EALOUS Z THE MESSIANIC JEWISH BIBLE INSTITUTE
Fa ll 2 016
The Grace to Serve Q&A with Dr. Wayne & Bonnie Wilks
MJBI Timeline A Brief Look at Our Past
The Next 20 years A Brief Look at Our Future
Jewish Feasts & Holidays
For Zion’s Sake Dr. Wayne Wilks Jr.
I
t has been a walk down memory lane to put this 20th anniversary issue together for you! I am grateful to the Lord and you. His promises have been faithful, and your constant support has enabled us to bring the Good News to Jewish people globally. Two promises have seen us through twenty years of service. One we received a few years before traveling to Odessa, Ukraine, with Valentin and Tatyana Sviontek to pioneer the first Messianic Jewish Bible School. A visiting minister came to Shady Grove Church and prophesied over us Revelation 22:2: “…On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” He told us that we would become healing leaves to the nations. It seemed impossible! At the time we did not know about the birth of the MJBI, but we had this scripture. We prayed it daily as we walked around the prayer center of Shady Grove Church. We called out to God to bring it about, not having any idea how He would do it. God’s answer to those prayers is evident in this issue of ZEALOUS. Truly He made us servants of healing in the nations.
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Lastly, the day we left for Ukraine, we still did not have our visas. Undaunted, we loaded our suitcases and headed to catch our plane. The scripture God gave was Isaiah 37:32: “For out of Jerusalem will go forth a remnant and out of Mount Zion survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Miraculously, someone delivered our visas en route to the airport. Through the years, God proved His Word when things looked impossibly bleak, and it was “the zeal of the Lord” that went before us to accomplish His will. God deserves full credit! I know you will flip through the pages and marvel with us at the faithfulness of the Lord! The issue speaks for what He has done and points to our Messiah, Yeshua! It comes with a huge thank you! It is with this same zeal that I look to the next 20 years because of God’s grace! Let us go forward—Kadima!—and continue to reap for the Jewish harvest fields are ripe! We are eager to see you at “FORWARD,” this year’s banquet at the Arlington Convention Center on Thursday, November 10, 2016. Details inside!
ZEALOUS Magazine
Dr. Wayne Wilks Jr. Editor-in-Chief
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Tara Kieschnick Managing Editor
EDITORIAL Bonnie Saul Wilks Senior Editor
Carol Adams Editor
ART & DESIGN George Estrada Graphic Designer
SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook.com/mjbi.usa Twitter.com/mjbi Youtube.com/mjbiusa Instagram @mjbiusa
For Zion’s sake,
WAYNE WILKS JR., PH.D.
ZealousMag.org MJBI.org
CO N TE N TS
Contact Information P.O. Box 610105 Dallas, TX 75261 (817) 864-9300 USAoffice@mjbi.org • mjbi.org
Online Schools School of Messianic Theology SMT@mjbi.org • SMTenglish.org
The King’s University
Accredited Messianic Jewish Studies Program tali.snow@tku.edu • TKU.edu
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For Zion’s Sake
4
MJBI Timeline
6
The Grace to Serve
9
The Next 20 Years
Fall 2016
By Dr. Wayne Wilks Jr.
By Dr. Wayne Wilks Jr.
By Alisa Stephenson
By Nic Lesmeister
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SMT– A Fresh Perspective
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Jewish Feasts & Holidays
By Sam Arnaud
By Tara Kieschnick
International Schools ARGENTINA Argentina@mjbi.org MinisterioBetEl.org
RUSSIA Russia@mjbi.org
Dates to remember
ETHIOPIA Ethiopia@mjbi.org
UKRAINE Ukraine@mjbi.org OrhaMashiah.org
September 5 Labor day (U.S.)
HUNGARY Hungary@mjbi.org
ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe@mjbi.org
October 12 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
October 3 Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) October 17–23 Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) October 25 Simchat Torah (New Torah Readings Begin) November 10 Forward—MJBI 20th Anniversary Banquet
ECFA Accreditation You have invested wisely during your lifetime. Now let these investments make a lasting difference in people’s lives with a gift to the Messianic Jewish Foundation. Your gift will go directly to sharing the Good News with Jewish people and helping strengthen Messianic Jewish congregations and ministry around the world for years to come. Please contact us at 817-864-9300 or Foundation@MJBI.org for more information.
