Heshvan - Kislev 5763
ON SAFARI!?
I'm writing this at the end of my time in Capetown, South Africa!
No, I really wasn't here for a safari, at least not as that term
is usually understood. And although I did not see any elephants,
I did see ostriches, baboons, whales, seals, and penguins! (Oh,
well.)
Actually, I had been asked to join David Sedaca, the Executive
Director of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance (IMJA),
in speaking at the annual conference of the Messianic Jewish Alliance
of South Africa, and then teaching an intensive yeshiva (seminary)
program for them. (In addition to serving as the chair of the Administrative
Committee for the IMJA, I direct their Yeshiva program.)
The conference was an exciting weekend at the campus of the University
of Capetown, teaching and encouraging Messianic believers from all
over South Africa. David and I were the main speakers, and the response
was extremely positive to all of our sessions, as indicated by the
personal comments and the many requests for tapes of the sessions.
We were even interviewed on a local radio station.
After the conference, we taught the Yeshiva for an intensive week,
3 hours a day for 7 days for each of the two courses! (I taught
"Gospels from a Jewish Perspective.") There were students
from 6 or 7 Messianic congregations and fellowships around South
Africa and beyond. Three dozen people attended. Some came from as
far away as Zambia! One couple drove 1000 kilometers (625 miles);
another drove 1000 miles just to be there! And the response was
fabulous. I've never taught a yeshiva course for a more grateful
and responsive group of people anywhere in the world. Rather than
tell you about it I want to share a number of their responses in
their own words.
Lauren (a "" Messianic Jew): "This is fabulous;
the teaching is wonderful! I can begin to read the Testament with
Jewish eyes. It brings it all to life!"
Toni (a Gentile believer): "Thanks for all the treasures.
You have been a huge blessing."
Cecily (a Gentile who works in a Messianic congregation): "This
was wonderful! It completely opened my eyes. And, now I will have
more confidence when I talk to my Jewish friends."
Arnold (a Messianic Jew in leadership): "You will never know
how deeply this has affected my life. Thank you very much!"
Herschel (the Messianic rabbi who coordinated everything): "I've
been observing the people and their reactions, especially the leaders.
They are coming to grips with an entirely different way of thinking."
Harold (a Jewish "observer" who is not [yet?] Messianic):
"I didn't realize how deeply Jewish the Testament is. You've
opened up my eyes. Thank you!"
By the way, the guest house at which David and I stayed was operated
by a delightful couple originally from Israel. During our stay we
had numerous conversations with them.
During one, Eliav (the husband) asked: "How do we know who
the Messiah is?" Needless to say, a most "enjoyable"
conversation followed! Another time Eliav remarked; "The Testament
is really a Jewish book; I can see that now. And, I need to read
it that way. I will someday. The Christians took it from us and
turned it into something else. We need to get it back." (We
left Eliav with a Testament in Hebrew.)
Do pray for Harold and Eliav (and his wife P'nina)! Thanks.
By the way, while I was gone, Patrice was not goofing off either.
:-) She introduced a couple of dozen people to the basics of Hebrew.
In one packed weekend, she taught them the alphabet, several dozen
words, and the basics of reading Hebrew. She does a wonderful job
at this, which is also what she did at this past summer's conference
of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC).
And, speaking of that conference, we got the following very encouraging
email response from the coordinator of the UMJC conference. (We
shared this with some of you.) "The responses from your seminar
at the conference were incredible. People raved about it, and some
people thought it should be published." [We've begun that process.
:-)]
Another very encouraging remark came from a leader who had taken
the Yeshiva Hermeneutics course several months earlier. (Hermeneutics
deals with how to accurately interpret the Scriptures.) "Every
time I read my Bible now, I think of you."
One final "conference note." I will be speaking at the
conference of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance (IMJA)
the last week of October in Norfolk, Virginia. The IMJA is an organization
that has been reaching out to the Jewish community worldwide and
serving Messianic Jews internationally for over 100 years. It holds
its international conferences every 5 years, so speaking there is
a rare privilege. In addition, I've been told that a number of area
rabbis (non-Messianic ones) have been invited to my session, and
several have indicated they will attend! (PRAY!)
A hearty "thank you" for making all these (and many other)
activities possible through your contributions and prayer. Most
warmly in Yeshua,
John (on behalf of Patrice as well)
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