• Friday March 2, 2012
• 6-9 PM
• At San Marino Club, 1685 E. Big Beaver, Troy Mich. 48083

Shalom Ministry is an Evangelistic Messianic Christian Ministry reaching out to the Jewish people with the Gospel of their Messiah. Our evangelistic focus is based on Romans 1:16: “… to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” We affirm that this still stands today, given that God is eternal and so is his Word. We are here to witness the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus) and the gift of eternal life to the Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

Special Guest Speaker, David Brickner of Jews for Jesus

As executive director of Jews for Jesus, David Brickner leads the best-known Jewish evangelism organization in the world. A Jewish believer in Jesus himself, David has been in ministry for over 30 years and has appeared many times on secular television and radio programs to make the case for Jews believing Jesus. Biblically conservative, contemporary and engaging, he is a sought after speaker for major pulpits and conferences. He is the author of numerous published articles as well as four books including his latest, Christ in the Feast of Pentecost.

Co-Hosts:

• Dr. Tim Broe
• Rabbi Loren Jacobs
• Pastor John and Donna Denson

Music by Antoinette Harkonen

Dynamic Testimonies and much more!

Tickets $25 per person

Please RSVP by calling:  248-312-8277  – OR – 586-207-1188

ShalomMinistry77@AOL.com

If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to send a donation directly to

Shalom Ministry at P.O. Box 19695, Detroit, MI 48219.

As we enter the New Year, Nicole and I would like to share some things that we are planning for 2012 with the Lord’s leading.

First and foremost, we are asking God to provide $40,000 for our annual support, half of which we must raise by July. Toward this end, we’re asking 80 of our special friends to join “God’s Brigade” by committing to a donation of $20 or more per month. In addition, we are looking for friends who are willing to host small receptions in their homes, where Nicole and I can share about the ministry and cultivate support. Speaking engagements will also help raise money; and if you are aware of a Wednesday night Bible study, Sunday school or even Sunday morning service, I would be available to bring a message. Finally, we would like to invite you, as our guests, to Shalom Ministry’s annual fundraising banquet March 2 at the San Marino Club in Troy. David Brickner, executive director of Jews for Jesus, will be our keynote speaker.

Nicole and I are spending time visiting the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield, meeting and conversing with the Jewish community. We are praying that the Lord will create many opportunities for us to share the Gospel with these precious people during our time there. In June we will conduct our annual tour of the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills. Please come and join us for this inspiring exploration of the nation’s first free-standing Holocaust Museum, and its culturally rich and vivid exhibits that depict Jewish life and the events leading up to the Shoah (The Holocaust).

Please continue to pray for the health, welfare and salvation of holocaust survivor Michael Wise who was our speaker at last year’s tour. Our prayer is that the Lord will open his heart and mind to receive Yeshua as his Savior.

Some other events that we will be involved in will include Passover Seder presentations in churches and homes this spring. We are also planning a pro-Israel rally and an evangelistic campaign, which are on our calendar this summer and fall.

Please pray that the Lord will bless all of these endeavors and the individuals involved. May all Glory and Honor be to our Lord and Savior Yeshua, that through Him, both Jewish and Gentile people will come to faith in Messiah.

Please come and visit us any Shabbat at Congregation Shema Yisrael, meeting on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. at Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church, 3600 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Nicole and I would love to meet and fellowship with you personally.

Finally, we ask that you would pray and consider financially supporting our unique ministry this year. Please make out all checks to Shalom Ministry, P.O. Box 19695, Detroit, Mich. 48219, and designate your tax-deductible gift “for the Clarks”.

May Adonai bless you and your families and may you have a glorious New Year in the Lord.

In Messiah’s service,

Roman and Nicole

Historically, the account of the Chanukah story occurred in the intertestamental period, that is, sometime during the 400 “silent years” between the writings of the prophet Malachi and the Gospels. We find much of our information about Chanukah in the Book of Maccabees, found in the Apocrypha, a series of extra-biblical books added to some bibles (the Apocrypha is not considered the holy, inspired Word of God, but is considered a valuable historical resource).

Chanukah, meaning dedication, commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC by the Maccabees exactly three years after it was desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes (Dan 8:13-14).

Chanukah falls on 25th of Kislev on the Jewish calendar, in either November or December on the western calendar. Chanukah is also known as Hag Ha-Orim, the Feast of Lights. This name, which is found in the writings of Josephus, an ancient Jewish historian, is based upon a legend. As the legend goes, after the Temple was rededicated, the people wished to rekindle the Menorah (seven-branched lamp stand); but there was only sufficient purified olive oil to light the Menorah in the Temple for one day, and it would take eight days to purify further supplies. According to tradition, however, the Menorah burned miraculously eight days—enough time for the fresh supplies to be prepared.

In 165 BC, the Greek empire under Antiochus IV Epiphanes imposed Greek culture, philosophy and religion on Israel and throughout the empire. The Greeks built an image of their god Zeus on top of the Jewish Temple altar and desecrated the Temple by sacrificing pigs (an unfit animal for sacrifice). This a fulfilled prophesy in the book of Daniel. The abandonment of all Jewish worship and customs was enforced by terror. A Jewish revolt led by Judah Maccabee was successful in driving out the Greeks and the temple was cleansed and rededicated.

Antiochus Epiphanes—The Little Horn Daniel 8:9-14

The Feast of Dedication is not found in the Old Testament; however, prophetically we find two verses in the Book of Daniel that speak of the events from which this feast arose. The first scripture describes the “little horn”. This scripture does not refer exclusively to the future Antichrist of Daniel 7, but rather depicts a type of antichrist, in this case Antiochus Epiphanes.

9 And out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.

This passage indicates a ruler or the “little horn” arising from four horns as Daniel tells us in a previous passage. The four horns are the four regions of the Greek empire that were divided after the death of Alexander the Great. Antiochus Epiphanes arose from Syria, one such division of the Greek empire. He grew “exceeding great toward the south (Egypt), toward the east (Mesopotamia) and the toward glorious land (Israel).”

Daniel further indicates that the little horn would make war with the Jews. Antiochus Epiphanes was successful in that endeavor by persecuting and murdering the Jewish people.

The Abomination of Desolation—Daniel 8-11

Daniel makes ten prophetic statements providing evidence as to how Antiochus would commit the Abomination of Desolation.

First, “he exalted himself.” Epiphanes means “the manifest God”. He exalted himself to the level of deity.

Second, he elevated himself “as high as the Prince of the host.” Sometimes the “host” or the “stars” is a reference to angelic hosts and sometimes it is a reference to Israel (Genesis 15:5). The “prince” or leader of Israel at that time was the High Priest. Under the Mosaic law, he could not be replaced except by death. Antiochus replaced the High Priest at his will.

Third, “by him the daily sacrifices were taken away.” Antiochus Epiphanes stopped the sacrificial system. This fulfilled prophecy was recorded in the book of I Maccabees 1:44-45.

Fourth, “the place of His sanctuary was cast down,” meaning desecrated. This fulfilled prophecy was recorded in I Maccabees 1:21:59 and II Maccabees 6:1-5.

Fifth, “an army was given over to the horn.” Antiochus was victorious militarily and many Jews were persecuted and died.

Sixth, “to oppose the daily sacrifices,” true biblical worship was prohibited in the Jewish Temple and pagan worship instituted (sacrificing pigs to their god Zeus).

Seventh, it was all accomplished “because of transgression,” that is, Antiochus achieved the “abomination of desolation” by breaking the Law of God.

Eighth, “he cast truth down to the ground” by forbidding the reading and practice of the Mosaic law (I Maccabees 1:56-58).

Ninth, “he did all this,” as a willful king. Antiochus did his own will, disregarding the will of God.

Finally, the 10th statement Daniel makes about the “little horn” is “he did all this and prospered.” Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded in his goal to paganize the Jewish people.

Daniel 8:13-14 provides us with an even more specific prophecy as to the timeline of when this would occur:

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?” 14 And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days;^[a] then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”

In the year 171 BC, when the High Priest Onias was murdered, the persecutions of the Jews began. Onias was the only biblically legitimate priest according to the Law of Moses. After his death, Antiochus appointed a wicked brother of Onias to the position of High Priest. From that time until the temple was cleansed, the high priests were illegitimate according to the Law. History tells us that the Temple was cleansed on the 25^th day of Kislev in the year 165 BC. So from the time that the rightful High Priest Onias was murdered, on the 9^th of Tishri, 171 BC, to the time the temple was cleansed on the 25^th of Kislev, 165 BC, was a total of 2300 days! Thus, the persecutions and desecrations of Antiochus Epiphanes lasted 2300 days, perfectly fulfilling Daniel’s prophecy! (I Maccabees 4:36-59, II Maccabees 10:1-9)

By breaking down this passage, piece by piece and comparing it to historical accounts, we can clearly see that this prophecy was indeed fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes. But this is only half of the story. The Jews were not completely defeated; otherwise, the Feast of Dedication would not exist!

Following is the story of Chanukah as recorded in the Book of Maccabees.

I Maccabees 11-62

And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they persuaded many, saying: Let us go, and make a covenant with the heathens that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils have befallen us. And the word seemed good in their eyes. And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathens. And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the nations: And they made themselves uncircumcised, and departed from the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathens, and were sold to do evil.

And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he might reign over two kingdoms. And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots and elephants, and horsemen, and a great number of ships: And he made war against Ptolemy king of Egypt, but Ptolemy was afraid at his presence, and fled, and many were wounded unto death. And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt: and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt. And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred and forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel. And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude.

And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them all in pieces. And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels: and he took the hidden treasures which he found: and when he had taken all away he departed into his own country. And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly.

And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where they were. And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the virgins and the young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was changed. Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that sat in the marriage bed, mourned: And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion. And after two full years the king sent the chief collector of his tributes to the cities of Juda, and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude. And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit: and they believed him.

