CJF Ministries

PO Box 345
San Antonio, Texas 78292-0345

YET TO COME
God has not forgotten the Jewish people, and neither have we.

June 2015
Telephone
(210) 226 - 0421

Shalom, Haverim!

Fax
(210) 226 - 2140

Here at CJF Ministries, weve had a blessed and eventful first half of the year. One of the
highlights was the installation service in Jerusalem for our new director of international
ministries, Efraim Goldstein. Efraim and his wife, Jeannie, moved to Israel in May of 1994
and have been serving the Lord faithfully there ever since. They came to CJF Ministries
several years ago from Jews for Jesus, one of our sister ministries in Israel.

E-mail
info@cjfm.org
OrderLine
(800) 926 - 5397
Website
www.cjfm.org

I trust that this issue of our newsletter finds you well and enjoying the blessings
of the Lord.

Efraims installation service was held at the Halff House, our headquarters building
situated in Mevaseret Tzion, a western suburb of Jerusalem. Youll find photographs on the
enclosed insert. Ministries who sent representatives to the service included Jews for Jesus,
Chosen People Ministries, HaGefen Publishers, Israel College of the Bible, Jerusalem
Baptist Church, Or HaGalil Congregation (Nahariya), Moody Bible Institute, Olive Tree
Congregation (Chicago), Maoz Israel, Nachalat Yeshua Congregation (Beersheva), SarEl Tours, and a number of others. It was gratifying to see so many of our evangelical
Messianic ministries come together in such an amazing demonstration of solidarity.
Another notable event, during the first part of this year, was our Israel tour in March.
Marcia and I were on our way to Israel to meet our tour group, and we made it as far as
London before we were suddenly called back to the States because of a death in the family.
But we were told later that the tour went very well and everyone had a great timeand we
were pleased to hear that report! Our next tour will be in March of 2017. If you have never
been to Israel, I hope youll reserve March 13-26 and begin making your plans to go with
us. Michael (our son) and I will be leading the tour along with other staff membersand it
promises to be an amazing, life-changing experience.
Please pray for our pastors conference in Minsk, Belarus, this coming September 10-14.
Itll be our fifth FSU conference, and theyre telling us that 200 or so pastorsmainly
from Russia, Ukraine, and Belaruswill be attending. The theme will be Israel and the
Church in the End Times. Pray for financial provision (the expenses for a conference like
this are many, as you might imagine) and for Gods blessing and anointing as His Word
goes forth into the hearts and minds of these preachers.
We never take your friendship for granted. We are constantly reminded that your prayers
and financial support enable us to continue this outreach to the Jew first (Rom. 1:16).
So we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing with us so faithfully.
Yours for the coming Kingdom,

Gary Hedrick

PASSOVER 2015
Passover always presents unique opportunities for our workers to reach Jewish people with the Gospel
of Messiah. The following reports from CJFM missionaries demonstrate why this holiday is so special.

MICHELLE BEADLEUS
Every year our missionaries (at home and abroad) conduct many Messiah in the Passover presentations.
This year, Michelle Beadle led 18 such presentations! And it never ceases to amaze her how God orchestrates introductions and draws specific individuals to each presentationthe saved and the unsaved
both Jewish and Gentile. Some have never been to a Messiah in the Passover presentation before; others
attend hoping to encourage an unsaved friend or a loved one to come and hear the message.
On the second night of Passover this year, Michelle hosted a Seder in her home. In all, 14 people participated, 11 of whom were Jewish and 3, Gentile. Two of the Jewish people were very new believers, and
one of the Gentiles was unsaved.
The true highlight of every Passover season is the joy that Michelle feels seeing people come to faith in
Yeshua as a result of her outreach. This year, two children accepted Yeshua as their Savior; at another
meeting at a homeless shelter, a young man accepted the Lord; and on Resurrection Sunday, a man who
had been attending an Alpha course came to faith! (Alpha students meet weekly to learn the basic tenets
of the Christian faith.) Cant you just hear the angels in Heaven rejoicing?
Messiah in the Passover presentations are a wonderful way to introduce your Jewish (and Gentile) friends
to their Redeemer. Wont you consider scheduling a presentation for your church or your small group next
year? Its never too early to call and schedule one.
To learn more about Michelles ministry, as well as the special ministries of other CJFM missionaries,
visit our website at cjfm.org.

