SEPTEMBER 2013
06
AN EVENING WITH
A PRESIDENT 04 FIELD REPORT: ETHIOPIA 08 ACTS 29 HISTORY MAKERS 09 AN HISTORIC PRECEDENCE
FOR ZION’S SAKE Welcome to the MJBI Update’s September issue. This copy
“
contains the big “reveal” about this year’s 12th-annual November banquet. The keynote speaker is a U.S. president who loves our country and Israel. You won’t want to miss this event or put this communiqué down until you’ve uncovered our secret! Banquet details are inside.
N O W I S TH E T I M E F O R
ISRAEL. T O DAY I S T H E DAY OF
S A LVAT I O N .
”
S P EC IA L DAT E S & E VE NT S
• 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 • Hannukah November 27December 5 • Thanksgiving November 28 • Christmas December 25 • New Year’s Day January 1, 2014
There is a very informative article about the recent graduation held at The King’s University in Van Nuys, California. Five of the 100 graduates received doctoral degrees in the Messianic Studies program at TKU. We want to honor the graduates and those who made this program possible. Frank Lugenheim, the Director of Operations for the MJBI USA office, has written an excellent article about the MJBI’s online course studies program, the School of Messianic Theology (SMT). God is moving, and sometimes we feel as if we are writing the 29th chapter of Acts! You will also find information about our one-of-a-kind products, specifically our Covenant Design jewelry. Each of these pieces, exclusively created and artistically crafted for MJBI, has a scriptural emphasis and theme. Check out our designs and other resources and watch for this year’s unveiling of the spectacular Rekindle line.
Facebook.com/MJBI.USA
Everything the MJBI undertakes is because of you and your ongoing, faithful love of the Lord and His chosen people. Thank you for co-laboring with us. Now is the time for Israel. Today is the day of salvation. And we are witnessing this with our own eyes. Please give a generous gift this month as we are entering into the fall and banquet season. We are capping off 2013 and already drawing up plans for 2014. We need the strength of your partnership as we go forward.
Twitter.com/MJBI
For Zion’s sake,
Youtube.com/MJBIUSA
Wayne Wilks, Jr., Ph.D.
S O C I A L M E DIA
02
I have recently returned from the Ukraine and Ethiopia and attended two graduations in Africa. There is a full two-page spread of photos, captions, and outstanding testimonies from MJBI graduates in the programs in Woliso and Gondar. It was a dynamic event for the students and attendees as well. Now scores of fervent students will be launched into the calling of reaching their own people and participating in the redemption of Israel in Africa.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
P.O. Box 610105 Dallas, TX 75261 (Ph.) 817.864.9300 USAOffice@MJBI.org • www.MJBI.org SCHOOL OF MESSIANIC THEOLOGY SMT@MJBI.org • www.SMTEnglish.org
02. 04. 06. 08. 09. 10. 11.
FOR ZION’S SAKE ETHIOPIA: DAYS OF HONOR AN EVENING WITH A PRESIDENT SMT: “ACTS 29” HISTORY MAKERS AN HISTORIC PRECEDENCE YIDDISH MAMA’S KITCHEN THE SALSA LADY
THE KING’S UNIVERSITY
Accredited Messianic Jewish Studies Program
Seminary@MJBI.org www.TheKingsMJBI.org
THE KINGS UNIVERSITY
MESSIANIC JEWISH STUDIES PROGRAM Gateway Campus—Southlake, Texas
UKRAINE
KOREA
Ukraine@MJBI.org http://orhamashiah.org/
Korea@MJBI.org
ARGENTINA & PERU
Mexico@MJBI.org
Argentina@MJBI.org http://www.ministeriobetel.org
RUSSIA
Russia@MJBI.org
ISRAEL
Israel@MJBI.org
MEXICO
ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia@MJBI.org
HUNGARY
Hungary@MJBI.org ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe@MJBI.org
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 817-8649300 or foundation@mjbi.org for more information.
