JUNE 2013
GOD’S HAND IN THE UKRAINE MJBI Welcomes New VP For Academic Affairs THE SILENT STILL SPEAK
Dr. Ray Gannon
MJBI Welcomes New Vice President for Academic Affairs The Messianic Jewish Bible Institute Welcomes Dr. Raymond L. Gannon
In 2007, Jewish Voice Ministries International (JVMI) and the MJBI were honored to launch a Messianic Jewish Studies Program at The King’s University (TKU), founded by Dr. Jack Hayford. Dr. Raymond L. Gannon was appointed to direct the program, which under his leadership has become the leading Messianic Jewish Studies program in American higher education. TKU offers a Bachelors and Masters degree in Messianic Jewish Studies as well as a Doctor of Ministry in Messianic Jewish Leadership. This Messianic partnership provides dynamic, accredited educational
opportunities for Messianic Jewish ministry leaders and all those interested in seeing the Kingdom of God expand in the Jewish community. Through JVMI’s generous support, this program has grown over the past five years. Due to the educational mission of the MJBI, both the JVMI and MJBI boards agreed to shift the TKU program under the primary oversight of the MJBI starting in February of 2013. Dr. Ray Gannon will continue to direct the TKU program as well as become the Vice President for Academic Affairs at the MJBI. Thus, Dr. Gannon will additionally facilitate quality Messianic education throughout the MJBI’s international schools.
Ray and his wife, Kassiani
Dr. Ray Gannon has been involved in widespread Jewish outreach, Messianic synagogue planting, and Bible college and seminary teaching ministries over the past four decades. After successful Jewish outreach and discipling ministry in the early 1970s, Ray pioneered
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“
We are honored to have this esteemed pioneer...
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his first Messianic congregation in 1973 in Los Angeles. Ray opened new Jewish outreaches in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1975 to 1979, and later pioneered and pastored Messianic congregations in Long Island (1980) and Queens (1983) as well as directing Beth Emanuel Fellowship in Northeast Philadelphia from 1983 to 1988. Before moving to Jerusalem to co-pastor King of Kings Assembly in 1989, Dr. Gannon taught missions and Jewish studies at Central Bible College, Valley Forge Christian College, and the Christ for the Nations Biblical Institute (New York campus). Upon arrival in Jerusalem, Ray founded the Israel College of the Bible which
provided the first successful, ongoing, and fully-accredited Bible college for Israelis. Soon he opened special language departments for Jewish immigrants, both Russian and Ethiopian. In addition to serving as Visiting Professor of Missions and Jewish Studies at Assembly of God Theological Seminary since 1996, Ray has been published in numerous Christian and Messianic periodicals, has authored a column in Enrichment Journal entitled, “The Church and the Chosen People,” and is a member of several academic societies. Dr. Gannon holds graduate degrees from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (M.A. in CrossCultural Communications and the M.Div.), Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.M. in Church History), California Graduate School of Theology (Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible) and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Ph.D. in History). Ray’s dissertation topic for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was “The Shifting Romance with Israel: American Pentecostal Ideology of Zionism and the Jewish State.” Gannon was awarded the Hebrew University’s highest academic distinction of “Summa Cum Laude” upon graduation. The MJBI heartily welcomes Dr. Ray Gannon to the MJBI staff. We are honored to have this esteemed pioneer strengthen MJBI’s academic programs around the world.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 02. MJBI WELCOMES NEW VP FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 04. THE SILENT STILL SPEAK 06. GOD’S HAND IN THE UKRAINE 09. SMT: DID YOU KNOW? 10. YIDDISH MAMA’S KITCHEN 12. AN EVENING WITH A PRESIDENT
KING’S SEMINARY MESSIANIC STUDIES PROGRAM
GRADUATE LEVEL OPPORTUNITY On-site Modular Summer Course (Van Nuys, CA Campus) “Avodah: The Art of Jewish Worship”
A joint course of The King’s University and the UMJC Madrikh program
Rabbi Barry Budolf, Rabbi John Fischer, & Dr. Ray Gannon Dates: July 25-28, 2013 For registration information, contact The King’s University Messianic Studies Program: http://thekingsjewishvoice.org/
June 2013 Update - 03
THE SILENT STILL SPEAK: Reflections of a Personal Pilgrimage to France by Wayne Wilks Jr., Ph.D. President, MJBI
I have prayerfully read the book “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence many times—its message has served to deepen my faith. Its author’s dedicated example of pursuing and seeing God in the mundane of his vocation challenges me to release the small things in life for the straightforward higher pleasure of pleasing God. This unusual man served as a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris. Lawrence is known in the Christian world now for the intimate relationship he developed with God, which was documented in a book compiled from personal letters after his death in 1691. As a young man he fought in the “Thirty Years War,” sustaining a near-fatal wound that left Lawrence crippled and in severe pain the rest of his life. Drawn to a spiritual life of faith and deep love for God, Brother Lawrence chose to serve the Lord through the church. Sometime after entering monastic life, he lived in the desert as austerely as the desert fathers of old. In mid-life, Lawrence joined the monastery in Paris. During his time of service he called himself, “a clumsy footman who broke everything.” Known for his humility and joy, Lawrence did not seek the limelight, but reached for a higher calling of remaining inti-
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mate with God at all times by consciously “practicing His presence.” Four years ago, while in Cyprus, I wrote in my journal that I believed God spoke to me to visit Brother Lawrence’s grave in Paris. The time had come! Since I was going to be ministering in Geneva in March, I planned to spend one afternoon in Paris on my return. After much research, I found the monastery and church at the Catholic University of Paris. The day I arrived, an English-speaking woman was there who gave me extensive information about Brother Lawrence. The place captivated me. I was moved by the 16thcentury paintings on the church walls, realizing they were there when Brother Lawrence served, and I just wanted to soak it all in.
