful description of the greatness of Moses’ character.

Moses himself told us someone like himself would appear one day as the ultimate leader of the Jewish people. Though Moses was a great political, religious, and military leader,

this meek and humble prophet pointed to an even greater Jewish leader—the Messiah Jesus. Though he may not have had a complete understanding, Moses pointed to a greater prophet—God Himself enwrapped in flesh, proclaiming a greater exodus through His finished work on Calvary. Jesus offers a greater revelation of divine truth to Jewish people and Gentiles and invites us all to obey His words.

Jesus is God’s final word of grace, salvation, and hope for a dark and sinful world.

Yeshua is the perfect leader. Moses himself understood the limits of his humanity. He was superb but far from perfect. He brought the Israelites closer to God, and he brought God closer to the Israelites. But Yeshua brought a better and permanent salvation through His once-for-all sacrifice for sin and triumphant resurrection from the dead. He also provided an eternally durable and glorious New Covenant for Israel and the nations of the world (Jeremiah 31:31–35).

The Passover prophetically portrays this New Covenant, which foreshadows the work of Messiah as the perfect lamb whose blood was shed and smeared over the doorposts of our hearts, enabling us to enter the very presence of God Himself forever (John 1:29).

Moses was a great leader whom God used to reveal His plan and purposes for the Jewish people, but he pointed to someone greater than himself. We now know this greater One has come, and His name is Yeshua, the Savior of the world. We celebrate this salvation during Passover and Easter by remembering the exodus led by Moses, who paved the way for eternal salvation for all who believe in Jesus.

The One greater than Moses has come, and His name is Jesus the Messiah!

Have a blessed Passover and Easter season. Remember to pray for and spread the good news to those who first brought the message of salvation to you—the Jewish people!

1 Quoted in Arthur W. Pink, Gleanings in Exodus (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1981), 16.

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Holidays & Festivals, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jewish Holidays, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Passover

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

April 1, 2023 · 8:30 AM

God Is at Work in Tel Aviv!

I just cannot stop thinking and talking about our Messianic center in Tel Aviv!

After all these years of ministry, I am thrilled to see Chosen People Ministries participating in this outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon a new generation of young Israelis. They love the Lord and need a stable place to gather.

We can count the number of Messianic congregations within the greater Tel Aviv area on one hand! There is almost no place for these dedicated young disciples to go and bring their not-yet-believing friends to hear the gospel in a friendly and inviting atmosphere.

We were looking for a permanent home for years—somewhere these younger believers could enjoy preaching, Bible teaching, congregational life, community meals, evangelistic lectures, outreach concerts, and more.

The Lord is using your generosity, sacrifice, and prayers, which enabled Chosen People Ministries to purchase this wonderful new property in Israel. We are so grateful for you!

THE EARLY JESUS MOVEMENT

I experienced a tremendous sense of awe once before in my own journey with Jesus. Today’s movement of younger Israelis reminds me of those days!

I became a believer in San Francisco in November 1970, at the height of the Jesus movement. It was a true work of the Holy Spirit, especially in the hearts of the many Jewish people like me who came to faith then! Maybe you were saved during the Jesus movement or experienced the surge of spiritual growth in the United States in those days. It was spectacular!

But it was also very messy. It seemed at the time there was a lot of evangelistic outreach because the Spirit was moving. Yet, lots of new believers who were not well discipled fell away from the faith.

Chosen People Ministries was active during the Jesus movement, proclaiming the gospel and helping young Jewish believers like me grow in our faith. Chosen People Ministries even paid my way through Bible college, and we continue to help Jewish believers receive solid theological training today.

We even have students in Israel studying the Word of God in preparation for full-time ministry in the land!

The current movement in Israel feels a lot like what happened in the early 1970s in the United States. In fact, several of today’s Israeli Messianic leaders became believers through the Jesus movement during their post-army travels! Now, many of those coming to faith and serving the Lord in Israel are the sons and daughters of Israeli believers who became Jesus-followers during the revival in the 70s.

This older generation of sacrificial, Hebrew-speaking saints planted congregations, created children’s camps, provided biblical education programs for pre- and post-army soldiers, and held Bible teaching conferences to train the next generation of Israeli believers! Most of these ministries continue to this day.

