Let's share what HaShem is doing around the world!

Let's Build His Kingdom Together!

Shalom and greetings to all (lekulam)!

Thank you for taking the time to read our official newsletter of the UMJA (United Messianic Jewish Assembly). As believers, we strive for unity (achdut) in our kehillot (congregations), as well as all who call upon HaShem in the Name of Yeshua. For those who do not yet call upon the Name through Yeshua, we pray these newsletters provide clarity as to why we do so. 

Correction

I do want to point out an oversight in last month's issue. I neglected to mention Rabbi Yosef Koelner and Rabbi Gary Beresford's contributions, presenting with such excellent and personal teaching. I apologize for not catching this, but the Besorah Tovah is that we're able to include portions of their teachings in this issue. So, for those who weren't able to attend, you can see some of the quality messages that were given during our time together.

Oneness

Today there are many diverse schools of thought and beliefs in G-d and His Son Yeshua, but it’s imperative that we strengthen our common core beliefs and come together as one. This was our experience at the 2022 Besorah Tovah (Good news) Conference in Georgia, and we continue to glean and grow from it.

New Vision and Bonding

For one thing, we took consensus from all who attended and revised our statement of beliefs. As a result, we fostered greater respect for one another, deeper under-standing of Scripture, bonding as a body, and mishpucha (family). A testimony to this bonding is attached, by Rabbi Mordechai Esper of Georgia. 

New Faces and Outreaches

In addition to reinvigorating our unity in person after the long Covid absence, we welcomed new rabbis, a ro’eh (Messianic pastor), our new senior rabbis, and converts (giyurs). Baruch HaShem!

New Pooled Resources

Among the new members and affiliates we are excited to announce that Moreh Dr. Duane Miller is coming aboard. His vast library of teachings can be accessed at Matsati.com. 

Internationally, we are excited to announce that Rabbi Jeremiah has come on board to the UMJA all the way from the Philippines. He is currently teaching the book of Revelation online. Details of the many other courses being offered via Youtube are included in his curriculum review attached.

Conference 2023

Largely due to the success of Conference 2022, Rabbi Gabriel Lumbroso is already planning our next conference to keep the momentum going! If you were able to attend in Georgia, please take a few minutes to email your feedback through the attached survey questions at the bottom of this letter.

New Book 

Continue to pray for the completion and editing of the “UMJA” reference book named “Writings of the Messiah.” This text will offer 500+ pages pertaining to the Messiahship of Yeshua with parallel verses from the Tanach, Talmud, and the Brit Hachadasha.

New Yeshiva

See below for more information about Rabbi Yosef Koelner's plans to start the first UMJA Yeshiva. More to come!

New Publishing Company

Please read about our new publishing company in Rabbi Gabriel’s article below!  

New UMJA Secretary

Finally, we wish to thank Ryan Oltman for his interim service as Secretary for the UMJA. He will continue as Treasurer but is stepping down as Secretary. Now, we congratulate Karen Low Deloge for accepting the position, and her years of prior corporate experience  will surely be a blessing for the UMJA! She was born and trained up for a time like this:) (paraphrase) Ester 4:14

Lots of Besorah Tovah on the horizon for the UMJA! Shalom Shalom!

In Yeshua’s Holy Name,

R’Ken

BESORAH

RABBI GARY BERESFORD

Bradenton, Florida

Besorah is the Hebrew word that is usually translated as good news or good tidings. It can also mean to announce, declare, to bring, and tell good tidings.

This is brought out in many places in Scripture e.g., in 2 Kings 7:9 when the lepers informed the king that the Arameans had fled and abandoned all their food and belongings in the camp.

The word euangellion is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew and is the word used to inform us of the Good News of Yeshua and that the kingdom of Heaven is with us or as it is often translated “at hand.”

The translators of the Gospels decided to use a German based word that morphed into the English, gospel, which really has nothing to do with Hebrew or Greek.

This creates a mindset that the Good News only came from the Yeshua’s time on earth. However, the work of Yeshua our Messiah is above all that was done for mankind since the creation of humanity.

Good news has been with us since man was created, and G-d has revealed the blessings He has poured out on us all through the Scriptures… 

·    The saving of Noah and his family was certainly good news for them as it was to the creatures that were saved.

·  Abraham receiving a visitation from

G-d was a blessing and good news. 

The blessing of a son to Abraham and Sarah in their old age was good news.

·  The fact that Isaac was chosen over Ishmael was good news for Isaac and the Jewish people.

