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ARCHIVE: AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2002

Elul - Tishri 5762

CONFERENCES GALORE -- AND OPPORTUNITIES APLENTY!

As the summer draws to a close, we can look back on a number of encouraging accomplishments and activities, and we can anticipate the opportunities provided by the fall cycle of Jewish holidays.

As we usually do each summer, we attended the annual conference of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC). And, once again, we were joined by nearly 1000 others, Messianic believers literally from all over the world: Israel, South Africa, Russia, South America, the Philippines, the central Asian predominantly Moslem republics (Khazakstan and Uzbekistan) of the former Soviet Union, Japan (that's right!), and elsewhere. You see, Jews -- and therefore, Messianic Jews as well--are found all over the world. As has become quite normal at these conferences, the UMJC announced that several synagogues had formally joined its ranks. The Messianic Jewish movement, of which we are part -- and you are as well because you are part of our family through your prayers and contributions -- is a growing, truly international move of God among his people.

As usual, Seth joined us at the conference and made his contribution as part of the Twenties program (occasionally called the College and Career age). He returns at the end of August for his second year of studies [and basketball :-) ] at Emory University in Atlanta. Eve could not be with us this year because she is working and studying in Chicago.

Patrice taught an intensive two-day introduction to Hebrew, which she has done in the past. Once again she, and the course, was very well received. In fact, her students raved about the mini-course. One of those students, Jorge, leads a Messianic synagogue in Jersey. He is a Sephardi Jew. [Sephardi Jews come from the Spanish-speaking countries or those countries that border the Mediterranean Sea.] He wants Patrice to come to Jersey and teach Hebrew to his congregation. In addition, he may be of help in getting Menorah Ministries materials translated into Spanish. This is a wonderful opportunity we have hoped for, as there is a great need for these materials throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

Meanwhile, John taught a session on the Jewish nature and background of the gospels. Each gospel presents Yeshua against the backdrop of another aspect of Jewish and biblical history. And each gospel writer presents a different portrait of Yeshua modeled on the pattern of a significant hero (or heroes) from that history, whether David, Moses, Joseph, Esther, Judah Maccabee, Elijah, etc. Afterward, the wife of the leader of a Messianic congregation who is also a Bible professor commented, "That's the very best presentation I have ever heard!" :-). [Tapes are available for $5 postpaid.]

At the conference, John also had several discussions with publishers of some of Menorah Ministries' materials. This next year should see the publishing of a revised version of OLIVE TREE CONNECTION and a follow-up to last year's book THE ENDURING PARADOX. The printing of MESSIANIC SERVICES FOR FESTIVALS AND HOLY DAYS (the Messianic guide/prayerbook for the observance of the Jewish holidays which we mentioned in the last sletter) is moving along as we await the last part of the funding for this and the SIDDUR (prayer guide for Messianic Sabbath services), the other book we mentioned in our last sletter. So a special thanks to all those who have helped us in these projects with your generous contributions. [Don't stop now! :-) ]

The UMJC conference also produced a couple of other highlights, besides reing relationships with old -- and not so old -- friends. We spent some time with one of the other Menorah Ministries staff couples, Roger and Naomi Walkwitz. Roger and Naomi have spoken at the Japan Messianic Fellowship -- yes, there is a Messianic fellowship in Japan! -- on several occasions. As a result of Roger and Naomi's influence and input, the Asia Pacific Messianic Fellowship has been established to bring together Messianic believers from Singapore and the Philippines as well as Japan. Their first conference will be in the Philippines in June 2003, and John has been asked to speak. As part of their work in the Far East, Roger and Naomi have had several warm conversations with Israel's ambassadors to Singapore and to the Philippines!

Then, out of the blue, John was approached at the conference by the leader of one of the Messianic movement's premier music groups. He was a student in John's yeshiva (Jewish seminary) class on Hermeneutics (interpreting the Bible) at last year's conference. He said: "I just want to encourage you; everytime I open my Bible, I think of you." Wow! What an encouragement!

Now, as it turns out, John arrived at the UMJC conference directly from another Messianic conference. He had been asked to be the principal speaker at the annual conference of the North American Messianic Association (NAMA). NAMA is an association of three dozen plus Messianic congregations throughout the U.S. He had previously spoken for them on a couple of other occasions. Once again, he was very warmly received, as a couple of the comments after the conference indicate.

The wife of the President of NAMA: "That was just what we needed to hear! We all learned and profitted a lot from your teaching." [Of course, she helped plan the topics of the conference. :-) ]

The leader of a ly established congregation in South Carolina: "I know the number of people attending was not as large as we had hoped; but, despite that, I feel that God brought you here specially to speak to me. Thank you very much."

Well, we're all "conferenced out" for a while at least until the next one, which by the way will be the end of September, when John speaks at the annual conference of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of South Africa (!) and then teaches a yeshiva for them.

In the meantime, we look forward to the fall holiday season, which begins with the High Holy Days. This is always a time of great opportunities. Almost always non-Messianic Jews visit us and so hear about Yeshua the Jewish Messiah. In addition, we have a couple of non-Messianic Jews who have begun to attend Sabbath services regularly. And, for them too, this is a strategic time to hear about Yeshua the Messiah as the one who uniquely fulfills the Jewish holidays. [If you want to learn more about this topic, read THE MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS.]

Most warmly in Yeshua,

John & Patrice

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