The Chosen People Volume XVI, Issue 9 November 2010 THANKing GOD for the harvest INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Reaching Jewish People Today Chosen People Ministries Worldwide A House of Prayer or a Den of Thieves?
The Lord Is Coming Soon Reaching Jewish People Today Dear friend, Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving! I am still enjoying the afterglow of our Inside the Middle East Crisis Conference, which was held at The Moody Church in Chicago and co-sponsored by The Moody Church, The Moody Bible Institute, Moody Radio and The Joshua Fund, the ministry of our main speaker, Joel Rosenberg. Since I wish every one of you could have attended the conference, we have decided to recreate the event on the web! The videos from the conference are now available on our website at www.chosenpeople.com so you can watch the conference on your computer at your own pace. I know you will enjoy the messages from Dr. Charlie Dyer, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, Joel Rosenberg, Dr. Michael Rydelnik and myself, along with the extraordinary testimonies, one from a Russian Israeli and one from a Palestinian believer from Gaza. Chosen People Ministries Around the World I am grateful this month for the wide variety of outreaches among the Jewish people that are conducted by Chosen People Ministries around the world! I hope this newsletter will give you great joy and also provide you with fuel for your prayer life. Believe me, it is very difficult to summarize the work of more than a hundred missionaries working in countries representing 98% of the world s Jewish population. Your Mission to the Jewish people is still going strong in our 117th year of ministry, and we could not possibly do this work without your partnership and friendship. I want you to know how grateful I am for your continued prayers and financial support that keep our missionaries on the field and our operations working smoothly. These have been difficult days for our nation and our world, but the Lord continues to keep His hand upon Chosen People Ministries and I know this is in good part due to your prayers. On behalf of our global staff, Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for you! Thoughts on Jewish Evangelism May I share a few thoughts about Jewish evangelism that have come to mind over the last few months? Some of these are lessons I re-learned as a result of our Isaiah 53 Campaign and the two outreach events in Chicago during the Middle East Crisis Conference. 1. Direct evangelism is more important than ever! We live in a world of confusing messages. Barraged with information through the media, the web, constant e-mail and mobile phones, our society is on message overload. This is no reason to decrease our public testimony, or feel as if we are only a small voice in the wilderness! Instead, we should increase our Gospel communications and try to communicate the Good News in even more creative ways. Through the Isaiah 53 Campaign, we discovered that the Gospel, when presented well, does attract seekers and is appreciated in our modern marketplace of ideas. We also understand that biblical truth needs to be presented with respect, recognizing that seekers may know little about God and the Scriptures. I believe our Isaiah 53 Explained book presents the Gospel in this way and is written in a very friendly and winsome style. I was delighted to see that nonbelievers were interested in our straightforward, biblically-based Gospel presentation. 2. Our Gospel proclamation must be Jesus-focused. Allow me to explain again why our evangelistic campaign utilized Isaiah chapter 53. Take a moment to read the chapter in your Bible, and you will see that Isaiah 53 (the passage begins with chapter 52, verse 13), written more than 700 years before the Incarnation, includes all the salient elements of the Gospel message. We learn about the humility and perfection of the Savior, His substitutionary death for our sins, as well as His predicted resurrection from the dead. It is all described by the Jewish prophet Isaiah! Through our advertising on the web, on billboards, on subways and on buses in New York City, we were clearly presenting a Person, not a philosophy. Jesus is our Redeemer, not some new self-help guru or quick fix to our problems or path to happiness. It was such a joy to present the Person A panel of the speakers answers questions from the audience. of Jesus through Isaiah 53. I believe our evangelism will be most effective when we focus on Him. 3. Our Gospel presentation will be accepted by a few. I usually shy away from discussing the numbers of Jewish people coming to faith, yet I am often asked, How many Jewish people are there today who believe in Jesus? I understand that we often want to know specifics so that we can rejoice in what God is doing. I can only give you an approximate number, as no scientific, worldwide studies have been done to make this determination. Some in the Jewish