Spring 2015 Issue by Zealous Magazine

EALOUS Z THE MESSIANIC JEWISH BIBLE INSTITUTE

SPRING 2015

MJBI and the Jews of

Argentina with Jorge & Marcela Goldstein

s -INISTRY /VERVIEW 2EPORT /6

s 3-4 9OUR 0ARTNERSHIP IN /10

s 4HE -ARRANO 2EVIVAL /8

s 'ILT 2IDDEN /11

FOR ZION’S SAKE Dr. Wayne Wilks Jr.

“It is so fun to see the sparkle in people’s eyes as they literally walk where Jesus has been...”

omething exciting is scheduled for fall of 2015! It is a Messianic Jewish Bible Institute tour of Israel. I love to journey with new – and old – comers to Israel. It is so fun to see the sparkle in people’s eyes as they literally walk where Jesus has been on the Galilee, in Jerusalem, at Calvary, and the garden of His resurrection. Bonnie and I warmly invite you to join us for this trip of a lifetime. It will include some off-thebeaten trail sites as well as meeting Messianic believers from the Land. You will find all the details and dates in this issue. I am especially excited about this spring issue of Zealous which features an informative interview with Jorge and Marcela Goldstein from Buenos Aires, Argentina. They have been affiliated with the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute for nearly 18 years, and it has been a joy to work arm-in-arm with this special Jewish

SPRING 2015

couple. You will be encouraged as you read about them and the work in South America. We have included an inspiring testimony from an elderly couple who have faithfully given to the MJBI for many years and were some of our very first donors. You will also find a 2014 overview of our ministry by Frank Lugenheim, MJBI Director of Operations. It will give you a quick update on where and what we are doing. As a companion piece to our Argentina feature, Dr. Raymond Gannon has an historical contribution on the Marrano Jews of South America. We also have an update on our online School of Messianic Theology. We are adding courses in 2015 and students from around the world as well! There is a course listing for the spring Messianic program at The King’s University with online and in-class options. Peruse the possibilities. Continued learning brings great rewards personally and for the Kingdom of God.

For Zion’s sake,

ZEALOUS Magazine

Dr. Wayne Wilks Jr. Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL Bonnie Saul Wilks Senior Editor

Carol Adams Editor

ART & DESIGN Giuseppe Rispoli Creative Director

Jacob Wallace

Graphics & Layout

PROJECT MANAGEMENT Tara Kieschnick

Managing Editor

COVER “ARGENTINA” Designed by:

Jacob Wallace SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook.com/ MJBI.USA Twitter.com/MJBI

Wayne Wilks Jr., Ph.D.

Youtube.com/ MJBIUSA

ZealousMag.org

CONTENTS

2 CONTACT INFORMATION P.O. Box 610105 Dallas, TX 75261 817.864.9300

ONLINE SCHOOLS

Wayne Wilks

MJBI and the Jews of Argentina

2014 Ministry Overview

The Marrano Revival

Tara Kieschnick

Frank Lugenheim

Raymond L. Gannon

SMT: Your Partnership in 2014

Gilt Ridden

ACCREDITED MESSIANIC JEWISH STUDIES PROGRAM

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

SPRING 2015

Frank Lugenheim

Bonnie Saul Wilks

KOREA

> DAT E S TO R E ME MB E R Ma r c h 4 -5 P u rim Ap r i l 4 -11 P a s s o v e r Ap r i l 5 E a s t e r S u n d a y Ap r i l 1 6 Y o m H a S h o a h (Holocaust Remembrance Day) Ap r i l 2 2 Y o m Ha Z ik a ro n (Israel Memorial Day) ECFA ACCREDITATION

Ap r i l 2 3 Y o m Ha A z t ma ’u t (Israel Independence Day) Ap r i l 2 4 -2 5 S h a v u o t (Pentecost) Ma y 2 5 Me mo ria l Da y Ma y 3 0 O d e s s a , Uk ra in e , MJ B I G ra d u a t i o n

