Jews for Jesus: Dan Sered on Messianic Jewish Identity, Evangelism & Peacemaking in Israel–Palestine

In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Dan Sered, Chief Operating Officer of Jews for Jesus and Lausanne Catalyst for Jewish Evangelism, shares his remarkable journey from a secular Jewish home in Israel to discovering Jesus as Messiah while studying in New York City. Jason and Dan explore the meaning of Messianic Jewish identity, how the gospel can be shared in culturally meaningful ways with Jewish people, and why peacemaking—not political partisanship—is the calling of every follower of Jesus.

Dan also offers profound reflections on the Israel–Palestine conflict, the Church’s responsibility during times of polarization, and how Jewish and Gentile believers can together bear witness to the hope of the gospel.

🔑 Main Points — Key Takeaways

• Dan’s Journey to Faith: How discovering Yeshua (Jesus) through Old Testament prophecies transformed his life, calling, and understanding of Jewish identity.

• Messianic Identity Explained: The difference between Jewish ethnicity and Judaism as a religion, and why following Jesus does not erase Jewish identity.

• Contextualized Evangelism: Why Jews for Jesus prioritizes cultural understanding, deep relationships, and addressing the felt needs of each community they serve.

• Discipleship Begins Before Belief: Dan emphasizes that discipleship starts with presence, hospitality, and community—not after someone says “yes” to Jesus.

• What Messianic Jews Offer the Global Church: Insight into the Jewish roots of Christian faith, the “one new humanity,” and a renewed passion for evangelism.

• Responding to the Israel–Palestine Conflict: Dan urges Christians not to pick political sides but to embody Jesus’ way of peacemaking, compassion, and prayer for all who suffer—Israelis and Palestinians alike.

• Hope Amid Crisis: Despite devastation following October 7th, Dan shares surprising signs of gospel openness and why the Church must pray for salvation among both Jewish and Palestinian communities.

👉 Call to Action

If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share this conversation with someone interested in global mission, Jewish–Christian dialogue, or peacemaking.

🎧 Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive – Related Episodes 1. The Ministry of Reconciliation: Bridging Divides between Israelis and Palestinians — Salim Munayer

👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-ministry-of-reconciliation-bridging-divides-between-israelis-and-palestinians-with-salim-munayer

2. Arab Women Transforming Theological Education — Grace Al-Zoughbi Arteen

👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/arab-women-transforming-theological-education-with-grace-al-zoughbi-arteen

3. The Art of Preaching in Times of Crisis — Anne Zaki

👉 https://lausanne.org/podcast/the-art-of-preaching-in-times-of-crisis-anne-zaki-on-sharing-the-hope-of-christ-when-it-matters-most

🔗 Links & Resources

• Jews for Jesus-  https://jewsforjesus.org

• Lausanne Jewish Evangelism Network (LCJE) - https://www.lcje.net/

• Lausanne Movement – Jewish Evangelism Issue Network - https://lausanne.org/network/jewish-evangelism

• Articles by Dan Sered on Jewish Festivals

• • https://lausanne.org/about/blog/understanding-your-jewish-neighbour-yom-kippur

• • http://lausanne.org/about/blog/understanding-your-jewish-neighbour-rosh-hashanah

Dan Sered Bio:

Born in Israel and raised in a secular Jewish home, Dan Sered came to faith in Jesus as a university student in the U.S. He and his wife Dinah joined Jews for Jesus and later returned to Israel to serve in ministry. Dan now serves as COO and Global Director of Jews for Jesus and is president of the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism.

