Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship

News Updated April 6, 2007

I pray that you had a Good Resurrection Day.

Shalom to all.   “The grace of the Adonai Yeshua Ha'Mashiach, and the love of Elohim, and the fellowship of the Ruach HaKodesh, be with you all.”  

Please send us news, praises reports and prayer requests from your ministries.

  Good News - Encampment is Coming in June:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. [Rom 1:16-17 KJV]

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. [Matt 28:19-20 KJV]

We pray that all is well with you.  G-d is so good.  Be healthy, be safe, be blessed, be found in Yeshua Ha'Mashiach.

The Omega Letter Intelligence Digest, By Jack Kinsella

Vol: 67 Issue: 6 - Friday, April 06, 2007

Special Report: What's So Good About "Good Friday"?

According to Christian tradition, the Friday before Easter is called "Good Friday" because it is the day that Jesus Christ was crucified. GOOD Friday?

I can recall as a kid growing up in a Catholic school thinking it more than a little strange that all those nuns said they loved Jesus, but celebrated the day of His execution as a "Good" day.

Indeed, as a kid, I thought the designation "Good Friday" was evidence that they really didn't LIKE Him very much, despite their protestations of love. My mother had passed away when I was only ten. I didn't think that the day that she died was a 'good' day for me.

There are lots of possible reasons why the day of Jesus' Crucifixion is designated "Good" in English. One is that the word 'good' was derived from the word "God".

Our word 'goodbye' came from the phrase "God be with you," so, according to that line of thinking, "Good Friday" would have originated from the phrase "God's Friday."

But I think it is less a case of the metamorphosis of language than it is an apt description of the Event that took place on that Friday before Passover two thousand years ago.

The execution of Jesus Christ was an event of incredible evil. He was guilty of no infraction, violated no laws, either Mosaic or Roman civil, and His betrayal was orchestrated, the Bible says, by Satan himself.

"And after the sop Satan entered into him [Judas]. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly." (John 13:27)

But while the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was an act of unspeakable evil, it was a necessary part of God's Plan for the redemption of our sin debt.

And the manner in which He accomplished was a demonstration of His Power over good and evil, using pure evil to bring about pure good.

"Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1st Corinthians 2:8)

But why was Good Friday necessary? We've gone over this before, but not in several years. Good Friday is the perfect day to revisit the topic. Why did Jesus have to die?

The Scripture says God's Justice demands a sacrifice, but for most Christians contending with the skeptic, that answer is unsatisfactory.

The explanation that only a sinless man was qualified to take on the sins of the world makes sense, but it doesn't answer the nuts-and-bolts question of why He had to die. Not fully.

The answer to the nuts-and-bolts legalities is found, not in the New Testament, but rather in the Old.

In Genesis Chapter 15, we find Abram questioning God's promise that his seed will be numbered as the stars of heaven and that they would inherit the land to which God had led him.

Genesis 15:6 says "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."

But Abram wanted a guarantee, nonetheless.

"And he [Abram] said, LORD God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" (15:8)

It was then that God proposed a blood covenant after the manner of the Chaldeans. "And he [God] said unto him, [Abram] Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

Abram knew what to do next. A Chaldean himself, this was something he was familiar with.

"And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not."

The blood covenant worked this way. The animals were slaughtered and cut up. The pieces were intermingled and then carefully arranged to form a kind of aisle through which the two parties to the covenant would walk together, hands joined.

The principle of a blood covenant, and the symbolism of the rended animal parts was clearly understood to Abram. Whoever broke the covenant would end up like those piles of animals.

A blood covenant was, by common custom, a joining of 2 or more persons, families, clans, tribes, or nations, where the participants agree to do or refrain from doing certain acts. More specifically, God had proposed a patriarchal covenant.

The patriarchal form of covenant is a self-imposed obligation of a superior party, to the benefit of an inferior party. In this form, the terms the parties use to refer to each other are: father and son.

God's proposal included not only Abram, but extended to Abram's seed forever.

(Galatians 3:29 makes plain that Christians are also "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.")

To summarize, Abram has just prepared a blood covenant between himself and God in which his seed would forever be bound to God as heirs. To be an heir, under the implied terms of the covenant, also required being faithful to the Father. Abram understood those terms and waited for God to appear.