The future in Israel is bright, and I am beginning to see how passages like Romans 11:25–29 will come to pass! We are living in exciting days, and we can be part of God’s work in the land through encouraging and supporting this movement of the Holy Spirit among young Israelis.

Because of this growing community of young Israelis coming to faith, we are buying a larger center where we can continue our outreach. We have outgrown the center we now rent!

TEL AVIV MESSIANIC CENTER UPDATE

By God’s grace, we have raised a little more than half of what we need to pay for the building. The overall cost, including the renovation, will be about 6.5 million dollars. We are trusting the Lord for the rest.

Just writing about this new outreach center brings a broad smile to my face.

Did you know more than four million Jewish people live in the greater Tel Aviv area? There are few Messianic Jewish facilities where people of all ages who love the Lord can meet, worship, and study the Scriptures.

By purchasing this center, we will add a significant amount of ministry space where it is so desperately needed. Our current center is only 1,600 square feet. We have been bursting at the seams, and the new center is two-and-a-half times the size of the old.

Here is one of many remarkable stories from a staff member in Israel about what God is doing:

Recently, a Jewish teacher for a Japanese Language Studies program in Israel came to one of our events at the Tel Aviv Messianic Center. During the event, I had a good conversation with her about our faith in Yeshua and gave her a copy of the New Testament and the book Isaiah 53 Explained.

After the event, we remained in contact. We conversed online and when we met again recently, she said: “I started to read the New Testament, though I was always taught that it is an antisemitic book. But when I read this book, I realized it talks about love, forgiveness, and the sanctity of life. Now I understand that I, and our people, have many misunderstandings about Yeshua and His teachings.”

This Israeli woman still has not accepted Yeshua into her heart, but we continue to keep in touch with her and pray she will receive Yeshua as her Savior.

Thanks again for standing with Your Mission to the Jewish People in reaching the chosen people around the world—especially in the Holy Land.

TEL AVIV MESSIANIC CENTER DEDICATION

I want to invite you to the dedication of the new Tel Aviv center in December of this year. Though it may not be finished when we dedicate it, I believe we should be close!

In December, the whole country will be lit up with menorahs for Hanukkah! The season makes me think of Jesus, the Light of the world, whose light shines brightly in the darkness and even more so in the land of His birth (John 10:22, 8:32). May our center also shine brightly to the people of Israel.

During this dedication trip, we will enjoy worship almost every night. We will praise God for His goodness and hear the testimonies of young believers on fire for the Lord. I believe it is going to be a crucial moment in all our spiritual journeys and a joyous time of thanksgiving to God.

It is not too early to sign up. Just visit chosenpeople.com/dedicationtour to find the details and reserve your spot.

Thanks again for all you do to stand with Chosen People Ministries. Together, we are reaching the almost seven million Jewish people living in Israel today.

PASSOVER IS UPON US!

As the apostle Paul reminded us, “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

As we approach the Passover season, our thoughts once again focus on the Lamb of God, Jesus the Messiah, who takes away our sin and the sin of the world (John 1:29). He died a cruel, undeserved death. Isaiah 53 foretold the Messiah would bear our sorrows, our grief, and our sins. He endured them at Calvary so you and I could live in the power of His resurrection forever.

This is the gospel message we will preach at our new center in Tel Aviv. It is the same message we have proclaimed day in and day out at our rented center.

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

March 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Antisemitism Today

Thank you for taking a moment to read our latest news! We appreciate your interest in what God is doing among the Jewish people and through Your Mission to the Jewish People today! We deeply value your prayers and support. 

TEL AVIV UPDATE

I want to update you on the new Messianic center in Tel Aviv. We are working on two fundraising tracks right now. First, we are only in the third month of raising funds for the purchase of this new Messianic Jewish outreach center in the greater Tel Aviv area—home to about four million Israelis!

Second, we are beginning construction on the build-out of the center as this new commercial space will house our Bible study classrooms, weekly outreach lectures and concerts, young adult activities, a café, and hopefully future congregational activities! The entire area is new, so we will need to renovate the interior space by adding walls, flooring, heating and air conditioning, bathrooms, and more.