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
.0000000001In the gospel. 3 00:00:03,345.0000000001 --> 00:00:06,795 It doesn't, we have freedom in Christ, freedom in Messiah. 4 00:00:06,949.7433309728 --> 00:00:11,269.743330973 Discipleship doesn't start when somebody comes to faith in Jesus. 5 00:00:11,269.743330973 --> 00:00:14,809.743330973 Discipleship starts when you start spending time with people. 6 00:00:14,809.743330973 --> 00:00:17,599.743330973 And when you are building those deep engagements and. 7 00:00:18,299.743330973 --> 00:00:23,284.538117356 And deep relationship, the ministry that we do is from within the community. 8 00:00:23,589.538117356 --> 00:00:33,76.702028356 as Messianic Jews, we can really, help the church in the understanding of, missions and evangelism. 9 00:00:33,378.520210174 --> 00:00:48,33.95797645 How can we share the gospel with them in a way that will be relevant? A very warm welcome to the Lausanne Movement Podcast, for those who have a passion to accelerate global mission together. 10 00:00:48,200.624643117 --> 00:00:58,265.624643117 I'm your host, Jason Watson, and in this episode I'm joined by Dan Sered the Chief Operating Officer of Jews for Jesus and Lausanne catalyst for Jewish Evangelism. 11 00:00:58,531.938291104 --> 00:01:12,123.809276087 Dan shares his remarkable story of growing up in a secular Jewish home in Israel, then encountering Christ as Messiah while studying in New York City and returning back to Israel to serve in ministry with Jews for Jesus. 12 00:01:12,281.407773805 --> 00:01:12,686.940013252 Together. 13 00:01:12,686.940013252 --> 00:01:26,816.940013252 On this episode, we explore what it means to follow Christ as a Jewish believer, how the Gospel can be shared in culturally meaningful ways, and how the church can respond to the Palestinian Israeli conflict with truth and grace. 14 00:01:27,446.940013252 --> 00:01:39,83.174527453 So with that said, I wanna invite you to grab your headphones and let's dive into today's interview with Dan Sered Dan, welcome to the podcast. 15 00:01:39,83.174527453 --> 00:01:40,38.17452745 It's good to have you with us. 16 00:01:40,631.5095691 --> 00:01:41,201.5095691 Jason. 17 00:01:41,201.5095691 --> 00:01:42,731.5095691 Thank you so much for having me. 18 00:01:43,31.5095691 --> 00:01:44,46.5095691 it's a privilege to be here. 19 00:01:44,51.5095691 --> 00:01:44,330.04100227 here. 20 00:01:44,645.37320547 --> 00:01:52,855.37320547 So I, I love starting the podcast by just diving into the questions, and the stories that the people that I'm interviewing, have. 21 00:01:53,155.37320547 --> 00:02:12,951.17690562 And so for Dan, you, we are gonna be diving all into what it means to be a Jew, what it means to be a Christian, how we can understand your culture, your ethnicity better, A whole bunch of other things, but your story is actually super interesting because you grew up in Israel and you later came to faith in Jesus Christ. 22 00:02:12,981.17690562 --> 00:02:21,419.64082698 So can you take us into that journey and what it was like to discover the Messiah in your own Jewish context Thank you. 23 00:02:22,49.64082698 --> 00:02:28,798.00677557 I was brought up in a typical Israeli Jewish home, most Jewish people and most. 24 00:02:29,38.00677557 --> 00:02:32,638.00677557 Israelis, Jewish people in Israel, secular. 25 00:02:33,118.00677557 --> 00:02:35,98.00677557 And that was my upbringing. 26 00:02:36,178.00677557 --> 00:02:49,349.33218296 and my parents who were born in Romania and moved to Israel as teenagers raised my brother and I, with this understanding that God isn't real and That men created God. 27 00:02:49,739.33218296 --> 00:02:54,329.33218296 But as part of the Israeli culture, we celebrate the Jewish holidays. 28 00:02:54,906.43281954 --> 00:03:01,579.33218296 And, in, in those celebrations, we always talk about God and how God sustained us and kept us. 29 00:03:01,579.33218296 --> 00:03:05,749.33218296 And if it's Passover, we talk about the miracle of the Exodus. 30 00:03:06,499.33218296 --> 00:03:08,389.33218296 And for me as a little child. 31 00:03:09,319.33218296 --> 00:03:12,655.72987267 I was hearing these stories about God, believed in them. 32 00:03:12,655.72987267 --> 00:03:18,992.08157147 I believed In the miracles that he performed, for us, for Israel, for the Jewish people. 33 00:03:19,22.08157147 --> 00:03:21,722.08157147 So I never really bought into my parents' atheism. 34 00:03:21,782.08157147 --> 00:03:26,492.08157147 And then when I was 14, my dad's job moved us from Israel to New York. 35 00:03:26,702.08157147 --> 00:03:36,632.08157147 So I actually graduated from high school and university in New York and in university I was studying math and I have a bachelor of science in math. 36 00:03:36,872.08157147 --> 00:03:42,107.08157147 And, while studying math I began tutoring students who needed extra help. 37 00:03:43,67.08157147 --> 00:03:48,747.08157147 And one day I was helping this girl with her math, questions or math homework. 38 00:03:48,927.08157147 --> 00:03:52,197.08157147 And she recognized my accent in English. 39 00:03:52,587.08157147 --> 00:03:58,737.08157147 So she asked me if I was Russian and I said, no, I'm not Russian, I'm Israeli. 40 00:03:58,837.08157147 --> 00:03:59,527.08157147 I'm from Israel. 41 00:03:59,527.08157147 --> 00:04:00,307.08157147 And she said. 42 00:04:00,697.08157147 --> 00:04:02,317.08157147 I am also Jewish. 43 00:04:02,827.08157147 --> 00:04:02,977.08157147 Wow. 44 00:04:03,7.08157147 --> 00:04:07,147.08157147 So that was something that we had in common And and that was wonderful. 45 00:04:07,147.08157147 --> 00:04:13,987.08157147 So we continued the conversation and then at some point she told me that she believes in Yeshua. 46 00:04:14,647.08157147 --> 00:04:18,817.08157147 Now, right away I recognize the word Yeshua. 47 00:04:18,847.08157147 --> 00:04:25,57.08157147 'cause the, word Yeshua is the Hebrew word for salvation. 48 00:04:25,807.08157147 --> 00:04:29,137.08157147 But I've never heard that word used as a name. 49 00:04:29,617.08157147 --> 00:04:36,937.08157147 So naturally I asked her, who is this Yeshua that she believes in? And she told me that it's Jesus. 50 00:04:37,687.08157147 --> 00:04:46,207.08157147 And that was very surprising to me because I've never known that Jesus had a Hebrew name that meant salvation. 51 00:04:46,447.08157147 --> 00:04:51,937.08157147 And second of all, I never met a Jewish person who believed in Jesus, believed in Yeshua. 52 00:04:52,237.08157147 --> 00:04:55,877.08157147 So I was naturally curious, and I am wanted to know more. 53 00:04:55,877.08157147 --> 00:05:00,257.08157147 So a few days later, we met for lunch, and it was during that lunch that she. 54 00:05:00,537.21588672 --> 00:05:11,337.21588672 opened the Old Testament scriptures to me and she shared with me prophecies about the Messiah, and then she showed me in the New Testament how Jesus, how Yeshua fulfilled all those prophecies. 55 00:05:11,787.21588672 --> 00:05:25,737.21588672 And for me, just made perfect sense, And pretty much my next, reaction to her was, okay, so what are my parents gonna think about this? kinda showing that I, that, do believe. 56 00:05:26,143.22929748 --> 00:05:33,403.22929748 a few days later, I committed my life to the Lord, prayed with her to receive And that's wonderful. 57 00:05:33,883.22929748 --> 00:05:41,318.22929748 And, but before I end my testimony, I have to tell you that two years later I married that girl, Ah, okay. 58 00:05:41,563.22929748 --> 00:05:42,908.22929748 And my wife's. 59 00:05:44,98.22929748 --> 00:05:45,598.22929748 So that's a double blessing. 60 00:05:46,418.22929748 --> 00:05:55,742.36738977 that is so, what did your parents say about that? and that's part of my experience, which is not unique. 61 00:05:57,152.36738977 --> 00:06:01,52.36738977 my, my parents, didn't react too well to my faith. 62 00:06:01,532.36738977 --> 00:06:18,652.36738977 And actually for a while, they tried to do everything they can to stop me from, believing in Jesus, they sent me to see, an anti missionary rabbi who, trying to convince me that Jesus is not the Jewish Messiah. 63 00:06:18,682.36738977 --> 00:06:19,522.36738977 That didn't work. 64 00:06:19,522.36738977 --> 00:06:21,22.36738977 So then they thought. 65 00:06:21,112.36738977 --> 00:06:26,812.36738977 Oh man, you, need to see a psychologist and a psychiatrist because you know you're crazy. 66 00:06:28,12.36738977 --> 00:06:29,722.36738977 they did that and that didn't work. 67 00:06:30,142.36738977 --> 00:06:34,282.36738977 they were convinced that I was joining a cult, so they did a whole family intervention. 68 00:06:34,772.36738977 --> 00:06:34,982.36738977 Wow. 69 00:06:35,12.36738977 --> 00:06:40,352.36738977 And They brought like an expert in like cults or whatever to talk to us with me there. 70 00:06:40,352.36738977 --> 00:06:47,912.36738977 And, it was very difficult times and at some point I had to leave the home and, I was disowned by them. 71 00:06:47,912.36738977 --> 00:07:09,124.06716153 And, there was some, dad was, At some point he, I remember he got so mad and he's not a violent person, he just lost it and, then started beating me up and, it was just very, difficult times for a while we had no relationship and they didn't come to our wedding of course. 72 00:07:09,184.06716153 --> 00:07:12,334.06716153 And so Dina and I got married in August of 99. 73 00:07:12,574.06716153 --> 00:07:17,584.06716153 And then in January, 2000 we joined the Ministry of Jews for Jesus, the ministry I served with. 74 00:07:17,794.06716153 --> 00:07:25,594.06716153 And then after we did missionary training in August of 2000, we moved to Israel to serve there as missionaries. 