“In order to know God, we must often think of Him; and when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure.” - Brother Lawrence
The sculpture in the church (then and now) was of Elijah the prophet—with a raven at his foot symbolizing a time of God’s provision in a season of great persecution. The Lord spared Elijah’s life while Jezebel and the servants of Baal killed others.
Cloes-up of list of martyrs
As I carefully scanned the list of martyrs, I noticed the names of four who were probably Jewish. Their family names were very different than the other French names listed. I am sure they were Jews who had converted to Christianity—JHL Samson, PN Psalmon, Frere Salomon, and V Abraham.
These early Messianic Jews served God in the light they had in their generation. I thought in that poignant moment: surely I can also serve the Lord in the light I now have in my generation. I can do (nothing more than) what is given me from Heaven. In my heart I heard a very distinct voice reminding me of several things that personally encouraged me:
“We must do our business faithfully; without trouble or disquiet, recalling our mind to GOD mildly, and with tranquility, as often as we find it wandering from Him.” - Brother Lawrence
1. Throughout history God has always had a remnant of Messianic Jews in the most unexpected places serving His purposes that have never been recognized or honored, like these Jewish monks serving in this monastery in Paris.
As I left the monastery, I knew I had experienced an intimate encounter with God. Yes, my prayer continues to be that I become more like Brother Lawrence. I yearn for the same intimacy with God that he knew. But I was surprised by the unexpected realization of the Messianic Jewish martyrs who suffered and died in the French Revolution at the hands of evil men. I am sobered by the memory of these who paid the ultimate price. I am also sobered by God’s faithfulness to Israel in every generation to maintain a remnant of Jewish faith. May my remaining days speak for those whose memory should not be forgotten. And may my days be given for the Jewish people who someday will believe.
Catholic University of Paris
How prophetic this sculpture was! I was amazed to learn that just over 100 years after Brother Lawrence’s death, French revolutionaries killed 120 monks (who did not accept state-control of the clergy) in this very church-monastery compound. Their sacrifice is observed by some Christians on September 2 and 3 and is known as “Martyrs of September.” I was stirred by the truth before me: Men died for their faith and love for the Church. I prayed that God would continue to preserve and bless their memory.
2. My life-long calling is to the Messianic Jewish restoration of faith.
That burial place was cold, but my heart grew warm as I lingered there, sensing the presence of God around me. I was reminded that the Lord has always had a remnant of Jewish believers as Paul stated in Romans 10. I silently praised His name for faithful men and for the faithfulness of God to His Holy Word through the ages.
3. A renewed reminder to pray for France and God’s visitation of the many Jewish people still living here. 4. As these Jewish Christian martyrs gave all to follow God, may my life be given to Him in life and death, to glorify the Messiah for the cause of “all Israel being saved.”
The bones lying in dark crypts, silenced in their graves and closed behind ancient church doors, still have a story to tell—may they speak for all who have ears to hear.
June 2013 Update - 05
G OD ’ S HAND IN T H E
UKRAINE
FIELD REPORT
by VALENTIN SVIONTEK, Director MJBI Odessa
We are excited to report the great things Yeshua is doing in our school, city, and country. Here are some of this year’s highlights.
