When I was visiting Israel in the 1990s, I heard a statement that was quite sad: “Those who do can, and those who cannot raise funds.” This statement reflected the view of congregational leaders who were doing the hard work of establishing congregations, winning people to faith and discipleship. Yes, they needed financial support for high rents or building purchases, education programs, and staff expansion. However, taking time away from their work to raise funds was difficult, and when they did so, the work suffered. Some with great charisma for public presentation were raising funds and paying themselves large salaries. I knew of one who bought a huge luxury house, yet he was producing almost no fruit. He traveled the world! Individuals and congregations that gave support simply did not ask the hard questions.
Fostering Real Covenant Partnerships
At the time, I thought, wouldn’t it be wonderful to pair people who were excellent in congregational ministry leadership so that support could be raised without the work being hindered? Indeed, they would establish partnerships between churches and congregations in the Land—partnerships of prayer, mutual visiting, and giving. This would include Bible schools and other ministries. Over 25 years have passed, and this idea is still unrealized.
Some of my readers know that I serve on the executive of the important Jerusalem Council II project, which seeks to see the whole Church hold a council and declare itself with regard to the Messianic Jewish community and the Jewish people. Here is a LINK. We approved a document called the Seven Affirmations. The fifth affirmation calls upon churches to share their resources to strengthen congregations and Messianic Jewish schools and institutions. One reason this statement was made was to see restitution from the Church due to its past refusal of Jewish identity and life in Yeshua.
Organizations That Profess to Do This
There have been some attempts to build organizations that would support Messianic Jewish ministry, but I am not yet satisfied. I am not yet seeing lasting covenant partnerships with congregations. What often happens is that the important goal of building real partnerships is difficult, so the organization ends up building partnerships with itself and grows in staff and overhead.
I still dream of something I call Partnerships for Messianic Jewish Ministries. There would be an absolute commitment to foster covenant relationships between congregations and ministries in the Land and ministries and congregations from the nations. I am not young, but I do not feel old yet, and I hope I can be a spur to see this happen.
One more point. Some years ago, I read the books of a passionate apostle in India who begged Christians from the nations to see that, though humanitarian work is valuable, the center of the Gospel of the Kingdom is proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom with signs and wonders following, and planting and discipling. I think that in some organizations that are raising funds, this priority has been reversed.