75 00:07:26,319.06716153 --> 00:07:36,249.06716153 gospel ministers and when we moved, Dina was already pre pregnant with our oldest, Yael, our daughter who was born in December, 2000. 76 00:07:36,399.06716153 --> 00:07:39,338.29698826 And afterwards we had two more children. 77 00:07:39,338.29698826 --> 00:07:41,228.29698826 So we have, three children now. 78 00:07:42,68.29698826 --> 00:07:49,983.29698826 the grandkids started coming and my parents realized, We wanna meet and see our grandkids. 79 00:07:49,983.29698826 --> 00:07:52,323.29698826 So my parents don't believe in Jesus yet. 80 00:07:52,383.29698826 --> 00:07:53,493.29698826 My brother doesn't either. 81 00:07:53,493.29698826 --> 00:07:55,143.29698826 I'm the only believer on my side. 82 00:07:55,623.29698826 --> 00:08:01,743.29698826 But praise God, we have a relationship now and, we, pray for them of course. 83 00:08:01,743.29698826 --> 00:08:08,313.29698826 And, we've had many opportunities in the past 25 years to, to share with them the gospel. 84 00:08:08,373.29698826 --> 00:08:12,423.29698826 And but for those of you who are watching, would appreciate prayer for my family. 85 00:08:12,764.91573139 --> 00:08:13,184.91573139 Yeah. 86 00:08:13,484.91573139 --> 00:08:27,884.91573139 and Dan, I think, one of the things that was surprising to me, and I'm not entirely sure why, it was surprising to me, but the last time you and I were speaking you, you spoke about the difference between Jewish ethnicity. 87 00:08:28,734.91573139 --> 00:08:44,814.91573139 Judaism as a religion, and even within your own story, hearing that you come from a Jewish family, but your parents were atheist or at best agnostic, it's that, that for me is, it was quite a surprise and. 88 00:08:45,79.91573139 --> 00:08:50,59.91573139 I would, I, would be surprised if it's not, if it's not a surprise for, some others who are listening. 89 00:08:50,59.91573139 --> 00:08:59,754.91573139 So would you mind just taking a moment just to explain to us, how that plays out and what the differences between a Jewish ethnicity and Judaism as religion? Yeah. 90 00:08:59,814.91573139 --> 00:09:00,114.91573139 Yeah. 91 00:09:01,329.91573139 --> 00:09:08,769.91573139 in the Bible, we read about this unique people that are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 92 00:09:09,39.91573139 --> 00:09:13,89.91573139 So when you talk about descendants, and that's of course the Jewish people. 93 00:09:13,89.91573139 --> 00:09:16,344.91573139 So when you talk about descendants that's an ethnicity. 94 00:09:16,344.91573139 --> 00:09:20,484.91573139 Jesus, if when we read his genealogies, he was. 95 00:09:21,234.91573139 --> 00:09:25,943.95173139 that's the family he is born to and of course it's through the line of David. 96 00:09:26,393.95173139 --> 00:09:32,633.95173139 and that's, descendants, so when we talk about Jewish people today, that's who we are. 97 00:09:32,873.95173139 --> 00:09:35,963.95173139 We are descendants of, that line. 98 00:09:35,963.95173139 --> 00:09:39,188.95173139 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, that's, who the Jews are now. 99 00:09:40,213.95173139 --> 00:09:43,163.95173139 You get a little bit into technical terms. 100 00:09:43,163.95173139 --> 00:09:51,593.95173139 So how much is it enough? And the rabbis in Orthodox Judaism, they say, it has to be through your mom. 101 00:09:51,923.95173139 --> 00:09:55,43.95173139 So if your mom's mom is Jewish, you are Jewish. 102 00:09:55,103.95173139 --> 00:09:59,3.95173139 Some people would say, if you have one Jewish grandparent, you're Jewish. 103 00:09:59,393.95173139 --> 00:10:04,703.95173139 So different ones would have, okay, how much is enough? But ethnicity is aligned. 104 00:10:04,703.95173139 --> 00:10:07,223.95173139 So for me, I am born. 105 00:10:07,748.95173139 --> 00:10:07,988.95173139 Jew. 106 00:10:08,48.95173139 --> 00:10:13,598.95173139 Doesn't matter what I do, I can just say whatever I want, but my ethnicity is Jewish. 107 00:10:13,598.95173139 --> 00:10:14,558.95173139 My parents are Jewish. 108 00:10:14,558.95173139 --> 00:10:16,748.95173139 There's nothing I can do about it. 109 00:10:16,748.95173139 --> 00:10:18,188.95173139 I am stuck with it. 110 00:10:18,488.95173139 --> 00:10:21,608.95173139 That's the ethnicity religion. 111 00:10:22,448.95173139 --> 00:10:24,848.95173139 Is something you choose. 112 00:10:24,878.95173139 --> 00:10:33,128.95173139 So maybe you are born in a Jewish family and maybe they're even ultra-Orthodox Jews and they keep all the laws and they wear black and the whole thing. 113 00:10:33,278.95173139 --> 00:10:48,608.95173139 But at some point as an adult, you're gonna choose, am I gonna stay and do that or not? Maybe it's not conscience, but you are gonna choose that, So in many ways, Jewish people and other people choose what practices they're gonna do. 114 00:10:49,658.95173139 --> 00:11:05,408.95173139 in general, people love holidays, and whatever culture you are in, you're gonna most likely participate in the holidays that are celebrated In Israel, the national holidays are all the Jewish feast, the Jewish holidays. 115 00:11:05,588.95173139 --> 00:11:14,587.45484703 So Jewish people in Israel, even though they're secular they still participate in, in, in those Jewish, holidays, but. 116 00:11:15,97.45484703 --> 00:11:23,857.45484703 An Orthodox Jew would look at the secular Jews in Israel and you would say, they don't really follow Judaism because they don't keep the letter of the law. 117 00:11:24,547.45484703 --> 00:11:31,172.45484703 they don't, they would drive on the Sabbath, they'll keep parts of the feast by having a meal, but they're not gonna go to. 118 00:11:31,312.45484703 --> 00:11:42,602.45484703 to synagogue and, Because for the Ultraorthodox Jews, which are a minority among Jewish people, they only make about 7% of world jewelry. 119 00:11:42,962.45484703 --> 00:11:45,422.45484703 and it's not enough, right? Yeah. 120 00:11:45,632.45484703 --> 00:11:47,792.45484703 So they would say, no, they don't follow Judaism. 121 00:11:48,177.45484703 --> 00:11:54,117.45484703 But a secular Jew might say, no, I do follow Judaism because I celibate the Jewish fee. 122 00:11:54,117.45484703 --> 00:12:06,757.45484703 So there are different levels, but the point is that the religion, Judaism, it's something that adults, choose where the Jewish ethnicity is something that you're stuck in. 123 00:12:06,787.45484703 --> 00:12:09,37.45484703 So for me, for example. 124 00:12:10,177.45484703 --> 00:12:19,837.45484703 I don't really, I don't really like to get stuck on kind of terms, but, people refer to me as a Messianic Jew. 125 00:12:20,227.45484703 --> 00:12:21,157.45484703 I have no problem with that. 126 00:12:21,157.45484703 --> 00:12:24,397.45484703 Messianic Christian, Messiah Christ. 127 00:12:24,397.45484703 --> 00:12:26,647.45484703 So followers of Christ is fine. 128 00:12:26,647.45484703 --> 00:12:31,957.45484703 I also refer myself as a Christian, evangelical Christian, Hebrew Christian, whatever. 129 00:12:31,957.45484703 --> 00:12:33,757.45484703 It doesn't really matter, but. 130 00:12:34,187.45484703 --> 00:12:41,777.45484703 How do I express my faith? of course, gospel centered, it's all about Jesus, all about Yeshua. 131 00:12:42,47.45484703 --> 00:12:59,367.29623444 Now my culture is such that, I'm, Jewish, so I would celebrate, I still celebrate the Jewish feasts and but of course we do it being, christocentric, focusing on Messiah and what he did and how he fulfilled those feasts. 132 00:12:59,442.29623444 --> 00:13:01,887.29623444 And now I live in the United States of America. 133 00:13:01,947.29623444 --> 00:13:04,587.29623444 And of course, Christmas is a big deal here. 134 00:13:04,850.16721693 --> 00:13:12,800.16721693 Most people in America celebrate Christmas, to a certain extent, but most Americans are not evangelical Christians. 135 00:13:12,800.16721693 --> 00:13:17,570.16721693 They don't really believe in the Christmas story, but they still celebrate it 'cause they love it. 136 00:13:17,570.16721693 --> 00:13:19,970.16721693 And I, enjoy celebrating it as well. 137 00:13:20,270.16721693 --> 00:13:25,20.16721693 the coming and the first coming of Messiah coming to this earth. 138 00:13:25,20.16721693 --> 00:13:26,10.16721693 It's beautiful. 139 00:13:26,250.16721693 --> 00:13:26,940.16721693 It's great. 140 00:13:26,940.16721693 --> 00:13:29,550.16721693 So again, it's, the way that, that I. 141 00:13:30,385.16721693 --> 00:13:37,435.16721693 choose to celebrate and you can call it my, your religion, your skew of whatever. 142 00:13:37,465.16721693 --> 00:13:39,595.16721693 'cause I combine a few maybe. 143 00:13:39,895.16721693 --> 00:13:43,525.16721693 But for me, at the end of it, it's all about glorifying Christ Yeah. 144 00:13:43,735.16721693 --> 00:13:45,685.16721693 And Jesus, being the Messiah. 145 00:13:46,15.16721693 --> 00:13:46,165.16721693 yeah. 146 00:13:46,315.16721693 --> 00:13:48,645.16721693 does that make sense? It makes total sense. 147 00:13:48,645.16721693 --> 00:14:03,760.16721693 And we are going to be diving into quite a few of these topics throughout, our time together but I want to just go back a little bit into your story because what I find so fascinating about your story particularly is that you, you went from a, secular Jewish home. 148 00:14:04,720.16721693 --> 00:14:15,340.16721693 In Israel to America, found faith in Christ, became a Christian, and then moved with your wife to, back to Israel to serve with Jews for Jesus. 