GENNADY BRUTZKIBELARUS
This year, approximately 100 people attended the Passover celebration at Beith Shalom in Minsk. Nearly
all the attendees were Jewish, and more than ten were visiting for the first time. Our workers had the
privilege of presenting the Passover story, while also explaining how Passover points to the atoning death
and Resurrection of our Lord, the Messiah.
One of the highlights of this years service was a conversation Pastor Gennady Brutzki had with one
Jewish woman. After the service, the woman (now in her 50s) shared that when she was born, doctors
had not expected her to live. Her Jewish mother was secular and non-practicing, but she had heard
about Jesus. In her desperation to save her newborn, the mother vowed to have her baby baptized. As
you know, baptism is a very difficult step for any Jewish person (even a secular one), because it is seen
as the ultimate act of betrayal to ones fellow Jews. Jewish people have come to believe that being Jewish and believing in Jesus are mutually exclusive. But this mother was desperate; she wanted her baby
to live. When the baby began to improve, the woman kept her promise. She had her daughter baptized
in an Orthodox Christian church.
Years passed, and the woman eventually married and had a family of her own. She told Pastor Brutzki,
however, that her life had been empty, and that she felt that something important was missing. And then,
one Saturday she came to a Baptist church where she found a group of Messianic Jewish people whose
company she enjoyed. And last year, she attended a Messianic conference. It was there that she understood for the first time what was missing from her life and what it was that she needed most. Not long after
that conference, she surrendered her life to God, and in September, she chose to be baptizedin the river!
Despite the cold river waters, her heart was on fire for the Lord! Since then, God has radically changed
this womans life and filled her with joy.
To learn more about Gennady Brutzki, and to support his work in Belarus and the former Soviet republics,
visit cjfm.org/gennadyb.

Photos courtesy of the Morales family

Above: Please pray for Jewish believers Herman and

Lionel Speisky. Left: Marcos stands by as the Seder
candles are lit. The ministry in Rosario has been more
of a challenge since a gas explosion and fire destroyed
the Moraless apartment building and everything they
owned. With Gods help, they are rebuilding both their
lives and their ministry in Mendoza City.

MARCOS AND DEBORAH MORALESARGENTINA

For many years, Marcos and Deborah Morales have been serving Gods chosen people in Argentina through Shabbat meetings and, of course, celebration of the Jewish holidays. Last year in
Rosario, a Conservative Jewish manHerman Speisky, and his son, Lionel, both came to faith in
Yeshua the Messiah while attending Shabbat meetings hosted by the Morales family. Before moving to Argentina, Herman had resided for several years in Israel. Since coming to faith in Yeshua,
Herman has offered his home in Rosario as a place for Bible study; and this year, he hosted a Passover Seder. Marcos and Deborah, who now live in Mendoza, were able to Skype Herman and
the others at his home, and exchange encouraging words and heartfelt Passover greetings via the
Internet. The Speiskys would appreciate your prayers for their many unsaved loved ones. Please
pray also for the work of the Lord among the Spanish-speaking Jewish peopleespecially in Rosario and Mendoza.
For more about Marcos Morales, or to support his work in Argentina, visit cjfm.org/marcosm.

Pastor Brutzki and his son (and

translator), Paul, enjoy a good
laugh with the group on a recent
CJFM tour. Pastor Brutzki began his
presentation about the ministry in
Belarus with good-natured kidding
about where to find Belarus on the
map. First, of course, one must begin
with the right continent! Although
tour-goers were literally from around
the world and spoke several languages, the joy of the Lord and the
unity of the Spirit filled the room.
Photo by R.A. Higbee

ROBERT WEISSMANUK
Those familiar with the traditional Passover Seder know that children are tasked with posing four questions, one of which is, How is this night different from all other nights? Playing on that question, Robert
Weissman titled one of his recent Passover meetings The Night That Was Different. Approximately 100
people attended this particular presentation at the 325-year-old Colchester Baptist Church, a congregation
with historic ties to the famous 19th-century British preacher and theologian, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Since most of the attendees had never before witnessed a Passover meeting, Robert began with the original Passover story described in Exodus 12. After that, he explained how Jewish people observe the Passover today, using each element found on the Seder plate. Robert then explained about the night that was
differentthe night that Jesus celebrated the Passover just prior to His betrayal (see Matthew 26).

