(written in the Spring of  2000)

MJMI was clearly “cast down” by the sudden death of Founder and President Manny Brotman. “But,” we can agree with the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul), we are “not destroyed.”

Manny’s death in July 1999 from a sudden brain hemorrhage naturally dealt a severe blow to this ministry founded in 1963.  Manny will be greatly missed by his family and other loved ones as well as all those who were touched by his personal ministry.  The passion and commitment of Manny and Sandra Brotman to the cause of Messianic Judaism will long be remembered by untold thousands who, with the help of MJMI were able to reach their loved ones for our Messiah Yeshua.

Even though Manny has gone on to be with the Lord, you will be glad to know that Sandra will continue to contribute to the future success of MJMI as a consultant to the ministry.

I believe God wants MJMI to continue. MJMI’s overarching purpose, as first given to Manny, was “to help bring the Good News of Messiah Yeshua to every Jewish person in the world.”  Obviously, that has not yet been accomplished; there is still much more to be done!

Like the Brotmans, I, too, am a Messianic Jewish believer, committed to evangelizing my people.

My vision for MJMI, in cooperation with other Messianic people and organizations, is to spread the Good News of Yeshua, the risen Messiah of Israel.  We will, with God’s leading and power, work to secure the ongoing existence and vitality of the Jewish people worldwide, while simultaneously sharing Yeshua’s message of love.  I believe MJMI will be used by God as a significant part of “His team” to help bring about worldwide Jewish evangelism.

From Home Building to Kingdom Building

I became president of MJMI in December when MJMI formed a strategic partnership with New Life League International (NLLI), and moved its headquarters to Phoenix, Arizona. God arranged my coming to MJMI without any warning, though I knew He was about to do something new in my life.

I have been in a spiritual, God-led men’s accountability group since 1995 with the president of NLLI, Stan Runnels. Stan had talked with MJMI about the possibility of collaborating with MJMI to reprint the Harkavy Bible. During those talks, Manny was promoted to Heaven.  At that time, I finished working out my notice that I had given resigning my position of President of FORECAST HOMES of Arizona.  I didn’t know what the Lord would have me do next, after 20 years in the home building business.

Shortly after Manny’s death Stan Runnels talked to Sandra Brotman and the MJMI board, giving his condolences and offering to help if he could be of any service.

More conversations followed, and in late summer, Stan asked me if I would consider being president of a Messianic Jewish ministry if it were to move to Phoenix.  After praying with my wife Debbi (Deborah Jacobus), I told him I would be very interested.

The partnership was completed in late December, and I began to function as president of MJMI.

A Messianic Jewish believer, I received Yeshua as my Messiah and personal Savior in 1974.  I grew up in a Conservative Jewish home, graduated from Hebrew school and had my Bar Mitzvah.  In college, however, I wandered away from any spiritual life to explore what the world had to offer.  Following my graduation with a major in psychology ( I have always wanted to help people), I left my home state of New York headed for Phoenix.  But before reaching my destination, thanks be to God, I was “hijacked” by the Lord!

I was in Albuquerque where I met Rod Girgan through a “divine appointment.”  I needed a place to stay and I stopped at the House of Peace.  A believer there brought me to a home meeting at Rod’s house.

Rod led me through the Scriptures, showing me prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament.  After many hours of reasoning with me through God’s Word, he gave up in the wee hours of the morning.  Then the power of God came upon me.  I wept and wept, repenting and asking Yeshua into my life as my Messiah, Savior and Lord.  The next day I was baptized.  I set off on a new life.  I went from living life in the kingdom of darkness to living in the Kingdom of Light (in the presence of my Lord and Savior Yeshua HaMoshiach.

MJMI’s Role Multifold

MJMI’s role in the Messianic community has been multifold:

• to provide people and materials to help educate others on how to evangelize Jewish people worldwide;
• to provide people and materials to disciple Jewish and non-Jewish people worldwide;
• to be a unifying force in the movement between and among all Messianic Jewish people and organizations, through prayer and personal contacts and relationships; and
• to minister via telephone to the needs of those who call MJMI.

Purpose of MJMI

The purpose of MJMI is to provide for the spiritual, educational and material welfare of Jewish people who have embraced the risen Messiah of Israel; and to share with Jewish people and non-Jewish people worldwide their Messiah’s message of love and redemption for all.

The Future

At MJMI we are seeking God’s leading and guidance for several special projects which are on our hearts at MJMI.  Please join us in prayer concerning these:

• Republish, print and distribute the Harkavy Bible, which contains the best translation of Messianic prophecies, as an aid to Jewish evangelism;
• Building with materials originated by MJMI, and upon work already done by NLLI, train Jewish believers in the former Soviet Union (CIS), to spread the Good News of their Jewish Messiah Yeshua to their friends and relatives;
• Help trained Messianic Jewish believers in the CIS who wish to make Aliyah to Israel and act as missionaries spreading the Good News to their countrymen in Israel; and
• Publish, print and distribute MJMI’s catalog, which will be a teaching and training publication, as well as the definitive resource for acquiring Messianic Jewish materials.

I hope you agree that we have some exciting projects ahead.  And I hope you’ll devote some of your prayer time to lifting these before the Lord that we might know His perfect will for MJMI at this time.  Pray, too, that we will hear His voice and obey every step of the way!