149 00:14:15,850.16721693 --> 00:14:29,310.16721693 And, I would love to hear how your faith was shaped and challenge as you reentered into your culture back to Israel and how it just changed the way that you thought about your faith and how you engaged with other, Jews. 150 00:14:29,345.16721693 --> 00:14:29,405.16721693 Yeah. 151 00:14:29,557.66721693 --> 00:15:07,352.66721693 it all starts for me when I started reading the New Testament, and, of course when Dina, during my wife, she wasn't my wife then, but when she first started reading to me from the New Testament, I was, captivated right away because the more I read the more I saw that, Even though I thought in my mind that Jesus was this foreign God, I saw him in churches on a cross and, all these kind of relics or whatever, and in different churches, historic churches that I went to visit, in Jerusalem and in other countries, it always seemed very foreign. 152 00:15:07,352.66721693 --> 00:15:11,192.66721693 And It almost seemed to me like, oh, Jesus was just this foreign God. 153 00:15:11,192.66721693 --> 00:15:15,27.66721693 But the more I read in the New Testament and the more I read his stories, I was like. 154 00:15:16,22.66721693 --> 00:15:16,322.66721693 Wow. 155 00:15:16,412.66721693 --> 00:15:17,852.66721693 The guy was Jewish. 156 00:15:17,852.66721693 --> 00:15:19,742.66721693 The guy celebrated Jewish holidays. 157 00:15:19,742.66721693 --> 00:15:21,32.66721693 He went to the synagogue. 158 00:15:21,62.66721693 --> 00:15:22,892.66721693 What? Look at this line. 159 00:15:23,732.66721693 --> 00:15:27,452.66721693 So, as, I was reading the New Testament and the gospels, I was. 160 00:15:27,746.02974233 --> 00:15:37,775.12065142 able to relate to it, and I, noticed that Jesus is Jewish Israeli, and I'm like, wow, that's his mine. 161 00:15:39,5.12065142 --> 00:15:44,795.12065142 it's, he's not this, foreign, pagan god, like, the way I thought. 162 00:15:44,795.12065142 --> 00:15:48,635.12065142 So the more I read it, and the more I discovered it made sense. 163 00:15:49,315.12065142 --> 00:16:05,395.12065142 And Of my Jewishness, it made sense of all those cultural practices that I had, So then when we came back to Israel, we made the point of saying, we are going to engage with this culture. 164 00:16:05,425.12065142 --> 00:16:07,105.12065142 'cause number one, it's ours. 165 00:16:07,495.12065142 --> 00:16:08,875.12065142 That's who we are. 166 00:16:08,875.12065142 --> 00:16:29,900.12065142 And even though my wife wasn't raised in, In Israel, she comes from a Messianic Jewish believing home, or mom is Jewish, or dad isn't, but they celebrated the feast and we made the decision, Hey, we're gonna live here in Israel and we're gonna be, we're gonna partake in culture, and we're gonna, we're gonna celebrate all those feasts with Jesus being the center. 167 00:16:30,630.12065142 --> 00:16:34,225.12065142 and that's what we did in our homes and in our congregation. 168 00:16:34,225.12065142 --> 00:16:37,855.12065142 We led the congregation in Israel for about 17 years. 169 00:16:37,855.12065142 --> 00:16:52,385.1206514 And it was very important for us to incorporate all those and cultural practices, not out of legalism, but out of worship, and out of a choice to be a part of that culture. 170 00:16:52,985.1206514 --> 00:16:54,65.1206514 I wanna clarify. 171 00:16:54,95.1206514 --> 00:16:55,865.1206514 I don't think that everybody. 172 00:16:56,250.1206514 --> 00:17:02,130.1206514 Needs to celebrate those Jewish feast or whatever we choose to do it, it makes sense for us. 173 00:17:02,430.1206514 --> 00:17:06,690.1206514 We're glad to teach others, but we don't think that's the only way. 174 00:17:07,170.1206514 --> 00:17:10,125.1206514 And for me, Jason, that's, what's so beautiful about the gospel. 175 00:17:11,115.1206514 --> 00:17:11,835.1206514 In the gospel. 176 00:17:11,835.1206514 --> 00:17:15,285.1206514 It doesn't, we have freedom in Christ, freedom in Messiah. 177 00:17:16,455.1206514 --> 00:17:19,755.1206514 it's, not about you celebrate this new year or that new year. 178 00:17:19,995.1206514 --> 00:17:24,375.1206514 That doesn't really matter as long as your Jesus is in the center and it's all about him. 179 00:17:24,705.1206514 --> 00:17:25,965.1206514 That's, the main thing. 180 00:17:25,965.1206514 --> 00:17:30,435.1206514 So I don't necessarily think that we should celebrate the Jewish New Year. 181 00:17:30,885.1206514 --> 00:17:35,985.1206514 versus the Chinese New Year or versus the typical January 1st new year. 182 00:17:37,280.1206514 --> 00:17:50,695.1206514 I, don't think that God really, mind, but when we do celebrate and whatever we celebrate, he should be first and foremost in, in, what we're celebrating, knowing that he's the one who gives us all. 183 00:17:51,645.1206514 --> 00:18:00,405.1206514 Good things, right? when we celebrate, it should be our joy needs to be rooted in Messiah what he did for us and for us as Jewish people. 184 00:18:00,405.1206514 --> 00:18:03,945.1206514 It makes sense to celebrate, the Jewish New Year, but. 185 00:18:04,245.1206514 --> 00:18:05,325.1206514 Fathers, it may not. 186 00:18:06,492.1392111 --> 00:18:10,962.1392111 yeah, so we made that, choice and, that's how we raised our children. 187 00:18:11,262.1392111 --> 00:18:13,182.1392111 And, that's what we still do. 188 00:18:13,739.5353341 --> 00:18:19,951.6883121 and for us, we always related to, To Jesus and to Yeshua and what he did. 189 00:18:21,31.6883121 --> 00:18:28,891.6883121 we're always reading passages of how Jesus celebrated the Feast of dedication in John chapter 10, which is Hanukah today. 190 00:18:29,191.6883121 --> 00:18:43,958.3287028 and we talk about it and we talk about some of the symbolism and the richness of, our culture, as it is rooted in, and as it is fulfilled in Messiah, in Jesus, in, Yeshua. 191 00:18:44,444.2789102 --> 00:18:44,564.2789102 Yeah. 192 00:18:44,564.2789102 --> 00:18:47,174.2789102 So I'd be super curious to hear from you. 193 00:18:47,174.2789102 --> 00:18:51,464.2789102 So you, move back to Israel, you're involved with Jews for Jesus. 194 00:18:51,524.2789102 --> 00:18:59,384.2789102 Obviously a lot of what you are doing is, trying to, reach your people with the gospel and I would. 195 00:18:59,629.2789102 --> 00:19:08,617.2839102 I'd really love to hear how you approach evangelism on the one side and discipleship on the other, because obviously they have some distinguishing elements to them. 196 00:19:08,977.2839102 --> 00:19:19,859.8037853 So how do you walk, someone from maybe even a secular Jewish perspective to recognizing that Jesus Christ is, a deity, that he is God himself, that he is the Messiah. 197 00:19:19,859.8037853 --> 00:19:27,674.3978511 How do you go about, helping people make that connection? of all, let me say that obviously both you and I believe and we know that's true, Yeah. 198 00:19:27,799.3978511 --> 00:19:41,142.1549649 that we could never, it's not something that we do, right? It's anytime somebody, comes to faith or understands the deity of Messiah, it's not because I was able to convince them or to show them, something supernatural. 199 00:19:41,472.1549649 --> 00:19:42,252.1549649 God does that. 200 00:19:42,252.1549649 --> 00:19:43,392.1549649 The Holy Spirit. 201 00:19:43,662.1549649 --> 00:19:48,192.1549649 And having said that, we do try to contextualize the gospel. 202 00:19:48,527.1549649 --> 00:19:58,937.1549649 It's always the gospel, but we try to bring the gospel in a relevant way to the people that, that we are trying to reach and, we see Jesus doing the same thing. 203 00:19:58,937.1549649 --> 00:20:06,745.0967416 If you read John chapter three, Jesus is talking to an Nicodemus and he talks to him in a very, specific way. 204 00:20:07,236.2969733 --> 00:20:17,1.2969733 And then in John chapter four, he talks to the Samaritan woman, very different Nicodemus, a Jewish Pharisee Rabbi, the Samaritan woman not Jewish. 205 00:20:17,254.213073 --> 00:20:27,265.3081759 obviously has a lot of, sins in her own life, being married and not really being married as Jesus, points out to her and Jesus. 206 00:20:27,595.3081759 --> 00:20:33,805.3081759 Shares truth and shares the gospel with Nicodemus and he shares truth and shares the gospel with the Samaritan woman. 207 00:20:34,15.3081759 --> 00:20:35,65.3081759 but he contextualize it. 208 00:20:35,65.3081759 --> 00:20:37,975.3081759 He makes it so that it would fit that person. 209 00:20:37,975.3081759 --> 00:20:40,555.3081759 And that's what we try to do in Jews for Jesus today. 210 00:20:41,725.3081759 --> 00:20:48,560.3081759 we recognize that we am Jews for, we can't reach all the Jews in the world. 211 00:20:48,800.3081759 --> 00:20:48,980.3081759 Yeah. 212 00:20:49,10.3081759 --> 00:20:57,290.3081759 We wanna reach everybody for Christ Jews and not Jews, but we can't even do the, we can't even reach the, whatever, 15, 60 million Jewish people that are on the globe. 213 00:20:57,680.3081759 --> 00:20:58,670.3081759 it's impossible for us. 214 00:20:58,670.3081759 --> 00:21:05,150.3081759 So we have teams and where whatever area the teams are in, we go through a whole process of. 215 00:21:05,495.3081759 --> 00:21:12,635.3081759 Picking key audiences and we pick key audiences based on the Jewish population in that city. 216 00:21:13,55.3081759 --> 00:21:17,135.3081759 And we pick key audiences ba based on the giftings of our staff. 217 00:21:17,355.3081759 --> 00:21:24,405.3081759 And once we have this specific key audience, we, try to see, how can we. 218 00:21:24,405.3081759 --> 00:21:31,305.3081759 share the gospel with them in a way that will be relevant? So we, go through a whole process of discovery about that key audience. 