And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it with a great slaughter, and destroyed much people in Israel. And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it with fire, and threw down the houses thereof, and the walls thereof round about: And they took the women captive, and the children, and the cattle they possessed. And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with strong towers, and made it a fortress for them: And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men, and they fortified themselves therein: and they stored up armour, and victuals, and gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem; And laid them up there: and they became a great snare. And this was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil devil in Israel.

And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and defiled the holy place. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them, and the city was made the habitation to strangers, and she became a stranger to her own seed, and her children forsook her. Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were brought to nothing. Her dishonour was increased according to her glory, and her excellency was turned into mourning. And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people should be one: and every one should leave his own law.

And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking holes, and into the secret places of fugitives. On the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about:

And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses, and in the streets. And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law of God: And every one with whom the books of the testament of the Lord were found, and whosoever observed the law of the Lord, they put to death, according to the edict of the king. Thus by their power did they deal with the people of Israel, that were found in the cities month after month. And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of God.

II Maccabees 10-18

The Death of King Antiochus

11 We thank God because he saved us from great danger. We were like men ready to fight against a king,12 but God drove the enemy from our holy city.13 (A)When King Antiochus arrived in Persia, his army seemed impossible to defeat, but they were cut to pieces in the temple of the goddess Nanea by an act of treachery on the part of her priests.14 King Antiochus had gone to the temple with some of his most trusted advisers, so that he might marry the goddess and then take away most of the temple treasures as a wedding gift.15 After the priests had laid out the treasure, he and a few of his men went into the temple to collect it. But the priests closed the doors behind him16 and stoned him and his men from trap doors hidden in the ceiling. Then they cut up the bodies and threw the heads to the people outside.17 Praise God for punishing those evil men! Praise him for everything!

18 On the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev we will celebrate the Festival of Rededication just as we celebrate the Festival of Shelters. We thought it important to remind you of this, so that you too may celebrate this festival.

Related articles

• What do the candles stand for in the Chanukah Menorah (wiki.answers.com)
• Hanukkah. (workofheartandsoul.wordpress.com)
• Judah to Jesus: After the Maccabees (thequeenofthejews.wordpress.com)

We’ve had a good year and we’re looking forward to 2012 with great anticipation. Following is an overview of the ministry in 2011:

• Over this past year, Donna and I have spent considerable one-to-one evangelistic time with Jewish people at the Jewish community centers in West Bloomfield, Oak Park, etc.
• We’ve spoken at more than 20 churches in 2011 and are looking forward to doubling that number in the coming year.
• Shalom Ministry conducted its annual tour of the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills. Staff members Roman and Nicole Clark did an excellent job of leading the tour. Following the tour, the group had an opportunity to listen as a Holocaust survivor shared insights about his experiences in the concentration camp.
• We’ve held several conferences and events, which consummated with the Shroud of Turin presentation during the high Jewish holidays and our annual fundraising banquet with Jhan Moskowitz of Jews for Jesus.
• We’ve done several Passover Seder presentations
• The jail ministry has grown, and we’ve also had the opportunity to minister to family members of prisoners.
• We completed our second year of instruction at our Hebrew Christian Messianic Institute.
• We’ve increased our volunteer staff and put together an excellent team to assist in expanding the ministry. Roman and Nicole Clark are coming on as missionaries, and we’re certainly excited about them being with us.
• We’ve updated our web site and are beginning the process of marketing and selling our DVDs and published material.
• God has also blessed us with new board members, and we’re thrilled at the possibilities we have with these new additions.
• I’ve been on many TV and radio programs doing interviews, and we’re looking forward to more of the same in 2012.
• We also have our own Bible study and support group.
• Finally, we have partnered with four outstanding Jewish ministries and are now impacting Jews in Israel and Ethiopia as well as North America. We are also partnered with the Southern Baptist Methodist Fellowship, where I am serving as regional director; and our collective mission is to plant messianic churches and train missionaries to the Jewish people.

And now, as we look forward to 2012, here are some of our exciting plans for the coming year:

• A pastors’ brunch and conference
• Spring banquet March 2, with David Brickner, executive director of Jews for Jesus
• Annual tour of the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills. Join us for this inspiring exploration of the nation’s first freestanding Holocaust Museum and its vivid exhibits depicting Jewish life and events leading up to the Shoah.
• Passover Seder
• Our annual Christian roast (This year’s roastee, Rabbi Glenn Harris of Congregation Shema Yisrael)
• Pro-Israel rally (site to be determined)
• Two evangelistic campaigns, one in Detroit and one in the Jewish community
• Additional workshops, including a family workshop and a second Shroud of Turin presentation
• Increased speaking engagements to a minimum of 52
• Prophecy conference with Arnold Fruchtenbaum of Ariel Ministries
• Expansion of the Hebrew Christian Messianic Institute
• Increased focus on getting African-American churches committed to Messianic outreach
• Fall banquet to close out the year (speaker to be determined)
• And, of course, fundraising, fundraising, fundraising!!!

