The site was Berlin, Germany. From December 26th to January 3rd 2010, a historical conference took place in the heart of the city - it was the first ever world-wide conference of young Messianic believers, both Jewish and Gentile. We called it Muchan, Hebrew for "Ready." Young people between the ages of 18 and 35 converged upon the conference center for a week of worship, fellowship, exchanging ideas, touring, and encouragement. The purpose was to seek the Lord regarding the future of providing community for Jewish and Gentile believers and reaching out to the next generation of Jewish people. What ensued was completely inspired by the Lord.

Chosen People Ministries sponsored the conference, which emphasized teachings on Identity, Community, and Action. These topics were taught by Vladimir Pikman of Berlin, Larry Feldman of Irvine, California, and Lawrence Hirsch of Melbourne, Australia respectively. These enlightening presentations spurred many enthusiastic conversations around the tables of the main conference room. The questions posed by the organizers and speakers were: Are we ready to continue blazing the path of Jewish Evangelism that was widely opened in the 1960s? Are we ready to adapt to changing worldviews, even though the Gospel does not change? And finally, are we ready to act for the Messiah to impact the Jewish people with the Gospel like the people before us did?

There were over ten countries and seven different languages represented. Despite the seemingly great language barrier, most were excited to meet new friends with similar interests from all over the globe. Many ventured out in groups to explore Berlin during free time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in the center of the city during New Year's Eve, in Berlin's famous open-air celebration - the biggest in the world. As the snow fell, fireworks lit up the sky and music filled the air, the attendees of the Muchan Conference celebrated with Germans and tourists alike in the shadows of the Reichstag (center of the German Government) and the Brandenburg Gate. It was truly a breathtaking and exciting experience.

The 100+ conference attendees also embarked on a trip to Poland to pay respect and gain personal insight on the history of the Jewish people. We visited Krakow, the site of an infamous ghetto during World War II, and Auschwitz, a death camp, the name of which reminds people all over the world of the evil plan devised by the Nazis to murder the Jewish people of Europe. The trip to Poland was marked by an incredible time of spontaneous worship the night before the group visited the camp. Almost everybody worshiped with raised hands for close to an hour, seemingly trying to find strength for what they would encounter the next day. While the young adults who paid their respects in these two locations were not old enough to be contemporaries of the Holocaust, many had relatives who either survived or perished in the camps of the Third Reich. This was an unforgettable experience; it was sobering to walk in the place which was used to murder hundreds of thousands of Jewish people. With the help of the Almighty, everyone was able to grasp the weight of the situation and yet still press on. As a group of young Messianic believers, we stood for God and Yeshua (Jesus) in a place where once occurred the most savage acts of anti-Semitism in the history of the world.

Even the people who had hesitated to come to Muchan were overjoyed in the end after meeting new people, hearing new ideas, and understanding that Jewish evangelism is happening all over the world. Many of us truly took to heart the message of being Muchan (Ready), and began to brainstorm how we could be more effectively and intentionally influencing our friends, fellow students, and peers. There were even meetings of contingencies from individual cities where the young adults sat and discussed ideas on how to impact their local communities.

This was the first such conference - but definitely not the last! There are still reports coming in from all over the world of people who have heard about Muchan and wished they could have been there. Most of the attendees are still interacting via phone and Facebook, sharing stories of how we are working to witness to our Jewish peers. Muchan fulfilled - and is continuing to fulfill - its intended purpose. This conference connected young Messianic believers from all over the world and motivated us to continue our efforts to reach Jewish people with the message of Jesus and to encourage others to do the same.

Contributed by Ryan K.

*Names have been altered

Imagine a huge billboard in Golders Green, London with the quotation "Salvation is from the Jews – Jesus of Nazareth." This is how Nathan, a young Jewish believer in Yeshua (Jesus), began his lecture at a very special event in January dubbed "Jesus and Jewishness." The evangelistic meeting, organised by Nathan and fellow Jewish believer in Yeshua, Joel, was designed specifically for Jewish guests.

Despite the cold weather, the meeting hall was packed with over 130 people. Great care was taken to be sensitive to the Jewish seekers. The venue itself was part of a church building that had no obvious Christian symbols, which often have very negative connotations for Jewish people. The event featured kosher refreshments: hummus, smoked salmon, pretzels and olives. There was also klezmer music playing in the background, and a slideshow of paintings of scenes of Jewish life.

Joel and Nathan began the event by telling their favourite Jewish jokes. They then shared their testimonies, each explaining how he had come to believe in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Since Joel’s background was Orthodox and Nathan grew up attending a Liberal synagogue, their testimonies complemented each other and could be understood by guests from different sides of the spectrum of Jewish observance.

After the testimonies, Nathan spoke regarding the subject of Jesus and Jewishness, using a striking quotation from Jesus as his starting point: “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). Nathan highlighted the wonderfully Jewish nature of Jesus' statement and pointed out that it was exactly the kind of thing we might expect a rabbi like Jesus to say. He went on to explain Jesus' words, saying, “Salvation is from the Jews because God's promised Messiah is Jewish.” Nathan commented further that “when we ask the Tanakh (Old Testament) for a reason for hope in a weary and troubled world, the Tanakh shouts back at us 'Mashiach!' (Messiah).” We then examined the extraordinary exchange between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, which comes shortly after Jesus' statement in verse 22:

“I know that Messiah is coming… when he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

“I, who speak to you, am He.”

