INSIDETHIS

ISSUE:

Volume XIV, Issue 5 June 2008

TheChosenPeople

TheChosenPeople

The Messianic Movement : A Bright and Promising Future What Is a Messianic Congregation? • Bible Study: The Virgin Birth

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FutureFuturePromisingPromising&&

BrightBright

the Jewish people who werescattered across the face of the earthwould return to Zion.

The Scriptures teach that theLand of Israel was promised bycovenant to the Jewish people.Andwhen we see this land in Jewishhands, as we do on the 60th birthdayof Israel’s re-establishment as anation, we are assured that thecoming of the Lord is near.

How close? That is a mystery!But we would be prudent to takecareful note of the signs of the timesas we see prophecy unfold beforeour very eyes.

Our Growing Messianic Movement

One of these signs is the growingnumber of Jewish people who arecoming to know Jesus as their Savior.Sometimes this is known as theMessianic Jewish movement, as oneof the most popular terms used forJewish believers today is MessianicJew. It is clear that this movement ofJewish people believing that Jesus isthe Messiah is growing all across theglobe—although we have a long wayto go! I do not think that ourmovement includes more than 1% ofthe worldwide Jewish population ofabout 14 million.

But I believe that the remnant ofJewish people who have faith inJesus the Messiah will grow as theday of His appearing draws closer.Is it possible that we are seeingthis prophecy coming to pass? I

believe so! Let me explain.

A Brief Look BackWhen I became a Jewish

believer in Jesus at age 19,there were less than a half-dozen Messianiccongregations in the world. Now there are

The Messianic MovementA Bright and

PromisingFuture

A synagogue in Berlin

Dear friend,Shalom from New York City,

where I am writing to you fromChosen People Ministries’International Headquarters.We are inthe midst of a very busy and excitingseason of outreach.We have teamssharing the Gospel all over New YorkCity this month. Dozens of young

people are already in Israel onour short-term missions trips.

As we read the news and watchworld events unfolding on ourtelevision screens, it is impossible notto compare what we see and hearwith what is written in the Bible.We have witnessed the return ofJewish people to the Land of Israel.Clearly this fulfills, at least in part, the

promises of God, proclaimedby the Jewish prophets, thatthe day would come when

2 The Chosen People

hundreds.The MessianicJewish movement is alive! We have Messianic versionsof the Bible, commentariesand wonderful Messianicmusic.The network ofalliances, multi-nationalfellowships, conferences,camps, publishing houses and other resources that have been developed through the gifts andcommitment of so manyMessianic Jewish believers istruly a blessing beyonddescription.

Last year, we held a conference inGermany where we invited RussianJewish believers who were plantingcongregations to participate in whatturned out to be an excellent trainingprogram. Representatives fromalmost 90 Russian-speakingcongregations came to theconference—from Russia, theUkraine, Israel, Canada,Australia, theUnited States and many othercountries. The most remarkablething was that not one of thesecongregations existed before 1989.

In Israel, we are witnesses to thedoubling and tripling of theMessianic Jewish community in theLand. Today, there are more than ahundred congregations in Israel ofevery stripe—Hebrew-speaking,Amharic-speaking, Russian-speakingand also French- and Spanish-speaking. One day, they will all bespeaking and conducting theirservices in Hebrew as their childrenbecome full members of Israelinational life.We do indeed havemuch for which to be grateful!

The Messianic Movement –A Bright and Promising Future

We live in a very different daythan we did a few decades ago.Thereare now many of us who are Jewishand believe in Jesus.We are in themidst of raising a new generation of

sons and daughters who affirmtheir Jewishness and also follow

Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah.

We are growing—innumbers, understanding,ability, scholarship,wisdom and in almostevery conceivable areawhere dynamicmovements tend toand need to grow.Who would haveever thought theLord would beworking in suchpower in themodern State ofIsrael? In my

estimation, we are atthe dawn of a

movement that will oneday find its fulfillment as describedby the Apostle Paul:

For I do not desire, brethren, that youshould be ignorant of this mystery, lestyou should be wise in your own opinion,that blindness in part has happened toIsrael until the fullness of the Gentileshas come in.And so all Israel will besaved, as it is written: “The Delivererwill come out of Zion, and He will turnaway ungodliness from Jacob; for this isMy covenant with them, when I takeaway their sins” (Rom. 11:25-27).

I believe that the Messianiccongregations—or to describe them inanother way, the Jewish-Christianchurches—that are growing acrossthe globe are an exciting sign of thevitality of our modern Messianicmovement.Therefore, although thereis no doubt that most Jewishbelievers in Jesus come to faiththrough the witness of GentileChristians and attend conventionalchurches, there is a growing need forMessianic congregations.