219 00:21:31,305.3081759 --> 00:21:48,277.9788318 What are their felt needs and what are, things they're struggling with? What are things that are really important to that key audience, to that community? And then we bring in the gospel in a way that's contextualized in a way that could really make sense to them, because we wanna make the greatest impact. 220 00:21:49,997.9631559 --> 00:21:56,867.9631559 I'm coming to you from, Lee, New Jersey, just across the George Washington Bridge from New York City and in New York City. 221 00:21:56,867.9631559 --> 00:21:58,37.9631559 We have a ministry center. 222 00:21:58,97.9631559 --> 00:22:07,684.6527472 We have a coffee shop that's, located, right there in the midst of NYU New York University, which is a university with a lot of Jewish students. 223 00:22:08,799.6527472 --> 00:22:11,469.6527472 And we started a coffee shop there called Mo. 224 00:22:12,114.6527472 --> 00:22:12,704.6527472 Mo Mova. 225 00:22:12,709.6527472 --> 00:22:19,56.9264941 is the Hebrew word for village 'cause it's in the, West Village, in Manhattan, in New York City. 226 00:22:19,536.9264941 --> 00:22:23,532.7968255 And there we are reaching out to students because we recognize that. 227 00:22:24,7.7968255 --> 00:22:35,112.7968255 NYU students needed a safe place, especially post October 7th, a place that they could come and be and not be scared of their being Jewish or being Israelis. 228 00:22:35,442.7968255 --> 00:22:40,992.7968255 And Mo obviously is a Hebrew word, so we're getting a lot of young Israelis there who are also there. 229 00:22:41,412.7968255 --> 00:22:48,672.7968255 so we started this third space, this coffee shop is a safe place for them to come so we can build community. 230 00:22:48,672.7968255 --> 00:22:51,792.7968255 We have different events that are very specific. 231 00:22:52,877.7968255 --> 00:23:13,2.7968255 Around them and around their interests and, we bring them in now just across the Brooklyn Bridge there is the Ultra Orthodox community, the rabbis, and we don't reach out to them the same way that we're reaching to those secular Israelis and secular NYU students. 232 00:23:13,827.7968255 --> 00:23:20,892.8198255 We have a whole new team that just focuses on the ultra Orthodox outreach, and it's completely different. 233 00:23:21,882.8198255 --> 00:23:23,832.8198255 go in, they look different. 234 00:23:24,162.8198255 --> 00:23:32,712.8198255 They're not gonna go in with, the, even the way they dress, and to be very appropriate to that community. 235 00:23:33,932.8198255 --> 00:23:36,302.8198255 and so that's just an example. 236 00:23:36,542.8198255 --> 00:23:41,942.8198255 and when we do that and we're able to bring the gospel in, what we're finding is that people are interested. 237 00:23:43,112.8198255 --> 00:23:47,402.8198255 And, when you bring the gospel in a contextualized way, people wanna know more. 238 00:23:47,672.8198255 --> 00:23:49,682.8198255 And, that's really when the discipleship starts. 239 00:23:49,682.8198255 --> 00:23:54,2.8198255 Discipleship doesn't start when somebody comes to faith in Jesus. 240 00:23:54,2.8198255 --> 00:23:57,542.8198255 Discipleship starts when you start spending time with people. 241 00:23:57,542.8198255 --> 00:24:00,332.8198255 And when you are building those deep engagements and. 242 00:24:01,32.8198255 --> 00:24:18,23.5203366 And deep relationship, and through those relationship and through those meetings and events and whatever it is, the way that you're walking with a certain individual, we pray that, God does the work and that those people come to faith in him. 243 00:24:18,323.5203366 --> 00:24:19,673.5203366 it's something that he does. 244 00:24:20,93.5203366 --> 00:24:35,638.5203366 And, then of course we'll continue to walk with that disciple, with that person and, and make sure that they, they continue to learn and grow and find a local congregation that they can make their home get baptized and, so on. 245 00:24:36,99.3938829 --> 00:24:39,396.0605495 I wonder how you go about honoring. 246 00:24:40,11.0605495 --> 00:24:41,301.0605495 Your Jewish identity. 247 00:24:41,301.0605495 --> 00:24:43,71.0605495 So now I'm talking about discipleship here. 248 00:24:43,701.0605495 --> 00:25:24,539.6030658 How do you, honor Jewish identity while also pointing people to Jesus as Messiah in this whole discipleship journey? Because I could imagine just like for, most ethnicities from many different backgrounds, the moment you bring Christ in, he, he is almost like he is foreign, right? And so how do you help people both remain rooted in the ethnicity while adopting a new faith system? So our missionaries are all Jewish or married to somebody who's Jewish or, at least have a deep understanding in a Jewish, lifestyle, meaning that we want people who are, who are immersed in the Jewish culture, and the Jewish community. 249 00:25:24,779.6030658 --> 00:25:43,919.6030658 So when, Anan Jewish person meets us, it's like they're meeting somebody like them, somebody who knows Now, sure, there are some Jews who don't celebrate and don't care, and that's fine as well, but what we are doing is that we, it's Just the natural outpouring. 250 00:25:44,304.6030658 --> 00:25:57,924.6030658 In other words, let me say it this way, we're not trying to come into the Jewish community and Jewish culture and trying to, come in, insert ourselves, then share Jesus and go out. 251 00:25:58,494.6030658 --> 00:25:58,704.6030658 no. 252 00:25:58,704.6030658 --> 00:25:59,814.6030658 We already are in it. 253 00:26:00,234.6030658 --> 00:26:01,184.6030658 We already are Jews. 254 00:26:01,194.6030658 --> 00:26:08,724.6030658 We're already a part of the culture, part of the community, so we're trying to, the ministry that we do is from within the community. 255 00:26:09,24.6030658 --> 00:26:09,414.6030658 Okay. 256 00:26:09,439.6030658 --> 00:26:21,314.6030658 And basically what we are when people see us, they would have no doubt that we're Jews that we're Jewish people that we're celebrating dal. 257 00:26:21,464.6030658 --> 00:26:24,494.6030658 Now, many times it's true in Jewish evangelism that. 258 00:26:25,634.6030658 --> 00:26:33,821.0758506 After they meet you and they see your Jewish, practices, whatever that may be, even if it's just celebrating Hanukkah or whatever. 259 00:26:34,571.0758506 --> 00:26:40,331.0758506 Or even coming into Mova, a coffee shop in Hebrew that's, again, very Jewish. 260 00:26:40,631.0758506 --> 00:26:45,761.0758506 They walk in, they, okay, this is a Jewish place, but then they find out that, I believe in Jesus. 261 00:26:45,761.0758506 --> 00:26:47,951.0758506 Then they may say, wait a second. 262 00:26:49,361.0758506 --> 00:26:50,111.0758506 I thought you're Jewish. 263 00:26:50,111.0758506 --> 00:26:52,811.0758506 What's going on here? So then we can explain. 264 00:26:53,61.0758506 --> 00:27:03,612.3004612 but it's, it's becoming less and less that we are, rejected, in this culture and in this day and age where self definition is so important. 265 00:27:04,2.3004612 --> 00:27:07,512.3004612 Most people don't come up to us and say, nah, you're not Jewish anymore. 266 00:27:07,572.3004612 --> 00:27:08,352.3004612 Get outta here. 267 00:27:08,352.3004612 --> 00:27:15,852.3004612 This is, now there are some of course, we just will continue to love and serve them and just be real with them. 268 00:27:16,482.3004612 --> 00:27:18,172.3004612 And, for me being real. 269 00:27:18,592.3004612 --> 00:27:21,562.3004612 Is being Jewish because that is what I am and who I am. 270 00:27:21,562.3004612 --> 00:27:34,700.883482 Just our staff, So if I was going to go to a mosque and put a kafi on and start, celebrating a Ramadan, or, that would not be real to me. 271 00:27:34,730.883482 --> 00:27:35,750.883482 'cause that's not my culture. 272 00:27:35,750.883482 --> 00:27:37,340.883482 That's not what I was raised with. 273 00:27:37,370.883482 --> 00:27:43,640.883482 You know what I mean? But I was definitely raised within the Jewish community, so just being myself. 274 00:27:45,134.6478048 --> 00:27:53,201.3144715 is how we bridge that gap and being sensitive and understanding that, there could be some, objections. 275 00:27:54,821.3144715 --> 00:27:57,161.3144715 so that's how we approach it. 276 00:27:57,568.853534 --> 00:27:59,428.853534 I don't think it's once nice fits all. 277 00:27:59,428.853534 --> 00:28:04,558.853534 I don't think that's the only way, or maybe even the best way, but that's how we do it. 278 00:28:04,768.853534 --> 00:28:04,798.853534 Okay. 279 00:28:04,859.4891872 --> 00:28:09,616.7427487 and I love that, I mean there are principles from what you guys do that we could all learn. 280 00:28:10,126.7427487 --> 00:28:15,916.7427487 even just being in the community and when you're in the community, it's so much easier. 281 00:28:15,916.7427487 --> 00:28:18,916.7427487 And in relationship it's so much easier to share the gospel. 282 00:28:19,396.7427487 --> 00:28:20,836.7427487 I'd be curious to hear from you. 283 00:28:20,896.7427487 --> 00:28:34,675.0175829 One part of your role is, to lead a global organization, and so you are both involved in communities locally but also globally, and you're connecting with Christians and different networks around the world. 284 00:28:35,605.0175829 --> 00:28:59,799.9207548 What do you believe the Messianic Jewish community can offer the global church? What lessons do or, ideas do you believe would really bless the global church that are unique to your community? first of all, we could, and, we do many do that we could offer, a lot of, Jewish, heritage and Jewish background to our faith. 