Robert used this model of the Garden

Tomb to illustrate Johns account of
Jesuss death and burial (see John
19:17, 38-42; and 20:1-7).
Photo courtesy of Robert Weissman

Robert also preached at an Open Brethren Assembly near Southend (east of central London) on Resurrection evening. For that meeting, he chose to speak on Jesuss Crucifixion and Resurrection recorded in
John 19 and 20. Only a few days earlier, Robert and his wife had actually visited the Garden Tomb site
with a CJFM tour of Israel. That location is believed by some to be near the place of Messiahs Crucifixion
and the garden where Joseph of Arimatheas tomb was located. Using a model of the Garden Tomb that
he purchased on-site in Israel, Robert was able to illustrate the biblical truths recorded in Johns Gospel.
There is indeed something special about the Garden Tomb. Roberts wife, Rosamund, said, What came
over me is that every word of God proves trueand nowhere was this more apparent and exciting than
at the Garden Tomb, where we could see the proximity of the likely sites for the Place of the Skull, the
empty tomb, and the garden.
To learn more about Robert and his work, or to support him financially, visit his page at cjfm.org/robertw.

SHALOM STUDENT FELLOWSHIPTEDS

On April 8, the SHALOM Student Fellowship (SSF) and CJF Ministries
(CJFM) hosted guest speaker Justin Kron, Trinity students, staff, and families, and visitors from the surrounding communities at Melton Hall. Justin,
founder of the Kesher Forum and eXperience Israel, led guests through an
interactive Seder that he calls, The Passover Experience.
For a complete update visit cjfm.org/resources/newsletter/-XQH-2015.

Photos courtesy of Anthony Lipscomb

CJFM COMMISSIONS EFRAIM

GOLDSTEIN AS NEW DIRECTOR
OF INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
Tour-goers on CJFMs recent spring tour to Israel
witnessed the commissioning of Dr. Efraim Goldstein
as CJFMs new Director of International Ministries. The
installation service was held Monday, March 23, at the
Halff House in Mevaseret, just outside of Jerusalem.
Family, friends, and colleagues from several Messianic
ministries in Israel were present to share in the time of
worship and fellowship. All photos by R.A. Higbee unless otherwise noted.

June 2015

SPECIAL REPORT

Left: CJFM missionary in Argentina, Marcos Morales, and his wife, Deborah,
joined in the evenings festivities.

Pastor Gennady Brutzki from Belarus presented the new director with a beautiful
wooden plaque citing Deuteronomy 33:29.

Messianic Israeli pastor, Yossi Ovadia (with mic), is joined in prayer by (from
left) Dr. Tim Sigler, CJFM board member, Pastor Rander Draper, and Pastor
Dan Strull as they commission Efraim Goldstein for his new responsibilities.

Pastor Alexander Firisuk, a respected leader within the Union of Evangelical

Christian Baptists, presented Efraim with a subscription to a Russian language
publication to help him reach the many Russian-speaking Jewish people in Israel.

Photo courtesy of Efraim Goldstein

Rabbi Larry Goldman prays for Efraim, his wife, Jeannie, and their children.

One week later, Israelis celebrated Passover. Here, the Jewish believers in
Nahariya are joined by their Lebanese Christian counterparts for a Passover
celebration at Or Hagalil.

CJFM board member, Curt Nelson, reads greetings from Dr. Gary Hedrick,
who was unable to attend because of a death in the family.

Moody professor and CJFM Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Tim Sigler, served as

master of ceremonies for the evening.

A trio of Messianic musicians provided music for the evening, and led the
group in worship.

From left: Messianic Israeli attorney, Marvin Kramer, and his wife, Orit,
Curt and Linda Nelson, CJFM worker in Israel Ruth Nessim, and Rander
and Darlene Draper fellowship indoors. The Kramers also operate a crisis
pregnancy center in Haifa.

Dr. Tim Sigler and CJFM missionary in the UK, Robert Weissman (r), visit
during the buffet.

Dr. Ousmane Soh from Dahra, Senegal, enjoys the buffet and conversation
with Steve Holman and Kyle Krall, while Efraim visits with CJFM workers from
Belarus and Russia.