Fall Quarter 2013 The Festivals of Biblical Israel The Holy Days of the Hebrew Calendar Professor: David Edery, D.Min. November 18-20, 2013 The Hebrew Prophets and Yeshua Messianic Prophecy Professor: Michael L. Brown, Ph.D. November 21-23, 2013 Winter Quarter 2014 True Prophets and Counter-Cultural Challenge Prophetic Confrontation of Sinful Society Professor: Michael L. Brown, Ph.D. January 6-8, 2014 Messianic Charisma in Lukan Theology Messianic Beginnings: Luke and Acts Professor: Raymond L. Gannon, Ph.D. January 9-11, 2014 For registration information, contact www.TheKingsMJBI.org
MJBI.ORG
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E T H I O P I A : D AY S O Young Beta Israel graduates in Gondar pray during the graduation. These teenagers go home and teach their illiterate parents the lessons they received at the MJBI school.
Ethiopia, Africa
The *Gebriael Family Testimony As told to Mezmur ZeMichael, MJBI Ethiopia Director *Simon was a synagogue leader, long resistant to Yeshua or Messianic medical benevolence. One day, though, his daughter got very sick, and he was unable to obtain medical treatment. Simon had heard people were getting healed at the Gondar Messianic congregation. Desperate, he took his daughter and wife to the service, and his daughter was miraculously delivered and healed during worship! Simon and his wife, too, were touched and all three gave their hearts to Yeshua that night! The Lord gifted Simon mightily to minister, and soon he left the synagogue and became a respected leader in the Messianic congregation.
Hands raised in worship during the graduation ceremony.
Simon’s teenage son, *Azmera, however, wouldn’t listen to his parents about Yeshua. He rebelled and drank heavily. One rainy night he passed out and nearly drowned in the gutter. His parents continued to pray and cry out for his salvation. Samuel (the MJBI director) witnessed to him, telling him that only Yeshua could give him the future and the hope for which he longed. Azmera soon began to attend the congregation and also gave his life to the Lord! Simon and the rest of the Gebriael family decided to enroll in the MJBI program. Amazingly, this past July all graduated together and the once-rebellious Azmera was the top graduating student! He feels his future is very bright now, and he wants to lead youth in the local congregation, sharing the hope of the Lord with those who have none.
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UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2013
*N a m e s
Graduate with Dr. Wilks and and Dr. Gannon at the MJBI Gefat graduation in Woliso, Ethiopia.
c h a n g e d a n d e y e s b l u rr e d t o p ro t e c t i d e n t i t y
(L to R) M Dr. Wayne
OF HONOR
B Y D R . WAY N E W I L K S PRESIDENT, MJBI
FIELD REPORT
o R) Mezmur Zemichael (MJBI African Director), Nic Lesmeister (MJBI Advisor), Dr. Ray Gannon and Wayne Wilks at the Beta Israel graduation in Gondar, Ethiopia.
Graduating Student Representative, *Lemuel, says: “We are very grateful to the MJBI for making such a great investment that enables us reach our prophetic destiny as the people of Israel. Thank you for being committed to equip us in understanding Messianic theology which is very crucial for our spiritual lives and the mission we have as the redeemed people of Israel.”
On an historic day of recognition and restoration, 132 Gefat Jewish graduates raise their certificates with joy as visiting MJBI staff join the celebration. These are the “first fruits” ministers, prepared to go out and plant congregations among their community of 100,000+ in Ethiopia.
This past July the MJBI celebrated two historic graduations among the Jews of Ethiopia. The first was in Woliso among the Gafat community where 132 graduated. The second was in Gondar among the Beta Israel community where 67 graduated. For these humble people, used to severe persecution and discrimination, this was a great day of celebration, restoration, and honor. Gifts were given to the graduates: tallitot and kippot to the men and shawls to the women. Each also received a yearbook, with the students’ pictures and messages from the directors. We celebrated with an Ethiopian feast afterwards in a hall or hotel in their city. Many of the students had never experienced a celebration with such food and such honor! It was so special to rejoice in God’s kindness and love toward them. Thank you for helping make this possible! Some will lead and work in new congregations in Ethiopia, while others will immigrate to Israel. Continue to pray for these 199 graduates as we stand with them and their communities as they take their next steps in Him.