My wife and I have attendedchurches for most of our lives, andour daughters—who identify asMessianic Jews—were raised going tochurches. Chosen People Ministries

intentionally plants Messianiccongregations because we believe thatJewish people should have a choice.Messianic congregations are culturallycomfortable places where Jewishpeople can worship the Lord andbring their non-believing Jewishfamily and friends.

This gives us options! Certainlymany Jewish people will go to achurch and find the Lord, but notevery Jewish person who is open tothe Gospel will feel comfortable in achurch. So we plant Messianiccongregations to give those Jewishpeople who prefer the comfort of amore “Jewish” environment theopportunity to hear the Gospel, besaved and then to grow in grace aspart of a Jesus-focused Jewishcommunity.

I know that you will learn a lotabout Messianic congregationsthrough the remainder of this issueof The Chosen People newsletter.Wealso have quite a bit of additionalinformation posted on our website atwww.chosenpeople.com.

Can You Introduce Us to Your Friends?

We are hoping to send The ChosenPeople newsletter to many Christianfriends who will pray for us andbecome more familiar with ourministry among the Jewish people.You can help us significantly byfilling out the enclosed form andgiving us the names of a few friendswho you think would benefit fromour publications. So please take a fewmoments as you read the newsletterand pray about supporting ChosenPeople Ministries in this way.

Enjoy thenewsletter and keeplooking up. Jesus iscoming soon!

Your brother,

MitchDr. Mitch Glaser

President

June 2008 3

3The growth of the Messianic

movement is one of the mostcompelling stories in the recenthistory of world missions. From atotal of just a half-dozen Messianiccongregations almost forty years ago,there are now over four hundredaround the world, with over ahundred in Israel alone.

Messianic congregations are faithcommunities that stress the Jewishcontext of the Gospel of Jesus theMessiah. By utilizing features of thesynagogue that are consistent withNew Testament teaching, Messianiccongregations provide a familiarenvironment for Jewish seekers.Messianic congregations oftenemploy Jewish forms of worship, useHebrew in their liturgy and stress theconnection of Messiah to theHebrew Scriptures.

At the very beginning of NewTestament times, there were nothingbut Messianic congregations.As thefirst Jewish followers of Jesus gathered

to worship and learn, they saw theirnew faith as a continuation of Jewishlife.An illuminating snapshot of theirpractice is found in Acts 2:46-47: “Socontinuing daily with one accord in theTemple, and breaking bread from house tohouse, they ate their food with gladnessand simplicity of heart, praising God andhaving favor with all the people.And theLord added to the church daily those whowere being saved.” The early believerspracticed their faith as Jewish disciplesof Messiah.

Although history and prejudicecombined to obscure the Jewishroots of Christianity, Jewish followersof Jesus the Messiah have existedthroughout the centuries.Today, theemergence of modern Messianiccongregations owes much to them.

Chosen People Ministries hasplanted over two dozen Messianiccongregations and has seen the Lorddraw Jewish seekers through them to“taste and see that the Lord is good”(Psalm 34:8).

4 The Chosen People

What Is a MessianicCongregation?

This interview with congregationalleaders Dr. Ben Alpert, Steve Fencheland Lawrence Hirsch sheds light on thenature of Messianic congregations andthe commitment of their leaders.

How did your congregationstart?

Ben: Our congregation started in Julyof 2002.We are in the second mostpopulous Jewish area in the UnitedStates, and the Lord opened the door forChosen People Ministries to establishthe South Florida Messianic Center inBoynton Beach, which is the epicenterof the Jewish population here.

Steve: We started up almost fouryears ago. My wife, Carol, and I hadbeen leading a Messianic congregationin New Mexico.The Lord directed usto Manhattan, where we planted acongregation that now meets just offCentral Park West. It is a great locationto reach the Jewish people of theUpper West Side of Manhattan.

Lawrence: My wife, Louise, and Ibegan the ministry of Celebrate

Visit our websitewww.chosenpeople.com

for more questions and answers about

Messianiccongregations!

INSIDE MESSIANIC

3Messiah in February of 1995 withthe clear vision of reaching Jewishpeople in Australia.We had alreadybeen working among Jewish peoplefor five years in South Africa, wherewe had seen many Jewish people cometo faith in Yeshua (Jesus).

Tell us about the life of your congregation andits activities.

Steve: Our congregation has a very full worshipday, with a Bible study before our morning worshipservice. Our music style is very Jewish, with traditionalJewish songs and Messianic music.We have a message onthe weekly Scripture reading, food and fellowship, andHebrew language classes.There are also classes for childrenduring the worship service, and we hold special events andservices for the holidays.

