SBMF News

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.”

Bless the L-rd your G-d forever and ever! Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the L-rd; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. [Nehemiah 9:5-6 NKJV]

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 Rob Bohning as he works to get a new work started in Missouri. Brother Rob is working to plant this new work in Kansas City, MO, near Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he and his friend are both students. We are working with NAMB to start the process.

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 Rabbi 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. We pray that it will 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. Brother John is in need of support to continue to teach the Church how to tell the Jewish people about Yeshua.

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 next year in Indianapolis, Indiana. All we need is NAMB to ask SBC Convention Exhibit Relations to allow us to have a booth on the exhibit floor. 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. We need exposure within the SBC. We will also need the funds to pay for the booth, the display and the handouts.

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]

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. [Proverbs 29:18 KJV]

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]

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

During my recent visit with the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship in San Antonio, one of the issues we discussed was the fact the most Jews resist Christianity based on the concept that Jesus is a false god invented by the Christians.

Following this line of thinking, to accept Jesus as Lord is to abandon the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To an observant Jew, this is nothing short of blasphemy.

Most Christians don't really understand how powerful an obstacle this represents when presenting the Gospel to the Jewish people. They should, and that is the purpose of today's Omega Letter.

Unlike the Koran, for example, Christianity is a uniquely Jewish Gospel, not changed by the New Testament, but rather, explained in greater detail.

Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil"; (Genesis 3:22)

"Go to, let US go down, and there confound their language. . . " (Genesis 11:7)

The Hebrew word 'Elohim" is used in the plural is translated "gods" (referring to idols) 235 times in the Old Testament.

It is exactly the same word that is translated "God," referring to the Almighty God of Israel.

"I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee." (Psalms 2:7)

"Do homage to the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled." (Psalms 2:12)

"Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His Son's name? Surely you know!" (Proverbs 30:4)

"I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13-14)

The prophet Isaiah testifies to the triune nature of God, identifying the Father, the Son AND the Holy Spirit:

"Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD."

"Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations." (Isaiah 42:1)

"Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit." (Isaiah 48:16)

Not only does the Old Testament teach a Triune God, and the Redeemer-Son, no less a Jewish personage than King David gives the Gospel of Jesus Christ a thousand years before the First Advent.

David was chosen to be King of Israel, according to the prophet Samuel, because he was a man after "God's own Heart."

But we also know from Scripture that David was both an adulterer and a murderer. The Bible says that David lusted after Bathsheeba after seeing her bathing herself on a rooftop.

Upon learning Bathsheeba was married, he sent her husband, Uriah, into battle carrying sealed orders to the general commanding David's battlefield army.

Those sealed orders instructed the commander to put Uriah into the the front lines of battle where he was certain to be killed, so David could take Uriah's widow.

When confronted by the prophet Nathan with his sin, David demonstrated WHY he was a man after God's own heart.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest."

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation. An admission of sin, a cry for mercy and an acknowledgment of God's grace in extending forgiveness for that sin.

"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom."

"For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." (Romans 7:23)

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

He asks GOD to purge him, cleanse him and wash him. David doesn't do it on his own, he asks God to do it for him, then acknowledges it as an ACCOMPLISHED fact.

Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

What has David actually done to make atonement for his sins, to this point? So far, David has made it all God's responsibility.

"Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the JOY of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit."

It is God Who continues to do the work. David doesn't ask to have his SALVATION restored; he asks God to restore the JOY that comes of it, and asks God to uphold him by grace through God's freely given Spirit.

So, once David has confessed his sin, asked God to forgive his sin, put it on God to clean up his heart and renew a right spirit within him, expressed the JOY that comes with restoration, David says;

"THEN will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee."

What does God demand of David in return for forgiveness, salvation, joy, restoration, cleansing and renewal?

"For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, given by the King of Israel, a thousand years before the "Son of David" walked this earth.

First, acknowledgment of his sin. Secondly, that his sin was against God. God is therefore the One with the authority to extend forgiveness.

Third, David acknowledges that sin is what men do, but forgiveness and cleansing come from God.

David's joy is born out of understanding his eternal security in God and is manifested by his dependence on God to keep him and renew him for the work God has place before him.

