The Rabbi on Remodeling and Repentance
We’ve seen lots of changes around Beit Tikvah since our last newsletter.
We bought new carpet and chairs for the Fellowship Hall. Our old carpet was so old, people
were tripping on the seams. It was beyond repair. Twelve workers showed up for the carpet
removal and install, led by the now infamous Bond family, who run a mini-monopoly on the carpet
industry in the south Puget Sound. The padding in the old chairs had disintegrated and the
material was shredding. We waited as long as we could. The new chairs are ergonomically
designed and will last us many years. We also painted and installed acoustic panels on the
walls and ceiling. The sheer volume of sound had become so loud that it hurt. When the
room was full of people, you had to yell to the person across the table in a normal conversation.
The engineered panels have made the Fellowship Hall more comfortable and enjoyable.
We also bought new chairs for the sanctuary, and were able to fit in ten more than before. This was important because we are regularly at capacity. The new chairs do not have arms like the old ones, allowing people to “squeeze in” if necessary. Makes for a cozy service. Our new overhead projection system is installed and should be in operation soon. We look forward to the larger screen and increased quality graphics and video. Our space needs are challenging as we continue to grow at a slow, healthy pace, but where God guides, He also provides. He is faithful.
Rita and I flew to Boulder, CO for the Promise Keepers 20th Anniversary Conference, July 31st-August 1st. Coach Bill McCartney had been invited back to be the CEO after a 5-year hiatus. During that time he founded the Road to Jerusalem (R2J), whose purpose was to unite messianic Jews and gentile Christians. The theme of this PK Conference was Galatians 3:28. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua.” To quote Coach McCartney, “We are honored to celebrate, to honor, and to heal painful, ancient divides between genders, classes and Jews and gentiles. Throughout the Scriptures, the LORD has ordained honor for women, honor for the poor, oppressed and needy, and honor for our spiritual fathers in the faith, Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).”
7000 gathered in Folsom Field at the University of Colorado for “A Time to Honor.” For the first time in Promise Keepers history, Jewish and gentile leaders mixed beautifully as they taught, preached, gave testimony and led worship. For some of us it was like “old home week” as we enjoyed the music of Marty Goetz, Paul Wilbur and Joel Chernoff. Jane Hansen (Women’s Aglow International) and Gary Smalley broke down the divide between genders, with CeCe Winans doing special music. Tommy Barnet (Phoenix First Assembly) and Tony Evans (Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas) broke down the divide between classes and gave amazingly inspirational messages on working cross culturally in our communities to eliminate racial, ethnic and social barriers for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Dan Juster (Tikkun International) and David Chernoff (Beth Yeshua Messianic Congregation, Philadelphia), set the stage for healing the divide between Jews and gentiles in the church.
The most moving part of the weekend, however, was the last two hours. Co-author of
Two Minute Warning, Rabbi Aaron Fruh (Knollwood Church, Mobile, AL), addressed Coach McCartney: "As a Jew I ask you, will you stand with my people in the coming difficult days? Will you risk your life to shelter and protect us? Will you lay down your life for us? Will you say, ‘never again will I allow my Jewish brothers and sisters to suffer alone’? As a Jew I ask you, will you wear the yellow Star of David as a declaration of solidarity with my people? Will you declare, ‘united we stand and divided we fall’? Will you walk the avenue of the righteous of the nations as thousands of other gentile Christians have, including Corrie Ten Boom? With voice cracking under the emotion, Coach McCartney replied: “I say to Rabbi Aaron Fruh and to every Jew, I will wear the yellow star. I will wear it with great humility, and with great resolve. I’ll wear it like a warrior. I understand the times, I know what to do about it, and it’s in my heart to stand with God’s chosen people.”
What happened next was nothing short of amazing. Messianic Rabbis and their wives were called to the front of the stage. We were given handfuls of yellow stars. Gentile believers were encouraged to come to the front to follow Coach McCartney’s example. Rita and I walked up front. As we placed Stars of David on many Christians, they said they would stand with us and even die for us. We could barely control ourselves. Lots of hugs, lots of tears and lots of prayer. Thousands responded to the call and voluntarily received yellow stars. May this be a seed planted that will grow and flourish in order to eliminate Replacement Theology, anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in the Christian church. I believe the church is so divided today because of the original division between Jew and gentile. Repentance heals division. May all believers understand God’s heart for Israel and His desire to use Jews and gentiles as One New Man in these last days. Come quickly, LORD Yeshua.
Hylan Slobodkin
Messianic Rabbi
All Newsletters:
|