285 00:29:00,39.9207548 --> 00:29:02,649.9207548 our faith is, very rich. 286 00:29:03,401.6880794 --> 00:29:08,701.4565726 and it's rooted Jewish practices, Jewish culture, obviously in Israel. 287 00:29:09,651.4565726 --> 00:29:15,334.5332652 now I have to, balance that and say it's not just Messianics and Jewish people. 288 00:29:15,564.5332652 --> 00:29:31,61.7259029 there's other lands of the Bible, like, Egypt, and we, can learn a lot from, people who, coming from Israel, coming from Jewish practices and, just, like from other cultures as well. 289 00:29:32,276.7259029 --> 00:29:42,143.0216304 The unique part of it is that most of the Bible is written and it is about, this special people, Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 290 00:29:42,533.0216304 --> 00:29:48,418.0216304 so I think that there is a lot that the Messianic, Jewish community can really offer the global church. 291 00:29:49,783.0216304 --> 00:29:50,293.0216304 In it. 292 00:29:50,293.0216304 --> 00:30:01,822.1416087 I think that there is also this, this idea of the one new man of Jews and Gentiles together worshiping the God of, Israel, Jesus the Messiah. 293 00:30:02,272.1416087 --> 00:30:15,387.1416087 and I think that coming together is just, just a beautiful, beautiful picture, of what the gospel is all about, breaking that wall of partition so we can offer that. 294 00:30:15,597.1416087 --> 00:30:30,241.7926073 And also, the third thing I would say is that, as Messianic Jews, we can really, help the church in, the understanding of missions and evangelism. 295 00:30:30,676.7926073 --> 00:30:37,786.7926073 And the reason why is because we have a unique calling as Jewish people. 296 00:30:37,786.7926073 --> 00:30:46,742.7510448 If you trace Israel, the reason why, we were chosen as Jewish people as Israel to be a light to the nations. 297 00:30:48,892.7510448 --> 00:30:51,592.7510448 that's like why God shows us now, of course. 298 00:30:51,982.7510448 --> 00:31:00,532.7510448 The church itself, we have a task as well, which is very much related, making disciples of all nations. 299 00:31:00,742.7510448 --> 00:31:11,842.7510448 So in many ways, that calling is something that we have, definitely shared and, it's something that I find that many times we don't. 300 00:31:12,82.7510448 --> 00:31:23,367.9532994 Talk about it as, Gentiles believer in Jesus and Jewish believers in Jesus, to focus on that and call of being a light, Sure. 301 00:31:23,367.9532994 --> 00:31:27,567.9532994 the call of making disciples, the call of sharing the gospel with the world. 302 00:31:27,887.9532994 --> 00:31:28,217.9532994 Yeah. 303 00:31:28,626.9014776 --> 00:31:51,32.0156742 I think one of, one of the questions that, that many are gonna have as they're listening to this conversation is, the tensions that we often experience when it comes to Israel and, Jerusalem and, all of these things that have become so political and dive too deeply into that, I want us to take a moment just to talk about. 304 00:31:51,177.0156742 --> 00:31:58,581.9879215 October 7th, because I think if we don't do that, we, actually, we are not gonna be doing justice to anyone, including yourself. 305 00:31:58,581.9879215 --> 00:32:05,222.6338694 So October 7th has reshaped how people around the world view Israel and the Jewish story. 306 00:32:06,212.6338694 --> 00:32:12,372.6338694 how do you personally navigate these conversations? Because it's Not gonna be the first time you've ever spoken about this. 307 00:32:12,642.6338694 --> 00:32:19,533.1085119 How, do you navigate conversations with people who see the conflict from different sites? you for bringing this up and we should talk about it. 308 00:32:19,533.1085119 --> 00:32:25,353.1085119 But let me first say, Jason, that I hope that by the time that this is aired, I hope that there is peace, Yeah. 309 00:32:25,653.1085119 --> 00:32:27,663.1085119 and that's what we're all praying for. 310 00:32:27,663.1085119 --> 00:32:39,778.8719152 We're praying for a, return of the hostages just a stop to the pain and suffering that's happening in Gaza and in the West Bank and in Israel, so that's our prayer. 311 00:32:40,558.8719152 --> 00:32:42,508.8719152 And that would be my first point. 312 00:32:42,598.8719152 --> 00:32:43,253.8719152 My first point. 313 00:32:43,843.8719152 --> 00:33:08,180.1303218 Would be to say that what happened, on October 7th, those evil attacks that, took the lives of, so many innocent, children, youth, young adults, women, men, elderly, Holocaust survivors that, that's, what started this, horrible war. 314 00:33:09,230.1303218 --> 00:33:11,330.1303218 And there are no winners. 315 00:33:12,50.1303218 --> 00:33:12,890.1303218 There are no winners. 316 00:33:13,59.0208432 --> 00:33:14,79.0208432 Only losers. 317 00:33:14,139.0208432 --> 00:33:15,159.0208432 Israel lost. 318 00:33:15,159.0208432 --> 00:33:16,719.0208432 The Palestinians lost. 319 00:33:17,379.0208432 --> 00:33:18,519.0208432 Absolutely. 320 00:33:18,519.0208432 --> 00:33:20,229.0208432 There's no winners here. 321 00:33:20,619.0208432 --> 00:33:20,829.0208432 Okay. 322 00:33:20,829.0208432 --> 00:33:28,809.0208432 Which is why we're praying for an end to this, just to this tragedy, to this, to this. 323 00:33:28,809.0208432 --> 00:33:29,739.0208432 other pain, and suffering. 324 00:33:30,111.2262902 --> 00:33:30,951.2262902 very much. 325 00:33:30,951.2262902 --> 00:33:38,671.2262902 We wanna see who is to blame, who is the person here that's most evil. 326 00:33:39,151.2262902 --> 00:34:07,95.1094393 and we need to remember that God, God's heart breaks over every single person that's affected and and through this, so Jesus, Would be going to, comfort and to cry with and to embrace the mother that just lost her child, in Gaza City. 327 00:34:08,725.1094393 --> 00:34:21,575.1094393 But Jesus would also be going to mourn and to comfort and to, embrace the mother in Israel who just lost her child who was, an IDF soldiers in Gaza City. 328 00:34:23,135.1094393 --> 00:34:33,725.1094393 Jesus is very near the broken hearted and he's there and he's, and in many ways it's, it's, this is what happens in a broken world. 329 00:34:33,875.1094393 --> 00:34:36,875.1094393 October 7th, this, awful war. 330 00:34:37,549.4790538 --> 00:34:38,359.4790538 And we need to pray. 331 00:34:38,359.4790538 --> 00:34:42,949.4790538 And we need to pray for our brothers and sisters in Israel, in Gaza, in the West Bank. 332 00:34:42,949.4790538 --> 00:34:44,239.4790538 We need to pray for our church. 333 00:34:44,239.4790538 --> 00:34:46,999.4790538 For the church, and and. 334 00:34:48,499.4790538 --> 00:34:58,894.4790538 I can attest and say that we can already see and how God is using this awful situation and to bring people to himself. 335 00:34:59,389.4790538 --> 00:35:09,634.4790538 And in Israel, we're seeing more openness to the gospel today because of this hopelessness that the people, the children of Israel, the people of Israel are seeing and we're seeing a lot more openness. 336 00:35:09,634.4790538 --> 00:35:11,14.4790538 More people are coming to faith. 337 00:35:11,374.4790538 --> 00:35:14,944.4790538 More people are, hungry for the New Testament and for God's word. 338 00:35:15,514.4790538 --> 00:35:19,474.4790538 And We see how God has used this and turned this around. 339 00:35:19,504.4790538 --> 00:35:26,914.4790538 Having said that, and as much as we rejoice over that, we wanna see an end to this fighting, and. 340 00:35:27,454.4790538 --> 00:35:32,854.4790538 As a ministry and Jews for Jesus, but also as the lasagne network on Jewish evangelism. 341 00:35:32,854.4790538 --> 00:35:40,282.9673155 As I serve, that network as the president, as the Lasagne catalyst, Lasagne catalyst and Jewish evangelism. 342 00:35:40,677.9673155 --> 00:35:44,127.9673155 I, and, my people and the network, and we're not just. 343 00:35:44,367.9673155 --> 00:35:47,877.9673155 Praying for Israel and for the salvation of Israel and for safety for Israel. 344 00:35:47,877.9673155 --> 00:35:48,117.9673155 No. 345 00:35:48,117.9673155 --> 00:35:52,167.9673155 We're also praying for the Palestinians, for safety, for salvation. 346 00:35:52,647.9673155 --> 00:36:00,327.9673155 we, the gospel doesn't have borders, and, we shouldn't pick and choose this side or that side. 347 00:36:01,682.9673155 --> 00:36:07,952.9673155 we know that at the end of it, true peace is only gonna come when the Prince of Peace comes back. 348 00:36:07,952.9673155 --> 00:36:13,682.9673155 When Jesus returns in the second coming until then, we have an obligation and we need to serve people. 349 00:36:14,162.9673155 --> 00:36:18,567.9673155 And guess what? The Jewish people, the Israel is not going anywhere. 350 00:36:18,812.9673155 --> 00:36:23,757.9673155 And guess what? The Palestinians who are in Gaza, in the West Bank, they're not going anywhere either. 351 00:36:24,657.9673155 --> 00:36:25,497.9673155 we need, to come together. 352 00:36:25,497.9673155 --> 00:36:28,407.9673155 We need to learn how to live in peace. 353 00:36:28,797.9673155 --> 00:36:31,77.9673155 and that's, the role of the church. 354 00:36:31,737.9673155 --> 00:36:35,247.9673155 so many times, unfortunately, the church. 355 00:36:36,42.9673155 --> 00:36:38,832.9673155 Pick sides and they demonize one another. 356 00:36:39,72.9673155 --> 00:36:45,72.9673155 if you're the pro-Palestinian side, whatever, you're gonna demonize Israel and IDF and then look at them or whatever. 357 00:36:45,222.9673155 --> 00:36:56,982.9673155 If you are on a, on, on, on the Zionist side, they all, you're gonna demonize the Palestinians and, you're gonna, you're gonna blame them and they're the fall terrorists or whatever, and, but that's not the role of the church. 