Many people today are curious about Messianic Judaism. Are you? Sanctuary Messianic Congregation B�nai Ohr is a Messianic congregation in Mundelein, Illinois, that present themselves as a Jewish congregation. There is one main problem, namely, that B'nai Ohr is not a Jewish group at all, but a Christian group. Specifically, they are members of the Southern Baptist Convention. I will prove this, using information from their site and other Christian sites. Each time, links will be provided so you can see the evidence for yourself.
Southern Baptist Affiliation B'nai Ohr is a full-fledged member of the Southern Baptist Convention. In fact, you can find them listed on the Illinois Baptist State Association's web-site, the Illinois branch of the Southern Baptist Convention. Here is the link to the IBSA church search, just enter in the keyword "ohr" in the Search box and B'nai Ohr's listing will appear:
Click Here If you looked carefully at the IBSA listing, you will notice that the B'nai Ohr's leader is Steve Barack. Steve Barack is an official minister of the Southern Baptist Convention. In fact, here is his listing on the Southern Baptist Convention's website:
Click Here Did you notice that his congregation was not listed as Sanctuary Messianic but as Sanctuary Church? It is clearly obvious that the Baptist recognize him as a Christian minister with a Christian congregation. Would a real Jewish group be listed on the Southern Baptist Convention's web-site? Of course not!
However, B'nai Ohr and Steve Barack are thrilled to be supported by the Southern Baptist Convention. According to the Baptist Press: "Steve Barack, the fellowship's president and rabbi at B'nai Ohr Beth Tefilah, a Messianic fellowship in Lindenhust, Ill., said the group is grateful for its ties to the SBC.
"The blessing we have as Messianic believers within the convention is the joyous support for the nation of Israel and the determination to evangelize the Jewish people," Barack said. "Without stripping away Jewishness, we wish for every Jew to have an intimate relationship with God.
"Toward that end -- or beginning -- we need the total support of the church in fulfilling the godly, biblical mandate to bring the Word to the Jews," Barack said, citing Romans 1:16.
"We pray for a credible dialogue with influential churches that encourage this outreach," he said, adding, "At our meeting we will continue the dialogue along these lines and we invite churches to the meeting to chat with us."
Without stripping away Jewishness? Barack is trying to convert Jews to the Southern Baptist Conventions and he is happy about this. His quotes show that he is truly just another Christian minister. Here is the link to the quotes, the quotes come from the 4th-7th paragraphs:
Click Here Moreover, B'nai Ohr worked with the Lake County Baptist Association (this is the regional Illinois Southern Baptist group that B'nai Ohr belongs to) in a day of evangelizing Jews at the Lake County Fair. Here is the link to the evidence; it is under "Evangelism at the Lake County Fair", toward the bottom of the page:
Click Here Further, Stuart Lee, another of B'nai Ohr's leaders, was the Church Development Manager for the Lake County Baptist Association. Would a real Jewish rabbi actually take that position? Would anyone who was really practicing Judaism take that position. Of course not. Here is the link to the proof; it is under "Praise Report From: Ric Worshill", about 1/4 down the page:
Click Here
Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship The Southern Baptist Convention sponsors a ministry for Jewish evangelism, called the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship. Do the Southern Baptists really want to help Jews stay Jewish? No, they simply want the Jews to convert to Christianity. Steve Barack has served as the President of this Southern Baptist Convention ministry! Pastor Barack, in a speech at the 2003 Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship's meeting, was clear about his true intentions. His goal is to convert the Jews. According to the article, as reported on the Southern Baptist Convention's web-site: "Sharing the Gospel message with the Jewish people in order to complete the Great Commission is their main purpose, the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship's president said at a June 16 meeting in Phoenix.
And Southern Baptists have an opportunity to play an integral role in assisting the fellowship achieve their goal, said Steve Barack, rabbi at B'nai Ohr Beth Tefilah, a Messianic fellowship in Lindenhust, Ill.
"The size and influence of the Southern Baptist Convention gives us the opportunity to evangelize more people," Barack told about two dozen people attending their 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. gathering. The fellowship met prior to the June 17-18 SBC annual meeting in Phoenix.
"If Jewish evangelism becomes a focus for Southern Baptists and matches the biblical mandate of ministering to the Jews first, then we can fulfill the Great Commission together," Barack said.
In addition to assisting local Messianic congregations to increase in size, Barack said the fellowship also encourages partnerships with Southern Baptist churches....First, the fellowship exists to promote Jewish evangelism. Second, the fellowship promotes Messianic congregational planting. Third, the fellowship acts as an ambassador to the Southern Baptist Convention.
Speakers at the Messianic Fellowship meeting included R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.; Jim Sibley, coordinator of Jewish ministries for the North American Mission Board; and Doug Metzger, director of NAMB's Strategic Focus Cities initiative.
Is there even any question about the goals of Steve Barack, the leader of B'nai Ohr? Here clearly desires the conversion of Jews to Christianity. Here is the link to the article, the quotes are from the 1st-5th and 8th-9th paragraphs:
Click Here Why Jews Don't Believe in Jesus There are many reasons why Jews do not accept Jesus, and the links below are some of the better explanations on this topic. Of course, if you have questions that are not covered on the links, you can always e-mail me with your questions. An Answer from Rabbi Stuart Federow Click Here
An Answer from Rabbi Shraga Simmons Click Here Ask the Rabbi from Ohr Somayach Click Here An Answer from Rabbi Tovia Singer Click Here Countermissionary Counseling
There are a number of groups that provide Countermissionary Counseling. Here are links to a few of them:
Jews for Judaism Alternatively, you can call them at 1-800-4PROOF1 with general questions about missionary claims.
Torah Atlanta
Outreach Judaism
Torah Life and Living Great Sites, Priceless Information
Here are a number of great sites that counter missionaries and explain the differences in belief between Judaism and Christianity, including addressing the Biblical verses that missionaries try to use against the Jews and explaining why the missionaries are incorrect. For the most in-depth analysis of verse by verse questions, go to Messiah Truth (sections on Counter-Missionary: Multi-media training [this can be read without being "multi-media"], Knowing Your Orchard and Judaism's Answer), Jews for Judaism (in their Reference Section (please note that the Isaiah topics tend to be under "Suffering Servant" part of the "Proof Text" section) and the Q & A section of Outreach Judaism. Messiah Page Messiah Truth Jews for Judaism Outreach Judaism Counter Missionary Reference Torah Atlanta Messianic Verses in Tanach Kosher Judaism Escape From Counterfeit Judaism Talking to Kids About Missionaries
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