Thank you for the opportunity to stay in touch with you via these personal emails. I look forward to the day when we will welcome Messiah home together, as we join the cry rising up from the walls of Jerusalem, Baruch ha-ba b'shem Adonai, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! In the meantime, we are welcoming Messiah home today through the work of the UMJC, and I consider you to be a key partner.

Before I outline this vision in detail, I'm asking you to consider investing in my ministry through direct financial support. My salary and operating expenses are covered primarily through the dues of our member congregations, but the budget also calls for me to raise a portion of my support directly. So, I'm asking friends like you to stand with me today. And I'll thank you for your gift with a free copy of my new book, Divine Reversal: The Transforming Ethics of Jesus. This book reflects years of study and teaching on the life and message of Yeshua from a distinctly Jewish perspective. It will provide new insights whether you have read the gospels once or a hundred times.

If you respond by 12/31/09 with a gift of $50 or more, or with a pledge of monthly support through 2010 in any amount, I will send you a free, autographed and personalized copy of  Divine Reversal.

DONATE NOW

The big vision is Welcoming Messiah Home. This summer I outlined seven specifics of that vision that guide my work with the UMJC today and into the immediate future. This is the work that I invite you to share in through this special partnership.

1) Ruach renewal in the Jewish space of our congregations.

The Lord tells Israel, "Fear not . . . for I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring; they will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses. One will say, ‘I am the LORD's'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; another will write with his hand, ‘The LORD's,' and name himself by the name of Israel." (Isaiah 44:3-5)

Notice the linkage between the outpouring of the Spirit and a renewed identification both with the Lord, God of Israel, and the people of Israel. I am dedicated to a spiritual awakening that will draw many Jewish people back to God and back to Jewish identity through Yeshua.

2) A new passion for kiruv-Jewish ingathering.

Messianic Jewish congregations are meant to be "places where Jewish people can encounter Yeshua as Messiah and live for him as Jews" (UMJC Core Value 3). We are restoring this emphasis through our

2010 conference theme Walk the Talk, based on Isaiah 52:7, "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of those who proclaim the good news . . ." I am dedicated to seeing a new wave of outreach among us.

3) A new way to launch congregations.

Helping to plant new congregations has always been at the forefront of the UMJC mission. Now I am working with our planters committee to restructure our whole approach so that our new congregations will effectively reach today's Jewish community and bear fruit far into the future.

4) Updated, accessible resources for congregational and family success.

We now offer regular educational Webinars, online interactive seminars, available right here at www.umjc.org, in addition to our weekly online Torah studies (you can subscribe at www.umjc.org). My goal is to see a whole new generation of excellent resources for congregations and families.

5) Moving forward through networking and partnerships.

We have worked with Jewish Voice Ministries, Chosen People Ministries, and Messianic Literature Outreach in recent projects, and partner with Messianic Jewish Theological Institute to provide leadership training. Networking is a highly effective way to get things done, and it goes beyond talking about unity to actually doing unity.

6) Seeing our younger leaders and members as present not future.

I am putting a good amount of my time and energy into efforts like the Young Leaders Retreat, our Internship program and Kabbetz HaEsrim gatherings for young adults. Next week, our annual Excellence in Ministry continuing education retreat will be taught entirely by younger leaders.

7) Creating communities that embody the Jewish ethos of Yeshua.

People long to see communities that are messianic not as a religious brand, but as a description of values and priorities that reflect Messiah himself. This is part of the message of my new book, Divine Reversal, and a major emphasis in my teaching ministry. As our congregations increasingly embody the values of Messiah, we will touch many more lives in the years to come.

As you can see, my work centers on the UMJC, but it has impact far beyond our community, as we welcome Messiah back into the heart of the Jewish world and into the lives of Jewish men and women. For this reason, I depend on support both within and beyond our member congregations. If you are already a UMJC supporter, I'm not asking you to shift your giving. Rather, this is an opportunity for additional giving in partnership with me. Your gift right now will free other funds to help us end the year with all of our obligations met and ready to move ahead with this seven-fold vision in 2010.

As I said, if you respond by 12/31/09 with a gift of $50 or more, or with a pledge of monthly support through 2010 in any amount, I will send you a free, autographed and personalized copy of  Divine Reversal.

DONATE NOW

Or you can send a check to the UMJC at 529 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, with "ED Support" in the memo line.

Monthly support is especially helpful, but a one-time gift would certainly be welcome as well! If you have questions or ideas to share, feel free to give me a call or send an email. And, of course, your prayers are more important than ever. As always, I appreciate you and your friendship in Messiah.

Russ Resnik

UMJC Executive Director

Mobile 505.440.2265/www.umjc.org

PS I'm covering this seven-fold vision in more detail on my blog at www.umjc.org, so take a look.

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