358 00:36:56,982.9673155 --> 00:37:00,917.9673155 The role of the church, of the body of Christ is to be that agent of peace. 359 00:37:01,477.9673155 --> 00:37:09,667.9673155 You know what I mean? And to bring people together and to rise above all those politics and all these politicians. 360 00:37:10,147.9673155 --> 00:37:21,217.9673155 'cause we know that true peace begins in the heart and it begins when people come in to believe in, in, in Messiah, in Jesus. 361 00:37:21,877.9673155 --> 00:37:21,937.9673155 Yeah. 362 00:37:21,937.9673155 --> 00:37:24,677.9673155 And the lasagne movement did something great. 363 00:37:25,77.9673155 --> 00:37:36,217.9673155 And And there was a day, a prayer day for the Holy Land and brought together people from my own network, from Jewish evangelism and people from mena. 364 00:37:36,487.9673155 --> 00:37:44,917.9673155 Michael, the head of, of the Middle East, north Africa region was there and others, from Bethlehem, from Jerusalem. 365 00:37:44,917.9673155 --> 00:37:45,157.9673155 whatever. 366 00:37:45,157.9673155 --> 00:37:46,27.9673155 And we all just. 367 00:37:46,327.9673155 --> 00:37:47,797.9673155 spent time praying together. 368 00:37:48,642.9673155 --> 00:37:55,872.9673155 now we might disagree politically and theologically and eschatology, whatever, but everybody put that aside. 369 00:37:55,872.9673155 --> 00:37:58,842.9673155 And all we did was just come together and pray together. 370 00:37:58,872.9673155 --> 00:38:00,492.9673155 Pray for the people, pray for peace. 371 00:38:00,492.9673155 --> 00:38:01,542.9673155 Pray for one another. 372 00:38:02,82.9673155 --> 00:38:03,162.9673155 That's the gospel. 373 00:38:03,702.9673155 --> 00:38:05,262.9673155 Yeah, That's the role of the church. 374 00:38:05,262.9673155 --> 00:38:09,12.9673155 And anybody who watches this, I just wanna tell you, don't, pick sides. 375 00:38:09,492.9673155 --> 00:38:10,392.9673155 Don't pick sides. 376 00:38:10,542.9673155 --> 00:38:12,732.9673155 There's enough pain and suffering on both sides. 377 00:38:13,432.9673155 --> 00:38:15,112.9673155 Tragedy on both sides. 378 00:38:15,442.9673155 --> 00:38:17,962.9673155 There are no winners here, only losers. 379 00:38:18,712.9673155 --> 00:38:27,322.9673155 Now it's time for the church to be the church and to be that, that, peacemakers, that, Jesus talks about in the, sermon of the mound. 380 00:38:27,322.9673155 --> 00:38:37,267.9673155 And we need to come together as the church, Jesus, prayed for us to have unity, to put aside our opinions and our politics and to focus on what's most important. 381 00:38:37,267.9673155 --> 00:38:40,807.9673155 And that's Jesus being the prince of peace and the gospel. 382 00:38:41,467.9673155 --> 00:38:43,747.9673155 And to pray and support one another. 383 00:38:44,287.9673155 --> 00:38:52,372.9673155 so the church in that small geography of the Holy Land needs us. 384 00:38:52,822.9673155 --> 00:38:55,462.9673155 The church in Israel needs us. 385 00:38:55,462.9673155 --> 00:38:59,122.9673155 The church in Palestine, in Gaza, in West Bank needs us. 386 00:38:59,482.9673155 --> 00:39:02,392.9673155 And this is the time where the global church needs to come together. 387 00:39:02,392.9673155 --> 00:39:07,462.9673155 Forget about all these politics and whatever and who's right, and who's just and who, whatever. 388 00:39:08,197.9673155 --> 00:39:11,377.9673155 Understanding that we've lost already. 389 00:39:11,407.9673155 --> 00:39:12,787.9673155 It's all too late now. 390 00:39:12,787.9673155 --> 00:39:21,997.9673155 It's time for us to come together in peace and unity and to love and serve our brothers and sisters who are suffering there in the ground. 391 00:39:22,177.9673155 --> 00:39:23,437.9673155 And, to pray for salvation. 392 00:39:24,727.9673155 --> 00:39:25,837.9673155 pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 393 00:39:25,837.9673155 --> 00:39:27,67.9673155 Pray for the peace in Gaza. 394 00:39:27,67.9673155 --> 00:39:29,197.9673155 Pray for the peace in the West band, the peace in Israel. 395 00:39:29,557.9673155 --> 00:39:34,357.9673155 Pray for, salvations, for all those peoples who are involved and, just. 396 00:39:34,762.9673155 --> 00:39:42,442.9673155 Let's pray for an end to the pain and suffering that so many innocent people are experiencing, on both sides. 397 00:39:42,652.9673155 --> 00:39:42,922.9673155 Yeah. 398 00:39:43,146.3006488 --> 00:39:44,726.3006488 Dan, I really appreciate you. 399 00:39:45,339.6339821 --> 00:39:49,149.6339821 Navigating this with, care and with wisdom. 400 00:39:49,584.6730446 --> 00:39:52,764.6730446 I realize that this is a really tense topic. 401 00:39:52,764.6730446 --> 00:40:06,744.6730446 It's a topic that really just, it's divisive in so many ways, like you've demonstrated, and I, recognize that even just saying what you've said is gonna probably get you in trouble with people on both sides of the political and religious divide. 402 00:40:06,769.6730446 --> 00:40:06,979.6730446 It's okay. 403 00:40:06,979.6730446 --> 00:40:07,489.6730446 I'm used to it. 404 00:40:09,83.0945388 --> 00:40:24,563.0945388 so just really quickly, I think that, and I, you experience as a, church leader or ministry leader, you experience in so many different ways where if you don't pick one side, you get attacked in from both directions. 405 00:40:24,983.0945388 --> 00:40:33,923.0945388 What encouragement would you give to the ministry leader who's listening to you and saying, okay, I, I'm no longer gonna, I'm gonna try and choose the third way. 406 00:40:34,343.0945388 --> 00:40:38,111.5101394 The Christ way, the way of reconciliation like you've been mentioning here. 407 00:40:38,933.0945388 --> 00:41:01,302.0355599 What encouragement would you give to them as they're trying to navigate, pleasing both sides and not, so what wisdom do you have for them? them? I don't know how wise it is, but, I can tell you from my own experience, what I try to do is obviously as an Israeli, many times people look at me and they basically say, Israel is doing A, B, C, D, or the IDF is doing this and that. 408 00:41:01,302.0355599 --> 00:41:03,102.0355599 How can you stand by them? Or whatever. 409 00:41:03,162.0355599 --> 00:41:05,682.0355599 And I just keep on saying to myself, Hey. 410 00:41:06,487.0355599 --> 00:41:10,537.0355599 I am not the defender of the state of Israel. 411 00:41:10,777.0355599 --> 00:41:12,937.0355599 I'm not a spokesperson for Israel. 412 00:41:12,937.0355599 --> 00:41:14,407.0355599 I'm not a part of the government. 413 00:41:15,127.0355599 --> 00:41:20,317.0355599 I actually disagree with many things politically in Israel. 414 00:41:20,772.0746224 --> 00:41:22,557.0746224 I am not the defender of the IDF. 415 00:41:24,332.0746224 --> 00:41:25,262.0746224 that's not my job. 416 00:41:25,262.0746224 --> 00:41:26,162.0746224 That's not my calling. 417 00:41:26,162.0746224 --> 00:41:27,692.0746224 That's not what God called me to do. 418 00:41:27,692.0746224 --> 00:41:34,772.0746224 And I would say, somebody who's a Palestinian, or whatever, I would say, Hey, I would think to myself, I'm, not, a defender of the PLO of Hamas. 419 00:41:34,772.0746224 --> 00:41:37,292.0746224 Of course not, or of, what's happening there. 420 00:41:37,292.0746224 --> 00:41:38,282.0746224 That's not my job. 421 00:41:38,942.0746224 --> 00:41:40,906.9466177 And, I see, some good things. 422 00:41:42,186.9466177 --> 00:41:45,186.9466177 That Israel has done and that the idea f has done. 423 00:41:45,276.9466177 --> 00:41:48,6.9466177 And I see some bad things that Israel and the IDF has done. 424 00:41:48,486.9466177 --> 00:41:49,386.9466177 they're not perfect. 425 00:41:49,506.9466177 --> 00:41:52,356.9466177 And the same thing on the other side or on any side. 426 00:41:53,196.9466177 --> 00:41:55,836.9466177 Iran, hey, they've done some good things. 427 00:41:56,211.9466177 --> 00:41:57,711.9466177 A lot of bad things as well. 428 00:41:57,711.9466177 --> 00:42:10,185.7497515 And of course things that I would disagree with, so we don't, need to defend, our countries, actually we probably shouldn't because there isn't a perfect country out there. 429 00:42:10,245.7497515 --> 00:42:11,925.7497515 Any country you can look at. 430 00:42:12,365.7497515 --> 00:42:16,75.7497515 Can say, they've done some good and some not so good. 431 00:42:16,435.7497515 --> 00:42:20,65.7497515 In most countries, it's mostly not so good. 432 00:42:20,275.7497515 --> 00:42:29,335.7497515 You know what I'm saying? So what are we defending? Why? do we feel that we need to argue or whatever, So when people come and attack. 433 00:42:30,155.7497515 --> 00:42:35,315.7497515 whatever Israel or the IDF and of course my country, right? 'cause that's where I'm from. 434 00:42:35,525.7497515 --> 00:42:41,190.7497515 I, don't, I try to resist the expectation to, to defend, them. 435 00:42:42,150.7497515 --> 00:42:46,230.7497515 and, I try to talk about what's most important and that's Jesus and the gospel. 436 00:42:46,230.7497515 --> 00:42:47,880.7497515 So that would be my. 437 00:42:48,360.7497515 --> 00:42:53,100.7497515 Wisdom, my encouragement just to stick to the main thing Yeah. 438 00:42:53,400.7497515 --> 00:42:57,780.7497515 and not feel that we need to defend, one another. 439 00:42:57,780.7497515 --> 00:43:08,430.7497515 So I've got, many Palestinian Christian friends, And I, and they tell me and I hear their pain and suffering and, when they share those, those things with me, I don't. 440 00:43:09,145.7497515 --> 00:43:17,485.7497515 I don't feel that I need to say, while the IDF is trying to do this or that, oh, and you don't know what Hamas is doing or whatever. 