How many Messianic Kehilat – Congregations are there World-wide and where do we fit in?
The Messianic movement is growing so quickly as a movement, and is so diverse, that precise numbers are hard to come by. You have to sort out groups that claim the title ‘Messianic’ but are rejected by the mainstream consensus, such as ‘two house’ congregations, you also have to determine what a legitimate congregation is – is it legitimate if there are no Jewish members? Yes! Thirdly, one has to differentiate between established communities and small house groups (that nevertheless might become thriving congregations in a few years), which now are called ‘chavurot’ or ‘fellowships’ in Hebrew. So… what’s the number? The Messianic Times lists 206 Messianic Congregations worldwide, but this list is not all-inclusive. The IAMCS lists 122, and the UMJC lists 79, and the AMC lists 13. An educated estimate would be that there are around 450 viable functioning congregations worldwide, including a hundred or more in Eretz Israel. This number is a huge increase from the small handful of Messianic Congregations that existed 30 years ago – so it is nothing short of remarkable! In NZ there are five or six listed nationally.
What does being Messianic mean?
If you have given your heart to Yeshua Ha Maschiach (Jesus the Messiah), repented and been forgiven for your sins, and count yourself as part of His Jewish/Gentile Body with a heart for Israel, and look eagerly for His return to the exact spot He departed from 2,000 years ago, Jerusalem, then you are Messianic. Jew and Gentile, two equal united halves of His Body with Yeshua Ha Maschiach as it’s head. What does he want us to do? Matt 28:18-20 ( read it) Isa58:6-14 (read) Rom 11&12 (read) 1 Cor13 (read). But How do we do it right here, right now?
Areas to Develop: Meetings:- Shabbat Services, Erev Shabbat meals, monthly shared meals 1st week of month, Women’s meetings? Men’s meetings? Youth meetings, Dance/music practice etc.
Outreach: Meeting community needs? 1st weekly food/money/ whatever donations to be shared with those in need, developing into Coffee shop, resources, food bank, clothes etc., counselling, youth, etc.
General: Open meetings with visiting speakers, work done on properties (widows/elderly/needy etc.). Supporting other areas in BOP and around NZ teaching and establishing other congregations, and eventually to other nations particularly Jerusalem and others in Israel. Web Sites are up and running but we need to continue to develop their use as a resource. Trips to Israel starting as soon as possible starting with us and then expanding, no tourists. Only those who want to get their hands dirty need apply.
Talent Bank: What can you do physically and spiritually? What are your gifts? What resources do you have to contribute? Everyone will be released into areas of gifting and talent and supported and encouraged to be everything Yeshua wants them to be.
Other Areas to be developed? You fill in the blanks……………………………………………….
We are a body a community of believers sharing and building each other up in love, no one man bands here!