MJBI.ORG
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DALLAS BANQUET
REKINDLE 2013
AN EVENING WITH A
PRESIDENT by ALISA STEPHENSON Director of Events & Partner Relations
A
t last year’s banquet event held at Cowboys Stadium, we highlighted special keynote speaker Glenn Beck. The timing was perfect, falling right after the national elections. Beck’s message helped put the puzzle pieces together for many on why America and every believer must stand strong to defend Israel. We left the stadium encouraged and hopeful for the year ahead. Looking back I realize it took big dreams, big faith, and much perseverance from everyone involved to host what turned out to be the largest record-breaking fundraiser in MJBI’s history. It was a rare opportunity to hold an event in a world-class facility, along side some of today’s most influential Christian and Messianic leaders, all while featuring a major national media personality. So — where do we go from here? Someone once said to me, “If you’ve achieved what you previously thought was impossible, it’s time to set some bigger goals. Stretch to do more than what you ‘know’ you can do.” We all entertain fantasies from time to time. If I were pressed to confess mine, they would include working in Washington as some sort of foreign diplomat, hosting a talk show for a season, or winning the lottery and giving away thousands to those in need.
g o to re k indle . m j b i . or g for more info
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UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2013
Oh, and one more…I would love to be invited to a State Dinner and sit in the presence of a president. I would love to hear personal insights on what it’s like to be the leader of the free world…to gain understanding on how and why certain decisions were made that so greatly affected our country. Have you ever had any of your fantasies come true? Well, strangely enough, one of mine is about to become a reality — dinner with a president. Though not a White House State Dinner, it is dining at the beautifully appointed Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas with none other than President George W. Bush. A few years ago there was a dream, a discussion, and prayer which resulted in an invitation extended from the MJBI to President Bush’s office. We knew it was a long shot, but still felt this was the direction God wanted us to go. Unfortunately, it did not work out that year, or the next. It looked like it was not going to be in God’s plan to have President Bush after all.
LISTEN TO PRESIDENT BUSH SHARE HIS WHITE HOUSE EXPERIENCES... A N D H I S PA S S I O N T O SET PEOPLE FREE But then, the email came that invited us to dialog about the possibility of an event in 2013. On November 14, 2013, MJBI partners will have the honor and privilege to capture wisdom and understanding on a level we have not known as we listen to President Bush share his White House experiences. For one full hour he will tell us about his life, and the situations that challenged every area of his leadership. President Bush will also share his passion for setting people free, which is fitting for this year’s theme, “Rekindle,” taken from a passage in The Message (1 Samuel 2:6-10) that speaks about God restoring hope to burned-out lives. Let me suggest that if you attended last year’s banquet and thought it was monumental, it was. However, I believe this year will be an event of a lifetime, one which we will share with our children and grandchildren, for it is the night we had dinner with a President. MJBI.ORG
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W WW.SMT ENGLISH.OR G
“ACTS 2 9 ”
HISTORY MAKERS
by FRANK LUGENHEIM, USA Director of Operations
Just as the Father used men of old to pen the
The Lord has blessed the SMT in numerous “loaves and fishes” ways in a short amount of time. For example, on a minimal budget He accelerated the knowledge of our staff which enabled us to configure systems and produce video quicker than anticipated. Also, the media department was told by programming experts it would be impossible for the high definition videos to work on mobile devices like tablets and cell phones. But God!
Methods may change, but never the Message.
Initially begun to reach English-speaking students, SMT now has a worldwide scope with registrants from over 120 nations. Courses are currently being dubbed into Russian, and there are plans to expand into Spanish, Hebrew, and about ten other major languages. We have also developed small and large group programs (for Bible studies, home groups, or congregations) in English and other languages.
Bible, He is still using men to proclaim and spread His word today. Jesus and the early apostles used whatever means (or technology) available at the time to share the Good News. The revolutionary message of the Gospel was proclaimed and spread from house to house and country to country on foot, by boat, or by donkey. But in these modern times, it is by today’s technology of satellites, computers, and cell phones.