> VIE W TH IS ISSU E O NLINE

For more information on MJBI visit MJBI.org

G o to w w w. Z e a l o u s Ma g . o r g

MJBI and the Jews of Argentina FIELD REPORT:

aRgEnTIna

TaRa KIESCHnICK managIng EDITOR

orge and Marcela Goldstein, MJBI Argentina Directors, have unique family backgrounds. Both were born into secular Jewish families. Marcela’s father Franco, an Italian Holocaust survivor, was saved from certain death when his mother hid him in a Catholic convent. But this also eventually led him to reject his Jewish roots. Jorge’s father was also a Jew, but non-practicing. Each thought they had married “Gentile” (non-Jewish) women, but it was discovered soon after that both mothers, Florencia and Angelita, were actually Marranos (Jews whose traditions and blood line were hidden centuries before due to conversion or fear of persecution). Below is a short interview with the Goldstein’s about their ongoing work in Argentina and Latin America. How did God call you to reach your people? We founded Ministerio Bet-El para America Latina (Bet-El Ministry for Latin America) as ordained Baptist ministers. But soon after, the Lord urged us to return to our Jewish roots. We were invited to train musicians from a Messianic Jewish congregation, and Marcela began taking classes call was after the Jewish Voice Festival in 2000 when MJBI

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Argentina was established and we were appointed as directors. God has provided abundant provision ever since. What are the challenges of Jewish ministry in Argentina? With the third largest Jewish community in the world, our greatest challenge is to lessen their mistrust due to Argentina’s historically strong anti-Semitism. Our government sheltered many Nazis after WWII due to an alliance between President Juan Perón and the Third Reich. They permitted the entry of war criminals, gave them false identities, and allowed some to live very prestigiously within the country. Anti-Semitism is still strong, and on several occasions people have painted swastikas at the entrance of our congregation. Our ministry has taken a personal approach with the Jewish community, building relationships based on Hosea 11:4 “I led them with cords of kindness and ties of love.” This has come as a surprise to them! As an example, one of our congregations is located in the center of a commercial Jewish community; and during Jewish holidays, our youth strategically approach these Jewish businesses to leave holiday gifts and cards.

To find out more about the Goldstein’s important ministry, please go to: http://www.ministeriobetel.org.

How has the ministry of MJBI impacted South America? Much fruit has been produced over the last ten years. A love for Jewish people has been awakened in the hearts of pastors, ministry leaders, and churches. They in turn have been trained to bring the Word to the Jews and to deliver the knowledge of Jewish roots to evangelical Christians. Many of our students started as leaders in their respective churches and have now become pastors, allowing them to reach even more with these important truths. We have an active worship arts program with a Hebrew emphasis as well. Many Latin American surnames originated during the Spanish Inquisition when Jews hid their identities by changing names. So if it is discovered that a last name is actually a “hidden” Jewish name, it is profoundly touching. In fact, the common denominator among our students as they re-encounter faith through their newly-discovered Jewish roots is the healing brought to each in spirit, soul, and body. MJBI Argentina also provides teaching to our BetEl Ministry in Uruguay where members and leaders of our congregation and other churches are being trained. This

“Our greatest challenge is to lessen their mistrust due to Argentina’s historically strong anti-Semitism..” Argentina was able to become a teacher. Last year we implemented an option for the students to switch between regular classroom sessions or long distance courses. This was a very successful change. Our long-distance courses have students in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador. We are also currently working to accept students from Colombia, Spain and Spanish-speaking communities in Florida, California and France. Obadiah 1:20b states “…the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the cities of the Negev.” As descendants of “hidden” Sephardic Jews, we choose to openly claim this verse as our physical birthright. But we also desire to reach the 500 million Spanish-speaking people of Latin America—our spiritual “Negev”—with Yeshua’s cords of kindness and love. Z Turn to Pg. 8 for Dr. Raymond Gannon’s report on the Marrano Jews.

L-R: Jorge and Marcela Goldstein, MJBI Argentina Directors; Map of Argentina; Jorge and Marcela praying for Dr. Wayne Wilks; Coffeehouse youth outreach; Simchat Torah celebration.