November 11 Veteran’s Day (U.S.) November 24 Thanksgiving Day (U.S.) November 26–December 6 Steps in the Holy Land Tour December 25 Christmas Day December 25-January 1 Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) January 1, 2017 New Year’s Day
View this issue online at Zea lo u sM a g .o rg
ZEALOUS MAGAZINE | 3
MJBI TIMELINE
Compiled by Dr. Wayne Wilks, Jr.
2000
A school launches in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
1996
MJBI begins in Odessa, Ukraine, through the cooperative ef for ts of key Messianic Jewish and Gentile Christian leaders.
2006
1999
Ef for ts are launched to ser ve the Israeli body with classes, par ticularly for the Ethiopian Israeli communit y.
Additional schools launch in Budapest, Hungar y, and Moscow, Russia.
2001
A school launches in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 4 | FALL 2016
2002
MJBI recognizes our mission must also include educating the Church on God’s hear t for the Jewish people. Af filiate schools for Christians follow in Korea and Mexico.
2011
Our online School of Messianic Theology (SMT) is launched.
2007
A par tnership is established with Dr. Jack Hay ford and The King’s Universit y (TKU) to launch fully-accredited, undergraduate and graduate-level degrees in Messianic Jewish Studies.
2016
We launch our first K ADIMA program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, an ex tensive Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Messianic Jewish Studies.
2012
Schools begin for the Lemba Jewish tribe in Zimbabwe.
2008
The first of many schools are established among the Jewish communities in Ethiopia.
ZEALOUS MAGAZINE | 5
The Grace to Serve A CONVERSATION WITH DR. WAYNE AND BONNIE WILKS By Alisa Stephenson, Director of Events and Partner Relations
R
ecently I chatted with Dr. Wayne and Bonnie Wilks regarding the upcoming 20 year anniversary of MJBI. During our conversation they reminisced about their early days of ministry: the hardships, funny stories and miracles. As I listened, I thought they truly are servant leaders. From personal experience over the last nine years, I have learned they have a unique ability to encourage those around them by seeing their gifts and strengths, and then building them up—all while giving grace for growing pains. Here are excerpts from our conversation.
How did the two of you get started in Jewish ministry, something that was relatively unheard of in mainline churches just a few decades ago? Who inspired you? Bonnie: My mother first inspired me to love the Jewish people because they were the Chosen People of God. Later, working alongside of them living on an Israeli kibbutz, I developed a deeper love of Jewish people, their culture, and traditions. Pastor Olen and Syble Griffing also taught us how to love and give our lives in serving the Jewish people, as did Jonathan Bernis and Dan Juster who had a hand in sending us out. Wayne: I received a calling to missions and the Jewish people in 1982 at the altar
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of Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo. It developed over the years at Shady Grove Church with such men as Pastor Olen, Pastor Robert Morris and Rabbi Marty Waldman. The culture at Shady Grove created an increasing love in me for missions and the Jewish people. In 1996 you moved to Ukraine. Why? Wayne: Jonathan Bernis was seeing a great harvest of faith among the Jewish people of the former Soviet Union. Communism had fallen and had stripped them of their bias against Yeshua. With thousands now believing in Yeshua as their Jewish Messiah, there needed to be a training institute to prepare leaders for Messianic Jewish congregations and ministry. We knew that
was where God was moving among Jewish people and the need was great. What were your impressions of the students then and the students now? Wayne: In our first year, we had 30 students from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Belarus and Latvia. They were so unencumbered, coming with only a bag of their worldly possessions and making great sacrifices to be there. All the students (then and now) share the same zeal to fully serve Yeshua and their people. Bonnie: Having seen the very first students, our “first fruits” class in 1996 and the many students since then, I have to say that there is really not much difference—
only the change in time as it progresses forward. I see the same fervor and love for God’s Word and for the Jewish people in each class. God has sent such passionate people our way to be shaped and prepared to work in Jewish communities around the world. There are many MJBI miracle stories. Which one has inspired you the most? Bonnie: I will never forget in the early years when Wayne preached on Yeshua as the Passover Lamb in the Messianic congregation in Odessa, Ukraine. At the end of the message, a Russian Jewish woman came quickly to the front with tears streaming down her face. She said, “This is the first time that I have understood that Yeshua is my Passover Lamb!” It has been a miracle to see this over and over and become an eyewitness to the redemption of the Jewish people.