I want to challenge all of you to make Shalom Ministry high on your priority list and to thank you for your ongoing support. I would be remiss if I didn’t send out a special thank-you to Rabbi Loren and Congregation Shema for faithfully supporting us since our inception.

Please continue to pray for health and strength for Donna and me and our staff. Also please continue to pray for salvation of our Jewish friends: Coby, Mr. Borenstein, Mrs. Goldstein, Barry, Paula (a Holocaust survivor), Gary and Paula, Moe and Diana, Mrs. Cohen, Michelle, Alana, Liz and Stella, Rebecca and Ross, Jonathan, Liz and Brian, and Bella. Please join us in fervent prayer for the Holy Spirit’s intervention in their lives and that they will receive Messiah as Savior and Lord.

Finally, please come visit us any Shabbat at Congregation Shema Yisrael, meeting on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. at Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church, 3600 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Donna and I would love to meet and fellowship with you personally.

We intend to honor his memory with an annual inspirational award, which will be given to special people each year for their outstanding contributions and efforts to bring the Gospel of Peace to the Jewish community. The first-ever Gene Reinwasser Peace Award will be given this year at our Shalom Ministry Banquet on Thursday, October 27.

The gifted Jhan Moskowitz, North American Director of Jews for Jesus, will be keynote speaker for this year’s banquet, which will be held at the picturesque Bay Pointe Golf Club, 4001 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield. Admission is $35 per person with advance registration or $40 per person at the door. Please reserve your space early by calling Shalom Ministry, (248) 312-8277 or (586) 207 1188. This will be a very special evening. The night will be filled with fellowship, music, a video presentation, updates on the expansion of our ministry and introduction of new staff. You do not want to miss this one!

We are planning a special conference on the Shroud of Turin to be held October 8 at Ward Presbyterian Church in Novi, Michigan. The conference is entitled “Credibility of the Shroud.” Our presenter is the brilliant Dr. William Guy, who has actually examined the shroud. Admission is free, and as of this writing, 200 participants have already registered. An offering for Shalom Ministry will be taken during the presentation. The conference will be professionally taped and produced and will be made available through Shalom Ministry before the end of the year. For more information, call (248) 980 1633 or our ministry office, (248) 312-8277. We hope that there will be additional conferences as we partnership with Ward Presbyterian Church in the future.

This fall, Shalom Ministry is launching the Michigan Messianic Ministerial Alliance, composed of ministers who want to embrace the Jewish roots of Christianity and be involved in future events sponsored by our ministry. This alliance will also serve to equip them and expand their local ministries to impact the Jewish community. The first meeting will be held November 7, with subsequent meetings held on the first Monday of each month.

We have added some new partnerships to our ministry. We are now reaching out in Israel and helping equip Messianic believers to do the ministry there. We are also undergirding and reaching out to Ethiopian Jews with the Gospel.

We are again publishing new material, including CDs and DVDs, which will be available at the banquet.

For the months ahead, upcoming ministry events include a pro-Israel rally, Holocaust Memorial Center tour, Passover Seder dinner, mini receptions and first-ever Messianic evangelistic concert. As you can see, we have a full plate.

Please keep this ministry in prayer! Please pray for our staff, especially for finances and health; pray for our board as we seek new members; pray for finances for the ministry; and please continue to pray for salvation of our Jewish friends: Coby, Mr. Borenstein, Mrs. Goldstein, Barry, Paula (a Holocaust survivor), Gary and Paula, Moe and Diana, Mrs. Cohen, Michelle, Alana, Liz and Stella, Rebecca and Ross, Jonathan, Liz and Brian, and Bella. Please join us in fervent prayer for the Holy Spirit’s intervention in their lives and that they will receive Messiah as Savior and Lord. In addition, we ask that you pray especially for Deidra, for a safe delivery of a healthy baby; and for Hanna and Olivia to have a deeper walk with the Lord.

Be sure to listen to Shema’s new radio broadcast, “Jesus Made Me Kosher!” with Rabbis Loren Jacobs and Glenn Harris. It is broadcast on WLQV, 1500 AM, Monday through Friday, from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. It is also streamed live over the Internet at www.faithtalk1500.com.

Until the nets are full,

John and Donna

Since our last letter, Donna and I have had the honor and privilege of attending a Messianic conference in Phoenix, where I was elected Midwest Regional Director with the responsibility of planting Messianic congregations and training missionaries for Jewish evangelism in the region, including Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. We’re excited that you, as our partners, will be able to impact Jewish people throughout the Midwest and watch new ministries grow.

John and Donna at the Grand Canyon

In May we completed our first year of teaching at the Hebrew Messianic Christian Institute and are looking forward to new student enrollment in the fall. We also have partnered with Israel College of the Bible, a Messianic college in Israel that we are supporting and interacting with. They are training missionaries in Israel to carry out the Gospel and reach many in the Holy Land. Our ministry is also reaching Jews in Ethiopia through another partner ministry. It is our sincere hope that in 2012 we can go to Ethiopia ourselves and be part of a campaign to reach these precious souls for the Lord.