The message clearly presented that evening was that Jesus claims to be the promised Messiah who brings salvation, as is confirmed by His fulfilment of all the Hebrew prophecies. Nathan argued that the Tanakh does not say that the Messiah will carry out all of His work at once. He explained how, since Daniel 9:26 speaks of the Messiah's disappearance before the destruction of Jerusalem, we ought to expect the Messiah's work to be carried out in two stages. Nathan encouraged the guests to continue considering Jesus, demonstrating that there is no contradiction between being Jewish and believing in Jesus. He specifically challenged the misguided image of Jesus as a model in a Scandinavian shampoo TV commercial - that He is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Anglo. Nathan instead painted the more accurate picture of Yeshua as the first-century Jewish rabbi that He was.

For the Jewish seekers, it was a highly significant evening - almost definitely the first time that many have heard the Gospel presented in a Jewish way. The format of the evening seemed to work very well, and I would encourage other churches in areas with a significant Jewish population to consider holding similar outreaches.

Contributed by Jacqui K.

By Dr. Mitch Glaser

Introduction

As the leader of a traditional mission to the Jewish people, I believe that all Jewish people need to accept Jesus in order to have a place in the age to come (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). I do not believe that a Jewish person is capable of keeping the Law to the extent that their human efforts would in some way satisfy God’s demands for righteousness, enabling the individual Jewish person to enter heaven on their own merit (Gal. 2:15-16, 3:23-25, Romans 10:2-4 ff.).  This is true of non-Jews as well, who are judged on a different basis than the Jewish people according to the argument of the Apostle Paul in the early chapters of Romans (Romans 2:12-16, 3:9-20), but non-Jews are also made acceptable before God by the same act of conscious faith in the Son of God who died and rose for our sins (Romans 10:9-12).

I also believe it is a biblical mandate for Gentiles in the Body of Messiah to reach Jewish people with the Gospel message.  In fact, according to Paul’s statement in Romans 11:11, the Gentiles are to make the Jewish people jealous.  The Great Commission has application to both Jewish and Gentile believers; however, the Scriptures do not present Jewish evangelism as simply one aspect of the Great Commission among many.  It is a unique venture that is specifically addressed in Scripture and once again, Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, is the biblical spokesperson who argues for this position.

This mandate for Jewish evangelism (and discipleship) that Paul calls upon the Gentiles in the Body of Messiah to embrace is based upon many different passages from the New Testament, but the following two passages seem to be the most prominent.

My name is Rebekah. I am a Messianic believer and attend a Messianic congregation in California. I am also a graduating senior at Philadelphia Biblical University (PBU) in Pennsylvania. When people ask me if I am Jewish, I usually tell them that the important thing to know is that I have a Jewish heart, and that my heart, mind, and soul are on fire for the Jewish people to come to salvation through knowing Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah.

There are two passages Adonai (God) has put on my heart concerning this passion for the Jewish people.  The first is 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, where Paul says that Adonai's word lifts the veil from a person's heart, especially a Jewish heart. The Jewish heart can be so deeply rooted in the Law that they become spiritually blind and their hearts veiled.

The second passage is Romans 2, which explains that every person will be judged according to their actions and deeds. For me to think that Jewish people can spend eternity without God if they don't accept Yeshua simply breaks my heart. The Jewish people deserve to know who their Messiah is just as much as the Gentiles do.

For four years, I have been at PBU studying the Bible. I have gone through the one-year Institute of Jewish Studies (IJS) program and have continued studying the Bible in PBU's regular program during the last three years. I have studied Biblical doctrine, church history, general religion, and philosophy. Today, because of my education, I am stronger than ever in my belief that Adonai has not given up on the Jewish people and that He still has a special and beautiful plan for both Israel and the church.

Starting as a freshman at PBU was difficult because other Christians did not understand why I was Messianic (a lifestyle of believing in Jesus and celebrating Jewish culture, tradition, and religious aspects), kept Kosher, and that instead of going to church I preferred to spend my Saturday at a synagogue. When they would ask me why I was Messianic, I would respond by saying that Adonai has given me a calling to share the Gospel, and a love for a people who have been hated and persecuted, yet still hold their beliefs very seriously. As those around me became better acquainted with my ideas and ways of thinking, they came to understand that I was just as much a believer in Yeshua as they were, but that I simply had a unique calling.  Overall, my studies at PBU have grown my own personal faith along with my knowledge of the Bible, which helps me continue to share Yeshua and His love.

I will soon graduate from PBU and am looking at a dream opportunity to work with Chosen People Ministries in Brooklyn, New York. My vision for ministry is to work with the recovering drug-addicts in the Russian Jewish community among other things.  I have not always known God's plan for me or why this desire and passion consumes me. Yet, the Lord has confirmed this calling by bringing certain individuals into my life, making it possible for me to come to attend a biblical university, and by giving me opportunities to visit Israel (during my second trip, God gave me more clarity on which community of Jewish people to reach). So I can say that God has called me to the Jewish people, and more specifically, the Russian Jewish community.  My goal is to love them, share Yeshua's love, and tell them about their Messiah. Yeshua is faithful to those who are faithful and stand strong for Him!