community suggest that there are more than 300,000 Jews who believe in Jesus, but I would place that number a bit lower maybe at 200,000. The number of believers in Israel has grown over the last two decades from just a few thousand to perhaps more than 15,000! We do see Jewish people coming to know the Lord, but with 14-15 million Jewish people in the world, it is clear that the numbers are small we are just a remnant. This does not disappoint me, though, as the Lord told us that this would be the case! The Scriptures teach us that there is a remnant according to the election of grace! (Romans 11:5) The Bible teaches us that we should be both confident and realistic, as God has preserved a remnant of Jewish people who will come to faith in Jesus, and that this remnant will increase as we draw closer to the end. The Apostle Paul affirms this in his great treatise on the relationship between Jewish people and Jesus in Romans chapters 9 11. Like you, dear friend, I look forward to that great day when the Lord will save this growing remnant of His people. Until that day, let s remain faithful in bringing the clear, biblical message of our dying and rising Savior to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. The messages at the Inside the Middle East Crisis conference were excellent and reminded us that we do live in dangerous times, and that many who do not know the Lord are also concerned about their future, the future of their children, and the safety of Israel and of the Western world! These are real issues today. But the speakers also reminded us that God is in control, and that more and more people are seeking peace in a troubled world. What a joy to know He is the answer to every seeking heart! I pray that each of us will have the opportunity to bring the message of the Prince of Peace to Jews and Gentiles during this wonderful season of thanksgiving. Thank you again for your faithful support and prayers! Enjoy the reports of God s work through Chosen People Ministries workers around the globe. Your brother, Mitch Dr. Mitch Glaser President P.S. Please continue to pray for the renovation of the Brooklyn Messianic Center in the heart of Jewish Brooklyn! 2 The Chosen People November 2010 3
CHOSEN PEOPLE MINISTRIES WORLDWIDE 1 2 3 4 5 1Argentina - Ricardo Chemi Our Center is in the heart of the traditional Jewish community in Buenos Aires, home to the largest Jewish population in South America. Director Ricardo Chemi studied at both a traditional rabbinical seminary and a Baptist seminary. This gives him some unique insights into the Scriptures and opportunities to do evangelism and discipleship. 2 Australia - Lawrence Hirsch Celebrate Messiah operates in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. They have planted Messianic congregations and fellowships, done direct evangelism and recently begun an amazing work in Far East Russia. Our workers in Australia also help people with practical needs, distributing food and clothing for the sake of the Gospel. Dozens of Jewish people come to the Lord each year through these ministries. 3Canada - Jorge Sedaca Our new leader in Canada is Jorge Sedaca, the brother of David, one of our senior staff members in the U.S., and son of Victor Sedaca, who led the work of Chosen People Ministries in Argentina for more than two decades. Our ministry in Canada is focused on evangelism, planting Messianic congregations and equipping the Church to reach their local Jewish communities, friends and family. We are also renovating a new Messianic Center in Toronto, a great city of almost 300,000 Jewish people. 4 France - Guy Athia Guy travels extensively, reaching out to Jewish people throughout France and Switzerland. He also produces The Shepherd of Israel, a quarterly publication that is both evangelistic and designed to help Christians understand the Jewish roots of their faith. We are currently praying that God would allow us to open a work in Paris, which has the largest concentration of Jewish people in France. 6 Germany - Vladimir Pikman 5 The work in Germany is primarily focused on reaching the almost 300,000 Russian Jews who have immigrated to Germany in the last two decades. We have planted fellowships or Messianic congregations in ten cities across Germany and established a Messianic Center in Berlin. Director Vladimir Pikman is also actively involved in building our works in Ukraine and Russia, and Berlin has become one of our bases for ministry to the hundreds of thousands of Jewish people still living in the former Soviet Union. 