Locally, we’re working with Westside Christian Academy to put together a Jewish studies program, which will be a first in the Metro Detroit area. Additionally, we are adding to our staff, and you will be hearing more about that in a separate letter. We are constantly interacting with Jewish people at every level. We will be meeting with administrators at our local Jewish Community Center in hopes of holding a “Stand with Israel” rally at the center in the months ahead. Our board is developing new workshops, seminars, CDs and DVDs, as well as YouTube presentations. And of course, old-fashioned, door-to-door evangelism is very much a part of our day-to-day operations.

Following is some feedback from Peggy W., an attendee at our recent, successful seminar, “For Women Only”: Pastor Denson challenged us women to seek out God’s will for our relationships through His Word. When we follow His pattern and order in this, we will discover true peace and joy in our lives and the desires of our hearts will be satisfied.

In our last letter, we told you about planning a dinner for Messianic Jews. It is still very much on our radar for early spring 2012.

With all of these extraordinary activities going on, we very much need your prayers and financial support. Fund raising is a component of our ministry for which we would welcome your prayers, ideas and assistance. Our annual banquet will be October 27, and our goal is to raise a minimum of $25,000. Our speaker for the evening is the dynamic Jhan Moskowitz, North American Director of Jews for Jesus. We really need you to help us fill tables!

We are also assembling a task force to generate revenue so the work can be accomplished. Our donor base must expand as the ministry grows. Again, we are urging you to talk to your Christian friends, pastors and leaders, and share with them why they should be involved with this Gospel outreach to the Jewish community. We also encourage you to visit our website, www.ShalomMinistry.com, and click on “Why Support Shalom Ministry.”

Please continue to pray for health and strength for Donna and me and our staff. Also please continue to pray for salvation of our Jewish friends: Coby, Mr. Borenstein, Mrs. Goldstein, Barry, Paula (a Holocaust survivor), Gary and Paula, Moe and Diana, Mrs. Cohen, Michelle, Alana, Liz and Stella, Rebecca and Ross, Jonathan, Liz and Brian, and Bella. Please join us in fervent prayer for the Holy Spirit’s intervention in their lives and that they will receive Messiah as Savior and Lord. Finally, please pray especially for Donna’s mother, Ann Saunders.

A special thank-you to the saints at Burton Baptist Church in Snowflake, Arizona, for their gracious hospitality and great response to our message.

Finally, please come visit us any Shabbat at Congregation Shema Yisrael, meeting on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. at Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church, 3600 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Donna and I would love to meet and fellowship with you personally.

Until the nets are full,

John and Donna

This year’s visit to the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills on May 22 was an incredible experience. To say that it was an honor and a privilege to be a part of this event is an understatement. We had about 50 to 60 Messianic and Orthodox Jews. We were guided through the tour by two docents who gave us personal insight into the Holocaust. One of the docents carried a picture of his mother that was taken right as she was taken off of one of the “cattle cars” at a concentration camp.

After the tour, we moved into a conference room and listened to Michael Weiss as he elaborated on his experiences in the concentration camp. His presentation was heartbreaking and emotional. Michael talked about losing family members at the hands of the Nazis and highlighted the fact that their captors were especially cruel. Yet even in the midst of all this terror and loss, he could still feel the presence of God. He closed by saying that 2000 years ago, Adonai sent Moses to deliver the Jewish people from Pharaoh and he felt that in 1944, Adonai sent Dwight D. Eisenhower to liberate the Jews once more.

Following Michael’s presentation, Nicole Clark presented him with an original painting of “Father Abraham” painted by Shalom Ministry’s own Donna Denson. Roman Clark then prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and the peace and well being of all Jewish people around the world. We then sang the Shema and gave the Aaronic Benediction in Hebrew. Michael was overcome with emotion seeing these Christian people singing something so dear to him as the Shema and was pleasantly surprised by our use of Hebrew. In addition, the Jewish members of the audience and the two docents themselves were elated to see this group affirming their love and support for Israel and the Jewish nation. I believe the heart of God Himself was blessed by this event.

Isn’t this a wonderful report! We certainly want to remember our new friend Michael, who is 87 years old and not far from the kingdom. Please pray zealously for his salvation. It is thrilling to know that we can go to the HMC and pray in the name of Yeshua and share the Gospel. What a great God we serve!

Upcoming events:

Partnership with Westside Christian Academy: We are planning to partner with Westside Christian Academy to develop a course in Jewish studies for the school’s fall curriculum. Westside is the only Christian School in Detroit, and the student body is primarily African American.

Messianic dinner: Shalom Ministry, along with other Messianic Jewish ministries, is planning to co-sponsor a dinner for Messianic Jews and their families. This will be the first gathering of its kind in Metro Detroit and we are delighted to take part in facilitating this! This will be a night to get the Jewish believers in Jesus to unite and be encouraged.

Pro-Israel rally: We’re also working on a pro-Israel rally that we want to hold at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield, Michigan. This will be a special rally open to everyone, especially Gentile Christians who love and support Israel. So watch for the date.