Passover 2015 at Trinity International University

By Anthony Lipscomb

On April 8, the SHALOM Student Fellowship (SSF) and CJF Ministries (CJFM) hosted guest
speaker Justin Kron, Trinity students, staff, and families, and visitors from the surrounding
communities at Melton Hall. Justin, founder of the Kesher Forum and eXperience Israel, led
guests through an interactive Seder that he calls, The Passover Experience.
Traditional Passover Seders follow a particular order of service known in Hebrew as Haggadah
(the telling), which is meant to memorialize how in Egypt God had passed over the homes of
the people who had marked their doorposts and lintels with the blood of a lamb, thus sparing the
lives of all their firstborn (Exodus 1112). For Jewish believers in Jesus (Yeshua) the Haggadah
finds special significance in Jesus self-sacrifice for all of humanity, and it was through this lens
of Jesus saving work that Justin presented the Passover Seder.
After a time of worship led by Brenden Lang (MA OT and Semitic Languages), the Seder
commenced with the lighting of the two festival candles at the head tablethe first representing
Gods light illuminating the world, and the second how Gods people bring light into the world.
Every Jewish festival begins with the lighting of these two candles, and the concepts they
represent are so clearly captured in Jesus words, I am the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5)
and You are the light of the world (Matt 5:14).
After the lighting of the candles, and with great clarity, Justin guided guests through the
Haggadah and explained what each Seder element means in Jewish tradition and how Jesus was
either anticipated by the elements or how Jesus answers the concerns signified by the elements.
Guests found the integration of Jewish custom with faith in Jesus profoundly edifying.
The symbolism behind each section and each element of the meal was very encouraging for my
Christian faith... There were so many applicable components to the service. The one that stuck
out to me the most is the bittersweet reality of life as a follower of Christ in this fallen world. I
also appreciated the reminder that the Temple is no longer brick and mortar but flesh and bone in
all peoples from all ethnic-groups, explained Eric Chang (MDiv/MA Mental Health
Counseling).
REACH student Irene Stroms Spejcher shared a similar sentiment, I had a wonderful time and
learned a lot about the similarities between the Seder Passover Meal and the Lords Supper. I
especially appreciated the symbolism regarding the Brechat Haner (Blessing of the Light), the
meaning of the four cups of wine, and the breaking of the Afikomen (Bread of Remembrance). I
pray this becomes an annual event.
For many in attendance the Passover Experience on the Trinity campus was their first Seder.
Ive wanted to experience the Passover Seder for years and finally I was able to participate this
time. Justins presentation was so powerful. I really appreciate his applications of each single
symbol of the Seder to the NT and todays life. I felt there is something special to have a meal
together, comparing to the Lords Supper experience as a small part of worship service at
church, said Ayun Kim (PhD OT).
While for others this was not their first Seder, the Passover Experience succeeded in providing a
profound spiritual and learning experience. I actually had Seder in China twice and it is
amazing grace to be able to have Seder on the Trinity campus! It is a great blessing to attend the
Seder and it makes us engage with the Passover and really experience it with all our senses and it

gives us a deeper understanding of the Passover and Jesus sacrificial love for the world, said
international student Donald Wang (MDiv). Justins presentation helped Lisa Weathers (Office
of Advancement and University Relations) understand more clearly as a gentile the depth of
what she had experienced as a participant at other Seders. She is grateful for Justin and others
who take the time to bridge the Jewish-Christian experience.
The Passover Experience not only provided spiritual and intellectual stimulus for individual
reflection, it also provided an opportunity for families to spend time growing together in Jesus.
When asked what the Seder meant to him, Arthur Ang (MDiv) reflected, The Passover is done
as a family, and thus we chose to include our child even though we know it is not easy. Billy (our
toddler) was a bit restless at the beginning because he wanted to just run outside. But, as we
started the feast, he became interested in holding the different items (e.g. cup of grape juice)
while we explained to him their significance. In the end, we were surprised that he even finished
a matzo by himself! We, that is the Protestant church, often compartmentalize and get rid of the
kids by separating them from adult ministry. The Passover is an excellent family event that
integrates our family life with our faith. We hope well continue to do well in teaching him
diligently so that hell love Yahweh with all his heart, soul and might (Deut 6).
A major component of the Seder celebration was the sharing of a traditional Passover meal.
Justin provided the menu and recipes and Trinitys catering services, led by Lore Swanson, did a
fantastic job preparing and catering the dinner, which featured gefilte fish, matzo ball soup,
roasted chicken, sweet buttered carrots, red roasted potatoes, and strawberry sponge cake.
Needless to say, no one left hungry!
We of the SSF are encouraged by the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response by the Trinity
community to the Passover Experience, and it is our sincere hope that this event may be the start
of many Seders held at Trinity. Our partner in this endeavor, CJFM, which exists to make Jesus
the Messiah known to the Jewish people first and then to the nations (Romans 1:16), provided
generous support, without which this event and its fine quality would not have been possible. We
are deeply grateful for CJFMs support in helping to share the Jewish heritage of the Christian
faith with the Trinity community.