I have heard that the last words people utter before they depart this earth are the most important ones they want us to remember. According to Matthew 28:19-20, among the last words the disciples heard Jesus say were “go,” “make disciples,” and “teach.” We call these instructions the Great Commission.
Methods may change, but never the Message
The MJBI equips leaders (make disciples) who will establish Messianic Jewish congregations and ministries in Jewish communities worldwide (go). Additionally, the MJBI seeks to equip (teach) the Church in its responsibility to take the Good News to the Jew first (Romans 1:16).
The prophets and apostles of old had no idea at the time they were making history. We believe that many of the SMT instructors continue to add to that legacy as today’s prophets and apostles to the Messianic Jewish world. By capturing, archiving and dispersing the life messages of these teachers from our small studio, we— along with our ministry partners— are embracing the prophetic promise that Jewish acceptance of Yeshua means “life from the dead” (Romans 11:15).
Our online School of Messianic Theology (SMT) is one of the 21st Century ways MJBI strives to obey this Great Commission. We capture the Word of God and the Messianic message on video and spread it across the world via the Internet.
Come join with the SMT as we do our Great Commission part in helping redeem those “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5). The Book of Acts did not stop with Chapter 28. It is still being written today!
Contained within the MJBI mission statement are these same instructions:
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UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2013
AN HISTORIC PRECEDENCE Jewish Studies at The King’s University Yields First Doctors of Ministry in Messianic Jewish Leadership
From the June 9, 2013, TKU Van Nuys, CA DMIN ceremony (from left to right) Greg Stone, Dr. Raymond Gannon, Shawn Moir, John Cairns, Dr. Bruce Tucker, Stephen Galiley, Dr. Jeffrey Seif, and Lon Wicksell.
T
he MJBI has the great pleasure to oversee and endorse the Messianic Jewish Studies Program at The King’s University for all who want an accredited degree. Dr. Ray Gannon, who directs this program while also serving as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at the MJBI, contributed to this report. On June 9th, Chancellor Jack Hayford beamed as he opened the 16th Commencement exercises at The King’s University main campus in Van Nuys, California. Among the nearly 100 graduates were five graduating with their earned doctorates in Messianic Jewish Leadership: Jack Cairns (New Jersey), Shawn Moir (California), Steve Galiley (New York), Greg Stone (Minnesota), and Lon Wiksell (Missouri). While several bachelors and masters degrees have been awarded, this was the first time in history that Jewish ministry leaders could claim the doctoral degree in Messianic Jewish Leadership since the inception of the program in 2007. This dramatic event was not lost on those of the Messianic community in attendance that evening, nor on Dr. Jack Hayford. Accolades of “a job well done” were interspersed during the graduation festivities with abundant praise and thanksgiving to God for such a gracious blessing for Messianic Judaism. He made it clear that TKU was deeply committed to the
continued development of the MJSP as an integral part of the corporate vision. In fact, Dr. Hayford cited the opening the MJSP as one of three crowning achievements in TKU’s history that has helped it become such a rapidly expanding national university. Rabbi Dr. Bruce Tucker, academic supervisor to the doctoral candidates, declared, “This cohort, brought together by Dr. Ray Gannon, has a repository of Messianic Jewish knowledge and understanding and experience that has not existed in history until today. This is historic!” Dr. Tucker went on to state that he believed these five doctoral graduates are going to help cast the vision of where and how the Messianic Movement needs to move into the future through their writings and ministry impact. Located in Van Nuys since its inception, The King’s University has had multiplied branches throughout the West and South. But beginning this fall (2013), the TKU main campus will be near Dallas, Texas, hosted by Gateway Church in Southlake. Dr. Steve Riggle of Houston and Dr. Robert Morris of Southlake will be the President and Chairman of the Board respectively. Under Pastor Morris, the campus is undergoing massive renovations and making state of the art educational Continued page 11 MJBI.ORG
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YIDDISH MAMA’S KITCHEN CORNER BONNIE SAUL WILKS
A RECIPE FROM
YIDDISH MAMA’S KITCHEN
ISRAELI SALAD 1 small produce box of grape tomatoes, cut in half 2 medium cucumbers, cubed ½ medium red onion, cubed 3 T finely minced fresh parsley Juice of ½ lemon 3 T olive oil 1½ t sumac powder Salt and pepper to taste To make it fancy for a holiday add: 1 C feta cheese, crumbled or cubed ½ C coarsely chopped green Israeli olives 2 T finely chopped mint 4-6 coarsely broken baked pita chips Dressing: Whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, sumac, salt and pepper in a small separate bowl. (Optional: add 2 T tahini to make it rich and creamy.) Toss the vegetables, parsley, and mint together in a larger bowl. Then add feta cheese, olives, and pita chips. Drizzle the dressing over and combine. As a side dish serves 4-6 This recipe was adapted from Smitten Kitchen (http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2007/07/a-saladpalette/)
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UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2013
Simple Israeli Salad is a staple in the Middle East and is perfect anytime. It is really great as an everyday basic dish or can be dressed up for holiday meals such as Sukkot. I do this by adding a few delicious extras like feta cheese, Israeli olives, and baked pita chips.
