Chosen People Ministries was first established in 1894 in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. This borough was a center of the Jewish community back then even as it is today, and Coney Island was one of its most important Jewish neighborhoods. In 1938, the Mission established a branch in this area and the Lord greatly used the gifts of Hilda Koser, a Jewish believer who had come to faith as a teenager.

Hilda’s father, who was one of the carpenters who built the famous Coney Island amusement park, Luna Park, had been badly injured on a job. Unable to afford a doctor, he went to a free medical clinic operated by Chosen People Ministries. The Kosers began attending Messianic services, and Hilda’s mother soon became a believer. Hilda followed some years later.

While in Coney Island, Hilda was a particularly loving and effective worker with mothers and children. Despite vigorous opposition to her ministry at times, she served faithfully in Brooklyn for thirty-seven years, coordinating the children’s work, mothers’ classes, special services and other ministries. In 1974, when Hilda moved to Florida, a young worker named Larry Feldman undertook the work. Larry ministered in Coney Island and later enrolled in Dallas Theological Seminary, where he received further education and training.

Larry Feldman

A Seasoned Servant

I grew up in a middle-class Jewish neighborhood in Philadelphia. The only thing I ever heard about Yeshua (Jesus) was that the Gentile world had Jesus and the Jewish people didn’t. That’s all I knew until a very nice family of Jewish believers, the Finkelsteins, moved into my neighborhood.

They started Bible studies and began sharing their faith. Joe Finkelstein’s house became known as the “Fink Zoo” because so many “strange” people used to come throughout the week. I didn’t know what to make of them.

My good friend Mark lived across the street from the Finkelsteins. After two years, Mark came to me and said he believed in Yeshua—and I wasn’t very polite to him! I slammed the door in his face and told him I never wanted to see him again. What did he do? The next day he came back to my house with a Bible, and he started sharing his faith with me. I finally became convinced from the Jewish Scriptures that Yeshua is the Messiah. Late one Saturday night in January 1972, I prayed very simply, “God, I believe I’m a sinner. I believe Yeshua is the Messiah, and that He died for me. I now want to receive Him into my life. Come and live in me.”

Over the years, I have realized how much a sound education and training in ministry have helped me as a congregational leader. It has certainly given me a better picture of who God is through my study of Scripture. This has become for me an anchor that has helped me be a good shepherd and counselor. My biblical education has given me confidence in the message I share with God’s people, because it comes from the living Word of God.

Darlene Line

My Call in His Appointed Time

In the mid- to late- 1970s my parents were actively involved with the American Board of Missions to the Jews (now Chosen People Ministries) in both Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York. This was my introduction into Messianic ministry. As an adult, I discovered that my father’s (paternal) greatgrandmother was a Jewish woman of German descent. My mother’s (maternal) grandfather was a Jewish man of Swiss descent.

I want to serve the Lord to my fullest capacity, doing Kingdom work for His glory. I feel a burden to share the truth of Yeshua with God’s covenant people. For Zion’s sake I will not be silent!

What I like about the Feinberg seminary program is how we embrace the Jewish perspective. The community life among the students, faculty and staff is great. I know what I am learning and doing will equip me to minister—and now I understand why the Lord has put the burden of Jewish evangelism on my heart.

Bobby Walter

Building Confidence through Training

Jewish ministry is tough. I’ve heard it said that if one can share the Gospel with a Jewish person, one can share the Gospel with anyone. As a Gentile who has been called to bring the Gospel to the Jewish people, I understand that my role in ministry is unique. There have been times when I have felt intimidated, frustrated and overwhelmed in Jewish ministry because of my lack of a Jewish upbringing. During my studies at the Charles Feinberg Center, however, I have had the opportunity to move beyond feelings of inadequacy and grow in my ministry by gaining a better understanding of how Jewish people view life, Scripture and God.

One word that I can use to summarize the experience is “confidence.” Through my studies and field work, I have gained a working knowledge of how to share the Gospel effectively with Jewish people in a very Jewish way—whether it is through Messianic prophecy, rabbinic literature or the current geo-political situation in the land of Israel. At the same time, I have received thorough training in the Scriptural foundations of our beautiful faith in Messiah. I am more confident in what I believe, why I believe it, and how I share it with others! The deeper into the program I go, the more confident I feel, and the more I begin to see the fruit of the ministry to which God has called me.

Alyson D.

Applied Knowledge in Ministry

I was born in Jericho, Long Island into a Jewish home and became a believer in 2005. Having a desire in my heart to share the Gospel with Jewish people, I was already attending a seminary where I was receiving a great education, yet solely from a traditional Christian vantage point. God was placing Jewish people in my life, and I knew I wanted more help and training in witnessing. I transferred to the Feinberg Center, and every week that goes by, I am delighted with this choice.

Within just one semester at the Feinberg Center, I can see that the education I am receiving is priceless. For instance, learning Hebrew helps me dig into the writings of the Jewish sages. Over the summer, I will take a Rabbinic Theology class, which will be of great significance since I feel led to minister to the more religious groups of Judaism.

Furthermore, as a Feinberg student I get to live in an Orthodox neighborhood in Brooklyn where I go on prayer walks, and I have had several opportunities to share the Gospel. I am not only getting classroom training, I get to apply what I am learning immediately. I do not have to wait until graduation to become a missionary—at the Feinberg Center, I already am one!