November, 2007

Dear Friend,

We are living in a day when convictions seem to not run very deep and readily give way to convenience and comfort. Not so with the band of 102 men, women, and children who set sail aboard the Mayflower September 6, 1620 for what would be a harrowing three-month crossing of the Atlantic. It was November 9 when they left the deck of the ship and set foot on the cold, windswept landscape of Cape Cod. How much easier it would have been for them to remain in England in familiar comfort and ease, the “only requirement” being desertion of their religious convictions, but they would not.

One gets the impression that these “pilgrims” (as they would later be called) took seriously the words of Jesus who admonished potential followers to “count the cost of discipleship” (Luke 14:25-33), concluding with this sobering declaration:

So likewise, whosoever he is of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)

For most Jewish people, the decision to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah and Savior is made in full recognition that it will result in significant lossÑloss of family relationships, loss of Jewish friendships, loss of educational or business opportunities, and even loss of inheritance. At best, such a decision will likely mean a charge of turning one’s back on Jewishness; at worst, it could result in the label, “traitor,” or “mentally unbalanced.” To these the words of Matthew 16:25 are sweeter than honey:

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Tradition holds that the pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving the year after their arrival at Plymouth Rock, 1621. Nearly four hundred years later, in this Thanksgiving month, we are deeply grateful for faithful friends like you who continue to support our ministry of “lovingly and sensitively presenting the Gospel of Messiah Jesus to Jewish people.” We remind them, as we remind ourselves:

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

Blessings of joy and peace on you and yours.

Sincerely in Messiah Jesus,

Rev. Roger L. Wambold,
General Director