Lawrence: We are strategically placed in the heart of thelargest Jewish community in Australia.The congregation ismade up of about 50% Jewish and 50% non-Jewishbelievers who meet together for services, home groups anddifferent classes.

How does your congregation do outreach?

Ben: We like to partner with traditional churches forshort-term ministry.We have an outreach called “Fun in theSon,” where we do beach evangelism with a book table,engaging people in meaningful conversations.This season,we have been using the upcoming elections as a means toapproach people with a survey, and we finish with aquestion about the Messiah. People down here in Floridajust love to express their opinions.

Steve: We do a lot of outreach during holidays such asPurim, Hanukkah and Passover, mailing out thousands ofinvitations to attend events and services. Last year, wesponsored a debate between Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and

Messianic Jewish scholar Dr. Michael Brown. Over 600people attended this event, and we followed up with thosewho had further questions about Jesus the Messiah.We alsodo occasional street ministry as a congregation.

Why do you think Messianic congregations are important?

Steve: Messianic congregations are a testimony and areminder of how we began as believers in Messiah.Theyminister to Jewish seekers who may be uncomfortable intraditional church settings.Whether or not one is Jewish,familiarity with the Jewish context of the Scriptures is veryimportant for a fuller understanding of Messiah’s teachings.

Lawrence: A Messianic congregation provides the contextand the community for Jewish believers to express theirJewish identity, bring up their children as Messianic Jews, bediscipled in their Jewish identity and also reach out to theirJewish family and friends.

Ben: You can tell Jewish people that one can believe theGospel and remain Jewish, but it makes a much morepowerful statement to show that this is true.The Jewishcharacter of the congregation’s setting and fellowship makea world of difference.That is why presenting the Gospel ina culturally sensitive manner will help Jewish people to bemore receptive to the message of Messiah.

CONGREGATIONS:

Leaders’Perspectives

June 2008 5

Through Jewish Eyes

For the account of the birth ofYeshua (Jesus), we are dependent upon agood woman (Mary), a good man(Joseph), a faithful recorder (Matthew),the word of an angel and the Word ofGod, which reveals both the predictionand its literal fulfillment.

The Virgin Birth – A Fulfillmentof Jewish Prophecy

The characteristics of the King-Messiah may be gleaned from theScriptures that bear witness to Hismysterious nature.About Him it iswritten that He would be “the seed ofthe woman” (Gen. 3:15),“the son ofman” (Dan. 7:13),“the Son of God”(Ps. 2:7),“the seed of Abraham”(Gen. 22:8) and the “the fruit of David’sbody” (Ps. 132:11).

How in the world could one personembody all of these characteristics?

Wonder of wonders,Yeshua was bothGod (Jn. 1:1) and man (Jn. 1:14). He isboth the “Son of man” (Ezk.19:10) andthe “Son of God” (Jn. 3:16). Christ Jesusis both perfect man and God Himself(see Col. 2:2; 4:3; I Tim. 3:16).

John the evangelist explains thesupreme mystery of God the Father andof Messiah Jesus by saying, “…and theWord was with God…and the Word becameflesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld Hisglory, the glory as of the only begotten of theFather, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:1, 14).

The Miraculous Birth of theKing-Messiah – A Work

of the Holy SpiritHow can one be a “son of man” and

yet have no human father? And how canHe be the “seed of the woman” whenthe woman knew not a man? Here isthe miracle of the ages, that King-

Messiah Jesus was “…conceived by Godthe Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20).The textasserts the personality and creativepower of the Holy Spirit, the innocenceof Mary and the legitimacy of Jesus’birth.

Mary and Joseph were “betrothed”(Matt. 1:18), the equivalent of actualmarriage, involving the taking of vowsin the presence of witnesses. But Jesuswas “born of the Holy Spirit” beforethe marriage was consummated bysexual relations (Matt. 1:16-18).

The Miraculous Birthof the King-Messiah

Supported by the Hebrew TextThe Hebrew word almah is used in

Isaiah 7:14 to prophesy the virgin birthof Yeshua 700 years before it transpired.Unfortunately, some versions ofScripture, such as the Revised StandardVersion, err by suggesting that the termalmah may be translated “a youngwoman.”

There are only eight instances wherealmah is used in the Old Testament, andnone indicate the legitimacy of such atranslation (Gen. 24:43, 44; Ex.2:8;Prov. 30:19; Song of Sol. 1:3 and 6-8;I Chron. 15:20; Isa. 7:14; 68:25). Almahwas never used to describe a marriedwoman in Hebrew or Ugariticliterature.Another Hebrew word,bethulah, had that latitude.Also, theSeptuagint, the Greek translation of theHebrew Bible (200 BC), translates almahas parthenos, which always means virgin.