We could not be more excited about the future as we are finding a new openness to the gospel in Israel, especially among younger Israelis. It is like an unstoppable wave moving across the country, and we are doing all we can to disciple those coming to faith.

Please pray and join us in building the future of the IsraeliMessianic community through your prayers and generous support for the new center. On the back of this newsletter, you will find more information about how you can give toward the purchase and renovation of the property.

Thank you again for your prayers and support. We can only get it done with your partnership!

ANTISEMITISM KEEPS JEWISH PEOPLE FROM BELIEVING IN JESUS

As you continue reading the newsletter, you will quickly discover this edition focuses on the alarming and deeply tragic increase in antisemitic incidents in the United States and around the globe. This trend dramatically impacts our efforts to bring the gospel to the Jewish people today. Generally speaking, Jewish people blame Christianity for antisemitism.

Unfortunately, one of the most frequent and negative Jewish responses to the gospel is not driven by differences in the interpretation of Scripture or Jewish tradition but by the past and present experiences of Jewish people with Christianity and the church as an institution.

I remember when I told my grandmother I was a believer. She accused me of joining the side of those who persecuted Jewish people. It was incredibly difficult to convince her otherwise. She immigrated to the United States from Belarus because she experienced pogroms, and later the Nazis murdered her entire family for being Jewish. She thought those men and women were Christians! I cannot blame my grandmother for feeling this way, as she did not know any better. She judged what she thought was Christianity based on the actions of so-called Christians.

Is this claim against Christianity accurate? Historically, it is certainly the perception of the Jewish people. Still, I cannot imagine how true Christians who love the Lord and believe the Bible could hate the Jewish people. It has not been my experience since I accepted Jesus a half-century ago. On the contrary, I found true Christians love the Jewish people and do not persecute anyone! If more of my people had genuine Christian friends, they would immediately discover those who persecuted Jewish people—especially in Europe—are different from those who name Jesus as Lord today.

Jewish people still hold Christianity accountable for the crusades, the pogroms of eastern Europe, and even the Holocaust. Without question, some in the past who called themselves Christians mistreated the Jewish people. This truth is a blight on the history of Jewish-Christian relations. Some Christian leaders spoke and wrote harsh words against the Jewish people in the earlier days of the church. These ideas tragically influenced Christian attitudes toward the Jewish people for centuries.

John Chrysostom (354–407 ce),1 who was considered a church father and the “golden-mouthed preacher” (chrysostom is Greek for “goldmouthed”), wrote a series of eight sermons called “Against the Jews.” In one message, he wrote:

Certainly it is the time for me to show that demons dwell in the synagogue, not only in the place itself but also in the souls of the Jews. . . . Do you not shudder to come into the same place with men possessed, who have so many unclean spirits, who have been reared amid slaughter and bloodshed?. . . Must you not turn away from them since they are the common disgrace and infection of the whole world? Have they not come to every form of wickedness?2

There are many other examples from the writings of the early church fathers as well as later pillars of Christianity, including Martin Luther. They were flawed men who did a lot of good but also mischaracterized the Jewish people in ways leading to what is often called “Christian antisemitism.” This history caused the Jewish people to view Christianity—and therefore the gospel—as a threat rather than a lifeline to salvation.

THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF ANTISEMITISM

The real issue is much more profound; we must look at the Scriptures to understand it.

Our current dilemma begins in Genesis 12:1–3 and the Lord’s covenant with Abraham. By God’s Spirit, Moses penned this promise, “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” (Gen 12:3).

From the moment God made Abraham His friend, the devil chose Abraham and his descendants as enemies. After all, Satan understood God would one day save the world through the death and resurrection of a son of Abraham. He also knew the Jewish people would one day repent and call upon Jesus, leading this same Savior to return to reign as king.

When Israel acknowledges Jesus as Messiah (Romans 11:26), all the plans of the ultimate heavenly rebel will fail. Therefore, from the moment of Abraham’s call, the devil tried to hinder God’s plan by moving heaven and earth to crush Abraham’s descendants.

