2008 Prayer Campaign
April 20, 2008 - June 08, 2008
Seven weeks of prayer on the theme, "Honoring the Past; Embracing the Future," from Passover to...
Southern California Regional Picnic
June 01, 2008
Join hundreds of believers in Yeshua from all over Southern California as we come together for fun,...
This 7-week prayer journey will take you from thanksgiving for the past, to intercession for the future, to a final expression of worship as we contemplate the fulfillment of God’s purposes in Messiah.
On April 16, the Israeli Supreme Court heard the case of several believers who had been denied citizenship by the Ministry of the Interior, including Amy Cowen, daughter of UMJC President Jamie Cowen. Just before the case was heard, Amy wrote, "I do not believe that it is merely coincidental that this case will take place the week leading up to Pesach, a holiday that so clearly embodies themes of salvation, deliverance, freedom, purification, and the blood of the Lamb. As God delivered our people from the bonds of slavery in Egypt, God can certainly deliver once again and grant us our inheritance in this Land."
Here is a summary of the case from the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, one of the Messianic efforts in Israel that the UMJC supports:
In a landmark decision today, the Supreme Court of Israel ratified a settlement between twelve Messianic Jewish believers and the State of Israel, which states that being a Messianic Jew does not prevent one from receiving citizenship in Israel under the Law of Return or the Law of Citizenship, if one is a descendent of Jews on one's father's side (and thus not Jewish according to halacha).
This Supreme Court decision brought an end to a legal battle that has carried on for two and a half years. The applicants were represented by Yuval Grayevsky and Calev Myers from the offices of Yehuda Raveh & Co., and their legal costs were subsidized by the Jerusalem Institute of Justice.
All twelve of the applicants were denied citizenship solely based on grounds that they belong to the Messianic Jewish community. Most of them received letters stating that they would not receive citizenship because they "commit missionary activity". One of the applicants was told by a clerk at the Ministry of Interior that because she "committed missionary activity", she is "acting against the interests of the State of Israel and against the Jewish people". These allegations are not only untrue, but they also do not constitute legal grounds to deny one's right to immigrate to Israel.
This important victory paves the way for persons who have Jewish ancestry on their father's side to immigrate to Israel freely, whether or not they belong to the Messianic Jewish community. This is yet another battle won in our war to establish equality in Israel for the Messianic Jewish community just like every other legitimate stream of faith within the Jewish world.
2008 Prayer Theme: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future
When Spring approaches, many of us think of Passover and its familiar customs-cleaning the house to get rid of all leaven, preparing a big meal for family and friends, sitting down together to retell the Passover story, and eating matzah for eight days. One custom found in the Bible is not so familiar, though. During Passover, the Israelites were to begin counting off seven weeks to arrive at the date for Shavuot, or Pentecost, the festival of Weeks. This 49-day period is a time of spiritual anticipation and prayer, called sefirat ha-omer, or counting the omer, the grain offering mentioned in Leviticus 23:15-17.
Jewish tradition has kept this practice alive ever since the destruction of the temple, and in recent years, the UMJC family has made this tradition our own, as we have joined in 49 days of unified prayer during this period. This year, counting the omer begins on Sunday evening, April 20 and concludes Saturday evening, June 7. The next day, Sunday, June 8, is Erev Shavuot, the eve of Shavuot, the holiday celebrating God's gift of the Torah at Sinai, and the outpouring of the Spirit upon the followers of Yeshua centuries later. UMJC congregations and supports will pray together throughout this period, which will culminate in a Shavuot offering that will be sent up to the land of Israel. In fact, since our annual conference this year takes place in Israel, we will be able to bring the offering in person. The theme of the prayer campaign reflects the UMJC conference theme of Come Home Again: Honoring the Past; Embracing the Future. Israel is the place of our biblical past, homeland of the Jewish people, and site of the holy temple and the life, death, and resurrection of Messiah. Israel is also the place of the future, where the Jewish story and the Yeshua story will together reach their completion.
On November 28, 2007, the Executive Committee of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations issued the following statement concerning certain doctrinal positions espoused in the recently published book, In Defense of Israel, by Pastor John Hagee:
As Messianic Jews we appreciate the support for Israel and the Jewish community that many Christians have shown in recent years. This remarkable change in Jewish-Christian relations corrects centuries of Christian anti-Semitism and promises to bear much fruit in the coming years. In particular, we recognize the important work that Pastor John Hagee has accomplished in rallying thousands of Christians to this cause. At the same time, we must note serious concerns about some of Pastor Hagee's doctrinal positions, particularly as expressed in his recent book, In Defense of Israel. These teachings contradict biblical doctrine, undermine thetestimony of Jewish followers of Jesus, and weaken the cause of Christian supporters of the Jewish people.
Our 2007 UMJC Shavuot offering was dedicated to Tikkun Olam-World Restoration-specifically humanitarian efforts in Israel coordinated by the Messianic community. In October, UMJC president Jamie Cowen and I were in Israel, where we saw some of these efforts first-hand.
Feeding program in Jerusalem
A Netivyah volunteer and I schmooze with a food recipient in Jerusalem.
Netivyah Ministries in Jerusalem, which provides daily food supplies for 200 families a week, was one of our recipients. The program provides help without discriminating between believers, non-believers, Jews, or Arabs, or setting any other conditions. Jamie and I accompanied a van delivering food to families who were unable to get to the Netivyah ministry center. Families receive a bag of fresh, unprocessed food, including a kilo (2.2 pounds) of fruit, a kilo of vegetables, and a kilo of meat per person per week, plus other items. It was a mitzvah, of course, to help deliver these food bags to various houses, and fun as well. This is a ministry the congregation has taken on at its own initiative, and it is gaining recognition in the area. Food is given out freely; no one is required to read a tract or listen to a sermon, but the name of Yeshua is certainly being enhanced on the streets of Jerusalem.
UMJC President Jamie Cowen and Executive Director Russ Resnik have returned from Israel, where they met with Messianic Jewish leaders in preparation for next year's UMJC tour and conference and to visit humanitarian projects coordinated by the Messianic community.
To help Israelis in their time of need, click on the Donate icon above, and send an email to
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letting us know your gift is for Israel. You may also donate by check to UMJC, 529 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, or charge card at 1.800.692.8652.
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