ZEALOUS MAGAZINE

MESSIANIC JEWISH BIBLE INSTITUTE 2014 Ministry Overview

VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA

EULESS, TEXAS

SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO HARARE, ZIMBABWE

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ , for it is the power of God to salvation for everyon who believes , for the Jew first and also for the Greek . For

BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL

KEY Online school King’s University

SPRING 2015

Romans 1:16

The MJBI equips leaders who will establish Messianic Jewish congregations and ministries in Jewish communities worldwide and seeks to equip the Church in its responsibility to take the

SCHOOL OF MESSIANIC THEOLOGY Russian Online Video School

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA Yura Mohkort

ODESSA, UKRAINE Valentin Sviontek

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA J.S. Lee

ISRAEL Dan Juster

GONDAR, HOSANNA, WOLISO, ETHIOPIA Derese Yohannes

2000000 1500000 1000000 500000 0 -500000 We thank God for blessing the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute (MJBI) with the stewardship of $1,804,797 worth of ministry resources. With your partnership, we expect God to do even more through MJBI in 2015.

2014

2013

2012

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

Income

1,804,797

1,698,663

1,467,225

Expenses

1,964,779

1,526,100

1,389,263

Net Income

-159,982

172,563

77,962

Created from the Board of Directors approved interim unaudited financial statements. Yearly independent audit to be completed and available upon request.

ZEALOUS MAGAZINE

The

SPECIAL REPORT

Marrano REVIVAL Raymond L. Gannon, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs

new phenomenon has struck like lightening across the entire Spanish-speaking world as thousands are thundering out bold proclamations of their Jewish heritage. Who are these Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Pentecostals who claim “Jewish DNA” in the 21st-Century? These assert they are descendants of Spanish Jews who formally converted to Roman Catholicism centuries ago. In darker Spanish times, these Jewish conversos were called “New Christians” and “Marranos” (pigs). Desiring to perpetuate their Jewish heritage even as Roman Catholics, they were held in political suspicion and were vulnerable to a series of Church-sponsored attacks especially during seasons of political upheaval, e.g., 1391 and 1492. The ultimate expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 found the converso Jews migrating to points across Christianized southern Europe and throughout the House of Islam — from Turkey, south to Egypt, and west across North Africa. Yet other Marranos who left Spain for northern cities like London, Antwerp, and Amsterdam were fathers to many who migrated to the Spanish-speaking regions of the new world. The apostle Paul registered his intention to get to Spain (Romans 15:24,28). Paul would have preached in the localized synagogues in Barcelona “to the Jew Spain by year 300 and enjoyed the rights of Roman citizenship. When the Visigoths (German tribes) began Visigoths’ Arian Christianity did not militate against

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Jewish status. Jewish circumstance continued to fare well and became highly favored during the sixth century. But when the Visigoths converted from Arianism to Roman Catholicism in 589, Roman clerical anti-Jewish legislation was implemented to persuade Rome of newfound Visigothic Catholic loyalties. By 616 open display of Jewish religious practice was outlawed. Jewish children were sometimes seized and raised as Catholics. The net result of this religious nationalizing of Spain was the majority of Spanish Jews adopted Roman home. By the climax of the 7th-century, Spanish religious imperialism had generated broad cultural discontent among many Jewish people and some left the country. Christian-based social barriers against Jewish religious expression. Many Jewish people who had vacated Spain now relocated there to enjoy the greater Jewish liberties under Moorish Islamic rule. What has been called the Jewish “Golden Age” in Spain was largely from 900 to 1200 C.E. The more culturally and academically compatible Jews and Muslims of Spain shared common interests in science, poetry, and philosophy. Jews climbed the economic and political ladders, and became esteemed social agents

Who are these ... who claim “Jewish DNA” in the 21st century? ZealousMag.org

SPECIAL REPORT

threats of execution for clinging to one’s religious heritage or forced conversions of the Gospel-resistant…”

by “New (Jewish) Christians” but ultimately by the larger Jewish society. threats of execution for clinging to one’s religious heritage or forced conversions of the Gospelresistant. The papal-assigned Dominican and Franciscan orders engaged in an Inquisition against “New Christians” in cooperation with Ferdinand and Isabella to foster a Christianized national Spain in 1492 was shameful, a travesty, and without excuse. But it should also be fairly pointed out that tens of thousands of Jewish people converted to Roman Catholicism over many centuries out of genuine conviction. There were actually many reasons for ongoing Jewish readiness to embrace Roman Catholicism. Jewish life had its imperfections. Jewish religious piety in Spain was not universal as many Jews doubted the ongoing relevance MJBI.org