Michigan Messianic Ministers Alliance: This is something that will be open to ministers who want to come together and discuss timely topics as related to Israel, Jewish evangelism and ongoing issues that affect both Messianic and Gentile believers.

Annual Shalom Banquet: Our annual Shalom Ministry banquet will take place October 27; and our keynote speaker will be Jhan Moskowitz, North American Director of Jews for Jesus.

Ministry Outreach: Our current and upcoming ministry outreach efforts include supporting Ethiopian Jews; supporting Israel College of the Bible, a Bible school in Israel that equips Jewish believers for the ministry; expanding our jail ministry; teaching special Thursday night Bible studies beginning in June; and developing unique and challenging Messianic seminars, beginning with “For Women Only” in June at Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church. Additionally, we are starting the second term of the Hebrew Christian Messianic Institute this fall. These are just a few of the endeavors that we are implementing by faith. Now is the time for you to step up prayerfully and financially to help us reach our goals.

As always, please continue to pray for salvation for our Jewish friends Coby, Mr. Borenstein, Mrs. Goldstein, Barry, Paula (a Holocaust survivor), Gary and Paula, Moe and Diana, Mrs. Cohen, Michelle, Alana, Liz and Stella, Rebecca and Ross, Jonathan, Liz and Brian, and Bella. Please join us in fervent prayer for the Holy Spirit’s intervention in their lives and that they will receive Messiah as Savior and Lord. And finally, please pray for the special needs of Rachel Denson and Donna’s mother, Ann Saunders.

Also, be sure to visit our website at www.ShalomMinistry.com. I’m sure you will enjoy the many audio sermons and videos that are offered, as well as Donna’s artwork. For those of you who missed the roast, watch for an edited version of the event to be posted on the website soon.

With all of these new challenges, we want to be sure to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us; so, we are going to electronic mail, and we want to update our e-mail lists. Please let us know if you want to be included in the e-mailings by writing to us at ShalomMinistry77@aol.com. Also, please let us know if you want to continue to receive our regular mail, as well.

Finally, we want to thank the roast committee for a great job!

Until the nets are full,

John and Donna

May 13, 2011, many close friends and loved ones roasted Pastor John. It was an evening full of laughter and good-natured fun. Pastor John’s life-long friends jabbed and poked him all night with good-hearted humor. Anyone who knows the pastor knows that he is part jokester. He loves to hear an amusing joke, and he is always ready to attempt one to make you laugh.

Everyone loves the pastor so much for his dedicated service to Christians, secular persons and particularly to the Jewish community. He has always been willing to encourage and sacrifice for others, even at his own physical expense. Earlier this year, he took a terrifically hard fall, which caused a serious neck injury. The surgery was successful, but physical therapy has been grueling, especially when the pastor has so many works in progress to bring the Jewish Meshiach, Yeshua, to the Jewish people. Therefore, to say this year has been a challenge would be an especially great understatement. However, Pastor John has consistently not looked at the trial, but rather has kept his eyes focused on the Judge of the Earth, saying, “He is bringing me to my cross in these trials.” Furthermore, he has on almost every occasion, expressed how his admiration has grown for his lovely wife and helpmate, Donna.

In the midst of all this, the pastor came up with a magnificent idea to drive the spirit of heaviness away – laughter. He approached several of his friends and suggested that they get together for a night of fun and express joy. It was tremendously successful.

As you can see from the many pictures, it was a marvelous, fun night, supported by an outpouring of love for a pastor whose heart is as wide as the open sea, and whose supreme desire is to reveal Yeshua to the lost. So, is a Christian Dinner Roast an oxymoron? It may be, but it was not on May 13, 2011. On that night it was a heart-warming, outpouring of love and affection from God’s children to a man of God. On that night, it was a celebration of the miraculous transformation of the Wild Child to God’s Child. And finally, on that night, it was just good, Christian fun. I believe the smiles in the slideshow link below bear witness to this testimony:

Pictures may be viewed, printed or downloaded at: John Denson May 2011 Dinner Roast.

I want to thank all of you for your prayers and well wishes for my speedy recovery. More importantly, I ask you to continue to pray for strength for Donna as she unselfishly cares for me along with her mother, who, as many of you know, is in hospice. We are trusting the Lord in this, as well.

The ministry is continuing to grow, and God is showing Himself strong in every aspect. Our men’s group, which we call David’s Mighty Men, is exceeding all of our expectations. What a joy and an honor to equip these men in Messianic ministry and prepare them for Jewish evangelism.

Our speaking engagements are picking up; and we want to send out a special thank-you to Bishop Murphy and the saints at New Mount Moriah Church, who hosted one of our best-ever Passover celebrations. We’ve also picked up six additional students at the Hebrew Messianic Christian Institute, and we’re thrilled at their eagerness to learn. We are making significant inroads into the Black church and looking forward to a special summit between Messianic and African-American leaders.

