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Delegates at the annual UMJC business meeting, in Portsmouth, VA, July 25-26, approved a number of exciting initiatives that will help shape the future of our Union and the Messianic Jewish community:
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Chevra USA, formerly known as Anshe Rachamim, an organization supplying humanitarian aid to the Jews of the former Soviet Union, has become an arm of the UMJC. Chevra Executive Director Dr. Michael Schiffman says, "Partnership between Chevra and the UMJC will be mutually beneficial as we work to help our people in Eastern Europe and Israel, and to build a credible testimony for Yeshua in the Jewish world."
- Delegates affirmed a new UMJC Sisterhood, which seeks to bring together women from all member congregations for learning, encouragement, and tzedakah (literally "justice", or efforts on behalf of the needy). The sisterhood's SMILE project (Sharing Messiah In Love Everywhere) is providing dental care resources and other aid to the Ethiopian Israeli community.
- A resolution in support of Israel during its time of war with Hizbullah and Hamas was sent out as a press release by the delegates. View the text here.
- Among new member congregations is Beth-El a Russian congregation in Cleveland, Ohio, led by Igor Bagirov, which also joined the UMJC Planters Program. The movement for Yeshua among Russian-speaking Jews continues to grow, along with increasing interest in a deeper connection with Jewish tradition and values. Beth-El promises to be the first of a number of such congregations affiliating with the UMJC. We also welcome Beth Emunah, Agoura Hills, CA; Chavurah Succat Shalom, Derwood, MD; Olive Tree Congregation, Plainview, NY; and Sha'ar Adonai, New York City, to the UMJC family.
- Delegates also approved an innovative Planters Committee project, launching a Messianic Center in New York City in cooperation with Chosen People Ministries and Yachad Network. The center is not a new congregation, but will focus on outreach, education, discipling a new generation of leaders, and building a network within the Messianic Jewish movement, locally, regionally, and nationally.
Delegates were joined by a number of Young Adult Advisory Delegates, aged 18-29, representing their respective congregations on behalf of the younger generation that we are eager to reach. The efforts approved this year are a reminder of the tremendous potential of like-minded congregations united to establish, strengthen, and multiply congregations for Yeshua within the House of Israel.
Here is a report on the conference itself, adapted from the newsletter of UMJC member Beth Messiah Congregation, Columbus, Ohio:
Delegates from member UMJC congregations throughout the United States, as well as Israel and South Africa, convened in Portsmouth, VA, for their 27th annual business meeting and conference. The conclave was well attended, and featured five training tracks including Education, Worship, Administration, From Bench to Bimah (helping members become leaders), and Destiny 101, a leadership track for young adults.
The Friday night Shabbat dinner was followed by an Erev Shabbat service led by the host congregation. The Shacharit service for Shabbat was led by the young adults, and featured worship, dance, a message, and the Torah service. It was an inspirational sight to see the Torah processed through such a crowd, with people straining to touch and pay homage. What a dramatic symbol of God's Word going out into the world!
The theme of this year's conference was "Enable, Encourage, Energize!" Everything, the multitude of relevant workshops, uplifting and encouraging services, excellent worship, a wide variety of Judaica vendors, children's camp, teen program, late night talks, and fellowship, contributed to the energizing and encouraging of conference goers and gave them usable ideas and excitement to take back home with them.
The UMJC exists because of congregations, and congregations exist because of people. We are the people that define what the UMJC is. So if you would like to experience the exhilaration of connecting with the greater Messianic community, and help shape the movement, it's important to attend the conference. Next year in Chicago!
Next year's conference, entitled "Tikkun Olam: Restoring the World in Messiah," reflects a growing emphasis on tzedakah within the UMJC, and will run July 25-28, 2007, at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort near Chicago.
For recordings of this year's outstanding educational conference, go to www.MannaRecording.com or print your own order form.
(photos courtesy of Marissa Horn)
In Yeshua,
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