·    Jacob wrestling with G-d as the story seems to imply received a blessing from G-d who changed his name to Yisrael. The good disposition of Esau toward Jacob and his family on his return to the Promised Land was good news.

· Joseph being spared from being murdered by his brothers was good news to him. Ultimately, he was positioned to manage the grain reserves and save not only the Egyptians but Israel from calamity when severe drought swept the Middle East and North Africa. That was good news.

I could go on and on through the Scriptures, which is important for us to read and understand and gain insight into the character of the Lord, to grasp the blessings and the curses. But above all, to understand what it means to be a member of the guf HaMeshiach, the body of Messiah.    

The theme of the conference was the Gospel. Perhaps many expected teaching on how to bring the Good News. My point is that just as G-d broke into my life and changed me, many have had the same experience, and the result should be the same--we are changed by the Spirit of G-d.

We are the living Gospel, G-d’s Good News and we need to reveal this to all we encounter. We are different and we think differently than the world. We should not be ashamed of the Good News as Paul said. We should be proud, not arrogant that G-d has placed His Spirit within us. 

Therefore, let us not hide the light of Messiah, but let it shine forth because that is the Good News that is within and without.  

• Baruch HaShem! We praise G-d for strengthening our bonds of achdut (unity) and for the many new relationships developing. We know this is most pleasing to his heart, as it is written in Psalm 133. There Adonai ordains the blessing and we partake of eternal life! 

• Give thanks for all the new faces, newly ordained rabbis, roehs (Messianic pastors), and giyurs (converts) that HaShem is gathering around the world and in our midst in the UMJA!

• We uphold new ministries being started around the country. In prisons, in growing congregations, and even in the construction of a new synagogue! Pray for Rabbi Greg Lehtimaki and his congregation in this endeavor. near Atlanta.  Praise G-d for open doors and the many details of these projects.  

• Pray for the development process of the first UMJA Yeshiva by Rabbi Yosef Koelner, now getting underway! Pray that many will take advantage of the courses offered, that understanding will be deepened and many lives impacted through the study of Hebrew. 

• Let’s pray that the momentum and encouragement of our fellowship will continue even while spread out in so many remote areas, until that glorious Day when we shall see Him as he is, amen? 

CONFERENCE SURVEY 2022 

As we begin brainstorming for the UMJA CONFERENCE 2023, and formulating agenda ideas and plans to make the next one even better, would you consider helping with this brief survey? 

For all who attended the 2022 Conference in Georgia, and while it is still somewhat fresh in your mind, please email your thoughts to:  rabbigabriel@thelumbrosos.com

1. What would you most like to see repeated in Conference 2023?

2. Is there anything (aside from the sound system issue) that you hope to see changed in future events?

3. Are you in favor of another mid-summer date between mid-July and mid-August?

4. Would you be in favor of a small registration fee to share costs of the event?

5. If you have time, would you care to share briefly what most blessed you at Conference 2022?

Forever Adonai, your word

stands firm in the heavens. 

Psalm 119:89

Just look at the difference a little time and attention makes! In the same way, we have resurrected Torah in our hearts and view it with greater love and admiration than ever before. 

The Torah you have spoken means more

to me than a fortune in gold and silver.

Ps 119:72

K.Low Deloge

• Has Hashem been moving in your life or in your part of the world? We need to learn from one another.  

• Are you new to our UMJA family? We want to support one another.

• Do you have a story or testimony to share? We need to encourage one another.  

    Please send to karenlowdeloge@gmail.com for inclusion in a future issue.

For any Torah Sisters out there, here is a Messianic magazine filled with devotional artiicles, ideas for your families for the feasts, recipes, and great resources in a beautiful 25-page color format. This publication is put together by a Torah observant woman named Amy Guenther, from the Michigan congregation where Doug and Karen Deloge became Torah aware. Their 5th annual campout was attended by about 300 this summer. 

Baruch HaShem! 

IN THE TISHRI CALENDAR

• Tishri 1/Sept 26: Rosh Hashana
• Tishri 8: First Temple 14 days dedication begins (1 Kings 8:2)
• Tishri 10/Oct 5: Yom HaKippurim
• Tishri 15/Oct 10: 1st day of Sukkot (followed by 6 days of chol mo'ed Sukkot)
• Tishri 22/Oct 17: Shemini Atzeret/eighth day of Sukkot
• Tishri 23/ Oct 18: Simchat Torah (some celebrate it the same day as Shemini hatzeret)