Last Shabbat Rabbi Nathan shared a sermon about an organization that I had not heard of, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), its mission to help persecuted Christians. As Rabbi Nathan elaborated on the history of the founders I was fascinated, not only by the story, but also with the maturity of our Messianic Judaism that Rabbi Nathan was inspired to give a sermon about a Christian organization about Jews who converted without getting “hung up” on words – Christian or Jewish.

How fascinating that the founder Richard Wurmbrand and his wife Sabina were Romanian Jews who lived during the years of turmoil not only during German occupation and the Holocaust, but also, during Russian persecution for their later Christian faith which was illegal under the atheist regime. I was in awe of their lives, that they could love and care for their enemies, shifting the recipients of their hospitality and care as their enemies changed, for their persecutors’ nationalities were irrelevant for Richard and Sabina who followed Yeshua’s teachings to love one another as He loves us.

Perhaps the most powerful vignette was when Sabina welcomed and fed the actual killer of her family in the Holocaust. The sermon went on to describe years of unspeakable torture and resilient ability not to forsake their belief in Yeshua, a belief that was the reason they were able to sustain such unimaginable cruelty. Their courage, fortitude, and kindness not only changed the hearts of some of their captors but ultimately became the foundation for this amazing organization, VOM, that is a powerhouse for service to the Lord.

When I researched VOM it states, “The organization was founded in 1967 by Richard Wurmbrand, a Lutheran priest . . . “ Although born Jewish he and his wife were called in this way to serve God. As my decades long walk as a Messianic Jew has unfolded I have learned and am continuing to understand more deeply the way we as Jewish believers in Yeshua can serve our Creator.

In my many conversations with Christians, and I thank God for the growing number of opportunities, I have such a better understanding of the gap between their knowledge of Jewish people, and frankly, our knowledge of Christians. Being a believer in Yeshua for these many years I now have some familiarity with the New Testament, and being Jewish, I was raised on the Torah’s teachings, and I know what it means to be Jewish. As conversations lead to understanding, as the similarities and overlaps are discussed, we cross the divide together over a blessed bridge of mutual understanding.

The Christians with whom I speak understand that I did not convert, nor did I need to in order to know our Messiah Yeshua. They understand why I follow Torah teachings and observe the Jewish holidays. Some even are very excited that I do so.

Similarly, with a 98.9% Ashkenazi Jewish 23 and Me report, not to mention being raised with my Orthodox bobbe (grandma) in our home, my creds qualify me to speak Jew to Jew to those I do. I again thank HaShem for the many opportunities.  I am sure it is no accident that our Abba has placed me exactly where I’m to be with just what I need to serve Him in this way.

Each of you are just as you are to be, whether born a certain faith, converted, single, married, in a mixed marriage. It doesn’t matter. If you seek His guidance and ask to serve, you will meet the people with whom you are to relate. Just as God meets us where we are you, too, are uniquely qualified to meet others where they are. It is that uniqueness that makes the ability to share His Love able to be relatable to so many diverse people.

Your life experiences have made you a specialized ambassador for the Lord. Now that’s exciting!! How has what has been your life, the good and the bad even from childhood, molded you into a servant of the Lord? When you ponder this, pray about this, you will discover your ways to share Messiah with those He will put in your path and you will do so with a tender heart of understanding. I was the peacemaker in my family and that is a gift now for His service, for I love being the bridge. I came to know Yeshua as a Jew which convicted me to my Judaism even more strongly. That identity is a gift now for His service as I speak to my mainstream Jewish brothers and sisters.

Richard and Sabina Wurbrand were a strong testimony of the power of Yeshua’s love, the reality that He is who He said He was, because they had suffered as Jews, because their family had experienced cruel antisemitism. They could also feel the pain of their Christian brothers and sisters as they suffered under the cruelty of Russian occupation. They were doubly chosen to serve Him for multitudes.

As in the days of Esther, perhaps we are here for a time such as this. Each of us has an opportunity to bring the knowledge of how much every one of us is loved by our amazing God who came here in person through Yeshua to deliver that immortal message.

We have so much to be thankful for not only on this Thanksgiving day but on every day.  I am grateful to be alive during these decades when Jews and Christians are coming together in their understanding of each other and becoming able to discuss Yeshua. I am grateful to be living in these days of feeling God moving mightily in our world to bring more of His loved ones to Him. I am grateful to be awakened to His beckoning and hope each of you can feel that inspiration to our greatest mission, to love, love, love.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane