My story:
“What will happen to my Jewish identity take when I accept Jesus, especially in light of the fact that the accepted / traditional form of Judaism will reject me? Why is baptism necessary? And apart from an inner change of unconditional love, what else must I do to accept Yeshua?”
(A 25-year-old man in the center of Israel).
What to know
- Getting baptized is often seen as a betrayal of the Jewish people and the end of a person’s Jewish identity, even though the practice has Jewish roots.
- The rejection of family and community that comes when someone starts to follow Yeshua can be extremely painful and hard to take. Some families even say prayers for the dead as if they had died.
- Since Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah, there’s nothing more Jewish a person could do than to believe in Him! Despite the difficulties, accepting Yeshua as Messiah and Lord often leads to a wonderful revolution in a person’s identity, and a greater understanding of what it means to be part of the people of Israel.
How to Pray
- Please pray for those in strictly religious communities, that God would provoke curiosity about the Bible and the Messiah, and draw many to Himself.
- Pray that more and more Israelis like this man to overcome their barriers to faith, and for God to bring help, fellowship, and comfort when the going gets rough.
- Pray for our team as they seek to support seekers who are exploring the teachings of Yeshua, and questions of faith — for God’s wisdom and love.
