Our Hope Podcast

From the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition to the indifference of many European churches during the Holocaust, Jewish people have historically experienced the pain of antisemitism from the church. This difficult history between the church and the Jewish community has caused many Jewish people to be hostile toward the gospel. Some will not even read the New Testament for fear it is a guidebook on how to persecute the Jewish community.

At Chosen People Ministries, we educate the church about this history of antisemitism and help equip believers to be the Messiah’s hand extended to His kinsmen. Thankfully, we know many pastors who are passionate about our cause, and on this episode, we get to interview one of them, Reverend Kenneth Larter.

April 25, 2023 will mark seventy-five years since Israel’s independence in 1948. Israel’s national rebirth after World War II is a testimony of God’s faithfulness to bring His people back to the land He promised them.

To commemorate this historical milestone, we have invited a special guest, Pat Boone, to discuss a significant song he wrote in the 1960s: “The Exodus Song.”

God uses people with all kinds of different backgrounds, skills, and experiences. Wherever we live and work, He invites us to be part of His mission. We all have a role to play in bringing the good news of eternal life in the Messiah Yeshua to all the world.

In this episode, we interview Tom and JoAnn Doyle. They founded Uncharted Ministries, an organization that focuses on making disciples among Jewish and Arab people in the Middle East. We discuss topics including:

·     What is a disciple?

·     Are we all called to ministry?

·     How can we make disciples among our family and friends?

·     How can we encourage believers who are facing persecution?  

One of the most difficult challenges we face in life is losing someone we love. We all go through grief at some point. This necessary process allows us to express the pain we feel after loss. Healthy grieving helps us come to terms with what happened and move forward in life. This episode, featuring Ellis Goldstein, is a conversation between two people who have experienced bitter loss. They discuss topics including:

·     The role of community in grief

·     How loss changed their view of God

·     How to grieve with hope

·     Why it is important to grieve

“How can God be loving and allow suffering?” is one of the most difficult theological questions there is. Though we may not know why we suffer, we do not suffer alone. Yeshua Himself is called “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). When enduring the inevitable trials of life, we are to trust in Him.

In this episode, we speak with Carissa Kerstetter and Kim Surasky, who struggle with chronic illness. We discuss questions including:

·     How does Yeshua’s suffering give us hope to endure our own suffering?

·     Does suffering have any purpose?

·     What advice would you give to a family member of someone who is suffering?

·     How does being aware of suffering in Jewish history help us share about the Messiah with Jewish people?

Wondering how God can use the events of your life for His glory? Putting our trust in the Messiah is only one step in our spiritual journey. God is always at work, making us more like His Son, Yeshua. In this episode, we hear from three Messianic Jewish believers.

·     Len Rosenberg grew up in a family where there was a lot of anger. The Messiah taught Him how to forgive.

·     Vanessa Leef came from a Messianic Jewish family. When God called her to make Israel her home, though, she was unsure what to do.

·     As a teenager, Toby Mann got involved with alcohol and drugs. A coworker helped him discover the abundant life that Yeshua offers.

Time and again, Scripture tells us not to be afraid. Fear often stems from a lack of trust in God. Sometimes we need a reminder that the Lord loves us and is in control. Though we will certainly face pain and challenges, we need not give in to fear. We invited Darlene Line to discuss this difficult topic with us. She was a senior special agent for the Department of Homeland Security when 9/11 happened. This tragedy was a turning point that eventually led to her working with Chosen People Ministries.

In this episode, we wrestle with questions including:

·     What can we learn about fear from the Hebrew Scriptures?

·     Is fear sinful?

·     Why does the Bible say that we should fear God?

·     What are some verses we can ponder when we start to worry?

·     How do we find true peace?

When we put our trust in Yeshua, we become part of the body of Messiah—the global community of people who believe in Jesus. It is also crucial to join a local congregation where we can worship together, study God’s Word, and love one another. Community can also be messy, and conflict is inevitable. To help us navigate conflict in our relationships, we invited back Scott Brown. He has served God’s chosen people in the United States and New Zealand since 1987.

We discuss questions including:

·   Why is it important for followers of Yeshua to attend a church or messianic congregation?

·   What does the nature of God tell us about community?

·   What does Judaism teach about conflict resolution?

·  What are some strategies to de-escalate a tense situation?

·   How do we decide what is worth fighting for?

The Bible depicts God in a way that leads to awe and worship. He is the king of the universe who is loving and merciful (Exodus 34:6–7). God is transcendent—yet He chooses to draw near to us. Worship, the natural response to God’s generosity, is central to who we are as human beings. In this episode, we discuss how to worship the Lord passionately, “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

Our guest is Yaron Cherniak, a Jerusalem-based musician, composer, and songwriter. He is also part of MIQEDEM, a messianic worship band. In this episode, we address topics including:

·     What Judaism teaches about worship

·     What worship looks like in Israel

·     How to balance performance and worship

·     How to cultivate a heart of worship

Prayer is one of the most important aspects of our faith in Messiah—and yet, it is often complicated and misunderstood. The same can be said for fasting, which is arguably the less popular spiritual discipline. If you have ever wondered how we should pray or why we fast, then you will definitely want to hear this episode of Our Hope podcast. We have invited back Fiona Sorbala, who serves God’s chosen people in the United Kingdom. Together, we discuss questions like:

·     How did prayer work in the Old Testament?

·     What does Judaism teach about prayer?

·     What did Jesus say about fasting?

·     What role does fasting play in Judaism?