Shalom, Shalom!
With John at the Yeshiva in Hartford, Connecticut and both John
and Patrice preparing to attend the UMJC conference in Sturbridge,
Massachusetts, I thought I would take advantage of their absence
and write the sletter myself. My name is Barb Thompson and I'm the
not-so--anymore Office Manager for Congregation Ohr Chadash and
Menorah Ministries.
I started working with John just after Labor Day, 1995. I met John
when I took his Jewish Roots class at St. Petersburg Theological
Seminary in the Fall of '93. Coming from a Presbyterian background,
I thought this would be an interesting class to learn a little something
about the Jewish roots of my faith. Well, who k that I would be
so overwhelmed by the exciting things I was hearing. Things that
made perfect sense to me about the Jewishness of everything I had
ever learned before. The most awesome part of it all is not only
was I understanding what John was teaching, I immediately began
to look at Scripture differently. After the two semester course
was over I earned a B+... BLESSING #1.
Several classes later - and a couple of A's here and there - John
announces to the class that preparations are underway for the Israel
Trip in June 1995. I really wanted to go on that trip. I prayed
and prayed that somehow I could get help with expenses. The church
I attend on Sunday had scholarship money. Enough to cover the trip.
So I was on my way... BLESSING #2.
I think I may have forgotten to say that even though I have had
several classes with John and was attending the synagogue pretty
regularly, I had never really talked to him, mostly because I was
chicken. His teachings and preachings were so awe inspiring that
I never k really what to say given the opportunity, so, I just clammed
up around him and his family. But, luckily the Israel trip cured
me of that. And, when we returned to the states, and John and Patrice
came home a few weeks later, John asked me to come work for the
synagogue and Menorah Ministries. I k right then that he saw something
in me that I didn't realize was there. I think he saw my willingness
to work for whatever God had planned in a strong and continually
growing congregation as well as the ever increasing "Teammates"
of Menorah Ministries... BLESSING #3.
Every day I am reminded of how God is working in my life and I'm
very thankful for the blessings I've received. I'm always inspired
by the way God is working in the life of all the people who write
to Menorah Ministries. I'm glad I had the chance to introduce myself
to you. I have an awesome job with an awesome boss, and I'm very
excited to be able to help John and his family bring the message
of our awesome God. Thanks for being a part of it all.
Love in Yeshua,
Barb Thompson
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