Chosen People Ministries Information & Chosen People Ministries Links at HealthHaven.com

Leopold Cohn

Chosen People Ministries, was founded as the Brownsville Mission to the Jews in 1894 by Leopold Cohn, a Jew who converted to Christianity. The ministry was later relocated and became the Williamsburg Mission to the Jews until 1924. From 1924 until 1984 it was known as the "American Board of Missions to the Jews". Since then it has been known by its current name, Chosen People Ministries, Inc. It is an evangelistic organization of Messianic Judaism.

[edit] History of Chosen People Ministries - List of Presidents

Beginnings

It was during a time of tremendous change that a man was born in Berezna, a small town in eastern Hungary, whose life would become interwoven with these people on the move. The Orthodox Jewish community of Berezna was the birthplace of Leopold Cohn, who was destined for a momentous quest. In this part of Europe, Orthodox Judaism was a way of life. Traditional Judaism was all-pervasive in its impact on a daily existence and there was zeal for the Torah (Law). It was not surprising, then, that Leopold Cohn became a rabbi.

A Rabbi's Quest

It was during his years of rabbinic study that certain portions of Scripture led Leopold Cohn to seek more knowledge about the Messiah. He searched the Scriptures and questioned other rabbis, but still found no satisfactory answers. One rabbi even advised him to go to America where, he said, people knew more about Real Judaism. Later, Leopold Cohn bulled this incident and felt that the rabbi knew something about the Messiah, who he claimed was Jesus.

Real Jewish Faith

Cohn knew that there was but one course for him to follow: he must share the knowledge of the Messiah, Yeshua, with his Jewish people. He explained an early encounter with members of the local community: "I showed them from the Scriptures that to believe in Yeshua was Jewish faith, real Jewish faith." This became Leopold Cohn's life calling. It also became a guiding principle for our ministry, which he founded in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York, in 1894.

A Family Ministry

Responsible Jewish evangelism has characterized Chosen People Ministries from its inception. Over the years, different aspects of our ministry's outreach have continued and expanded. The early work was a real family ministry. Mothers would come to the mission to participate in women's activities. They would also bring their children, who took part in the different programs. These programs in turn resulted in fathers coming to the mission. Through the dedicated work of early workers, many individuals and entire families came to believe in Jesus. There are many Jewish Christian family trees whose spiritual roots began through the outreach of Chosen People Ministries. Several of them, including some of our own staff, are in full-time service for the Lord.

[edit] Current Ministry

Chosen People Ministries is a member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities, the Christian Stewardship Association, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and the Interdenominational Foreign Mission Association of North America. Headquarters are in New York City.

Chosen People Ministries has staff in 12 countries around the world and starts Messianic Centers and congregations as the main focus of their work. Other activities include:

Evangelism and Discipleship

"Go therefore and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19) is still a biblical imperative. Throughout the world, Chosen People Ministries proclaims the Gospel and nurtures both new and mature believers so that they will grow in the Lord and use their gifts for His glory.

Messianic Centers

Messianic centers are focal points for ministry of all types. In addition to evangelism and discipleship, they provide a setting for worship, Bible study, spiritual counseling and practical help. Seekers find a welcoming environment at the Messianic centers that can lead to new life through the power of the Gospel.

Messianic Congregations

It isn't always easy for Jewish people to fit into churches. Jewish believers sometimes face rejection by their families, and they especially need the fellowship of those with a similar story. Messianic congregations satisfy this need, and also lift up a witness in the community that Jesus is Lord and one can be Jewish and believe in Him.

Equipping the Local Church for Jewish Evangelism

Chosen People Ministries has a wide variety of special presentations, such as "Messiah in the Passover," designed to help the church gain a greater appreciation of its Jewish roots. Chosen People Ministries also organizes conferences that offer churches and learning institutions a chance to cosponsor well-publicized major outreach programs designed to reach a broad range of Jewish and Gentile community members.

Publications

Chosen People Ministries offers monthly and quarterly publications on topics of interest to church members and Jewish readers. The monthly newsletter, The Chosen People, provides updates regarding the various developments and prayer concerns vital to the Mission. A wide variety of books, tracts, videos, tapes, DVDs and CDs are available at Chosen People Ministries' online store.

Ministry through the World Wide Web

Web technology has enabled Chosen People Ministries to reach a multitude of online seekers. The website receives many "hits" from those searching for spiritual answers and from believers wanting information. The site offers educational and evangelistic articles, challenging Bible studies, a catalog of Messianic resources and even recipes! Chosen People Ministries staff members also follow-up with seekers who make contact through email and are sometimes able to lead them to a decision to come to faith.

Volunteer and Short-term Missions Opportunities

Chosen People Ministries has a number of volunteer opportunities for people of all ages. For example, the Summer Training and Evangelism Program (STEP), which is held in Chicago and New York City, prepares volunteers through specialized classes to share the Gospel with Jewish people. Together with Chosen People Ministries' staff members, team members go out and put what they have learned into practice.

Summer Internships

Chosen People Ministries is committed to the ongoing development of future ministers who are presently in undergraduate and graduate schools. Chosen People Ministries has a number of internship programs that provide opportunities for students to complete their studies and include focuses in areas like intern missionary work, youth ministry, children's ministry, film, publishing, accounting, web development, office management and much more.

eXperience Israel

Chosen People Ministries has a deep interest in involving young people in evangelistic work. eXperience Israel is a two-week mission trip geared specifically for young people ages 18 to 30.

Outreach Israel

Outreach Israel attendees will feel the heartbeat of Israel and the pulse of the people as they meet and share their testimonies with Israelis, both believers and not-yet believers. Those on Outreach Israel will live at the Messianic center and interact daily with our Israeli staff, as the program weaves together outreach, worshipping at local congregations, service projects, children's and youth camps, and travel.

"See Israel through Jewish Eyes" Holy Land Tours

Chosen People Ministries conducts tours to the Holy Land each year. For many, these deeply enriching, faith-building and informative trips are the realization of a life's dream to walk in the footsteps of the Messiah.

Full-time Missionary Opportunities

God calls some people into full-time ministry with Chosen People Ministries. A sincere heart for reaching Jewish people with the Gospel is the first requirement to serve as a full-time worker, particularly in light of the biblical mandate to bring the Gospel "to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

It is the sincere desire of Chosen People Ministries to share the Gospel with the Jewish people in ways that are challenging and compelling. We always seek to enrich the life of the church and to minister to other members of the Body of Messiah.

[edit] External links