|
Dear Friends in Messiah,
In the mid-70’s, I ran across a high school friend that I had not seen in may years, when he showed up to sell me insurance. Our old and close friendship was rekindled, and we spent a number of evenings together with our wives.
Around this time, a best-seller had come on the market called “Chariot of the Gods” by Eric Von Danikan, written on the premise that life originated from extra- terrestial life forms from outer space, and that the Bible actually contained evidence to support that theory. I was facinated and brought this up in conversation. My friends wife mentioned that she started attending a Bible study recently, which was taught by, of all things, Jews who believed in Jesus. I had no real religious training or beliefs, nor had I ever opened a Bible, but in my arragance, I decided to attend this class, along with my friend, just to prove these people to be the frauds and fanatics that I know they were. I was going to dazzle them with my intellect!
When I arrived at the home where the study was held, I entered the room to see it filled with smiling and chatting faces. I was on my guard! From across the room ran this short, heavy-set little women in a house-dress who preceeded to wrap her arms around my neck, plant a big kiss on my cheek, and ask me if I knew Yeshua (Jesus)!
When I recovered, I had to answer truthfully - NO! As an Italian man raised in the traditional church of my nationality, I had heard that this Jesus died for my sins, but I never could under- stand how or why that could be,nor did I know I could have a real, personal relationship with him. I wanted to believe in God but He never did much for me it seemed.
This was the beginning of an amazing 27+ year journey in the scriptures and Jewish evangelism. I, a gentile man, was taught the truth of God’s Word from a Jewish perspective, by some of the finest Hebrew- Christian students of scripture of our time. I became involved at the start of the messianic movement of those days. I came to realize that the God I worship is the God of Israel and the Bible. The saviour I so humbly accepted was Israel’s long awaited Messiah. The book that I believe to be infalliable and all instructive in spiritual truth is the holy scriptures given by God to the Jews who have preserved it for countless centuries. Everything about the Christian faith is, well . . . Jewish! God has given me a love and burden for the Jews that has lasted all of these
years.
And that dear, sweet Jewish women who led me to Messiah was a missionary with the then American Board of Missions to the Jews (now Chosen People Ministries). She is in her late 80’s, living in Florida and still a close, dear friend, mentor, and Sister in Messiah. Her name is Clara Rubin.
My Ministry . . . Shiloh Ministries has been my own private work to share the Good News with whoever will listen, “to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile”. (Rom. 1:16) My outreach in recent years has been limited to those who God puts in my path, and those I have been able to reach over the Internet.
As a student of scripture, I have also had a special love of Escotology (the study of the End Times), and the role that Israel and the Jew will play in the Last Days seniero. I am convinced, as are most who have an understanding of this topic, that the time is now at hand, and we are about to enter the final days leading to the return of Messiah, and the opening of the doorway to eternity.
In recent times, God has spoken to my heart and impressed upon me to expand my ministry, and focus on spreading the truth to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”. My vision is to establish a series of home Bible studies, where Jews and Gentiles can come together to hear the truth, in a non-threatening environment. Jew are not comfortable in a church, and unsaved Gentiles are not comfortable in a Messianic congregation, however, a home environment is nutural groubnd and feels safe to most folks.
Another part of our outreach will be to write and print a series of tracts that we will offer free to anyone who requests them, and to equip Gentile Believers with the knowledge and tools to witness to their Jewish friends and neighbors with love. We are trusting God to make these things fall into place, and to supply the people, homes and finances.
Ron Cusano,
Shiloh Ministries
November, 2002
|
|