Consider the picture. Abram waited, driving away the carrion eaters from his grisly creation, waiting for God Himself to come down, join hands with Abram and together, they would swear a blood oath. God would be the Father of Abram and his descendents, who would then be required behave as sons to keep that covenant.

Genesis 15:12 records that, as Abram waited for God, a deep sleep fell upon him. During that deep sleep;

"it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:" (Genesis 15:17-18)

And there's the key! While the covenant was between Abram and God, by passing through the aisle alone, God signed the contract -- alone -- for both sides, binding Himself to keeping both parts.

We know that Abram's seed did NOT remain faithful to the covenant. And violating the blood covenant demanded that somebody had to die. That was what justice required.

The Apostle Paul was, before his conversion on the road to Damascus, a Pharisee, or a religous lawyer, one well qualified to explain the law of covenant oaths.

As Paul explains, "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:9)

Further, that "they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." (3:9)

And also, "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." (3:11)

Of the covenant that God signed on behalf of Abraham, Paul explains; "Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto." (3:15)

The covenant could only be confirmed when the price demanded for its violation was paid in full.

When the Law was given to Moses four centuries later, it was assumed by the Jews that to break it was to break the Abrahamic Covenant, for which the penalty was death. Remember, somebody had to die.

But since it was God Who signed on behalf of Abraham, Paul pointed out the blood penalty required of the covenant was paid in full on Good Friday.

"And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect."

Why did Jesus have to die? Because the covenant demanded satisfactory payment for its violation, and no one who had broken that covenant was qualified to stand in payment except those who signed it. Abram was long dead. And, in any case, it was God Who signed on behalf of Abram (and his seed).

It is for that reason that God stepped out of eternity and into space and time in the Person of Jesus Christ. To keep the provisions of the original covenant and be a true Son of Abraham, as it demanded.

Once having kept its terms on behalf of sinful humanity, it was incumbent upon Him to make payment, as justice demanded, for its violation by those on whose behalf the covenant was signed.

To be torn and rended like the animals that formed the corridor through which God alone passed.

To make restitution on behalf of the seed of Abraham. You. Me. And everyone who ever broke its provision of faithfulness. All of us.

Jesus made that payment on our behalf. On the Cross, as He gave up the ghost, Jesus cried with a loud voice 'it is finished' (Tetelestai!) meaning, "paid in full."

The terms of the violated Covenant were met, its price was paid by its Signer. God's justice was fulfilled. That is why Jesus took on a human form and allowed Himself to be crucified by His own creation. That is the reason the Blood of Christ is so precious. Why nothing less would do.

Because justice demanded it. And because justice was satisfied, a lost sinner need only accept the Pardon obtained at the Cross as full payment for his sins to obtain eternal life. Because of Good Friday, "Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord SHALL be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Our sin debt was paid in full on Good Friday. The only thing now separating God from man is human pride. Accepting by faith the pardon obtained for us at the Cross is a humbling experience.

We've noted in the past that God's way is not our way, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Indeed, God's way is usually the exact opposite of human thinking. Christians obtain victory by surrendering. We obtain eternal life through the Death of Christ, but to achieve eternal life one has to first die.

"Good" Friday is the day that commemorates the greatest evil ever perpetrated in the history of mankind. But as it turned out, it was the worst day possible for the forces of evil. It marked the first introduction of pure good to this old world since the Fall of Man.

"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes WE are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

Happy Easter season!

Ministry & Outreach News From Ruth, Our Sister Missionary In Russia

Our vision is to see Russian Jews gathered into Messianic congregations being a light to the nations.

Praises:         

1.      God did above and beyond I could have ever imagined this week.  The volunteers who were here were such a blessing.  They came to serve and do whatever I needed them to do and that is just what they did. They worked hard, walked lots, rode the crowded Metro every day and got home late every night.  And never complained.  And most importantly they helped me to connect with new people, especially Jewish people.  I praise God for sending such top notch volunteers to work with me.  And I pray that God will bless them as they return home to share their stories.