Moreover, the context of Isaiah 7:11-14demands a sign of great magnitude—asign that was indeed fulfilled throughthe virgin-born King-Messiah, Jesus. Heis truly the sinless Son of God, come inthe flesh to save sinners! �

THE MIRACULOUSVIRGIN BIRTH OFTHE KING-MESSIAH

(Matthew 1:18-25)

b y D a n i e l G o l d b e r g , T h . D . , D . D .

6 The Chosen People

B R I E F SB R I E F SHolocaustSurvivorsCelebrate

Passover atJerusalem

Messianic CenterTwenty Holocaust survivorscelebrated the Passover withour staff at the JerusalemMessianic Center. These precioussouls were especially blessed to be together, asmany of them live alone. The evening waswonderful, with songs, laughter and lots of food. Itwas the first time some of these folks had everheard the Gospel. Our Israel team writes, “We werethrilled and honored to host them and pleased tohear that there were some who wanted to attend aBible study or worship service. Please pray forthese future gatherings and studies together!”

“Messiah in the Passover” Wins a New Heart Over the years, the “Messiah in the Passover”presentation has been one of the most potentmessages for winning Jewish people to the Lord. Butit is not only Jewish seekers who respond to thispowerful teaching. Olivier Melnick relates, “I wasblessed when I realized the universal power of thePassover message. As I retold the story of Jewishredemption from years of slavery, a young African-American man drew the connection between themessage, his own people and himself—whatYeshua (Jesus) did for the children of Israel and thewhole world. At the end of the service, he cameforward without hesitation to receive the Lord.What a blessing it was!”

Passover Seder Draws Seekersat Yale Club in ManhattanThe Passover celebration at the Yale Club in NewYork City is becoming a Chosen People Ministriestradition. This year, over 90 people shared amemorable evening of great food, fellowship andcompelling teaching about the Jewish people andthe Passover’s fulfillment in Messiah. Laura Fels,who was instrumental in organizing this event,brought a Jewish guest who has been struggling in

N E W S N E W S N E W Sher newfound faith. At theend of the evening she said,“Finally, what you have beentelling me has come toge-ther— I don’t have to choosebetween being Jewish andbelieving that Jesus is theMessiah.” A number ofJewish seekers gave us theirnames for follow up.

Landmark Ruling in Israelfor Messianic BelieversThe Israeli High Court of Justice has ruled thatMessianic Jews are entitled to Israeli citizenshipaccording to the Law of Return if their father isJewish. This overturns 15 years of decisions by theState, which had consistently ruled againstMessianic Jewish applications for citizenship. Thisis a major victory for members of the MessianicJewish community who had petitioned the HighCourt for new immigrant status and citizenshipbecause they were the offspring of fathers whowere Jewish.

June 2008 7

Welcome Back,Roy

SchwarczChosen PeopleMinistries is blessed to welcome Roy Schwarczas Midwest Regional Director. We are gratefulthat Roy and his wife, Joanne, have rejoinedChosen People Ministries, where they previouslyserved for 17 years. Roy was born in New YorkCity and at the age of 13 he became BarMitzvah in the Orthodox tradition. Afterreceiving the Lord in 1971, Roy graduated fromMoody Bible Institute, majoring in JewishStudies. He has been involved in Jewishministries since 1975 as a pastor, Bible teacher,author and congregational planter. Roy alsoserved for eight years as Pastor of Evangelismat Moody Church in Chicago. He presentlyleads a Messianic congregation in Evanston,Illinois. Roy and Joanne have four growndaughters. We are thrilled to have them back!

Please rememberChosen People

Ministries in yourwill. “I will blessthose who bless

you.” (Genesis 12:3)

Printed in the USA.N0806 Visit us on the Web at www.chosenpeople.com Our Spanish website is www.puebloelegido.com. ©2008 Chosen People Ministries

Chosen People Ministries has been taking the love of the Messiah to Jewish people worldwide since 1894.

Serving in: Argentina • Australia • Canada • France • Germany • Hong Kong • Israel • Mexico • New Zealand • Russia • Ukraine • United Kingdom • United StatesChosen People Ministries U.S. Board of Directors: Mr. John Holbrook, Jr., Chairman • Mr. Roy Adams • Dr. Darrell Bock • Mr. Jeffrey Branman • Ms. Cindy Forbes • Dr. Mitch Glaser • Dr. Gregory Hagg • Mr. Eugene Johnson • Mr. Tom McHugh • David Schiller, Esq. • Mr. David C. Weland

The Chosen People newsletter is published monthly by Chosen People Ministries. For more information or to receive The Chosen Peoplenewsletter, 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; Design: Lois Gable.

The Chosen People Newsletter

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