When you hear the word Kiwi, what do you think? …perhaps a fuzzy brown and green fruit. But kiwi also refers to a native of New Zealand – one of the most beautiful groups of islands in the world, which receives thousands of backpacking Israeli visitors who are just waiting to hear about Messiah.

New Zealand is a magnet for young Israelis who have recently finished their military service in Israel. Many have become disenfranchised with the way of life in Israel, some are seeking independence from their parents, and others travel for different reasons. But one thing that all of these twenty-somethings have in common is that they desire to see the world and discover whatever truth is out there.

If you are passionate about reaching Jewish people (especially Israelis) and you are between the ages of 18 and 40, a short-term missions trip to New Zealand with Chosen People Ministries might be the perfect journey for you. Imagine trekking through a rainforest on the south island of New Zealand, seeing unique plants and animals, and finding a glacier hidden in the forest. As you begin to hike the glacier, you see other backpackers in the distance and when you approach, you find that they are speaking in Hebrew. Despite being a world away from the U.S.A. and from Israel, there are Hebrew speakers who are backpacking just like you. They want to hear about your life story and they want to tell you about theirs. Is this not the perfect occasion to share how God has touched your life through His Son Yeshua (Jesus)?

Such encounters are far more than passing meetings. When you meet people in the wilderness of New Zealand, it is normal to start traveling with your new friends or to begin camping in the same place and cooking together. You can really start to build a friendship, and when you do part ways, you can keep in touch through social networking. We at Chosen People Ministries can also follow up with your new friends in Israel, California, NYC or wherever else they may go.

Dates for 2012 trip:

Trip 1: December 19, 2011 - January 6, 2012

Trip 2: January 16 - February 1, 2012

Ages: 18-35

Approximate Costs: $3,200-$3,500 based on ticket prices

For more information, e-mail us or call 1-888-2-YESHUA.

Click here for Application and Recommendation Forms.

An amazing thing happens every summer in New York City: Outdoor events such as movies and street fairs begin popping up all over the city, and tourists flock in to see the sights – from Central Park to the Apple Store and more. Vacation season has started, and it is the perfect time to STEP out in faith and share the Gospel with Jewish people in the most Jewish city in the world!

Chosen People Ministries has been doing outreach in New York City for over a hundred years. Ministry is year-round, but what we do in the summer is really something special. S.T.E.P. (Summer Training and Evangelism Program) brings together believers from all over the world for training on how to share the Gospel with Jewish people. After the training, we hit the streets to put it into practice, sharing the love of our Messiah.

This summer, we had STEPpers come in from as far as Hong Kong and Argentina and as close as New Jersey. You might be wondering why someone would want to take a week or two of their vacation time or their summer break to talk with New Yorkers about Jesus? The answer is simple and two-fold: a passion for the Jewish people and divine appointments.

We currently live in a time when most of our generation holds post-modern beliefs. This is different from the mentality of the Baby Boomers and even of Generation X. One of the key beliefs of post-modernism is ethical relativity. Rather than understanding that absolute truth exists in this world, post-modernism believes that truth is relative because people believe different things. The theory is that if you believe one thing and another person believes something else, they are both truth as long as your belief is not intolerant.

Why is this important? Because it makes God relative, too. It makes the work of Yeshua (Jesus) relative - effective for some people, but not for others who choose not to believe it. So my question is this: do you really believe in absolute truth? Do you believe that God is going to do what He said He would do in the Bible?

Summer is heating up – in more ways than one! Thousands of people are converging in New York City to see the many sites and wonders of this incredible place. In Los Angeles, the weather is getting warmer and people are seeking the beaches, cafes, and outdoor activities. These two cities have the highest Jewish populations in the United States: New York City has two million Jewish people and Southern California has over one million. Summer, when people are out and about, is the perfect time to share the message of Messiah as described in Isaiah chapter 53 with people all over the country.