2.      Thank you for praying for the time that we had to spend with Mila on Saturday.  A trip that we expected to take an hour ended up taking about 2 ½ because of traffic delays.  So we ended up spending a lot more time with her than we expected.  I feel like we really bonded and I have an open door to continue to build that relationship with Mila.  We also had an opportunity to share our faith with her.  Please pray that God will water the seeds that have been planted.  The monastery that we visited was really beautiful and we got there just in time for a service and the all male choir was absolutely beautiful.  That was certainly a God ordained appointment.  I marveled at the fact that a Russian Jew and 4 American Baptists could worship God together in a Russian Orthodox worship service.  It felt like a glimmer of what heaven will look like.

3.      On Sunday we had a party for the people at my English club.  17 Russians attended.  Some people who have not been able to attend our group since it moved to Saturdays were able to come.  They seemed to enjoy the games and most especially the fellowship that we had together.  Two Jewish young men who attended for the first time last week returned this week and brought along a friend.  That is just what we want to see happening.

4.      On Monday we had our second Seder.  From a practical point of view it did not go very smoothly.  The hall we had rented was very small and not set up for a large group meeting.  Setting things up was very chaotic and we started late.  Because of starting late we had to hurry a bit because of time limitations.  But in spite of all of that God truly worked.  There were 47 people there, about ¾ of them were elderly Jewish.  10 of them were attending one of these holidays for the first time and most importantly 7 of them prayed to receive the Lord.  HALLELUJAH!  Please be praying for Mira and I as we do the follow up with them.  Several people also indicated that they would like to study the Bible or join the English club.  So there is lots of work to be done now, which is just what I had hoped for.  Pray that those who said that they want to study the Bible will actually follow through and come when we invite them.

Prayer Requests:

1.      Tomorrow (March 30^th)  I leave for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mikawaka Poland .  I will be meeting with my IMB colleagues who live in the former Soviet Union and the Baltic countries for a week of encouragement and training.  I will return home on April 6^th.  Please pray for all of us who will be traveling tomorrow.  I leave my house at 5:30 am and will arrive there around 6:00 pm.  Part of the trip is by plane and the rest by bus.  Please pray especially that as we are crossing the border between Russia and Poland that things will go smoothly and that we won’t have long delays or any problems.  Also ask the Father to bless this time of meeting that we have together.  May it be a time of encouraging and rest for all who will participate.  Pray too for those who are organizing the conference and those who will be leading and teaching.

2.      I ordered airline tickets to Budapest for a conference that I will be attending in August and arranged to have them sent here via FedEx.  It appears from their website that the package arrived in Moscow a week ago but it has not yet reached me.  Please pray that I will be able to track it down  and that the tickets will eventually get to me.

3.      Passover begins on the evening of April 2^nd and ends on April 9^th.  We had our Passover celebrations early because of my conference in Poland next week.  All around the world Jewish people will be celebrating this holiday and recalling the miracle of their deliverance from Egypt .  As they gather together with family and friends to celebrate this most important holiday of the year may God reveal to them the miracle that He did by sending His son to deliver them from the bondage of sin.  If you have Jewish friends or relatives I would encourage you to wish them a Happy Passover and to ask them about what the holiday means to them.  It just may open up opportunities for you to share about Jesus, the Passover Lamb.

Thank you so much for holding the ropes this week.  I’m tired but so blessed to see all that God did.  May God richly bless you this week.

In the Lamb,

Ruth

Praise Report From: Bill Liniewicz for Radio India

Brother Bill  will be going over to India on April 12th.  Pastor Bill and a team will be working on translating and dubbing the voices into the Visual Bible.  Baruch HaShem Yeshua.  Please pray that many lives will be touched by these videos illustrating the Word of G-d.  Please pray for safe travel and protection for this team of workers that will be going into the mission field.  Christians are not liked over there.

Check their web site out.  http://www.radioindiaministries.com/

Ministry & Outreach News from Rabbi Ken Alpren at Kol Dodi 

OUTREACH REPORT – FESTIVAL - TEACHINGS - RADIO MINISTRY

Messianic Times is going to do a story on the radio show - should be in next issue.