"THEN will I teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto Thee."

Do you see it? Too often, we present becoming a Christian as a miserably bland and colorless existence of sacrifice and self-deprivation, rather than one of joyful liberty.

It isn't sacrifice that God demands of us. It isn't burnt offerings. The sacrifice of Christ is all-sufficient.

"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right Hand of God." (Hebrews 10:12)

Armed with this understanding, we can then confidently fulfill the Great Commission given us.

Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah as well as the Savior of all mankind. Jew or Gentile, we need only seek His Face for salvation, for renewal and for strength.

He does all the rest. Not because we are worthy in and of ourselves. But because He MADE us worthy.

Knowing this, we can then go out and introduce Him -- and the JOY of His salvation -- to the lost and hopeless.

It is with great sadness that I note the passing of Herb Peters of "Fulfilled Prophecy" and I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends for their loss.

Although we may not have agreed on minor points of doctrine, we agreed that salvation is a gift of grace through faith. What is our loss is Heaven's gain. We thank God that Herb's passing was quick and merciful.

Our prayers are that the Lord will comfort Herb's friends and family with the knowledge that this separation, although painful, is only temporary.

As that old hymn tells us: "Only one life, will soon by past, only what's done for Christ will last."

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

July 13th, Praise and Prayer: Our vision is to see Russian Jews gathered into Messianic congregations being a light to the nations.

1. Thank you to all of you who prayed for my Internet to get fixed. The day after I sent out that request a repairman from the Internet provider came out and fixed it. That just happened to be my birthday (July 4^th) so that was a very wonderful birthday gift.

2. Aside from getting my Internet up and running God richly blessed my birthday this year. I am so thankful for another year of life and the health and the ability to serve Him here in Russia. I received greetings from many of you, which made the day very special. In the evening I went out for dinner with my friends Megan and Jenni to a Mexican restaurant. It was delicious. Today I will celebrate again with the members of our English club. Praise God for birthdays.

3. There are now 6 people officially signed up for camp. We are hoping to have 40 so we have a long way to go but it is a start. Russians don’t like to plan ahead. Praise God for those who have committed to come. Please continue to pray that others will sign up soon.

4. I was able to get prayer routes all worked out and am now ready to lead 3 prayer walks next week. The group of volunteers will arrive today (July 7^th) and I will meet them tomorrow at our orientation breakfast. I’ll give more specific requests related to this week below.

5. My new team mate Donna is currently on a plane in route to Moscow and should be arriving this afternoon. You have prayed for her for a long time and at last God is answering our prayer. Please pray for her to have a safe trip and to be able to get over jet lag quickly. She will be involved in Reach Moscow with Prayer this coming week so she will have to jump in to life in Moscow quickly. Please pray that her adjustment to life here will go well. And last but not least, please pray for us as we begin to develop our relationship as partners in ministry and sisters in our Messiah.

6. Several months ago my sister in law lost her job and has been looking for a new one. This week she started a new job and really likes it so far. Praise Him for providing her with just the right job for her.

7. Before my Bible study on Thursday I prayed that God would send more seekers to our study. God answered that prayer in unexpected ways and sent 3 seekers and 1 believer. Praise God for those who are studying His Word and learning about who He is. Pray that they will each come into a personal relationship with Him.

1. The 7^th annual Reach Moscow with Prayer begins today 07/07/07. We know that this event will not be perfect but we do pray that God will use the prayers of His people to accomplish much. 22 people are coming from 3 different churches. We will be prayer walking around the Kremlin every morning and then the group will be split up into different teams to prayer walk with various IMB personnel around the city. I will be leading groups on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I just looked at the weather forecast and rain is predicted for each of those days. Please pray that God will give us divine encounters as we are covering this city with prayer. Pray that the team will have the stamina that they need to be doing a lot more walking than they are used to. Please pray that everyone will stay healthy and that God would give us a sweet spirit of fellowship. If you would like a copy of the prayer guide that we are giving everyone who is coming please let me know and I’ll tell you how you can get a copy.

2. Please continue to pray for the plans for the English camp. One very urgent request is for passports for two of the team members who are coming from the US. They applied for their passports in FEBRUAY but have not received them yet. They need their new passports in order to begin the application process for their visas to Russia. Please pray that they will come this week and that they will be able to get their visas in a timely manner.

3. In addition to the team that I have coming in August, I also have a team coming in September. I am in the process of trying to nail down accommodations for them during the time that they are there. Please pray that I would be able to get that done soon. Also please pray for all the other details that need to be taken care of for that group.

1. I survived the week. Thanks so much for your prayers. It was a very busy but blessed week. I led 3 prayer walks and one sightseeing excursion over the course of the week. I had many opportunities to have people praying for Jewish people in synagogues and the streets of Moscow . I loved meeting all of the volunteers who came. They blessed me, and the rest of my colleagues with their prayers, their words of encouragement and with lots of goodies that you can’t buy here. Thanks to them I am well supplied with peanut butter, ziplock bags and mac and cheese. I’m exhausted but very grateful to those who came and participated.

2. In addition to the volunteers who came last week my new team member Donna also arrived on Saturday. She didn’t get a chance to get over jet lack before participating in all of the activities of the week of prayer. But she never complained and I think she also was blessed to start her term here in a week bathed with prayer. I am enjoying getting to know her and praise God for the new team member and sister that He has sent to me.

3. Last Saturday evening I had a picnic for the people who attend my English club. It was also an opportunity for them to sign up for the English camp. Many who I thought would come will not be able to come. So I have opened up to more people and extended the deadline until July 27 (10 days before camp starts). Please continue to pray that God will send those that He wants to participate. The English club picnic was fun and without rain. There were 15 people there, including some new people or people we had not seen in a long time. We will have one more get together before camp starts. July 27^th I’ve invited everyone over to my house for a Mexican dinner. This will be a first for many of them. Hopefully many will be able to come. I am so thankful for the relationships that are developing there.

4. Last week I asked you to pray that the team coming for English camp would get their passports soon. Well, God answered that prayer and their passports have arrived and they will apply for their visas this week. Hallelujah! Please continue to pray for them as they prepare to come.

5. I also asked you to pray that I would be able to find accommodations for the team coming in September. I was able to make reservations at a hotel that is a bit far away from me but is reasonably priced and should be a comfortable place for them to stay.

6. At my Bible study on Thursday we had 7 Russians. That is the biggest group we’ve ever had. Please pray that God continues to work in the lives of those who are attending.

1. Since last week was so busy I am quite far behind and have lots to do this week. One of the main things I need to do is to spend some time orientating Donna. Please pray that God will give me wisdom about how to best use my time. Please continue to pray for Donna as she learns what she needs to know. Also pray for her this week as we get her settled in with things like a cell phone, printer and dishes.

2. Another big request in terms of Donna’s orientation would be for a language teacher. The person who is responsible for finding her a teacher is currently on vacation in the US and is trying to find someone long distance. I am also trying to see if I can find someone. The problem is that many people want to take the month of August off and don’t want to teach. We really want her to start studying full time next week. Please pray that God will provide the right person for her, in a timely fashion.

3. My friend Cecilia, from South Africa is planning to visit me at the end of August but has run into some problems with getting her Russian visa. Please pray that we will find a solution to that problem and that she will be able to come for a visit.

I am very far behind in answering e-mail so if you have written to me in the last week or so please be patient as I try to get caught up on things. Thanks for being such faithful prayer warriors.

Thank you so very much for holding up the reigns during this very busy time in my life. I appreciate it so very much. Please be patient with me if I am slow in answering e-mail this week. I got a bit behind when my Internet was down last week and won’t have much time on the computer next week.

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.

PRAISE HIS NAME! - May God richly bless you and your family! Thank you for your support of our ministry. Please pray for BOLDED names in this newsletter as well as other OUTREACH not specifically mentioned. Please pray for our Tuesday Night Discipleship FELLOWSHIPS, Thursday afternoon mall OUTREACHES (when here) and OUTREACH in ARAD, ISRAEL July 26 to August 3 during a Music Festival.

JEWISH OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL (JOI) - My church leadership/accountability met with me recently to discuss the future of Mount Vernon Baptist Church/Jewish Outreach. Although MVBC/Jewish Outreach began in March 2002, my church leadership/accountability reminded me this was to be a temporary way to “house” my ministry. After a lot of prayer and soul searching, it was determined we would start a new 501c3 not for profit ministry which provides the proper framework for accountability, growth and expansion! I am pleased to inform you that on May 10, 2007 my lawyer FRIEND filed papers with the State of Georgia and Jewish Outreach International, Inc. was formed! We are in the process of choosing a Board of Directors and applying for not for profit status with the Internal Revenue Service. Ministry will continue as usual for now. Thank you for praying!

GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES - Please pray for our Tuesday Night Discipleship Fellowships from 7pm to 10pm. Please pray God would bring PEOPLE He wants us to minister to and protect us from distracting PEOPLE. We were blessed to have Jewish non-believers GLORIA & MICHAEL attend our fellowships last month! GRAHAM (Jewish believing roommate) was out front as the fellowship was starting and spoke with MATT (Jewish non-believing neighbor) who Graham already knew from Matt walking his dog. Matt saw all the cars and asked if there was a party (provoke them to jealousy) giving Graham an opportunity to share his faith and invite Matt! After dropping MIKE (Jewish believer) off at his apartment downtown, I went to the Kroger in the Orthodox neighborhood and an obviously Jewish WOMAN questioned my “Jesus Loves You” t-shirt. She said it couldn’t be, and I most definitely informed her Jesus fulfilled the Messianic Prophecies in the Old Testament!

GO INTO ALL THE WORLD - LEE and I continue to meet for lunch/outreach at Perimeter Mall on Thursdays when I‘m in town. One Thursday GEORGIANA (Gentile believer) and her father LEONARD (Gentile believer?) met us for lunch. As we met, my former Hebrew teacher AMIR (Israeli non-believer) walked by and rolled his eyes at my “Jesus Loves You” t-shirt. After the meeting LISA (Orthodox Jewish non-believer who engages me in conversation so she can tell mall security I’m harassing her) saw my t-shirt at her new job at Nordstrom‘s. Another week I had a really good conversation with SNIR (Israeli non-believer) who I’ve been sharing with for years. He told me he watched a television program on the Book of the Revelation!

PARTNERSHIP MINISTRY - My friend BARRI (Jewish believer) asked me to speak in her Sunday School CLASS at Mount Paran Church of God in Atlanta, Georgia. I shared my testimony, about our ministry, gave out “Jesus Loves You” t-shirts and Gospel tracts and answered questions. My friend JAY (Jewish believer) asked me to speak some at his new Messianic CONGREGATION at Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia and gave out “Jesus Loves You” t-shirts. If you would like me to share my testimony (God healed me of bitterness, anger and alcoholism), about reaching out to Jewish people, about our ministry and/or equip your congregation with “Jesus Loves You” t-shirts and Gospel materials, please let me know? Perhaps there is some big event in your area conducive for Gospel tract distribution we can evangelize at? Perhaps there are very few Jewish people in your area, and I can speak about creative ways to reach Jewish people (the apple of God’s eye)?

BRIAN’S VISIT - My friend BRIAN (Jewish believer/Messianic Leader) came to Atlanta from Alabama so we could travel together to the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship which was held in San Antonio, Texas. He came early and stayed afterwards so we could minister together. Here’s some of what happened:

Wednesday - Brian and I wore “Jesus Loves You” t-shirts and had lunch at the Sabra Café in the Israeli supermarket in Dunwoody. Several ISRAELIS were challenged by our t-shirts, asked questions and took Gospel materials! We took my roommate GRAHAM (Jewish believer) and MARLENE (Jewish believer widow) to my church for dinner which was followed by a Jewish Outreach presentation. MURRAY TILLES (Jewish believer missionary) and I shared with my church and equipped people with Jewish Outreach materials.

Thursday - Our “Jesus Loves You” t-shirts challenged people as we traveled through Atlanta, Houston and San Antonio. People were challenged by our t-shirts at the Alamo and the River Center Mall, but the ISRAELIS weren’t interested in their Messiah? I purchased over 200 postcards which were sent primarily to Jewish PEOPLE/FAMILIES we reach out to! Several of us went to dinner and took a boat tour (hopefully thousands of people we passed were challenged by our evangelistic clothing). Upon returning to our hotel, a Jewish COUPLE was challenged by my t-shirt and then by sharing an elevator with a bunch of Jewish believers in Jesus! We found out later there were many Jewish GUESTS in our hotel in town for a wedding they were all going to!

Friday - I walked around San Antonio wearing a “Jesus Loves You” t-shirt and distributed Gospel tracts. The basketball finals happened to be in town and brought many more people then usual! I remember the Alamo because I distributed Gospel tracts there and almost passed out from the heat! The Holy Spirit prompted me to eat dinner at Sbarro’s in the food court, but when I got there I was the only customer? As soon as I thought, “Okay Lord, why am I here?” a young man appeared from the back, looked at my shirt, told me his name is BRANDON, he’s from Brooklyn, New York and Jewish and he let me share with him! The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship meets before the Southern Baptist Convention, and we had a beautiful Shabbat Service!

Saturday - We spent the entire day in meetings with the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship. Five Messianic Leaders were ordained including my friend JAY FIELDING (Jewish believer Congregational Leader) who’s CONGREGATION just started meeting on Saturday mornings at Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia.

Sunday - I spent the afternoon with my cousin DAVE (Jewish non-believer) and his wife DORI (Catholic believer?) who live in San Antonio. I saw them in Miami at my Great Aunt’s funeral. I also just saw Dave’s sisters CAROL and LINDA when I had gone to New York and Florida. My Aunt pretty much raised Dave and she was like a mother to him. They were still hurting from our loss and asked questions about my beliefs!

Monday - We flew back to Atlanta and many people were challenged by our t-shirts along the way!

Tuesday - Brian, TODD (Jewish non-believer) and I went to lunch and then to visit RICHARD (Jewish non-believer), Graham and JOSH (Jewish believers)’s father. Brian shared his testimony at our fellowship.

Wednesday - Brian started back home, but had a break problem so we took our cars to get fixed by Marlene’s son JAY (Jewish non-believer). We had lunch across the street where we shared with AL (Muslim) who has a business in a building owned by my favorite Hollywood personality ARLENE PECK (Jewish non-believer). As Brian was leaving, we met JACOB (Jewish non-believer) who let us share and gave me contact information!

EXERCISE EVANGELISM - RYAN (Jewish non-believer neighbor) and I started walking. Ryan continually brings up my belief and asks questions! As we walked, we met the neighbors two houses away from mine and it turned out BEN and RUTH are non-believing Jewish Holocaust Survivors! They started in about the t-shirt, so I spoke some Yiddish, wished them a Shabbat Shalom and they smiled and drove away? As we stood and talked in front of my house, my next door neighbor STAN (Jewish non-believer) stopped to chat with us!

HOME EVANGELISM - MICHAEL P. (Jewish non-believer from South Africa and ISRAEL) was asked to vacate his apartment in the basement of an Orthodox FAMILY home because they were expecting and needed his room for the NANNY. Michael begged me to let him live in my house so I let him move in. Not only did he ask me to take him to church, but he furnished my dining room and bedroom! He told me he may become part of my “Movement”, and I (jokingly to him, not in my heart) told him he’s not living in my house unless he does!

MOVING DAY EVANGELISM - LISA S. (Jewish non-believer) asked me to help her move. Once we moved her into the new place, I noticed she needed a table and chairs. Since Michael moved his dining room set into my place, I had an extra table and chairs that Lisa told me were the kind she wanted to buy! My sister LISA K. had actually given me the table and chairs when she moved to California, so it gave me an opportunity to call her and make sure she definitely didn’t want them before I actually gave them away. Lisa S. was most appreciative!

RESTAURANT EVANGELISM - Several years ago I met a Jewish MAN online who told me he was a believer in Jesus, but would not meet to study the Bible and stopped responding to my messages. He had his picture in his profile so when I ran into him at a restaurant I knew it was him. He kept staring at my “Jesus Loves You” t-shirt. A few weeks later, I ran into him at the same restaurant, but we did not talk. I found him online and told him I was praying for him and was the one wearing “Jesus Loves You” t-shirts he had seen at restaurants. He thanked me, but stopped responding to my messages again? I took some PEOPLE to dinner (not the same restaurant as the other times) and ran into this Jewish man a third time! I made sure he saw my shirt, but didn’t intrude on his dinner. After dinner I was surprised when he walked over and shook my hand. I was even more surprised when he said hello to one of my friends who had worked for him several years ago!

HOSPITAL EVANGELISM - NICOLE (Jewish believer) wrote: Dear Steve and Graham, Thank you so much for coming to the hospital at the exact time you did with the lovely roses, and the note with Proverbs 3:5-6, which was just what I needed as they had the surgery time scheduled wrong! (Graham had not planned to visit Nicole, he just happened to be outside the store where I bought the flowers and wanted to come with me) Red roses are my favorite flowers, and I had been wishing for some. I also am thankful that Graham was there to distract my FATHER (Jewish non-believer) from his worries, and ya’ll coming back to welcome me to my room was so kind and really gave me peace to settle in. Thank you so much. Love, Nicole Proverbs 11:25

RETAIL STORE EVENGALISM - My friend ANDY (Gentile believer) works with a Jewish young man named MICHAEL G. who I met at church one night and shared with. Michael e-mailed to say he prayed to receive Jesus but would never meet with me? I stopped in at the store and reconnected with Michael, please pray!

SUPERMARKET EVANGELISM - After lunch, I decided to go to the supermarket and as I went to Kroger’s, the Lord redirected me to Publix where I ran into MURIEL (elderly Jewish non-believer) who never returns my phone calls? She was happy to see me and told me she keeps all my postcards in a stack with a rubber band!

TAG TEAM EVANGELISM _ JAY (Jewish believer) and MICHELLE invited me to dinner at their house, and I brought DOUG (Jewish non-believer). Several of us took turns sharing with Doug in a non-threatening way!

“Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!”-Romans 11:11-12

JESUS LOVES YOU JEWISH STAR TESTIMONIES
SUZANNE from Pennsylvania writes: My church's missions group, Calvary Assembly of God in Irwin, PA, will be wearing your t-shirts to Jamaica. Last month I was in the mall wearing the Jesus Loves You t-shirt and encountered an Israeli who runs a kiosk. He offered me hand cream but he noticed the shirt so I asked him if he had been in the Israeli military. He looked a bit surprised at the question and said "Yes, I was a tank commander!" I told him my did the same thing in Iraq, and he was delighted to talk with somebody who knows something about that responsibility; and so we started talking about things that interest military families. Then I said "So. You know, don't you that Moshiach is coming at the height of the Battle for Jerusalem and we are in one phase of that battle now." And that began a very good conversation about Y'shua and how He is not "Yeshu", WHY He is not "Yeshu" and how He is also Messiah ben Yosef, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. The mall was deader than a hammer so this young man was free to talk and talk we did for a good half hour. He said he did not have a Tanakh with him in the U.S. and hadn't read one in awhile, so I offered to give him a Hebrew/English Tanakh which I brought the next day. However, I had a tape in my pocket from LIGHT OF THE WORLD Ministries/Jonathan Cahn which he took with interest as the subject of the tape was the Messiah. The next day when I returned with the Tanakh and Hebrew/English NT, I had TWO conversations with two other Israeli's. After we discussed various verses, all of them took the verses I wrote down for them and said they would read the verses and consider if Y'shua is the Messiah. I went back to the Mall two weeks ago and met another one of the Israeli's and again the Mall was nearly empty so she and I had a good conversation about Y'shua and she said the group has a Tanakh that some Christian lady gave one of them and she would go home and read all the verses I wrote down for her. This girl was interested in where the Messianic Congregations are in this area so I gave her that information too. She said that the next time she gets Shabbat off, she wants to go.

RHONDA from Nevada writes: We took Alexander to a show called "The Dixie Stampede" in Branson, Missouri. I was wearing your sweatshirt. After the show ended and we were leaving a young woman employee came up to me and asked if I was a Jewish Believer. Anyways she is also. Her name is Treasure. She is from New Jersey and she attends the Messianic Cong. in Branson. She said that her whole family are believers!

CELENA from Maryland writes: Good morning Mr. Kaplan, and bless you. i just wanted you to know that i did receive in yesterday's afternoon mail the beautifully designed t-shirts. Thank you ONCE AGAIN, for ALL of your support. i'm blessd to be used as a dispenser, and i know the children will be blessed to be the recipients. Thank you. celena (We sent Spanish“Jesus Loves You” t-shirts for a Dominican Republic orphanage)

BRIAN in Nepal writes: dear steven, how are you?. so happy to know in my heart that you are persevering in HIM and serving him. i teach on creative evangelism in church to 350 people this sunday using your davidic star and a gospel cap...pray for me. i pray regularly for you ...bless u so so much for praying for us in nepal.
i wish you come to nepal so we can fellowship and serve HIM much more together. welcome to our home.

LURA in Israel writes: We just had two young girls from California stay with us for almost a month. They wore the Jesus loves you T-Shirts all over town. Eddie wears one almost every day. He wore one to the police station this morning - this time he pressed charges against one of the Datiim.

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

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

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/

Upcoming Events

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.

Shema's Announcements

• Rabbi Loren and Martha are in NYC with Jews for Jesus: as part of their Summer Witnessing Campaign. They are scheduled to be back in Detroit July 30th. During this time, Rabbi Loren wants you to feel free to call. His cell number is 248-631-6006. He will also be in touch by sending email updates and reports. Please remember to pray for the Jacobs and for this great outreach which is taking place in one of the most important cities in the world!

• Ann Arbor Art Fair: take a day off and join us for our annual outreach. Dates: Wednesday, July 18 to Sunday, July 22. Training for the outreach will take place again on Wednesday (7/11) after the Bible study, and the last opportunity will be this coming Shabbat before the service, from 8:00-9:00 AM (you must contact Rabbi Glenn beforehand if you want to attend the early Shabbat workshop). We want everyone to have a “Jesus Made Me Kosher” t-shirt. A new shipment just arrived and the cost is $12. Sign up sheets for the outreach team will be on the back table, and also available at the Bible Study on Wednesday evening. We still need a few people for Wednesday and Thursday mid-day. Please contact Rabbi Glenn.

• Financial Management Seminar notes: We are adding the Financial Management Seminar notes to the website. They should be on the website shortly. Go to the menu on the left on the homepage; go to Financial Management; click it on and go to the Financial Management Seminar.

• Basketball: Any men in the congregation who would like to play basketball on Monday evenings at the church are invited to do so. Contact Rabbi Glenn to let him know you are interested.

• Musicians needed: The Shema Worship Team is still (and always) looking for willing musicians. You don't have to be a pro, just willing to put your talent to work for the Lord. Talk to Rabbi Glenn if you think this is something you'd like to pursue.

• The Wednesday evening Bible Study will continue during the Summer, and on July 11th we will begin an in-depth study of the life and teachings of Messiah Yeshua as portrayed in the Gospels, emphasizing the Jewish cultural and historical backgrounds. We encourage you to attend, and to invite your friends, as well!

• Announcements from Shalom Ministry:

Shalom Ministry is looking for volunteers to hand out tracts and do street evangelism every Friday and Saturday for the month of August, 2007.

Family Counseling is available through Shalom Ministry, Tuesday through Thursday at the ministry office at Calvary Baptist Church in Hazel Park . If interested, contact Pastor John Denson at (248) 545-8800.

Pastor Denson will be preaching a special service at Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church Sunday, July 15, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

Shalom Ministry is still in need of family recipes for the Cook Book Project. The deadline is extended to September 1, 2007.

Prayer Needs:

Neil is having painful digestive problems (may be food poisoning, but may be bacterial infection).

Dawn Gonzales' brother Dean really needs our prayers as well. He is battling brain cancer.

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

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

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

Prayer Requests Continued:

We are praying for another location to worship.

We are praying for a member to step up to serve as treasurer,

We are praying for increased giving,

We are praying for speaking opportunities coming up (especially with an Arab congregation).

We have been led to a person who will lead us through incorporation.

The SBMF has been working with NAMB to find a location for this ministry to meet.

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

Upcoming Events

Check out the below SBMF recommended Messianic ministries for details of .