6 Netherlands - Renaldo van de Schuur Renaldo is beginning the work of Chosen People Ministries among the Jewish people in the Netherlands. This is a unique ministry field because many Dutch Gentile Christians love the Jewish people and pray for the salvation of Israel. We hope that many will pray for us, support our work, and join us in reaching the Jewish people of the Netherlands for Messiah. Hong Kong - Mark Lam 7 Hong Kong is a center for praying, sending and giving to support our ministries across the globe. The ministry in Hong Kong has sent a missionary couple to Israel, a young woman to New York City and another young woman to Australia. We look forward to many years of exciting ministry partnership with our branch in Hong Kong. 8 Israel - Michael Z. Through our staff members in Israel and our Centers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, we are reaching Israelis for the Lord, planting congregations, and ministering to those with practical needs, such as Holocaust survivors. Our staff has had a fruitful ministry helping these elderly Eastern European immigrants, and we are able to touch many lives for the Lord. We also have a dynamic youth ministry that utilizes camping and concerts to reach children and young adults. There are about 200,000 Jewish believers world wide and approximately 15,000 in Israel. There are over 400 Messianic congregations around the world. 9New Zealand - Scott Brown In New Zealand, we aim to reach the tens of thousands of Israelis who backpack through the country every year. Many are looking for the deeper meaning of life what great opportunities we have to witness to them! Scott Brown lives on the South Island and is busy sharing the Gospel with Israelis and training Christians to reach these young seekers. 10 Russia - Kirill Polonsky Kirill leads a Messianic congregation in Moscow and is conducting evangelistic campaigns among Jewish people throughout the former Soviet Union. He also trains young Messianic missionaries and Christians who want to reach their Jewish friends. At this time, there are 400,000 Jewish people in Moscow; it has become the Jewish capital of the former Soviet Union. 11 12 Ukraine - Alexander Sereda Alexander leads a Messianic congregation in the city of Kharkov, which was one of the great Jewish centers of Ukraine. Many of its inhabitants have left for Israel, but those who have stayed are usually old and unable to leave. Alex has had a tremendous ministry to them and is a true example of a shepherd caring for his sheep. United Kingdom - Daniel Nessim The work in the United Kingdom continues to grow. Daniel conducts regular Bible studies and evangelistic activities, and does all he can to be part of the Orthodox Jewish community of Golders Green in London. It is a blessing to see how Jewish lives have been touched with the Gospel. United States - Mitch Glaser We continue to serve the Lord in most of the major Jewish population centers throughout the United States. We have started Messianic Outreach Centers and planted Messianic congregations everywhere from Manhattan to Los Angeles to Chicago, as well as in many other cities across the country. Recently we conducted an evangelistic campaign focusing on Isaiah chapter 53, and hundreds of Jewish people responded. We have begun a seminary program in partnership with the Talbot School of Theology of Biola University to train missionaries to the Jewish people; there are now about twenty students in the program. Most recently, we have purchased a building for a Center in Brooklyn, which is currently being renovated and hopefully will be ready in the spring. Messianic Jewish organizations include: The Messianic Jewish Alliance of America, The Association of Messianic Congregations, The Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, and The International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues. 7 8 9 10 11 12 the Brooklyn Messianic Center Currently under renovation Sources: www.ynetnews.com/ articles/0,7340,l-3939336,00.html www.census.gov/compendia/ statab/2010/tables/10s0077.xls www1.cbs.gov.il/publications/isr_in_ n09e.pdf 4 The Chosen People November 2010 5
See the Bible Through Jewish Eyes by Daniel Goldberg, Th.D., D.D. THE TEMPLE OF THE KING A HOUSE OF PRAYER OR A DEN OF THIEVES? Matthew 21:12-19; Mark 11:15-18; John 2:13-25 The public ministry of Jesus began and ended with the cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple. Three Gospel accounts record the events. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem established Jesus as the Messianic King who entered His city and ascended to His Temple to challenge the corruption He found there. THE TEMPLE AS A DEN OF THIEVES Worshippers who came to the Temple from a distance had to purchase sacrificial animals and birds because transporting animals became burdensome. These exchanges occurred in the outer court of the Gentiles. Also, Israelites who had not already paid taxes in their hometown had to pay the tax collectors in the Temple. Business was brisk. Beholding this spectacle, Jesus was angry and moved with indignation. It was His Father s house that the Messiah was cleansing. With magnificent contempt, the Messiah overthrew the tables of the money changers. Their coins rolled and rattled far and wide as He overturned the seats of those who sold doves (Mt. 21:12). THE TEMPLE AS A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR THE NATIONS As a house of prayer for all nations, the Lord was teaching that when holiness prevails upon the earth, Gentiles together with the faithful of Israel will be gathered into the community of worship. Ezekiel describes a future Temple, the dimensions of which have never been built (Ezek. 40-48). Malachi s prophecy states that the Lord will suddenly come to His Temple (Mal. 3: 1), a prophecy pertaining to Messiah s Second Coming to earth when in that day His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives overlooking a new Temple (Zech. 14:4). Gentiles, who were only permitted to enter the outer court when David s Temple stood, will freely worship in a coming newly-built Jerusalem Temple when all the nations shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts (Zech. 14:16). A TEMPLE CHRONOLOGY Here is a brief and hopefully helpful chronology of the Temple as described in the Biblical record: 1. First Temple of Solomon, built in 967 BC and destroyed by Babylon Dr. Goldberg serves as International Ministries Representative for Chosen People Ministries and lives in Pineville, North Carolina with his wife, Madeline. in 586 BC (1 Kings 6:1; 2 Chron. 36:17-19). 2. Second Temple of Zerubbabel described in Nehemiah (530-516 BC). 3. The Temple was desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 BC and liberated by Judah Maccabee in 165 BC (Jn. 10:22-30; II Maccabees). 4. Herod s Temple Zerubbabel s Temple refurbished (64 BC - 19 BC). Temple burned by the Romans in 70 AD. 5. The coming Tribulation Temple to be defiled by Antichrist (2 Thess. 2:3,4). 6. Ezekiel s Millennial Temple to be occupied by Messiah at His Second Coming (Ezek. 40-48). 7. No Temple in Heaven (Rev. 21:22). CONCLUSION In our day, God is presently building a spiritual Temple in His redeemed children. The Apostle Paul declared, For you are the temple of the living God... All who have acknowledged Christ as Messiah and Savior are indeed a living Temple (2 Cor. 6:16-18; Eph. 2:21,22). Are you are a part of God s Temple today? Born in 1914, Born Again in 2010! Southern California worker Olivier Melnick met with Irv,* a witty 96-year-old Jewish gentleman who has many stories to tell about his colorful and eventful life. Still, Irv told Olivier that he was tired of living, yet frightened of the alternative. Olivier was able to offer Irv the hope of Messiah. Although uncertain at first, Irv decided to invite Jesus into his heart. Pray for Irv s growth as Olivier meets with him for discipleship. Fruit From Isaiah 53 Campaign Robynne B. reports that a Jewish woman called to talk as she read the Isaiah 53 Explained book. Betty* had sought truth in Kabbalah and New Age teaching, but still longed for something deeper and more complete. She asked what Isaiah 53 meant to Robynne, and Robynne shared how God gave her the ability to forgive others. Betty literally gasped, saying that was exactly what she was searching for, as her anger was keeping her prisoner. Robynne explained how she learned to forgive once she understood how God had forgiven her. Robynne writes, Betty nearly rushed off the phone to finish the book, and we are looking forward to talking more once she is done. Car Accident Leads to Gospel Decision Ricardo Chemi, who leads our work in Argentina, reports that the mission s new work in Cordoba City is bearing its first fruit: Carlos, a Jewish man, received the Lord after a car accident that nearly claimed his life. While lying alone in his bed in the hospital, Carlos came face to face with his own mortality and the knowledge that he was not ready to meet his Creator. In that moment of distress, Jesus image appeared to him, giving him peace and the conviction that he needed to receive the Lord s reconciliation. The realization that Jesus is the Messiah filled Carlos with the desire to tell that truth to other Jewish people, but he did not know where to begin. One of his doctors put him in touch with our ministry in Cordoba City, where he is now being discipled. *names have been changed News Briefs Ministry to the POOR in Sderot, Israel Chosen People Ministries is expanding its ministry in the town of Sderot in Israel, which has been the target of repeated rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. We are opening a distribution center right in the town, which will offer practical aid to the needy residents. Under the leadership of staff member Eugene L., we are also planning to organize a weekly Bible study, which we pray will develop into a new Messianic congregation. Please pray that this project will bring the light of our Lord to Sderot. New Life for Jewish Man in Florida While ministering in a Baptist church in Florida, Israel Cohen met a Jewish man in his thirties named Ernie* who attended the meeting. After the teaching, Ernie had many questions, and the discussion continued over lunch with the pastor and his wife. Ernie said he had been seeking the truth about Jesus as Messiah for eighteen