C ORN ER

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of rabbinical Judaism in a Christianized society. Contemporary counterparts of the Hebrew prophets were vehemently protesting a shockingly wide range of socially accepted Jewish sin. The focus of Jewish historical metanarrative regarding Jewish Spanish conversion centers around the negatives of coercion, martyrdom and exile. Jewish Catholics are explained by suggesting that these Jews were either opportunists seeking social advantage, or simply chose baptism over exile or death. The metanarrative contends all conversion authorities or both. Curiously, the narrative continues that even willingly baptized Christians secretly practiced Judaism at home. Probably the vast majority of “New Christians” converted to Roman Catholicism out of pure conviction and intellectual integrity, and wanted to witness to their faith. Yet later many diaspora “Marranos” went “underground” and refused to allow their Jewishness to be known even to their children until on their deathbed since many feared Christian persecution of “New Christians.” In these days, as more hidden Marranos are discovered, MJBI welcomes the privilege of assisting those in South America and elsewhere as they sort out their Jewish identity as believers in Yeshua. Z

...many refused to allow their Jewishness to be known even to their children until on their deathbed...

ZEALOUS MAGAZINE

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of culture, literature, science, and grammars in multiple languages. Many liturgical pieces crafted by Hebrew literary experts and religious poets during this period are still included in today’s Siddur (daily and Shabbat prayer book) and Machzor (prayers used for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur). Political vulnerabilities developed over time within Islamic Spain. Consequent military attack ensued from competitive Muslim groups and Christians still dominate in northern sections of Spain. Newer victors sometimes demand religious conformity to effect consolidation and cohesion in the interests of political and social agendas. Christian kingdoms

ACADEMIC

SMT: YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN 2014 Frank Lugenheim, Director of Operations

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:19-20 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for Rom. 1:16.

W 10

hat started as an English initiative, through your partnership with the MJBI, has now been taken

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(Ethiopia), Hungarian (Hungary) and the Zimbabwe Shona language.

what the Father has planned for 2015. Blessings from the MJBI!

“I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen. 12:2-3

TE S T I MO N Y

BO N N I E SAU L W IL KS Senior Writer

Gilt Ridden R

“

emember, you are rich.” This imperative was not a braggadocios claim; it was a warning. When I

We are a gilt-ridden society but no guilt should be involved — and no pride in ourselves or against God.

to Eastern Europe. My teacher meant, “You are blessed; develop a sensitive heart and share your wealth.” have traveled extensively to underdeveloped countries and witnessed dire poverty both spiritual and physical, I understand my responsibility to share that which God has entrusted to me. One warning God gave the Jewish people was not against having wealth, but the attitude that may arise that has contributed to the Messianic Jewish Bible givers! Per their request, their names have been withheld.

My wife and I incurred some debt over the years because of our limited income. Although we had been paying it my children. We host a Bible study for the residents in our apartments. Tim, owner of the complex, encourages $4,200. Amazingly, he wrote a check for that amount! I paid the debt immediately. We have faithfully given our tithes and to the Jewish people by giving to the MJBI for years. When we obey, God is faithful. Z

KI N G’S U NI VE RS ITY

Messianic Jewish Studies SPRING SEMESTER 2015

BACHELOR LEVEL OFFERINGS

MASTER LEVEL OFFERINGS

MODULE AT GATEWAY CAMPUS

MODULE AT VAN NUYS CAMPUS

“History of the Jewish People (Since Yeshua)” March 4-7 Dr. Raymond Gannon

“The Shifting Romance with Israel” April 20-23 Dr. Raymond Gannon

SPRING SEMESTER 2015 ONLINE COURSE

“Messianic Prophecy” March 16-May 1 Dr. William Bjoraker

“Two Millenia of Messianic Jewish Faith” March 16-May 1 Dr. Raymond Gannon

Visit SMTEnglish.org to begin an online course today!

ZEALOUS MAGAZINE

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

2015

IN HIS STEPS ISRAEL TOUR

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID ARLINGTON, TX PERMIT #255

Join Dr. Wayne and Bonnie Wilks, Pastor Olen and Syble