Our board is geared up and we’re making plans to expand the ministry, first regionally and then nationally. It is our desire to create a national board comprised of leaders across the country that have the same passion and vision as we do.

This year, we’re expanding our annual tour of the Holocaust Memorial Center to include a visit to the African American Museum in early summer. We’re focusing increasingly on activities, such as mini-fundraisers and concerts, in addition to our annual banquet. By the way, our guest speaker at this year’s banquet will be Jhan Moskowitz, field director for Jews for Jesus and a dynamic speaker for Promise Keepers. We are grateful to the Lord for his willingness to come.

We have many more exciting things coming up in the ministry. You might want to check our new website, www.shalomministry.com for videos and current information. We are preparing CDs and DVDs, and hope that by next month they will be available for purchase through the ministry.

As we enter this transitional period in our ministry, we would be amiss if we did not thank Rabbi Loren Jacobs for his wisdom and continued support of everything we’ve done thus far. We’re grateful to the elders and council at Shema Yisrael for their love and support, as well. We can’t say enough about how God has used all of these precious saints. The board and my friends in ministry are planning a special dinner roast and fundraiser for the ministry, to be held Friday, May 13, at Tre Monti Ristorante, 1695 East Big Beaver, Troy Michigan. This will be a wonderful evening of laughter and fellowship. I strongly urge you to make your reservations now. The cost is $25 per person, and I do want all of our local supporters to come. However, I must tell you, seating is limited; so call 248-312-8277 to make your reservations. And please mail your checks to Shalom Ministry, P.O. Box 19695, Detroit, Michigan 48219 as soon as possible.

Finally, we’re looking for a task force of volunteers to help with mailing, office work and, more importantly, a think tank for various projects. If interested, please give me a call and I’ll give you more details about how you can be involved in various levels of service to the ministry. This is an exciting time, and we really want you to be a part of it.

As always, please continue to pray for salvation for our Jewish friends Coby, Mr. Borenstein, Mrs. Goldstein, Barry, Paula (a Holocaust survivor), Gary and Paula, Moe and Diana, Mrs. Cohen, Michelle, Alana, Liz and Stella, Rebecca and Ross, Jonathan, Liz and Brian, and Bella. Please join us in fervent prayer for the Holy Spirit’s intervention in their lives and that they will receive Messiah as Savior and Lord. And finally, please pray for the special needs of Rachel Denson and Donna’s mother, Ann Saunders.

Until the nets are full,

John and Donna Denson

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel,
For it is the power of God for salvation
To everyone who believes,
To the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

Everyone!

Paul has just used that wonderful word “everyone” in Romans 1:16, “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” Oh, what an exhilarating word to those who feel that they are excluded! Wrong family, wrong background, wrong education, wrong language, wrong race, wrong culture, wrong sexual preference, wrong moral track record. Then to hear the words, “Everyone who believes.” Everyone! If there is one thing that excludes us, it is unbelief – not trusting Jesus. But nothing else prevents us from being reconciled to God!. The Good News is that the Jewish Messiah died for our sins and rose from the dead to open the way to eternal life, and that salvation is by grace through faith – for everyone who believes; Jew and Gentile alike!

Then in What Ways Do Jews Have Priority?

So why then does Paul follow this wonderful word “everyone” with a word that seems to give priority to Jews? “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” How does he mean, “to the Jew first”? What kind of priority, what kind of “firstness” do they have? And why does he say this? How are we supposed to understand it?

To answer this let me suggest six ways that the Jews are first in experiencing the salvation of God.

1. The Jews have a priority over Gentiles as the chosen people of God.

How do they have priority over Gentiles? In Genesis 12, God chose Abraham and his descendants freely from all the peoples of the world to bless with His covenant and promise. Nehemiah 9:7 says, “God … chose Abram, and brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees.” Deuteronomy 14:2 says about the whole Jewish people, “The LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the people who are on the face of the earth.” And Amos 3:2 says, “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth.” And here in Romans 11:28-29, Paul says, “From the standpoint of the Gospel they [the Jews] are enemies for your sake [you Gentiles], but from the standpoint of [election or] God’s choice, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

The Jews have a priority over Greeks (Greeks is used here to mean Gentiles) because of their special role as God’s chosen people. He set his favor on them and set them apart from all the peoples. Freely! Not because of any virtue or special value in them, but simply on the basis of His free choice: “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8).

2. The Jews have a priority over Gentiles as the guardians of God’s special revelation, the Scriptures.

In Romans 3:1, Paul asks our question: “What advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?” And he answers in verse 2, “Great in every respect. First of all that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.” In other words, God gave His special revelation and promises to Israel by Moses and the prophets. Romans 9:4 puts it this way: “[They] are Israelites, to whom belong … the covenants and the giving of the Law … and the promises.” These great expressions and foreshadowing of the Gospel of salvation were given to the Jews in the Word of God, so the Jews had priority in receiving and transmitting the Scriptures.