Purim play by MJBI students
Purim Celebration Our February Purim celebration focused on a special play presented by MJBI students and members of the “Or HaMashiach” Messianic congregation. An evangelical team took to the very cold streets of Odessa to hand out event invitational flyers. Even with the cold weather—and no heat in the building— we were pleased with the turnout and response. God also worked some amazing financial mira-
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cles during Purim. For example, a gentleman named Nahum prayed for God’s help to pay a particular debt. Without explanation, he soon found a $100 bill glued to his apartment wall! Our congregation was also blessed when facing a shortage on monthly rent. A local church gave us a financial gift for the exact amount needed, simply saying “Happy Purim”…and indeed it was for many! Prayer Against Anti-Semitism and Nazism Early in March, members of our congregation and school joined national church leaders and other believers from sixteen countries to participate in the third annual “International Prayer Against Anti-Semitism and Nazism” meeting held in Kiev. This gathering was a crucial time of intercession over the Jewish people in light of rising anti-Semitism in Europe and the rest of the world.
WW II memorial to Odessa Jews
Greetings from MJBI Odessa!
M J B I ODESS A Our spring semester brought sixteen eager students with great expectations to Odessa. Here are testimonies from two of them. Vita Bihalets “My name is Vita. I am 19 years old and I want to be a missionary. I’ve been a student at Odessa MJBI since the fall of 2012. While knowing this was the right choice, it was hard and scary at first because I started noticing definite weaknesses in myself. But God slowly began changing me, revealing Himself to me in new ways.
WW II memorial to Odessa Jews
When Pastor Olen Griffing (and grandson Landon Benjamin) came to teach, I learned I had closed myself off because of past hurts. Through their ministry, the Lord has healed me. I am learning again how to be open to people and their needs and problems. Plus, the Lord confirmed my call to youth ministry.
Along with the conference, we participated in a bitterly cold and wintery prayer walk in Odessa to places where Jewish people were brutally burned and murdered during WW II (out of 180,000 Jews in Odessa before the Nazis, only about 600 survivors were found by their 1944 Soviet liberators). Along with prayers, survivors’ stories of those terrible events were read out loud near the city memorial. (More information on this movement can be found at: http://baruhaba.org.ua/en/?p=1344) (Cont’d pg. 8)
I am so grateful to be a part of the MJBI Odessa community. I’ve been blessed with a spiritual family, supportive friends, and a good theological foundation. I have also learned much about the Messianic movement and Jewish people. Most importantly, I know I have a deeper relationship with God and how to serve His people in a greater way.” Yevgeniy Ryaboshtan “My name is Jenya, and attending MJBI was on my mind for a long time. Last fall I finally started, and my main goals were to know God more and gain wisdom. I can see definite improvement in these areas over the past 6 months! For example, the class devoted to understanding and resolving conflicts touched me greatly. As a technical person, it is important for me to understand how things work. Frankly, I had to implement my new knowlege almost immediately! In the beginning it (Cont’d pg. 8)
June 2013 Update - 07
(Cont’d from pg. 7) STUDENT TESTIMONIES Val and Tatyana Sviontek Photo credit: Melnik Maria
M J B I ODESS A
was hard, but God began to change me and it became easier. Many people that know me say I have changed dramatically for the good.
Current and Future Outreach About once a month we visit a large Orthodox Jewish community 100 miles from Odessa. This group of 200 families has been very receptive to our benevolence outreach and to the good news of their Messiah. Some have already become born-again believers. Please pray with us for their continued openness to the Gospel message. We are also excited about an upcoming event this September, planned to be the largest Odessa Jewish outreach since the “Hear O Israel” festival of 1995. Celebrating the 110th anniversary of the Ukrainian/Russian Messianic movement (started in 1903 by Leon Rosenberg), we are preparing to reach 10,000 with the gospel during a week of street ministry. Then on September 27 we will culminate the week with a large indoor evangelistic festival. We would ask for your prayers as we prepare for this important messianic ministry event!” (Val and Tatyana Sviontek are very thankful for the outpouring of love they have felt from MJBI supporters since his heart attack last fall. He is feeling much stronger and more able to carry out the work of the ministry. Please continue to pray as he uses wisdom in diet, exercise, and regular medical attention—he is believing for a full recovery. They add that “we know we could not have walked this path without you!” To God be ALL the Glory!)
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Jewish orthodox community
GOD’S HAND IN THE UKRAINE
I’ve learned the importance of my relationship with God as well as the role of the congregation in my life. Because I have devoted myself to Him, my attitude towards other people has changed, too. He is developing my gifts and talents, and I have been working in the youth and video ministries (I even use my car to help people). There have been many struggles in my life, but here at MJBI Odessa God is teaching me how to be a true disciple of Yeshua.”
