Anna and Jake (not their real names) are a Jewish couple from Massachusetts who reached out to our Brooklyn congregation, Beth Sar Shalom, in order to meet with a Jewish staff member. Rich, our staff member, responded immediately and set up a meeting. Anna and Jake have been married for about eleven years. Anna is a believer in Jesus, but Jake, while spiritually searching, is not; together they have a small martial arts business. They began to share their life and spiritual journeys with Rich. Jake was confused and tormented by his sin. He had tried to be a religious Jew but, in his mind, he failed miserably. He experimented with eastern religions but was left feeling empty and unsatisfied.

In his despair, Jake turned to drugs, alcohol, and partying—his guilt and shame increased. Jake looked at Rich with tears in his eyes and asked, “How do I get rid of my sin?” Rich smiled and said, “Jake, you have come to the right place. I just happen to know a sin-bearing Messiah that came to rescue broken people like you and me.” Rich then proceeded to explain the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:24) to him in a Jewish way. As Rich shared, the Spirit’s presence was evident, moving both him and Jake. It was hard to speak through the emotions of the moment, but Jake indicated that he understood and wanted to repent of his sin and receive Yeshua as Israel’s Messiah and the Savior of the world. Praise God!