3. The Jews have priority over the Gentiles in that the Messiah Himself, Jesus Christ, came first as a Jew to the Jews.

In Romans 9:5, Paul brings his list of privileges to a climax with these words: “From [the Jews] is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.” The Messiah, Jesus, was a Jew, a Son of David (Romans 1:3). And He focused his earthly ministry on the Jews. They had a priority in his work. In Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus said to the twelve apostles as He sent them out during his life, “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans: but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And in Matthew 15:21, Jesus said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” So during His earthly life, Jesus was focused on the Jews. They had priority in His ministry.

4. The Jews have a priority over the Gentiles in that salvation is from the Jews.

These are the very words of Jesus in John 4:22. Jesus says to the Samaritan woman at the well, “You worship what you do not know; we [Jews] worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.” This simply sums up all that we have seen so far. They are the chosen nation; the nation with God’s special revelation; and the nation with the Messiah, the Savior. So, clearly, salvation is “from the Jews.”

Another way to see that salvation is from the Jews is found in Romans 11:17-24 where Paul compares the Jewish nation to an olive tree. He says that natural branches are broken off and unnatural branches were grafted in, meaning that Jews by birth were unbelieving and so cut off from the covenant of promise; and Gentiles who were believing were grafted in and saved by the covenant of promise. Verses 17-18 are crucial for us: “If some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, [then] do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” In other words, salvation comes to us Gentiles from the root of God’s covenant with the Jews. We are simply grafted in like olive branches and have no historical claim at all on being God’s people. And God saves us by reckoning us children of Abraham by faith, as Paul says in Galatians 3:7, “It is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.”

So Jews have priority because “salvation is from the Jews.” All salvation is salvation through God’s covenant with Abraham!

5. The Jews have a priority over the Gentiles in that Paul evangelized Jews first when he brought the gospel to a new place.

In Acts 13:46, Paul and Barnabas are preaching in Antioch, and the Jews will not listen to the gospel, so they say, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” In other words, just as God chose Israel and revealed himself to Israel and sent the Messiah and Savior to Israel so that salvation is from Israel, it is fitting that in the spread of the Gospel to new places, the Jews hear first of their Messiah and the good news of His salvation. So Jews have a priority in the order of frontier missions when the gospel comes to a new place.

6. The Jews have priority over the Gentiles in final judgment and final blessing.

In Romans 2:9-10, Paul says, amazingly, “There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” In other words, the priority that the Jews have, if it is rejected and squandered, will result in a priority in judgment. And if they are grateful for their priority and trust in the mercy of their Messiah, then they will go first into the final blessing of God. There are definite dangers in having this priority. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

So when Paul says in Romans 1:16, “The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,” we should call to mind these six ways that the Jews have a priority over the Gentiles:

Ÿ They are the historic chosen people of God.

Ÿ They are the guardians of God’s special revelation, the Old Testament Scriptures.

Ÿ The Messiah and Savior, Jesus, comes to the world as a Jew to Jews.

Ÿ Salvation is from the Jews, since everyone who is saved is saved by being connected to the covenant with Abraham by faith.

Ÿ The Jews are to be evangelized first when the gospel is preached.

Ÿ The Jews will enter first into final judgment and final blessing.

In Conclusion

So we come to a close with the question: Why did Paul mention this priority of the Jews in Romans 11:17-32? I think the answer is that Paul wants to humble both Jew and Greek and make them deeply aware that they depend entirely on mercy, not on themselves or their tradition or ethnic connections. To the Gentiles he says, in essence, salvation is of the Jews. You are not being saved by your Greek culture – or any other culture. You are being saved by a salvation that comes through the despised Semitic people called the Jews. “You do not support the root [of the Abrahamic covenant], the root supports you.” So do not boast over the branches (Romans 11:18). We Gentiles are saved because of the Jewish Messiah, not because of our superiority. This should vanquish anti-Semitism and fill us with zeal for evangelism to Jews.

Similarly, Paul says to the Jews, your salvation is not the result of any achievement of your own. It is God’s and He gives it to whom He pleases. He can raise up from stones – even Gentile stones! – children to Abraham (Matthew 3:9). The words “also to the Greek” in Romans 1:16 would have been as offensive to the Jews as the words “to the Jew first” were to the Gentiles. What they thought were Jewish prerogatives are, in fact, shared by the lowliest Gentiles who believe. Both of us are being humbled. We Gentiles must humble ourselves to be saved through a Jewish Messiah and a Jewish covenant; Jews must humble themselves to receive ‘unclean’ Gentiles into full covenant membership and share all the blessings of the promise of Abraham.

The whole point is that God is the One who has mercy. Ethnicity is immaterial here. Nor do we have any merit we can claim before Him. We are all sinners. So the real emphasis comes back to that wonderful word with which we began: everyone. “The Gospel is the power of God to everyone who believes.” So, whether Jew or Gentile, you are called to this one thing: believe! And receive the power of God to save you from your sins and guilt and death and judgment and hell and bring you home to ever-increasing joy in His presence forever and ever.

Pastor John Denson

President, Shalom Ministry

Congregational Leader, Shema Yisrael Bet

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