we go, we are constantly teaching and educating, showing what God’s Word reveals about the importance of Israel historically, currently and in the future. What people need to understand is that MJBI is a Messianic ministry representing the Jewish people. Our foremost desire is that all Jewish people will have an opportunity to hear about their long-awaited Messiah and be trained and taught the Bible from a Jewish perspective. Jewish people have specific objections to the Gospel due to their culture and background. These things need to be taken into consideration. MJBI has endeavored to be sensitive as we present the Good News of Yeshua, and as we seek to train and equip both Jewish and Gentile believers who feel called to Messianic Jewish ministry. Through all the challenges, what were your long term motivators and how did you stay true to the course? Wayne: A sense of Divine calling…wanting to be in God’s will. Plus understanding the “fullness of time” for Jewish restoration and the Gospel.
“Upon reflection over the last 20 years, I am overwhelmed that God would choose such common people as Wayne and me to do uncommon things for Him.” –Bonnie That is a beautiful image of what MJBI is all about that many fail to understand. Is that a challenging aspect of Messianic ministry? What else do people need to understand about MJBI? Bonnie: The most challenging thing about being in Messianic ministry is helping the church understand the importance of the Jewish people around the world and the State of Israel. Everywhere
Bonnie: In short, I’m to produce lasting fruit. Sometimes there would be ups and downs in the ministry, and it could be discouraging. But I always remembered that God called us to produce fruit and fruit that remains. Keeping my eyes focused on Jesus has helped me to stay centered and remain on task about producing lasting fruit. I think of the scripture from Hebrews that says, “But we see Jesus…” He did not waver and stayed true to the end, and I know that He gives me strength to do the same. Truly it has been the consistency and unchanging character of my Savior that has encouraged me along the way.
Ukrainian thatched roof on street where MJBI began
Skyscrapers in Seoul, Korea Synagogue in Budapest, Hungary
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If you were starting MJBI tomorrow, how would your priorities differ from those in 1996? Wayne: The top priorities would be the same: to focus on harvest fields or places where the Jewish people are the most open to the Holy Spirit, which is where we are currently working. From the
“I am deeply humbled that He has helped carry us these 20 years. Despite our frailties, we feel God’s zeal has been behind this grace to serve this calling.” -Wayne
1996 - Just prior to the launch of MJBI Ukraine, Val and Tatyana Sviontek and family.
former Soviet Union to South America to Africa, God is moving among the Jewish people. Today, I would also focus on the Church in China and other nations that are open to the prophetic “Israel piece.” Investing in young Millennials called to ministry is also vital, mentoring them in the importance of Jewish ministry and equipping them to impact their culture with this truth. I guess, basically, I would keep doing the same things, walking through the doors He opens.
2006 - MJBI Argentina’s Jorge and Marcela Goldstein and family.
Speaking about the future of Messianic Jewish ministry, what do you see for the future of MJBI? Wayne: I am excited to see the next generation arising who will apply the Good News to the unique challenges of their day. I see greater expansion in MJBI’s ministry via internet classes and instruction. The Kadima program will launch MJBI into the future as the foremost Bachelor’s degree level program of its kind in Messianic Jewish studies. Bonnie: I am very excited about the future of the MJBI. I know that our Executive Vice President Nic (and Tabatha) Lesmeister were handpicked by God. I believe they will take the MJBI to higher levels accomplishing what we have not—and reaching into countries and cities that we have not. God has made them ready for this task!
2007 - MJBI representatives, JVMI Rabbi Jonathan Bernis, and Dr. Jack Hayford during season of historical alignment with TKU.
2009 Pastor and Mrs. A. E. Vargas, MJBI affiliate school, Mexico City, Mexico.
To hear more about the past and future of MJBI, join us in Arlington, Texas, on November 10th, 2016, with others from around the world for our 20 year Anniversary celebration, “Forward!” Go to forward.mjbi.org for more information. 2011 - Wayne, Nic, and Fred Trietsch meet with Messianic Pastor Yemane and others in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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The Next 20 Years By Nic Lesmeister, MJBI Executive Vice President
I
d rive a 2007 Chevrolet pickup truck—a Texas Edition Silverado, to be specific. This is an important point for any selfrespecting Texan to make to our “foreign” (non-Texan) readership. Even though it just broke the 100,000-mile mark a couple months ago, to me it still feels like a new vehicle. Yet, when I stop and do the math, it shocks me to find out that it is nine-years-old. It is amazing how something old can still feel so new.
