Dear everyone,

As you may already know, we just concluded our "Jewish Evangelism Seminar Weekend," May 17-19, here at Miramar church. I wanted to highlight some of the high points:

Friday night: This session was very informative esp. with the general details. The highlight for this night unfolded these important elements about witnessing to our Jewish neighbors:

1. Our Jewish neighbors have false ideas about the identity of the messiah. These false ideas ranged from a political deliverer to the messiah being the nation itself (this is based on their re-interpretation of Isaiah 53).

2. Our Jewish neighbors have false ideas of basic biblical doctrines. This ranged anywhere from believing that God is unknowable (many have become agnostics) to explaining away sin to mean bad choices. Even their belief in an afterlife is very contorted and they have consorted to wild beliefs including re-incarnation. In fact, many have converted to Buddhism. Furthermore, There are more converting to other philosophies than Christianity. This is because of their consistent consensus that Christians hate them! Ouch!!

3. Our Jewish neighbors need a consistent biblical approach to a true understanding of the messiah. Solid OT defense of the prophecies relating to Jesus is imperative for witnessing to be effective. We must learn them well. Present them knowledgeably, exegetically, and coherently. Beginning from Genesis 3:15 to Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 53 to Daniel 7:13, 9:24-27. Present these passages and how they point to the declaration of a man that lived and was resurrected (since some Jews believe that one of their famous Rabbis who died is the messiah, in fact many, on a given date, go to his tomb and await his rising from the dead).

4. Our Jewish neighbors need to have consistent Christians who develop friendships that our genuine, relational, and real. We need to consider having steps in place to witness to them. We need to pray for them. Learn more about their OT. Maintain a true friendship. Prepare yourself for the tough questions regarding "anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. These questions will come.

Saturday seminar:

 This seminar talked about the Mothers of the messiah. This session presented the important contribution the women made to the coming messiah. They (the ladies) also learned how to witness to the Jewish ladies. The Jewish ladies have special considerations that are critical to witnessing such as their continual second class citizenship in the synagogue, their relegation to small aspects in the ministry, and their sentiment is that they as a whole have little access to worship. Many Jewish ladies feel like outcasts still. Many want to know God and have access to Him but are prohibited.

Sunday session AM:

This session concentrated on the Holocaust and the church. In other words, what have Christians through the ages up to the Holocaust contributed to "anti-Semitism." This session was the most painful reality check we've encountered in a long time. The speaker was able to highlight some nuances of history that showed the painful sentiments from "Christians " about the Jews: anywhere from John Chrysostom to Martin Luther. This is why we have to be good students of history. All of us have painful weak and black spots on our characters.

Sunday session afternoon:

This session's foci was on Romans 1:16-17. This was an exegetical look at the possible interpretation of "to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." As to what Paul meant by these phrases is debated by scholars, but the evangelistic priority to the Jew is one of the ones considered. Much comparing Scripture with Scripture is imperative here. Nevertheless, our evangelistic efforts toward the Jews certainly is in need of reevaluation regardless of the interpretation you concede with.

This and much more characterized our weekend. It was very informative, educational, edifying, and encouraging. If any of you would like a copy of the CD's, please feel free to call me or email me. I will gladly give copies. Thank you all for your prayers and support (esp IBB with your child care services).

My hopes and goal is to annex this seminar's training to our Door 2 door outreach and our "Way of the Master" training. As we meet more Jewish people, we hope to be better trained and skilled to open more dialogue and to present the gospel even more clearly. We hope we can begin to address this abandonment of the Jewish people in regard to befriending them in the hopes to "save some."  

Blessings,