Visit www.MJBI.org/Recipes for more from Yiddish Mama’s Kitchen!
THE SALSA LADY By Tara Kieschnick, Contributing Writer
After attending her very first MJBI banquet with husband Carl many years ago, Delma Hanson says she was changed. “I felt like I had stepped into a whole new realm of my Christian walk…a genuine love for Israel began to cultivate immediately in my heart.” From that point forward, the Hansons began sharing and supporting the vision of MJBI. Delma then quit her full-time job years later to help raise her grandchildren. Although their income dropped, Delma’s desire to support MJBI did not. Inspired by the fundraising passion the late Freda Lindsay exemplified at a banquet one year, Delma began to ask the Lord for a creative way she, too, could raise money. His answer? Make and sell jars of salsa to sponsor and host a banquet table. As she began sharing this God-inspired idea with others, Delma was quite surprised by the response. The Lord began to provide jars, fresh produce, and even cash donations through both friends and strangers for the fundraiser. When it was over, Delma had enough that first year to sponsor not just one, but TWO, tables!
Continued from page 9
AN HISTORIC PRECEDENCE advances to guarantee the finest theological and Messianic educational opportunities found anywhere. Use of The Tree of Life Bible in The King’s University classrooms will be consistent with Chief Academic Officer John Spurling’s strong conviction that the Hebraic dimension of solid biblical teaching must permeate the entire university program. Dr. Ray Gannon, dean of the Messianic Jewish Studies programs, expresses his constant gratitude to Rabbi Jonathan Bernis of Jewish Voice Ministries International and to Dr. Wayne Wilks of Messianic Jewish Bible Institute for taking many giant steps of faith in the launching of the MJSP. Jewish Voice has offered generous scholarships to assist Jewish and non-Jewish students alike at all levels of the program. With Messianic faculty like Dr. Jeffrey Seif, Dr. Dan Juster, Dr. Michael L. Brown, and an impressive string of others, students in the MJSP will immediately benefit as will the Kingdom of God long term.
Because of her continuing fundraising efforts, Delma is now affectionately known around the MJBI office as “The Salsa Lady.” And this year marks the Hanson’s eleventh year of MJBI banquet attendance. “I have witnessed the process the MJBI staff goes through in bringing together all the parts of the banquet in a spirit of excellence and integrity” says Delma. “Both Carl and I consider it a privilege to (labor) together alongside MJBI history makers – to seize these moments in time and watch the salvation of all Israel – the apple of God’s eye.”
To sign up for our banquet Prayer Shield, visit:
www.MJBI.org/Prayer-Shield/
MJBI.ORG
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MESSIANIC JEWISH BIBLE INSTITUTE P. O . B o x 6 1 0 1 0 5 D a l l a s , Te x a s 7 5 2 6 1
C OVEN AN T DESIG N S i n t r o d u c e s
THE
REKINDLE C OL L EC T I O N
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