years. Israel asked what was holding him back, and told him that he could make the decision for himself, that day. The pastor then presented the Gospel to Ernie and asked him if he wanted to pray. Ernie said, Yes, and prayed to receive the Lord right then and there! In Memoriam Dan Rigney, a dear friend and former staff member of Chosen People Ministries, went to be with the Lord on September 28, 2010, after suffering a massive heart attack. He leaves behind his wife of many years, Arlene. After graduating from The Moody Bible Institute, Dan and Arlene served with Chosen People Ministries for a time in New York City and then in Baltimore. Dr. Mitch Glaser was close to Dan: I first met Dan only a few months after I became a believer, and he was one of my fathers in the Lord. He was a constant reminder to me of why I ve followed the Lord s call into full-time Jewish ministry. His love and commitment to people and his passion for God and for His Word have been a constant and shining example for me and my family. 6 The Chosen People November 2010 7
Resource for Evangelism Isaiah 53 Explained Do you have Jewish friends who have questions about the meaning of life and spirituality? Maybe it is time for them to go right to the source and rethink their relationship with the Creator. Isaiah 53 Explained will help kick-start your friends personal pilgrimage and introduce them to a chapter in the Scriptures that has the potential to revolutionize their lives! [3135] Isaiah 53 Explained $12.95 US For phone orders in the U.S. call 1-800-333-4936. Or for even more resources, visit us online at www.chosenpeople.com/store. See Israel Through Jewish Eyes March 7-17, 2011 Have you ever dreamed of visiting the land of Israel? The Holy Land is a place where the past meets the present and the words of Scripture come alive to embrace them both. It is an experience that can transform the life of a believer in Jesus. A trip to Israel will draw you closer to the Lord and give you a whole new perspective on your walk with God. For more information, call (561) 737-1431 or email tour@chosenpeople.com. REACH SPIRITUALLY HUNGRY ISRAELIS! If you are between 18 and 35, consider hiking through India or New Zealand this winter to reach the thousands of young Israelis who travel there to find answers to life. Or discover the wonders of Israel this summer on Outreach Israel or experience Israel as you work to make a difference in the lives of Israelis! Summer in Israel For more info, check out www.chosenpeople.com under the tab Get Involved or contact opportunities@chosenpeople.com. Why I Support Jewish Missions I had been a believer for many years when the Lord really spoke to me about reaching the Jewish people. I support Jewish missions because by doing so, we are supporting God s ancient people, who are a major influence on this earth. The Jewish people are to be respected and honored because God is not finished with them yet. As a believer, I think that the Jewish people are in God s hands because they are a major part of how God s future will unfold. We as non-jewish believers should support the Jewish people, especially in light of what the Jewish people have suffered, Dan & Ruth Little particularly in Europe. To be a supporter of Jewish missions fills my heart with gratitude. For more information on ways you can be involved in giving, please contact us today. Call 1-888-293-7482 (or in Canada 1-888-442-5535) or email us at giving@chosenpeople.com. Write to us and share your story of why you support Jewish missions! www.chosenpeople.com The Chosen People Newsletter Chosen People Ministries has been taking the love of the Messiah to Jewish people worldwide since 1894. The Chosen People newsletter is published monthly by Chosen People Ministries. For more information or to receive The Chosen People newsletter, write to: Chosen People Ministries, International Headquarters, 241 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022. In Canada, write to: Box 897 Station B, North York, ON, M2K 2R1. In Great Britain, write to: P.O. Box 47871, Golders Green, London, NW11 1AL (www.chosenpeople.org.uk). In Australia, write to: Celebrate Messiah Australia, P.O. Box 304, Caulfield, South Vic 3162, Australia (www.celebratemessiah.com.au). Editor: Zhava Glaser; Staff Writer: Alan Shore; Designer: Lois Gable. Please remember Chosen People Ministries in your will. I will bless those who bless you. (Genesis 12:3) Serving in: Argentina Australia Canada France Germany Hong Kong Israel Netherlands New Zealand Russia Ukraine United Kingdom United States Chosen People Ministries U.S. Board of Directors: Mr. Tom McHugh, Chairman Mr. Roy Adams Mr. Terry Amick Dr. Darrell Bock Mr. Jeffrey Branman Ms. Cindy Forbes Dr. Mitch Glaser Dr. Gregory Hagg, Vice-Chairman Mrs. Barbara Medlin David Schiller, Esquire Mr. Rande Spiegelman. N1011 Visit us on the Web at www.chosenpeople.com Our Spanish website is www.puebloelegido.com 2010 Chosen People Ministries Printed in the USA