Listen to "Shalom Nashville" www.wrvu.org

Saturdays midnight - 1am CST 91.1FM

myspace.com/shalomnashville

In addition to our normal time, 

Saturday 12 midnight - 1 or 2am Sunday (no show Dec.30):

Friday, Dec.22, 2-4pm

Monday, Jan.1, 4-6pm

Friday, Jan.5, 6-8pm

Friday, Jan.12, 6-8pm.

91.1FM or listen on line at  www.wrvu.org all times listed are C.S.T

Starting March 10th Kol Dodi Congregation will meet at 10:30 am.
Hebrew class will be moved back to 9:30. (see you there)

Tuesdays at Kol Dodi (Calvary Baptist)

6:15 – 7pm Prayer Hour (Sha’at T’filah)

7 – 7:45pm “Growing in Maturity” Study - go out for Coffee after!

Upcoming Holiday Celebrations / Observances 5767-5768 (2007)

(actual Service dates posted nearer to Holiday)

• April 15  Yom ha Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance)

• April 23  Yom ha Atz Ma-ut (Israel’s Independence Day)

• May 23  Shevuot (Weeks / Pentecost)

• July 24  Tisha B’Av (9th of Av – Destruction of Temple)

• September 13 Rosh Ha Shannah (Trumpets/New Year)

• September 22  Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

• September 27-October 3  Sukkot (Tabernacles)

• December 4-11  Chanukah (Dedication / Lights) evenings

Donations

Mail / donations to: 

“Kol Dodi”, 537 Franklin Pike, Franklin , TN 37069

Contact

Messianic Rabbi / Pastor 

Kenneth B. Alpren  Click Here To Email Kol Dodi 

Web Page: www.koldodi.org  

Ministry Report From: Pastor John Denson at Shalom Ministries:

Shalom Ministries has a new web site  Please take a look at this site and see how Brother John can help.  Here is the link:  http://www.shalomministry.com/

APRIL 2007 NEWS LETTER

Dear Partners:

Greetings in the name of Yeshua our Messiah.  We are excited here at Shalom Ministry at all that God is doing through this unique outreach.  Let me briefly try and give you as update.  We have three new board members, gifted men who bring integrity, diversity, and spiritual wisdom.  They compliment the leadership that has been with us since the inception.  Each board member will chair a committee as we began to expand the ministry programs.  We also are blessed to have a volunteer ministry coordinator who will be coordinating our evangelistic campaign coming up in August.  (You will hear more about this in up coming news letters.)  We are developing many new components through the ministry.  We have a men’s fellowship called David’s mighty men, a women’s component called Ruth’s fellowship, and the youth ministry are the Joshua generation.  All will be involved, at some level, in campaign 2007.  The campaign will close out with an evangelistic concert and we’re asking all our local supporters to be praying for unsaved Jews and Gentiles to be impacted and respond to the Gospel at this concert.  In May of this year we will have our very first summit.  We’re inviting Messianic leaders and Christian leaders to come together for a time of prayer, strategy, and dialogue as we plan together for the cause of Messiah.  Donna is very busy developing an ethnic cookbook that will have scriptures, historical references, and tantalizing recipes from believers all over the country and abroad.  If any of you are interested in the cookbook, see enclosed flyer. 

As you can see, the ministry is growing, leadership is being developed, but we need help.  First, and foremost, we need prayer.  We need ministry supporters who will invest and be challenged by the opportunities this ministry presents.  We need volunteers to serve on committees and be a part of our August campaign.  We need office help, someone who is willing to volunteer to make calls for us once a week.  Please pray for these Jewish people, whom God has brought across our path, to respond to the Gospel: Mark, Michael D., Michael O., Jonathon, Zachary, Hannah, and Michelle.  We are asking you to stand with us as we believe God for a rich harvest of Jewish and Gentile souls. 

In his service   

John/ Donna

Brother John has a new brochure to send out with speaking topics.  Please contact him if you are interested in having him come and speak at your Church or Congregation.

Donations:

P.O. Box 19695
Detroit, MI 48219
ShalomMinistry77@aol.com

[248 545 8800]

Ministry Report From: Pastor Brian Hawkins at Adat Derech Kol Ha'Mashiach  

We have had 4 seders in 3 of the Columbus/Phenix City Area and 1 in Warner Robins Ga. 

April the 19th we are having a night to honor Israel at a local Baptist Church where they have invited our congregation to host a Shabbat service in their church. So much is going on here.

