Dear Friends,
The movie “Top Gun” emphasized the importance for fighter pilots to stay with their wingmen. Zola was this ministry’s Top Gun. He answered, of course, to a Higher Command. As this ministry’s business manager, I was never more than Zola’s wingman. And that role suited me.
The “Top Gun” movie offers no advice for us wingmen for when our Top Guns suddenly get promoted mid-flight. Fortunately I was able to radio Command Central with lots of prayer, and that’s when Jeff got his orders to report to this ministry for duty.
Jeff had some catching up to do familiarizing himself with the particulars of our various outreaches. After an impressive stint with this ministry in the ’80s, during which he developed our Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies and upgraded several of our departments, he departed to build his resume with new degrees and teaching and pastoral experience. The “new Jeff,” so to speak, is two decades older, galvanized and substantially more knowledgeable than the old. Now he’s a solid theologian, to say the least.
But I was still waiting for him to truly arrive.
Jeff needed some time to review lots of our Levitt Letters and TV programs. He took time to reacquaint with our board of directors. Jeff also met with Sandra, our Levitt Letter Editor Lou Hays, TV producer Ken Berg, Syndicator Jerry Hodges, etc.
It was when Jeff recently emailed me the internal memo below that I realized he had fully arrived. You’ll notice from reading what he wrote to me that he is now both confident and competent to serve as God’s co-pilot in this ministry’s cockpit.
From the Desk of Dr. Jeffrey L. Seif
Greetings, Mark.
As I see things, through this spring and summer, Zola Levitt Ministries has shared personal and political perspectives. We have:
- Transitioned through the illness and loss of our founder,
- Introduced another Messianic-Jewish teacher along with Zola’s widow,
- Commented upon a tension-producing, escalating war in the Middle East,
- Dealt with the loss of a principal television network, and
- Against the backdrop of the aforementioned losses and transitions, we have produced:
- A rich and nostalgic, commemorative series summing up Zola’s 27 years in broadcasting and music,
- A messianic-Gospel preaching/teaching series on Isaiah and
- A contemporary, prophecy-related book, The Iranian Menace in Jewish History and Prophecy.
Come November, Ken, Sandra and I will have laid the groundwork for another prophecy-related TV series on Bible battles, mostly from a prophetic treatment of the book of Daniel.
What then? Might some calm be in order in the wake of all the shock and transition? Though I could be wrong, my guess is that the Lebanon debacle will have long since abated, and the long-anticipated Zola-TBN divorce will be old news as well. The Isaiah series should be finishing up on television, and our viewers will continue to see this as a ministry that preaches the Gospel from a decidedly Jewish perspective—Zola’s trademark. Through the Levitt Letter, our readers will continue to view us as a Messianic ministry that serves up sage commentary on the Middle East. I suspect that we will be perceived as coming through the furnace of affliction, looking strong and steady. Come November, our nation will begin to look to Thanksgiving and then to Christmas. That will be a time when people may want to relax and, to use James Dobson’s line, “focus on the family.”
Barring any escalations in and around Israel, which would prompt us to adapt, I suggest we run the following types of articles in the pending Levitt Letter.
- Let’s use the Thanksgiving holiday on the horizon and run a story or two on Israel being the Bible’s real promised land.
- Mindful of both TBN’s abandonment of Hal Lindsey and Zola and Israel’s incessant castigation and abandonment in the secular press, I suggest we focus on anti-Semitism. I’m seeing good articles pointing to its being the fundamental problem anyway. Jews remember November 9 (Kristallnacht) as one of the most infamous anti-Semitic nights in history, as it was the time when Hitler’s goons were unleashed on German Jews in force.
- I want to run a few stories on Christian giving as well. I have written a piece, and Pat Cox sent me some interesting samplings that I believe will complement it. Both will follow your treatment of Samaritan’s Purse well, I feel.
- I’d like to use my Note from Jeff to talk about the coming new series on Daniel, which should interest especially the prophecy watchers among our constituents.
- We should cover various contemporary issues as well. For example, an impotent UN coming to allegedly secure a meaningless peace compact, how Israel is misrepresented and maligned in the secular press and even by some church representatives, and unfolding events associated with prisoner releases or the lack thereof.
- For product offerings, given that we are approaching year-end holidays, I suggest we offer the new ZLM commemorative series.
With most of America covered by the DayStar network, the i Network (PAX), ABC-Family, TCT and other outlets, I am confident that we will stabilize once our viewers find ZLP. Based on our mail and what I hear in various churches, it seems that people are staying with us, five months after Zola’s passing.
That said, I would like you to consider:
- Revamping www.levitt.com
- Adding a “Leader Feeder” enhancement to our Israel tours, where we offer discounts to pastors who wish to go to Israel
- Developing a “Teacher Feature” fund, enabling Bible college and/or seminary professors to travel free to Israel
Mark, the mature among us realize that death is a fact of life. Though grieved by Zola’s passing, I believe our supporters see that this ministry has not expired, but that it is continuing as Zola would have wanted.
Yours, Jeff
Reading Jeff’s plans for this ministry’s television programs, newsletters and web site gave me a sense of affirmation and assurance that took me back to the title of a movie—“Waiting to Exhale.” Jeff’s memo let me take a long-awaited sigh of relief.
On a different note, Israel needs tourists now as always. The Holy Land is arguably as safe as ever because her neighbors have learned anew that she can and will defend herself. Many people taking tours to Israel worry needlessly about the dangers of terrorism or unrest. “Statistically it’s a joke,” says Rochelle Sobel of the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT).
ASIRT became appalled that most people who go abroad are totally unaware of what to be concerned about when traveling the roads of other countries. “One percent of people who die abroad die from a combination of terrorism and disease.” Road accidents account for the vast majority of travel casualties. ASIRT offers Road Travel Reports (RTR) on roughly sixty nations, and you can request one by calling (301) 983-5252 or visiting their web page at www.asirt.org. ASIRT has said that Israel’s buses are among the safest in the world.
Please join Jeff Seif, Sandra Levitt and our Travel Manager Tony Derrick as well as our regular crew of Jewish Israeli guides and drivers for one of these four tours:
Time is running out to reserve a spot, so please call Tony ASAP at (214) 696-9760.
Zola’s Messianic Jewish friend Harvey Zion and Sandra will conduct our Holy Land Experience tour in Orlando, December 22 – 24. Our group will carefully study a model of Jerusalem from the time of Jesus. This makes a great visual as you learn about the 4000-year history of the City of God—the only eternal city! Ask Tony for details at (214) 696-9760 during the workweek or anytime at 1-800-WONDERS (800-966-3377).
You are probably aware that this ministry has been tweaking this and that during our transition toward Jeff assuming Zola’s role as messenger. Jeff has taken a more prominent place in front of the camera, and he is calling more of the shots with regard to fulfilling God’s mission for us. Your prayer, support and feedback are very important along this journey. Do let us hear from you about what we are doing right and what we can do better. Many of your letters that come to our office are read by more than one person, so you can be very sure we take your comments to heart—all to the glory of God.
In His Service,
Mark
P.S. Please write to me if you are no longer able to receive Zola Levitt Presents. Our goal is to leave no one behind in our migration to new TV stations and networks, and communication from you will be key.
