2016 Blessings

As another year begins, we want to share what God has done at Word of Messiah this year and thank all who have prayed with us and supported us through 2016.  This has been a year full of blessings and provision as we have been privileged to minister to many throughout the U.S. as well as overseas.

Last February, during our time in Israel, we were blessed to reach out to Messianic leaders who are reaching Israelis for Yeshua all over the country.  While we were there, we partnered with Netivah, Tents of Mercy, and Maoz Ministries in conducting training conferences for Messianic leaders, youth leaders, and congregation planters.  We were also able to provide Messianic Discipleship books in Hebrew, Russian, and English to many of the conference participants.  Please pray for them that they will, in the words of one of the Israeli leaders, “take what (they) received and prayerfully find wisdom for application.”

In September, we traveled to England where Sam was invited to be keynote speaker at the 150th anniversary conference of the oldest Messianic organization in the world, the British Messianic Jewish Alliance (BMJA).  There, we interacted with Messianic leaders from England and Wales and were blessed to see them renew their commitment to keep proclaiming the Good News to the Jew first in their communities through the testimony of healthy Messianic congregations.   After the conference, we conducted a one day training course at a local congregation in the Golders Green area of London.

From Phoenix to Richmond to New York, Messianic leaders and congregation planters were equipped and encouraged through our “Developing Healthy Messianic Congregations” conferences.  At the end of the Richmond conference, one Messianic leader stated, “I knew I would learn, but I had no idea how much… I wish every Messianic leader could attend this conference so we could all be on the same page.”

We not only conduct conferences for groups of Messianic leaders, we also travel to individual congregations to help address specific areas of need, such as the area of leadership development or support through times of transition. This year we were honored to assist various congregations in Texas, Ohio, and Virginia.

Besides our annual Messianic Women’s Retreat in May, Miriam also spoke at several women’s groups encouraging them with the teaching found in her book Honoring God with My Life which covers Titus 2:3-5.  At each of our conferences for Messianic leaders, Miriam met with the leaders’ wives, equipping and encouraging them in their vital ministry roles.

As you know, Word of Messiah also reaches out to believers in churches, teaching God’s Word from a Jewish frame of reference and equipping Christians to reach Jewish friends and neighbors.  This year, Sam was invited to speak in over sixty churches of various denominations.  Through these speaking opportunities as well as through our outreaches surrounding Passover and the other Feasts of the Bible and Jewish holidays, we have been very blessed to see many come to know Yeshua!

What’s Next?

Please pray with us as we follow the Lord into all He has for us this year.  In the coming weeks we’ll be preparing to return to Israel where we will once again be conducting training conferences for Israeli Messianic leaders in Tel Aviv and the Galilee.  This year the subject of Discipleship will be our conference focus.  During our time in Israel, we will also be meeting with Israeli youth leaders and individual congregation planters around the country.

We already have three Developing Healthy Messianic Congregations conferences planned for 2017, beginning with a Tampa, FL conference from February 19-20.  In October, we will be hosting a conference in Chicago, and will also be in Ohio (more information to come).  Please pray and spread the word as we desire to reach as many as possible in these strategic areas of the country.

Each month, more people are subscribing to our new Word of Messiah Podcast and this year we will be working towards expanding the reach of this important ministry even more, sharing the Good News with all who are listening in.

Once again, thank you so much for your continued prayers and support.  May the Lord bless you and your family in this new year!