Dear Friends,
“Who me?”
I admit I was surprised when God first imposed Himself upon my world and beckoned me into vocational Christian service. I hadn’t anticipated it, and was somewhat startled when it all began to unfold.
For some time, a mission organization called “Jews for Jesus” had mentored me, and I had settled into a congregation started by the American Board of Missions to the Jews (now Chosen People Ministries). As involved as I was with Jewish-related ministries, it is perhaps no surprise that I eventually responded to a “calling” myself, aspiring to follow in the footsteps of those giants around me. Still, I was “caught off guard” by the prospects of being a fulltime minister, and somewhat disoriented by the notion.
I really did not know where signing up would lead.
Everyone advised me to go to Bible college; so, I petitioned Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and was eventually admitted to train for missionary service. I pictured my life as a missionary: passing out Gospel tracts, knocking on doors, and laboring to get into people’s lives and hearts—one person at a time. In addition, I imagined visiting churches to share my vision and find sympathetic friends, loving and saintly sorts who might be inclined to support my work. Beyond these vague impressions, I really had no idea what to expect. I was simply responding dutifully to an “inner voice,” one beckoning me to walk by faith into an uncertain future. I did not know exactly where I was going, but contented myself to trust the One I was following.
I believe I am hearing that “beckoning” voice, again.
While on his second missionary journey in Asia Minor (today’s Turkey), Paul the Apostle heard a voice that “pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us’” (Acts 16:9). He heeded the call and set off for Europe. In 1 Corinthians 16:5, Paul expressed interest in “passing through Macedonia” (today’s modern Greece), noting that “a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9).
Though I am not Paul the Apostle, I believe I am hearing that same message. And like him, I believe it is God’s voice beckoning me to Europe to advance Christ’s Kingdom and to confront spiritual adversaries hovering about there.
Some time back, England’s chief rabbi, Dr. Jonathan Sacks, warned of a “devastating… global outpouring of hate” coming from Europe and aimed at the Jewish people. He was frustrated by Europe’s lackluster interest in countering anti-Semitism, and his warning was confirmed by the Austrian periodical Der Standard when it took on the European Union’s Vienna-based Monitoring Center on Racism for refusing to publish reports on rising Jewish hatred. Writing “Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism in Europe Today,” for the Institute of Global Engagement, Sara Nicolette quoted Cynthia Ozick (of The New York Observer) who opined that “anti-Semitism is accelerating throughout advanced and sophisticated Europe.”
I grant, with these concerned people, that anti-Semitism has always been around; and, I also agree with them that it seems especially troublesome today. From forced conversions of Jews beginning in Spain in 612, to expulsions of Jews from France in 1306 and later from Spain in 1492, to The Holocaust of the 1940s, Jews have always had a precarious existence in Europe. Strangely and sadly, a 2003 European Union poll even cited Israel as the greatest threat to world peace! It all sounds demonic to me.
Believing that it is better to light candles than simply to curse the darkness, I have an idea—what I believe is an inspired one: Why don’t we take Zola Levitt Ministries to Europe? At twenty-eight years and counting, Zola Levitt Presents is one of the longest-running nationally syndicated television programs in secular and religious broadcasting history!
With Zola before me, I personally believe—and think you do, too—that the “King of the Jews” is the only hope of Europe. With Christianity on the rapid decline there, and with Islamic growth accelerating, I say: let’s preach! I believe that there is a harvest awaiting the Kingdom in Europe!
As we continue to saturate America with the Messianic Jewish Gospel, and as we continue to broadcast into Israel, we are always looking for ways to dramatically expand and enhance the reach of God’s Word; by reaching out to Europe together, we can bring Him into millions of new homes, heads, and hearts—of Jews and non-Jews, alike.
We don’t intend to take away from any of our existing American outlets; we plan to expand. Tragically, though, the light is already flickering out in the lands that birthed the Protestant Reformation. I ask you to please pray for me as I endeavor to preach the saving Gospel from a decidedly Jewish perspective, against the backdrop of the prevailing darkness in Europe; and to pray for our ministry as we labor to teach Europeans the essence and substance of Bible prophecy. Mindful of the rapidly accelerating Islamic presence and expansion in Europe, I am not expecting an easy go of it. Still, I want to get into those homes, teach and encourage European Christians, reach non-believing Jews, engage secular “Christians” who don’t really understand the religion they claim, and express God’s love for Muslims and Jews.
So where has my signing up led?
I am still that missionary knocking on doors, looking to enter homes, heads, and hearts in the interest of being heard. In my case, however, through television I am entering millions of them—way more than I could through the conventional means of going to one house at a time. While looking for ways to knock on doors in Europe, I am also visiting Christians in America and asking, “Will you please help me?”
Whether or not you do; whether or not you’re in a position to help pay for this venture, please bow your head and help out by praying for it. Please stand with Sandra Levitt and me and ask God to grant His favor as we begin breaking new ground to take the ministry Zola founded all over the world.
Yours,
Jeffrey Seif
P.S. Whether you discover Israel through sight and sound at various biblical sites or by unearthing treasures during our one-day archaeological dig, our summer tour will be a priceless memory. Join Sandra and me from June 5–15 as we tour many of the most fascinating biblical sites in Israel. For a tour brochure, please call Tony at (214) 696-9760 during office hours or 1-800-WONDERS (966-3377), anytime.
Dear Jeff,
I share your enthusiasm about reaching out to Europe to preach the saving Gospel from a Jewish perspective, despite the expansion of Islam.
“Here is my gift for March. I stand with you as you break new ground and finish producing the TV series Lights Out on Christian Europe.”
This 2-color, 36-page book guides you through the traditional Passover Seder dinner, step-by-step. This observance reminds us of the Israelites’ rescue from Egyptian bondage, plus we remember Messiah’s last supper, a Passover Seder. What’s so unique about this Haggadah is its focus on Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah and his teaching, especially on his last night in the upper room. You'll find words and sheet music for the songs traditionally sung on Passover. The popular Complete Jewish Bible is used for translations where Scripture is quoted.
In this video, Zola explains the origin and significance of Passover, the crown jewel of the Biblical feasts, and demonstrates the feast, where Christ is revealed through its very elements. This is one of the most basic and important Bible studies, shedding clear light on the mysteries of the Lord’s Supper and unearthing Jewish roots of Christianity.