THE SOLUTION TO ANTISEMITISM

The apostle Paul urged the Gentile followers of Jesus to tell Jewish people about Jesus by demonstrating His love in word and deed. For Paul, this lovingkindness would cause the Jewish people to be jealous of the Jewish Messiah living in the hearts and souls of Christians (Romans 11:11–15).

Paul wrote in Romans 11:11, “I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.”

Therefore, we must ask ourselves why Jewish people often perceive Gentile Christians—whom God gave a primary role in reaching the Jewish people for Jesus—as seeking their harm.

We know the enemy works especially hard at turning all of God’s people against each other. One of those ways is to mobilize the same people God called to bless the Jewish people to do the opposite. This sabotage is his failing effort to keep the people of promise from recognizing their Messiah and thus destroy the plans of God for the ages.

We can stand against the evil one by reversing his evil plan. We can make Jewish people jealous and bring the blessings of the gospel to His chosen people.

We can be part of His effort to reverse the curse. By fighting antisemitism, we challenge the devil’s cosmic plot to undo what God created for the world’s redemptive good.

Therefore, Your Mission to the Jewish People wants to encourage you to oppose antisemitism vocally and publicly when you see it. We are the solution to the problem of antisemitism, which is destructive and keeps Jewish people from considering the gospel.

Together, we can make a difference in changing the mindset of many Jewish people about the gospel. Through simply being ourselves and living as authentic believers, we will show Jewish people the gospel is not antisemitic but rather Jewish in nature. As Jesus said, “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22).

I am sorry to say antisemitism is rising in the United States and around the globe. It is time for Christians to take a stand and oppose antisemitism whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head. We do this not simply because antisemitism is wrong and satanic but because we love the God who created the Jewish people and the Jewish Messiah. We want to see Jewish people come to faith in Jesus the Messiah.

1 John Chrysostom (354–407 ce) was the most distinguished church father of the East and one of the most virulently anti-Jewish preachers. Born in Antioch, he was baptized in 373 ce and ordained a priest in 384 ce. He delivered his eight sermons (homilies) “against the Jews” during his first two years of preaching in Antioch (386–387 ce).

2 John Chrysostom, Against the Jews, Homily I, VI, 6–7, accessed February 2, 2023, https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/chrysostom_adversus_judaeos_01_homily1.htm.

Leave a comment

Filed under Anti-Semitism, evangelism, Holocaust Survivors, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, New York City

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

March 2, 2023 · 2:37 PM

The Importance of Jewish Evangelism Today and Tomorrow

We are excited about all God is doing in 2023! We will soon release a new animated gospel video for Jewish not-yet-believers based on my book Isaiah 53 Explained. We worked on this new evangelistic tool for more than a year. Once we complete it, you can download the six-minute animation and keep it on your phone as a resource to use when explaining the gospel to a Jewish friend! I think you will love it. It will also be a great help in explaining this profound prophetic portion of the Bible to our next generation of evangelists!

Since the publication of Isaiah 53 Explained, we have given away or sold more than a quarter million books in sixteen languages, including Hebrew, Spanish, French, and Farsi. With great excitement, we are now translating the book into Yiddish, the language most ultra-Orthodox Jewish people read, write, and speak.

We have some great Yiddish public advertising planned for this spring, online and in person as well. The population of ultra-Orthodox Jewish people worldwide is growing, as the religious Jewish community has an abundance of children, more than non-religious Jewish families. We want to reach these zealous and beloved Jewish people with the gospel.

A few weeks ago, I toured the Hasidic Jewish areas north of New York City. You would not believe the numbers of new homes, large synagogues, and parochial schools (Yeshivas) for the children. It is overwhelming. We know very few believers in Jesus among them, and we are fervently praying for a spiritual breakthrough in this most rapidly growing segment of the world’s Jewish population.

We are praying many will consider the messianic claims of Jesus and put their trust in Him for the forgiveness of sins.

WHY IS JEWISH EVANGELISM CRITICAL?

The apostle Paul dedicated three entire chapters of the book of Romans to his “kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9–11). Allow me to reflect on these chapters with you for just a moment.

Let us begin with the end, as I believe Paul teaches the next great spiritual event of world history will be the second coming of Jesus.