441 00:43:18,535.7497515 --> 00:43:21,565.7497515 What, good would that do? What Do I do, I pray for them. 442 00:43:21,565.7497515 --> 00:43:22,465.7497515 I pray with them. 443 00:43:23,125.7497515 --> 00:43:25,430.7497515 I offer my, Might help. 444 00:43:25,430.7497515 --> 00:43:37,400.7497515 If there's anything that I can do, condolences, mercy, grace, love, that's, what we should be offering one another versus trying to, be defensive or to attack. 445 00:43:37,400.7497515 --> 00:43:39,230.7497515 God forbid we shouldn't do that. 446 00:43:39,560.7497515 --> 00:43:41,810.7497515 just understanding that at the end of it. 447 00:43:42,895.7497515 --> 00:44:08,483.2107076 I don't have any, the prime minister of, of Israel didn't call me to ask for my, my advice, or I don't have, none of us have any, president Trump doesn't call us up and say, Hey, what do you think I should, we don't, have that but we have the ability to actually, communicate with somebody who's higher than. 448 00:44:08,903.2107076 --> 00:44:12,413.2107076 Any of those politicians, certainly of us as well. 449 00:44:12,413.2107076 --> 00:44:14,513.2107076 And that's the God of the universe and he's sovereign. 450 00:44:14,933.2107076 --> 00:44:19,373.2107076 And at the end of it, he, allows things to happen. 451 00:44:19,841.6622816 --> 00:44:22,631.6622816 and I don't understand. 452 00:44:23,81.6622816 --> 00:44:24,491.6622816 I don't know why. 453 00:44:26,95.076435 --> 00:44:31,590.076435 we have, our Heavenly Father that's who we should be calling onto, Yeah. 454 00:44:32,5.076435 --> 00:44:32,365.076435 Yeah. 455 00:44:32,605.076435 --> 00:44:38,185.076435 I, so appreciate the nuance that you brought to this, and I think it applies to so many other things. 456 00:44:39,145.076435 --> 00:44:43,135.076435 we, we fight fights for people that we shouldn't be fighting fights for. 457 00:44:43,135.076435 --> 00:44:48,295.076435 We should be fighting fights for Christ alone, and his kingdom and his purposes. 458 00:44:48,295.076435 --> 00:44:55,735.076435 And I think sometimes we get so co-opted into other kingdoms that we can't distinguish the difference between. 459 00:44:56,120.076435 --> 00:44:58,640.076435 Earthly kingdoms and the heavenly Kingdom. 460 00:44:59,90.076435 --> 00:45:07,898.1868949 And it's just, a reminder to, humility and to ask the Holy Spirit to truly bring to light where this is true for us. 461 00:45:07,898.1868949 --> 00:45:13,868.1868949 And it is, it's true for all of us that this co-opting is happening, not just on this topic, but on many others. 462 00:45:15,8.1868949 --> 00:45:17,468.1868949 so, Dan, I really appreciate that. 463 00:45:17,468.1868949 --> 00:45:20,228.1868949 We are gonna have to begin wrapping up this interview. 464 00:45:20,228.1868949 --> 00:45:31,348.1868949 I feel like we could spend so much more time diving into this because it's so Ja, Jason, you're gonna have to get to have me back, I think I'm gonna have to, No I, yeah. 465 00:45:32,578.1868949 --> 00:45:45,148.2259574 so, Dan, just as we begin to wrap up, how, can people learn more about your work with Jews for Jesus or with the issue network, with the design? just tell us how they can connect with you, where they can find resources and I'll add it to the show notes. 466 00:45:46,688.2259574 --> 00:45:48,38.2259574 so easy these days. 467 00:45:48,38.2259574 --> 00:45:50,888.2259574 So you can just go on lcj.net 468 00:45:51,818.2259574 --> 00:45:54,918.2259574 and, by the way, through the lazen um.org 469 00:45:54,918.2259574 --> 00:45:57,288.2259574 website, lasagne movement.org 470 00:45:57,318.2259574 --> 00:46:01,878.2259574 website, you can also find the Jewish evangelism and connect with us through there. 471 00:46:01,878.2259574 --> 00:46:05,388.2259574 There's a list of validation networks, so we'd love to connect with you. 472 00:46:05,663.2259574 --> 00:46:08,859.892624 The networks, website again is lcg.net. 473 00:46:09,362.4316865 --> 00:46:16,712.4316865 if you wanna hear more about Jews for Jesus and the ministry that I have the privilege of serving with, and just go do Jews for jesus.org. 474 00:46:17,252.4316865 --> 00:46:18,422.4316865 So very simple. 475 00:46:19,150.7650199 --> 00:46:22,390.7650199 and I'm going to put in a shameless plug for, Daniel. 476 00:46:22,420.7650199 --> 00:46:28,570.7650199 He is busy releasing articles on the different Jewish festivals that have been released very recently. 477 00:46:28,570.7650199 --> 00:46:31,480.7650199 I'm gonna include them in the show notes if you haven't seen them yet. 478 00:46:31,810.7650199 --> 00:46:32,590.7650199 To, go and look at that. 479 00:46:32,800.7650199 --> 00:46:40,25.7259574 And, for me, it's been so enlightening to be able to, make the connections between what I'm seeing happening within, Jewish. 480 00:46:40,415.7259574 --> 00:46:44,435.7259574 Tradition and culture and festivals and how I can engage with that as a Christian. 481 00:46:45,35.7259574 --> 00:46:46,835.7259574 it's really enlightening. 482 00:46:46,835.7259574 --> 00:46:50,315.7259574 And that's a resource that I would love to, to point you to. 483 00:46:51,35.7259574 --> 00:46:56,105.7259574 and we had been hoping to, chat a little bit more about the festivals and about Christmas during this topic. 484 00:46:56,105.7259574 --> 00:47:00,722.5543935 But, we'll have to point you to the articles to find out more perhaps, another interview. 485 00:47:01,156.7601102 --> 00:47:06,305.0934436 Dan, any, final thoughts as we begin to wrap up here? what would you like to leave with us? Yeah. 486 00:47:06,305.0934436 --> 00:47:13,611.7601102 Jason, thank you so much and, let me just say, whoever is watching this, let's continue to be a light. 487 00:47:13,701.7601102 --> 00:47:14,811.7601102 Let's pray. 488 00:47:15,261.7601102 --> 00:47:16,401.7601102 Pray for salvations. 489 00:47:16,401.7601102 --> 00:47:28,941.7601102 If you think about Jewish people, and maybe reading in your Bible, maybe you're seeing the chosen or whatever it is, maybe in the news you, are about Israel, I would just ask, Hey, just stop right there and just pray for Jewish people. 490 00:47:28,941.7601102 --> 00:47:30,201.7601102 Pray for salvations. 491 00:47:30,261.7601102 --> 00:47:34,843.4267769 and Jewish people are unreached, mostly, unreached or unengaged with the gospel. 492 00:47:34,843.4267769 --> 00:47:38,53.4267769 So I pray for the salvation of the Jewish people. 493 00:47:38,473.4267769 --> 00:47:42,776.7991727 And with that, we wanna pray for salvation for other people as well. 494 00:47:42,776.7991727 --> 00:47:46,616.7991727 But since you have me, and we're talking about Jewish evangelism. 495 00:47:46,886.7991727 --> 00:47:50,421.7991727 Let's pray for Jewish people to come to faith in the Messiah of Yeah. 496 00:47:51,45.1325061 --> 00:47:57,758.4658394 Dan, can I, ask you to wrap us up by, by praying that prayer so we can pray with you? and before you do that. 497 00:47:58,28.4658394 --> 00:48:00,278.4658394 and we close off after the prayer, I just wanna thank you. 498 00:48:00,308.4658394 --> 00:48:01,568.4658394 Thank you for taking the time. 499 00:48:01,598.4658394 --> 00:48:03,38.4658394 Thank you for sharing your insights. 500 00:48:03,360.1715686 --> 00:48:09,680.1715686 I'm really hoping that it means as much to those who are listening in as it has to me, so I really appreciate you. 501 00:48:10,730.1715686 --> 00:48:11,450.1715686 Thank you, Jason. 502 00:48:11,450.1715686 --> 00:48:12,200.1715686 Thanks for having me. 503 00:48:12,530.1715686 --> 00:48:13,100.1715686 Let's pray. 504 00:48:13,472.8920822 --> 00:48:16,682.8920822 Lord Jesus, thank you so much for your love, your grace. 505 00:48:16,682.8920822 --> 00:48:35,345.4311447 God, thank you so much for the gospel and for, opening up our eyes, to know you, God, and we pray there's so many people around us who are lost, who don't know you, and we pray for salvation, God, and specifically if, those who are watching this, are thinking of anybody. 506 00:48:35,940.4311447 --> 00:48:37,980.4311447 Who is Jewish and that they know. 507 00:48:37,980.4311447 --> 00:48:40,980.4311447 Maybe a neighbor, maybe a coworker, maybe family member. 508 00:48:40,980.4311447 --> 00:48:45,365.4311447 Lord God, I just pray that you would give him boldness and wisdom and, them. 509 00:48:45,900.4311447 --> 00:48:55,200.4311447 Give us all a heart of, humility and grace and love and a heart that prays and intercedes. 510 00:48:55,675.4311447 --> 00:48:57,415.4311447 For people and for Jewish people, God. 511 00:48:57,415.4311447 --> 00:48:58,765.4311447 So thank you so much. 512 00:48:58,765.4311447 --> 00:49:05,228.764478 God, thank you so much for Azar and for this movement of, bringing, the church together. 513 00:49:05,228.764478 --> 00:49:09,998.764478 God, to, bring the gospel to all nations and all people. 514 00:49:09,998.764478 --> 00:49:12,308.764478 Lord God, thank you for Jason and for his ministry. 515 00:49:12,308.764478 --> 00:49:13,298.764478 Lord, we love you. 516 00:49:13,507.2936524 --> 00:49:14,825.9177556 We praise you in Jesus name. 517 00:49:15,341.3723011 --> 00:49:15,851.3723011 Amen. 518 00:49:16,322.281392 --> 00:49:16,832.281392 Amen. 519 00:49:18,799.9684493 --> 00:49:22,889.9684493 Well, I hope that you enjoyed this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast. 520 00:49:23,169.9684493 --> 00:49:29,99.9684493 If you did enjoy the show, I want to encourage you to leave us a rating and review and share it with a friend. 521 00:49:29,588.5909851 --> 00:49:30,388.5909851 Till next week. 522 00:49:30,758.5909851 --> 00:49:31,208.5909851 Cheers.