This fall, we will launch the Kadima program internationally. This will be the first collegiate-level Messianic Jewish theological program outside of America ever. After three years of study, we hope to graduate the first MJBI bachelor’s level graduates. And by the end of 2017, MJBI will have raised up the first person on the African continent with a Master’s degree in Messianic Jewish studies.
By faith in the coming years, we plan to translate the SMT proA similar feeling has been shared this year in the MJBI offices as gram into at least three new languages– Spanish, Hebrew, and we have been planning the 20th anniversary celebration for our an Asian language. We’re strategizing the launch of Kadima ministry’s annual banquet November 10. Reflecting on how faith- programs in Ukraine, Zimbabwe, and beyond! And we plan to ful the Lord has been the past 20 years has been encouraging and continue engaging the church worldwide about the Jewish roots faith-building as we look towards the of Christianity through various online NEXT 20 years. educational initiatives and website and “Everything that MJBI has accomplished from 1996-2016 social media campaigns. All of this will When I started with MJBI last October, further expand our efforts to bless the has built a foundation that will I sensed strongly from the Lord that we Jewish people and raise awareness for the propel us into even greater needed to start praying for vision for Messianic Jewish movement. these “next 20 years.” Everything that ministry in the years to come.” MJBI has accomplished from 1996If there’s one thing we are not lacking, it 2016 has built a foundation that will propel us into even greater is vision for the future! The next 20 years will be the most dyministry in the years to come. We have been active in 13 coun- namic the earth has ever seen. The Kingdom of God continues tries, with more than 25 Bible schools and over 1000 graduates. to expand, and Israel continues to be at the heart of God’s plan And those MJBI graduates have planted numerous congregations for world redemption. I encourage you to partner with us as we in Jewish communities around the world. Our online School of move zealously into the next 20 years, embracing God’s destiny Messianic Theology program (SMT) has reached into 37 countries for MJBI! and is available in three languages.
ZEALOUS MAGAZINE | 9
School of Messianic Theology A FRESH PERSPECTIVE
By Sam Arnaud, MJBI Executive Coordinator
H EXPLORING THE BIBLE THROUGH JEWISH EYES
ave you ever considered diving into more knowledge about Messianic Judaism? Maybe the very idea scares you.
School of Messianic Theology—out of these three words, which challenges—or makes you shiver—the most? Is it School? We all have our share of mixed feelings about school. Your experience may have been fun—or not. Is it Messianic? Since you are reading this magazine, I imagine you have an idea of what this means. But just in case, Messianic pertains to the Jewish roots of our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). Oh, I know—it must be Theology. It’s such a big word, like a mountain that we don’t necessarily want to climb. Well, not to worry. If we look at the etymology of the word theology we discover that it simply means “the study of God (Theo = God, Logia = utterance, oracles).” Does knowing any of this make you feel better? If so, do you see how knowledge empowers you to understand? This is exactly the goal of the School of Messianic Theology (SMT). MJBI offers you the exciting opportunity to learn and study the Word of God in a new and fresh way. You’ll understand Him and see the Scriptures through new eyes, comprehending the amazing inheritance of our Jewish roots without removing the essence of the Word: Yeshua (Jesus).
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As believers and disciples of Yeshua, we are called to meditate, study, and learn the Word. We are to seek the treasures and the mysteries written, but also to see the simplicity of the Good News that man has tried so hard to complicate. Whether you are curious by nature and just stumbled upon the Messianic Jewish movement, or have a heart for Jewish ministry and want to learn more, the SMT will empower you, your family, and your church to understand God’s plan and our Great Hope that is ahead. Don’t hesitate! Available 24/7, this online program will take you through the fundamentals of our Jewish Messiah. Courses range from “Jewish History and Culture” to “Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus.” All classes are taught by recognized Messianic scholars and teachers, such as Dr. Dan Juster, Dr. Michael Brown, Dr. Jeff Seif, Dr. Ray Gannon, and more. Join the SMT program, and not only will you appreciate the Messianic Jewish movement more, but you will also join our thousands of Jewish students around the world who are ushering in the return of Yeshua on earth by declaring Baruch Haba B’shem Adonai – Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!
For further information, please go to SMTenglish.org
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CHAG SAMEACH—HAPPY HOLIDAYS—FROM THE STAFF OF MJBI!
The Jewish feasts are ripe with prophetic meaning and fulfillment by Yeshua. Further study and/or observance of these “forever statutes” can bring great dimension and abundant life to a “grafted in” believer. Feel free to cut this page out for future reference, and for more information on the scriptural basis, traditions, and recipes pertaining to the Jewish Feasts, please go to our website: mjbi.org/info and select “Jewish Holidays.”
In addition, since the 1948 rebirth of the modern State of Israel, several secular commemorations have been added to the Israeli calendar. These include Memorial Day, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jerusalem Day, and Independence Day.
There are seven “appointed feasts” mentioned in the Torah. The first are in the autumn, referred to as the High Holidays, and include the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShana), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Feast of Booths (Sukkot). The spring begins with Passover (including the Feast of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits) and ends with the Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost). The Lord also set aside the seventh day, or Sabbath, of each week as a holy, designated day of rest. Over the years, other minor religious holidays were added to commemorate important events in the Jewish calendar such as Purim in early spring, Tisha B’Av in the summer, Simchat Torah in the fall, and Hanukkah in the winter.
hen the children of Israel were delivered out of Egyptian slavery, God instituted special feasts, or “appointed times” throughout the agricultural year to celebrate, remember, repent, and give thanks. The Jewish calendar is based on these feasts which are set on a lunar cycle. It was well established by the time of the Babylonian captivity, and predates by centuries the universally-accepted solar-based Gregorian (or civil) calendar finalized in the 1500s. Because the Jewish calendar is “shorter” in days than the Gregorian, the feast dates change from year to year on commonly used western calendars.
W
“These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times…and these feasts will be a statute to you forever…” Leviticus 23:4, 41
by Tara Kieschnick, Zealous Magazine Managing Editor
Jewish Feasts & Holidays
SMTEnglish.org
TKU.edu
THE KING’S UNIVERSITY
COVENANT DESIGNS
Covenant-Designs.net
“The Ninth of Av” fast day—commemorates the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem.
August 1, 2017 AV 9
Visit MJBI.org for more info!
“Feast of Weeks” (Pentecost)—commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai as well as the giving of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.
May 31, 2017 SIVAN 6
SCHOOL OF MESSIANIC THEOLOGY
Tish’a B’Av
Shavuot
April 11-May 30, 2017
Days of the Omer
Begins 7 weeks from the second night of Pesach to the night before Shavuot.
“Passover”—celebration of exodus from Egypt and Yeshua’s sacrifice and resurrection; also known as “Feast of Unleavened Bread” and “First Fruits.”
April 11-18, 2017 NISAN 14-21
“Festival of Lights” or “Dedication”—celebrates the miracle of the oil during the Maccabees’ victory over Greek defilement of the Temple.
Dec. 25-Jan. 1, 2017 KISLAV 25–TEVET 3
Hanukkah
Pesach
“Rejoicing in the Law”—celebrates the completion and beginning of the yearly Torah reading cycle.
October 25, 2016 TISHRI 23
Simchat Torah
“Lots”—celebration and remembrance of God’s deliverance of His people through Queen Esther and Mordechai over the evil Haman during the Babylonian captivity.
“Feast of Tabernacles” (or “Booths”)—harvest festival commemorating the period of wandering in the wilderness.
October 17-23, 2016 TISHRI 15–21
Sukkot
March 12, 2017 ADAR 14
“Day of Atonement”—holiest day in Jewish calendar— fasting day of self-searching, repentance, and restitution.
October 12, 2016 TISHRI 10
Yom Kippur
Purim
“Head of the Year” or “Feast of Trumpets” —Jewish New Year.
October 3, 2016 TISHRI 1
Rosh HaShana
DESCRIPTION
DATES
HOLIDAY
Cut along this line
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Featuring Special Guest
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NOV EMBER 10, 2016 MJBI Annual Banquet // Celebrating 20 Years C HE C K- IN OP E N S AT 5 :3 0P M, E V E N T BE G IN S AT 6:3 0P M
Celebrate with MJBI at the Arlington Convention Center as we present our 20th Anniversary event. We will honor Dr. Wayne and Bonnie Wilks for their two decades of sacrificial dedication providing global educational opportunities for Messianic Jewish ministry while glimpsing toward what God has in store for the next twenty years!
Register today at forward.mjbi.org