CJF Ministries October 2012 Newsletter

6
CJF Ministries® PO Box 345 San Antonio, Texas 78292-0345 God has not forgotten the Jewish people, and neither have we.Telephone (210) 226-0421 Fax (210) 226-2140 E-mail [email protected] OrderLine (800) 926 - 5397 Website www.cjfm.org October 2012 Dear CJFM Friend, Some people say the age of miracles has passed, but I respectfully disagree. I think miracles (and by that I mean divine interventions in our daily lives) happen every day, sometimes right in front of our noses. Problem is, we don’t recognize them when they occur! On Sunday, September 9, we experienced something that I considered nothing short of miraculous. Our 2012 pastor’s conference, “Israel’s Place in the Plan of God—Past, Present, and Future,” just outside of Moscow, Russia concluded a day earlier. Gideon Levytam (our director of international ministries), Rob Styler (director of our Second Adam ministry), Rander Draper (a pastor friend who serves on our board), and I had shared the conference’s teaching duties; Jenya Drazman, our Toronto missionary, was our interpreter. Around 250 Russian Baptist preachers received us warmly, and have invited us to return as soon as we can arrange it. Then on Sunday, Gideon, Rander, Rob, and I preached in several Moscow area churches. I was at Evangelical Baptist Church in the suburb of Mytischi, accompanied by staff members Rick Higbee and Georgia Heisler. The pastor, Nickolai Maslyakov, is a gracious man of God—and a dear friend. It was an uplifting service that included beautiful numbers by the choir, a prayer time (they read a list of prayer requests), and a solo by one of the musicians. I preached on “The Day of the LORD” from Malachi 4:1-6. After the morning service, Pastor Nickolai invited us to accompany him to a nearby sister church where they were holding a 100th-birthday celebration for one of the senior members. Once we were seated in the crowded fellowship hall, they asked this 100-year- old saint, Natalia Filippovne, to share her testimony. She slowly rose to her feet and we listened through our interpreter as she shared her story. When Natalia said she became a believer in 1966 through listening to the radio, I leaned over and whispered to Rick and Georgia, “That’s interesting. We had a Russian program on Trans World Radio in the 1960s. The speaker was Nick Leonovich.” Under the leadership of our founder, Dr. Charles Halff, CJF Ministries sponsored that broadcast for nearly 30 years—until the Iron Curtain crumbled in 1990. Our program was beamed into Russia from Trans World Radio’s facilities in Monte Carlo. However, we never received more than a trickle of response because under communism, it was hard to get messages out of Russia. Some of our friends told Dr. Halff that the broadcast was a waste of time because people behind the Iron Curtain didn’t have radios, and pointed to the meager mail response. But Charles insisted we continue, just in case someone was listening—so that’s what we did. WITNESS TO A MIRACLE

Transcript of CJF Ministries October 2012 Newsletter

Page 1: CJF Ministries October 2012 Newsletter

CJF Ministries®PO Box 345 San Antonio, Texas 78292-0345 “God has not forgotten the Jewish people, and neither have we.”

Telephone (210) 226-0421

Fax (210) 226 - 2140

E-mail [email protected]

OrderLine (800) 926 - 5397

Website www.cjfm.org

October 2012Dear CJFM Friend,

Some people say the age of miracles has passed, but I respectfully disagree.

I think miracles (and by that I mean divine interventions in our daily lives) happen every day, sometimes right in front of our noses. Problem is, we don’t recognize them when they occur! On Sunday, September 9, we experienced something that I considered nothing short of miraculous.

Our 2012 pastor’s conference, “Israel’s Place in the Plan of God—Past, Present, and Future,” just outside of Moscow, Russia concluded a day earlier. Gideon Levytam (our director of international ministries), Rob Styler (director of our Second Adam ministry), Rander Draper (a pastor friend who serves on our board), and I had shared the conference’s teaching duties; Jenya Drazman, our Toronto missionary, was our interpreter. Around 250 Russian Baptist preachers received us warmly, and have invited us to return as soon as we can arrange it.

Then on Sunday, Gideon, Rander, Rob, and I preached in several Moscow area churches. I was at Evangelical Baptist Church in the suburb of Mytischi, accompanied by staff members Rick Higbee and Georgia Heisler. The pastor, Nickolai Maslyakov, is a gracious man of God—and a dear friend. It was an uplifting service that included beautiful numbers by the choir, a prayer time (they read a list of prayer requests), and a solo by one of the musicians. I preached on “The Day of the LORD” from Malachi 4:1-6.

After the morning service, Pastor Nickolai invited us to accompany him to a nearby sister church where they were holding a 100th-birthday celebration for one of the senior members. Once we were seated in the crowded fellowship hall, they asked this 100-year-old saint, Natalia Filippovne, to share her testimony. She slowly rose to her feet and we listened through our interpreter as she shared her story.

When Natalia said she became a believer in 1966 through listening to the radio, I leaned over and whispered to Rick and Georgia, “That’s interesting. We had a Russian program on Trans World Radio in the 1960s. The speaker was Nick Leonovich.”

Under the leadership of our founder, Dr. Charles Halff, CJF Ministries sponsored that broadcast for nearly 30 years—until the Iron Curtain crumbled in 1990. Our program was beamed into Russia from Trans World Radio’s facilities in Monte Carlo. However, we never received more than a trickle of response because under communism, it was hard to get messages out of Russia. Some of our friends told Dr. Halff that the broadcast was a waste of time because people behind the Iron Curtain didn’t have radios, and pointed to the meager mail response. But Charles insisted we continue, just in case someone was listening—so that’s what we did.

WITNESS TO A MIRACLE

Page 2: CJF Ministries October 2012 Newsletter

I didn’t dare allow myself to think that Natalia might have come to faith through listening to our program. The chances of us running into a listener after all of these years were astronomically low—probably roughly the same as being struck by lightning! So we just sat back and continued listening to the interpreter.

Then Natalia said the program was from Trans World Radio in Monte Carlo. Before the translator could utter another word, I heard her say the name “Leonovich.”

I was dumbfounded. Rick, Georgia, and I all looked at each other, our mouths open in amazement. This lady had come to the Lord through listening to the program we sponsored for all those years! Later that Sunday afternoon, Natalia and others filled in the gaps to help us understand what was happening behind the Iron Curtain in the old days. They said believers would gather secretly in homes to listen to Christian radio broadcasts. It was a rare point of contact with the outside world.

And Natalia was not alone. Alexander Firisuk (a member of our former Soviet Union advisory board) told us that sometimes dozens of believers would crowd into a living room or basement listening to one shortwave radio. He said that when the speaker came to the end of a program and said, “Let’s pray together,” everyone in the room would fall on their knees and pray along with him.

Thank God, our founder refused to pull the plug on those broadcasts even when the naysayers were telling him that no one was listening! They couldn’t let us know they were listening, but they were—by the thousands, evidently.

Meeting Natalia in Russia last month was no coincidence. It was a divine appointment orchestrated by the Lord himself. Just think of all the minute details that had converged perfectly in order for the meeting to take place. Not the least of which was that Natalia had to live to be 100 years of age, and we had to visit that Russian church on that specific weekend!

All I can say is that we serve an awesome God! It reminds me of the verse: “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Ex. 15:11).

Back in the Cold War days, atheistic communism was considered the big, ominous threat. Today, radical Islam is taking center stage in a similar role. But as we learned from Natalia and others, God’s Word pierces the darkness and accomplishes what He intends—no matter what.

Our mission today is more urgent than ever before. The world is in darkness and desperately needs the light of Yeshua. So we continue to take this glorious Good News of Messiah “to the Jew first, and also to the [Gentile]” (Rom. 1:16). Militant Islam won’t keep God from working in this century any more than atheistic communism could in the last century.

Another one of my favorite verses is found in the Book of Isaiah: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (55:11).

Praise God for that!

We are so grateful for your continued partnership in this ministry. We couldn’t do it without you. I hope you are encouraged by Natalia’s story. God is faithful—and He’s at work whether we can see the results or not.

In Messiah’s love,

Dr. Gary Hedrick

See Gary’s interview with Natalia at cjfm.org/100natalia.

R. A. Higbee

Page 3: CJF Ministries October 2012 Newsletter

In 2011, Alexander Firisuk, former vice president of the Belarus Baptist Union, suggested that his fellow Baptists in Russia (Central Moscow area) host a CJF Ministries conference on Israel, similar to those we had conducted in Belarus and Ukraine. The suggestion was well received and planning began. Pastor Gennady Brutsky, CJFM’s representative in Belarus, organized the conference and coordinated his efforts with Sergey Zolotarevsky, the senior pastor of Central Baptist Church—the largest and most prominent Protestant congregation in Moscow. Nearly 250 Russian pastors and their wives attended the conference, which was held at a retreat facility approximately 120 miles south of Moscow.

Our goal was not to generate new political supporters for the state of Israel, but to convey what the Bible teaches about God’s plan, and Israel’s final restoration. This message was especially needful in a region that frequently embraces Replacement Theology. We challenged our Russian brothers to see the Jewish people in the light of Scripture—and to begin Jewish outreach ministries within their own congregations. One Jewish organization recently estimated that up to 500,000 Jewish people live in the Moscow area alone (see http://bit.ly/Pp7NRe). So, the opportunities for Jewish evangelism are great.

Each conference session began with worship and singing led by a group from Shomer Yisrael, a local orthodox messianic congregation. It was a privilege to worship together with our Russian brothers and sisters—and to hear so many voices praising God in Russian, Hebrew, and English. It was like a foretaste of Heaven!

During the sessions, we shared what the Scriptures teach about Israel as God’s prophetic timepiece, and also expounded the often-neglected Romans 10 and 11. To encourage the pastors on a more practical level, Rob Styler “preached” sermons in dramatic form (telling the story of the sacrifice of Isaac, and the cleansing of the leper). Pastor Rander Draper not only urged the men to remain faithful to their calling and finish strong, but also moved the audience repeatedly with his vocal offerings to the Lord.

Our team used question-and-answer periods to expand on their topics and interact on a more personal level with the pastors. In many ways, this was the most effective part of the conference.

We are so grateful for Pastor Brutsky’s hard work, and to our Russian hosts for their kindness and warm hospitality throughout the visit. This was often no small thing, especially given Moscow-area traffic!

ISRAEL IN GOD’S PLAN: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

MOSCOW, SEPTEMBER 6-8, 2012

Taken the last day of the conference. CJFM participants are in the first two rows. Seated to the far right is the conference moderator, Pastor Sergey Zolotarevsky, senior pastor of Central Baptist Church, and regional vice president of the Russian Baptist Union.

R. A. Higbee

Page 4: CJF Ministries October 2012 Newsletter

R. A. Higbee

R. A. Higbee

HIGHLIGHTS AND CHALLENGES

WE THANK GOD:

According to Pastor Zolotarevsky, the Russian Baptist Church faces two major challenges in Jewish evangelism:

1. Many Russian pastors in the greater Moscow area still embrace Replacement Theology, and need to be challenged by the clear teaching of Romans 9, 10, and 11. International Ministries Director Gideon Levytam spoke persuasively on Romans 10 and 11 at the conference. We pray for more opportunities in this region of the world.

2. Those interested in undertaking Jewish ministry in Russia are not sure how to do it effectively. Pastor Gennady Brutsky warned Russian pastors that Jewish ministry is unique, and one cannot simply invite Jewish people to church. They must first understand Jewish sensitivities before effectively reaching Jewish people with the Gospel. Since Gennady already oversees multiple Jewish ministries in Belarus, he stands ready to assist the Russian church with practical suggestions. There may be further opportunities for CJFM to help as well.

• Several pastors stayed up until 2 a.m. with Gennady Brutsky discussing the conference teachings and how they could apply them.

• At the church where Dr. Hedrick spoke, a woman approached the church’s pastor to ask how she could become involved in Jewish ministry. Dr. Hedrick suggested she contact Pastor Brutsky, our representative in the region.

• We learned that Natalia, a 100-year-old believer whose birthday we helped celebrate, had come to faith through our Russian-language broadcasts on Trans World Radio in the 1960s.

• At the church where Rob Styler presented his sermon parable about the leper, a man came forward to give his life to the Lord.

• Gideon had the privilege of preaching at historic Central Baptist Church, the only Protestant congregation that remained officially registered throughout the Soviet era.

• Pastor Draper was asked to preach and sing several hymns of praise at two separate Sunday services. His singing was a conference favorite as well.

MORE FROM THE CONFERENCE

Alexander Firisuk

Page 5: CJF Ministries October 2012 Newsletter

THE REAL KOSHER JESUS?by Michael L. Brown

Recently, a prominent Orthodox Jewish rabbi presented a new version of Jesus—a “kosher Jesus” whom Jews can accept. By reclaiming Yeshua as a fellow Jew and rabbi, he has taken a big step in the right direction. However, by re-creating Jesus, he has also robbed him of his uniqueness. In The Real Kosher Jesus, Michael L. Brown addresses the debate over the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth.

Book (BB-175) 249 pages $15

THE COMING APOCALYPSE: A Study ofReplacement Theology vs. God’s Faithful-ness in the End-Timesby Dr. Renald Showers

Anti-Semitism has infected the Church since the second century. It has altered Church doctrine about Israel and the Jewish people. Showers has put his finger on why Replacement Theology should be rejected. This new, outstanding book by Dr. Showers is essential reading . . . now more than ever!

Book (BB-169) 118 pages $9

MISHKAN 69: Russian Jewish MinistryPasche Institute of Jewish Studies

This quarterly journal contains multiple articles on the history and current status of Russian Jewish evangelism. Addressing ministry developments outside of Russia, as well as compilations of resources, its authors include Jim Melnick, Avi Snyder, and Mitch Glaser.

Journal (BB-173) $12

HELL: IS IT FOR REAL?by Pastor Al Runge

The most neglected message in religion today is the subject of Heaven and Hell; yet there is nothing more important in life than to know what lies beyond death for the human soul, so that one might avoid Hell and gain Heaven. Pastor Albert Runge’s research on the subject answers the following questions:• Isn’t Hell just for really bad people?• What does the Tanach (the Hebrew

Scriptures) reveal about Hell?• What did the ancient Jewish community

believe about Hell, according to Josephus the ancient historian?•DidJesusconfirmordenytheancientJewishbeliefaboutHell?

Book (AR-02) 45 pages $5, CD (ART-20 CD) $6

God Has a Plan for Your Life: The Life of Joseph(October 16 - 24)by Pastor Al Runge

God fulfills His plan through our imperfect lives. Joseph, the son of Jacob, was imperfect, but God’s plan for his life saved the entire seed of Abraham and Isaac.

CD (ART-16 CD) $6

Do Christians Worship Three Gods?(October 25 - November 14)by Dr. Gary Hedrick

Many Jewish people (and some professing Christians) believe we worship three separate deities. Dr. Hedrick explains why there is no contradiction between the Christian teaching of divine triunity and the Jewish Shema (Deut. 6:4).

CD (GT-53 CD) $12Book (G-09) 69 pages $5

Balaam’s Four Prophecies(November 15 - 23)by Dr. Gary Hedrick

Four of the most important revelations in the entire Bible were given through a pagan seer named Balaam, including the classic Messianic prophecy in Numbers 24:17.

CD (GT-20 CD) $6

Exploring the Love of our Heavenly Father(November 24 - December 5)by Pastor Al Runge

Although God is the Almighty Creator of all, His love is personal and intimate for each of His children. His love watches over us now, and carries us into eternity—where we will be embraced by His love forever.

CD (ART-25 CD) $6

RADIO BROADCASTS

OCTOBER 2012

Resources

Page 6: CJF Ministries October 2012 Newsletter

2013 CJFM MESSIANIC JEWISH HOME CALENDAR There’s still time to order and enjoy your 2013 Messianic Jewish Home Calendar! This 16-month calendar (September 2012-December 2013) includes all the features of a traditional Jewish calendar: secular and religious holidays, a year’s worth of weekly Bible and Torah readings, and candle-lighting days. The calendar features 16 beautiful photographs of Israel, and an article revealing the richness of life when lived from a Messianic perspective. Also includes standard US holidays. This non-threatening witnessing tool makes a great gift. Order five or more calendars and receive a complimentary signed, limited-edition poster of the historic Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem. (Note: Hurva posters are not sold separately.)Price includes shipping. Receive a discount on your order of two or more calendars. Calendar (#32) 1 Calendar $10 | 2-4 calendars $9/each | 5-10 calendars $8/each | 11+ calendars $7.50/each

YEAR-END PLANNING Many of our supporters review and update their wills at this time of year. You may also want to make a year-end donation to charitable work for tax purposes. May we suggest that you consider CJF Ministries in your year-end giving and estate planning? Marsha or Raymond would be happy to discuss how you can include CJF Ministries in your plans. Call (800) 926-5397. As always, we recommendthatyouspeakwithyourattorneyorfinancialplannerbeforetakinganyaction.

NEW BROADCAST STATIONS You can now hear Messianic Perspectives over eight new stations on the Life FM Network. Listen for us on: KKJJ 88.5 FM in South Central Missouri and North Central Arkansas; WEGN 88.7 FM in Illinois; WSWS 89.9 FM also in Illinois; WILF 88.9 FM in Southeast Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast; WWQS 88.5 FM Southeast Tennessee; WWQW 90.3 FM Tennessee; WWQY 90.3 FM North Carolina; and WWQZ 89.5 FM Massachusetts. You can hear us Monday through Friday at 2 p.m. local time.

Hurva Synagogue Poster