Or Hamashiach Congregation, Odessa
(Cont’d from pg. 7)
DID YOU
KNOW? by Giuseppe Rispoli Director of Media & E-Learning
Here are some facts gleaned out of our online School of Messianic Theology (SMT) courses: Is God even involved in human history beyond the Bible? Yes, but how do we determine where He is, and where He is not? The Jewish people were called of God, and have a special covenant and relationship with God; therefore He has used them throughout human history to accomplish His purposes. When was the Sabbath introduced? The Sabbath was introduced by the Law of Moses around 1400 B.C.E; there was no concept of the “week.” But God said He wanted one day out of seven designated as a day of rest. As a result Jewish people have set aside this unique day where they take a break to rest, study the Scriptures, and worship God. Doing these various kinds of things has influenced their lifestyle even to this very day. Why did God choose the land of Israel? Why didn’t he choose fertile Iowa or Ukraine? At the time it wasn’t fertile, but arid, and rocky. But this land (Canaan, later Israel) was the center of the trading routes of the ancient world – Africa, Asia and Europe. God was putting them into a strategic area, an area in which they could influence and impact the nations of the world that they may learn about the God of Israel. Most Jews have never set foot in the Land of Israel, yet they have a strong connection to it, particularly in their daily prayers.
Join the SMT and Learn How to Explore the Bible Through Jewish Eyes w w w . S M Te n g l i s h . o r g
Which of Herod’s sons got control of the northern region in the Decapolis area, took Herod Antipas’ wife in violation of the Torah, and is condemned by John? That son was Philip. Why did Yeshua die? • We know it’s for the sins of the world. • Under the First Covenant, the Jewish people died and were exiled and brought back to Israel where God established a new covenant with them. • Yeshua dies because Israel dies. • He dies on Passover, which is the time, that Israel was saved and delivered to become a nation. (God’s judgment passed over them. Yeshua’s death created the sacrifice that enables God to pass over the sins of the people.) • They start anew, like the Israelites coming out of Egypt, coming up through Yeshua as a new people. • He rises on the Feast of First Fruits (not on Easter which was a Roman holiday that had nothing to do with the Jewish holidays). The Bible is full of interesting facts and deep mysteries. Join the SMT and learn how to explore the Bible through Jewish eyes!
June 2013 Update - 09
Yiddish Mama’s Kitchen CORNER B o nn i e Saul W i lk s
Welcome to Yiddish Ma ma’s Kitchen! I have a confession to make right off the bat—I’m not Jewish, but I a m a ma ma who loves to cook Jewish food. In my youth, I did live in Israel for three years and worked in a kitchen on a kibbutz. I was surrounded by a plethora of wonderful Yiddish ma mas—who taught me to cook and embrace life with vigor and gusto. I discovered that a Yiddish ma ma is a loving, caring, inyour-face kind of Jewish mother whose take on life is full of all the right ingredients—the main one being LOVE! I hope you enjoy my recipes. Some will be adapted from other sources, for which I will give credit. Also, if you have a recipe for a Jewish holiday that you want to share, please email me at bonya@mjbi. org, and we will feature it on “Yiddish Ma ma’s Kitchen.” This will be a regular feature in our MJBI updates, and you will find us on our website. (www.MJBI.org/YiddishMama)
“Bon Appetite” or in Hebrew “Betayivon!” - Bonnie Saul Wilks
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Honey Cake is always a Jewish favorite, and I made this cake many times while in Israel living on the kibbutz. I learned it from a dear old Polish Jewish woman named Hannah.
Hannah’s Honey Cake 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 cup dark brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup vegetable oil 1 cup honey 1 cup strong, warm black coffee 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 lemon zested 3 large eggs Direction: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan. Mix eggs, zest and liquids with mixer until blended. In a separate bowl, sift together all dry ingredients and add to egg mixture. Pour into Bundt pan and bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Invert on wire rack and cool. Serve with dollop of whipping cream.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
P.O. Box 610105 Dallas, TX 75261
SPECIAL DATES & EVENTS • U. S. Independence Day July 4
(Ph.) 817.864.9300 usaoffice@mjbi.org • www.mjbi.org
• MJBI Graduations
Woliso, Ethiopia (Gafat) July 6
Gondar, Ethiopia (Beta Israel) July 8
• Tisha B’Av (Ninth of Av) July 16 • U.S. Labor Day September 2 • Rosh Ha Shana (Jewish New Year) September 5 • Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) September 14 • Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) September 19-26 • Simchat Torah (Celebration of Torah) September 27 • Dallas Banquet November 14
MJBI SCHOOL OF MESSIANIC THEOLOGY (SMT) smt@mjbi.org • www.smtenglish.org THE KING’S UNIVERSITY - MJBI’s Accredited Messianic Jewish Studies Program seminary@mjbi.org • www.thekingsjewishvoice.org
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June 2013 Update - 11