Ready or not, He is coming again!

Paul wrote in Romans 11:11–12 (with emphasis added),

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

Notice how emphatically Paul wrote—“May it never be!” According to the totality of Scripture, God will not allow the Jewish people to fall away completely and become unchosen! Though many of my people—as I am a Jewish believer in Jesus too—did not recognize the Messiah at His first coming, this unfortunate rejection led to “riches for the world.” Paul explained to his readers how, when the Jewish people finally believe in Jesus, this end-times event will be “riches for the world,” and “life from the dead:”

“If their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15).

LIFE FROM THE DEAD!

Give this phrase a moment to sink in. The Jewish acceptance of Jesus as Messiah will release resurrection power for the world!

In Scripture, resurrection, or “life from the dead,” is the realization of our hope; it is the completion of God’s story of redemption. It points to Messiah’s return and rule over every nation on the face of the earth. It means healing for the nations. Weapons transformed into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4). Lambs lying with wolves, and children leading lions (Isaiah 11:6). An earth filled with the knowledge of God (Isaiah 11:1–10). No more crying, no more pain, and death swallowed up in life everlasting (Revelation 21:4).

The apostle Paul tied this glorious future to the second coming of Jesus and then tied the second coming to the end-time repentance and faith in Jesus among the Jewish people.

In other words, when the Jewish people turn to Jesus, Jesus returns.

Therefore, both secular and religious Jewish people will hear the gospel and turn to the Lord. Praise God, it is already happening, as many Jewish people today are becoming believers in Jesus—literally tens of thousands of the world’s fifteen million Jewish people are GIVING THEIR HEARTS TO JESUS THE MESSIAH.

OUR CALL TO REACH JEWISH PEOPLE

But how will the Jewish people hear the gospel? We must not allow Jewish evangelism to be the great omission of the Great Commission.

According to Romans 11:11, the Gentile believers today have a considerable role to play by making Jewish people jealous of the Jewish Messiah living in their hearts.

Your Mission to the Jewish People exists to equip and help send those willing and able to proclaim the power of God for salvation “to the Jew first” and also to the Gentile (Romans 1:16).

We are especially working within the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community as our staff in general has a deep passion for the salvation of religious Jewish people.

Here are some other ways our staff is reaching out to

the most religious segments of the Jewish community:

  • Our staff in New York City and around the globe regularly sets up book tables with Jewish-oriented evangelistic literature in a variety of Jewish neighborhoods and on campuses.
  • Recently, one of our European missionaries went door-to-door in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood.
  • One of our missionaries constantly distributes our gospel information cards advertising our websites like “IfoundShalom.com” and “Isaiah53.com” among young Orthodox Jewish students.
  • Another one of our staff took the opportunity to chat with a young ultra-Orthodox Jewish man in Brooklyn about Jesus. The young man listened intently when our missionary quoted Jesus: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

By the grace of God and your support, we are expanding our reach among the most unreached communities!

OUR PARTNERSHIP

This year brings with it many opportunities for you to partner with us in ministry, prayer, and support. Whether you join us in person on a mission trip to Florida, New York City, or Israel, or want to remain at home and support our ministry through your prayers and giving—we need you!

I was born in Brooklyn and had many religious Jewish friends. Many of them genuinely spent their lives seeking the Lord but missing the Messiah! I know many Jewish people who are secular, of course, but they still seek spirituality and a greater connection to God. Your Mission to the Jewish People has a tremendous opportunity to touch the lives of Jewish people who are sincerely seeking a new relationship with God but do not look to Jesus as an option. We desperately want to change this and make the Messiah Jesus more accessible to Jewish people. We are doing this online and in person through our congregations as well as street and campus ministries. Additionally, we show His love through acts of kindness, children’s camps, outreach concerts, and ministries meeting the needs of both soul and body!

At this moment, we are planning a global campaign to reach the ever-growing community of ultra-Orthodox Jewish people around the world. They speak Yiddish, whether they live in New York City, Los Angeles, Paris, Montreal, or Tel Aviv . . . so materials in one language can reach hundreds of thousands of Jewish people.

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , ,