Beginning in
Jerusalem
President's Prayer Letter, January
2015
Dear friend in the Messiah,
Shalom and Happy New Year. Thanks so much for your prayers and support in
2014. It was a wonderful year of opportunity and blessing. So, thank you for
helping us bring the Gospel to Jewish people around the globe.
We look forward to our continued partnership in the New Year!
A Bright FutureI would
like to share some exciting plans we have for 2015 that I believe will impact
the lives of Jewish people for Jesus our Messiah.
As you know, we have been conducting an Isaiah 53 Evangelistic
Campaign in many different nations and cities over the last three
years. As a result, thousands of Jewish people have heard about the Lord, some
have come to faith and many Christians have had quality opportunities to share
the Gospel with their Jewish friends.
Additionally, Your Mission to the Jewish People has learned a lot about
proclaiming the Good News to Jewish people—online!
This would include using websites, Facebook, blogs, YouTube and many other
forms of social media. This is the new marketplace of ideas and if the Apostle
Paul were around—he would be blogging, posting and preaching!
Let me tell you a quick story that will encourage your heart.
Our Isaiah 53 Hebrew website offers the opportunity to view testimonies of
Jewish believers from Israel. Of course, the site and the testimonies are all in
Hebrew. We began advertising one of the testimonies early last year and have had
over 200,000 Israelis watch the video! This is remarkable, but what is
even more incredible is that the average time people have watched this video is
5 and a half minutes.
I asked one of my coworkers in Israel, “When was the last time you spoke to
over 200,000 Israelis about Jesus for 5 and a half minutes?” We both smiled and
praised the Lord for these new opportunities to let our Jewish people know about
the Lord.
A few months ago, an Israeli young man who watched the video on the site
contacted the brother who gave the testimony. After some conversations, this
young, secular Israeli in Tel Aviv prayed to receive Jesus. Now the brother who
gave the testimony is discipling this new believer.
And this is just one story among many!
We have also given away over 200 copies of
the evangelistic book, Isaiah 53 Explained, in Hebrew to Israelis who
requested it by visiting the site.
When we began these efforts in online evangelism, I had no idea where the
Lord might take us. But the vision He has given to our staff and me for moving
forward in reaching Jewish people through these wonderful new tools is becoming
clearer.
Back in the USA
Let me tell you what we did over the last couple of months in the United
States. We recorded 35 video testimonies of Jewish believers in Jesus. They came
from every walk of life—men and women, young and old, newer believers and those
who have known the Lord for many years. There is no doubt in my mind that these
stories will be powerful tools for the proclamation of the Gospel.
People love listening to other people’s stories! And how do you
really argue with another individual’s story of what happened to them…you
cannot!
We are now editing these testimonies and creating multiple new websites to
ensure that as many people as possible will view and hear the Good News through
those transformed by the power of the Gospel.
By the way, one of the reasons online Jewish evangelism works so well is
because Jewish people want to consider Jesus in privacy, as it is still a very
sensitive issue in the Jewish community. The Jewish person does not want their
mother, father, husband or wife looking over their shoulder to see what they are
watching or thinking about. And so the anonymity of the web, which is so often
used for evil, can also be used for good in the lives of Jewish people who want
to consider the Gospel.
Additional Languages
We have also translated the Isaiah 53 Explained book into French, as
France has more than 700,000 Jewish people, and also into Spanish, as there are
more than a half million Spanish-speaking Jews in the world. The book has also
been produced in Russian and we are working on the Russian website as well!
I cannot tell you how much I believe in the potential of proclaiming the
Gospel online and then linking those whose lives are touched with real life,
flesh and blood missionaries and local congregations who can do personal follow
up.
The Daniel Project—Using New Media to Reach Jewish People for
Jesus
This is why we are developing a “new media team” in New York City that will
include videographers, web developers, photographers, writers and those who want
to use their God-given creative abilities to proclaim the Gospel through digital
media.
We have named this effort, The Daniel Project, as the angel
Gabriel told the Jewish prophet about a day in the future when knowledge would
increase.
Those who have insight will shine brightly
like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to
righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But as for you, Daniel, conceal
these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and
forth, and knowledge will increase(Dan. 12:3-4).
This certainly describes today’s culture because of the internet! Further, I
believe the passage indicates that this increase in knowledge will take place
near the end of days preceding the second coming of Jesus. I believe the time is
NOW and The Daniel Project will be one of God’s critical tools
for preaching the Gospel to the Jewish people so that they might “look to
the One who was pierced” and be saved (Zech. 12:10)!
I hope you will partner with us in The Daniel Project. We
will need to develop video studios, buy equipment and employ a team of young
people for this task. I have dedicated quite a bit of our resources already
to do this, so I am hoping that you will help us make this a reality this
year.
This budget will be a step of faith for us. But unless we get started
immediately, we will miss opportunities to make Jesus known to thousands of
Jewish people each day!
I hope the Lord has stirred your heart as He
has mine. We can only advance this ministry with your enthusiasm, prayers and
financial support.
Our first year budget is $300,000. Would you prayerfully consider
getting us started in this New Year with a founding grant so that we can make
The Daniel Project a reality in 2015?
Dear friend, you know it’s not easy being a 121-year-old mission to the
Jewish people, as the bones can get a little creaky at times. But, because of
what the Lord is doing in our midst, I feel like Chosen People Ministries is
acting like a spiritual teenager! Our staff is, on average, younger than it ever
has been in recent years and our vision is overflowing with excitement and joy
for using these new tools to preach the Gospel. Would you join us in the
adventure?
Again, we need your help to seize the future but of course we will always
continue our personal one-to-one ministry, as well as our ministry to Holocaust
survivors and others in Israel and around the world!
The future begins today!
Happy New Year! May 2015 bring great spiritual blessing to you and your
family.
Your brother,
Mitch
P.S. For your gift of $200 or more I would like to send you a copy of The
People, the Land and the Future of Israel conference videos filmed last year at
Calvary Baptist Church in New York City. The speakers include Joel C. Rosenberg,
Darrell Bock, and Mike Brown. I know you will love this DVD
set! |
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