Brother Brian is also in conversation with the missions committee at Golden Acres Baptist Church where they hold our services, regarding sponsorship. Please be in prayer that they will have an opportunity to speak with the Senior Pastor there. 

We are excited about what G-d is doing in the area.

Shalom b'Shem Yeshua,

Adat Derech Kol Ha'Mashiach

Pastor Brian Hawkins

5204 Alpha Ct.

Phenix City, AL 36867

Outreach News from Jay Fielding at Beth Chaim Messianic Fellowship

Praise report:    Beth Chaim and Eastside Baptist are working together to help Beth Chaim grow into a mission and new work in lifestyle evangelism.

Baruch Ha'Shem Yeshua

Ministry & Outreach News from Hal and Esther Garrett,  First Baptist Church Hardy, Cherokee Village, AR.

A brief summary of Esther and my ministry and work.

Hal and Esther have numerous speaking engagements and Passover Seders to teach.

In His service and love

Hal and Esther Garrett

Ministry Report and blessings from Rabbi Richard Geiger, Valley of Blessing, Greensboro, NC.

Come to the San Antonio Encampment This June 2007

Where The Ha'Kadoshim (the saints) Of The SBMF Will Gather Together

Look at the SBMF News Page:

SBMF 2007 Annual Meeting Is In San Antonio, TX. (Update 4/04/07)

Be prepared for the SBMF Annual Meeting.

We recommend that you contact the SBC Lodging Agency for reservations. 

Housing Telephone:   Call-in reservations is not offered in San Antonio

International Phone Number: To Come Soon

Go to www.sbc.net to make housing reservations.

Praise and Prayer From Your President: Ric Worshill

I pray that the L-rd shines His Light on you.  I pray that He leads you to the Truth in Yeshua.  Be strong, be healthy, be safe, be found in Yeshua.

Please continue to pray for our dear brother Aslam (our NAMB rep.) and his family.  Aslam's daughter was involved in an accident in November and she was injured severely.  Please lift her up in your prayers.  Also lift the Aslam and his family up in your prayers.

Please pray for brother Bill Liniewicz as he leaves on another mission trip to India on April .

Please continue to lift up brother Bob and Tina Alberico as they have been called to lead a congregation in the St. Louis area of Illinois.

Please pray for Brian Hawkins, Adat Derech Kol Ha'Mashiach and the missions committee at Golden Acres Baptist Church where they are praying about sponsorship of Adat Derech Kol Ha'Mashiach.

Please pray for Dr. Michael Herts who is the fellowship Leader of B'nai Avraham Messianic Fellowship in Hampton, Virginia.

Please continue to lift Rav. Jay Fielding and his wife Michele, in your prayers as they continue to work a new Messianic Jewish Congregation in Marietta, GA.  

Adat Shalom in Dallas, TX. (Rabbi Robin Rose) has a new web page.  Please continue to pray for this new web presence to have  a great effect on those who are seeking.

Please  continue to lift up Shalom Ministries (Pastor John Denson) as their new web presence illustrates their ministry to those who need to know.

Please keep praying for the ministry of Today With G-d.  Translators and financial support is needed to bring the message to those in nations who speak in different tongues. Also pray for our dear brother Randy Weiss as he, his family and team work to translate the programs into every language that they can.   http://www.todaywithgod.org/

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters who are working all over this world in missions service. Our Brothers and Sisters in the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board and all the missionaries, all over the world.

Please continue to pray for Vice President Jay Isbell, myself and the SBMF Executive Board, as we work with Aslam Masih and the North American Mission Board, to make your SBMF more resourceful to you in your ministries. 

Again Please continue to Pray:  We are praying that we will be able to be sponsored by NAMB so we can have a booth in the Convention Center this year.  We would like to let our SBC Brothers and Sisters know who we are and how we can help them in this race we run together, leading the nations and our Jewish kinsman to Yeshua.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. [John 4:35 KJV]

Time is short.  People are perishing.

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.  [2 Timothy 4:1-5]

Have you told someone about Yeshua?  Have you brought Light into a dark life by the Word of Life, Who is the Light of the world.

Hampton, Virginia