Florida Outreach Brings Dozens to Faith
Our “Fun in the Son” week-long outreach in South Florida this past February went very well. The ministry team had eighteen people, including a fair number of repeat attendees and a few who were new to our ministry’s outreach events. This outreach comprised four teams of four or five people each, with some local people occasionally joining at different locations.
This year, we focused on opposing antisemitism. Our staff printed 5,000 small tracts and gave out more than 4,500 during the week. The response was favorable, and our “Oppose Antisemitism” T-shirts attracted many Jewish people. When possible, we used these opportunities to present the gospel. There was some minor opposition by pro-Palestinian supporters, although they did not attempt any significant or violent activity.
Our ministry used the outreach locations from prior years: Hollywood Beach, Delray Beach, the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) campus, and Lake Worth Beach. In the past, Hollywood Beach proved to be one of the more successful areas in which to engage people, but this year, we had most of our good conversations at FAU and Delray Beach. Each team traveled to all the locations once during the week. On Saturday, all four teams went to the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival and had a productive ministry time.
Overall, twenty-three people, including at least two Jewish people, placed their faith in Jesus during our outreach. Many on our team expressed their desire to return next February, and, Lord willing, Your Mission to the Jewish People plans to do it again. Who knows? Maybe you will join us next time as we proclaim the gospel on the beaches of South Florida!
Opposing Antisemitism Leads to Conversations
At Lake Worth Beach, the staff of our “Fun in the Son” wore T-shirts bearing the slogans “Oppose Antisemitism” and “Stop the Hate.” They also distributed a brochure explaining the roots of antisemitism, specific antisemitic misinterpretations of the New Testament, and Jesus’ solution to this problem. A Jewish woman took the brochure, began reading it, and then returned it to one of the team members.
About an hour later, the same woman spotted Samuel,* a Messianic Jewish staff member who led one of our outreach teams, wearing the “Oppose Antisemitism” T-shirt. She asked him whether he was Jewish, Christian, or a combination. He explained he is a Messianic Jewish believer in Jesus and continues to live a Jewish life while following Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. Remarkably, she then asked him why he believed Jesus was the Messiah.
This question sparked a wonderful conversation about Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and His resurrection from the dead. Samuel listened to her objections and responded with gentleness and respect. Jewish people were so grateful to see Christians and Messianic Jewish believers taking a stand against antisemitism and supporting the Jewish community. These actions were a great testimony to Jewish people of their Messiah.
American Christian Speaks Up for Israel at Local City Council
A woman in a mid-western state recently contacted Chosen People Ministries headquarters and described a situation in her hometown. She is somewhat active in civic affairs and attends city council meetings presided over by the mayor. Part of the agenda includes citizen comments, during which time people are permitted to make statements lasting no longer than three minutes. There is no discussion. People just have their say and sit down.
At one meeting, two young people stood up, and each used their three minutes to urge the city council to pass a resolution condemning the “genocide” Israel was allegedly inflicting on the people of Gaza. This woman, who stands with Israel, was profoundly disturbed and thought, “If they can speak up, then why shouldn’t I?” She wrote to our ministry for help with her statement. Her email was passed along to one of our staff members, a Jewish follower of Jesus who holds a doctorate in modern Jewish history and culture. With some suggestions from our staff, they crafted a statement effectively correcting the false narrative the young people had set forth. Praise God for bold, faithful believers like this woman. We pray others will follow suit and speak up against lies harming Israel and Jewish people.
