Reunion Roadmap

This week we continue our interview with Sister Georjean Allenbach, Beverly Hall, Donna Matts, and Barbara Wilkins as they tell us more about their recent visit to Jerusalem for the Nations 9th of Av in August 2019. Their stories unfold with more details of the events surrounding this groundbreaking initiative and the relationships of trust and respect established between the two halves of God’s people Israel. What will this do for Christian-Jewish relations and the restoration of Ephraim and Judah? You may be surprised!

In this season of Sukkot, our Elders David Jones and Barry Philips look into not only the relations between God and His people but among all segments of His people as well in their midrash, Apples, and Fire. We enjoy as well the music of Mason Clover and Melody Joy.

There are a number of topics covered in this show that you might want to investigate further. Here are some links that will be helpful:

• The Nations 9th of Av: https://9-av.com/
• Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary: https://www.kanaan.org/
• Root Source: https://root-source.com/
• Bridge Connector Ministries: https://bridgeconnectorministries.com/

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/

Psalm 133 tells us that it is good and pleasant for brothers to dwell together in unity. That’s true about any brothers or sisters, but what if David the Psalmist was referring specifically to the relationship between Judah and Ephraim? That relationship was already strained in his days, as the Scriptures tell us, and after the reign of his son Solomon the strain erupted into the division of the kingdom, the nation, and the family of Israel.  The division continues to this day, only now it takes the form of the rift between Jews and Christians. We are of the same family, of course. We all worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and we look forward to the restoration of all Israel under the reign of Messiah Son of David. So is there anything we can do to heal this division?

Our guests over the next four shows believe there is something we can do. Sister Georjean Allenbach, Beverly Hall, Donna Matts, and Barbara Wilkins were among the participants in the Nations 9th of Av, a gathering of Christians in Jerusalem to join with Jews in observing the 9th of Av on August 10-11, 2019. This unprecedented gathering served as a major milestone in bringing this family back together after several thousand years of adversity. How it happened is the testimony these four prayer warriors share. Be prepared for some challenges, surprises, and encouragement in this series of interview segments!

In keeping with the theme of this interview, David Jones and Barry Philips present a midrash on the topic of Teshuvah and Home, and we hear new music from Mason Clover, as well as an old favorite from Bill Green.

There are a number of topics covered in this show that you might want to investigate further. Here are some links that will be helpful:

• The Nations 9th of Av: https://9-av.com/
• Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary: https://www.kanaan.org/
• Root Source: https://root-source.com/
• Bridge Connector Ministries: https://bridgeconnectorministries.com/

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/

Honoring our elders is the continuing theme in the first half of this show. We continue our visit to the Ebenezer Home in Haifa, Israel, the only retirement home in Israel for elderly disciples of Yeshua. David Phillips begins the segment by telling us about the project to build a nursing ward to expand the home’s capabilities. Then we hear from Samantha Lagoy, a volunteer at the home who shares a powerful testimony of how this ministry of love changes the lives of these older saints and those around them.

David Jones and Barry Philips investigate another aspect of love in the midrash portion as they dig into a puzzling portion of the Torah. Love is fundamental in the calling and identity of God’s people, as we hear in the music of Miriam Houtz and Solomon Lopez.

To learn more about the Ebenezer Home, including how you can help in such important work as the Nursing Ward project, visit their website at https://www.ebenezer.co.il/.

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/

The Torah tells us to rise up before the grey-headed and honor the aged (Leviticus 19:32). Honoring the aged is at the heart of Paul’s exhortation on how to relate to our elders:

Honoring our elders is something we often overlook, particularly as they near the end of this life. That is why ministries such as the Ebenezer Home in Haifa, Israel, are so important. As Israel’s only residence for elderly disciples of Yeshua, the Ebenezer Home serves a very special purpose, ministering not only to the elderly saints who live there, but to their families, and to the surrounding community. We will learn much about that purpose over the next two shows as we hear from Johnny Khoury and David Phillips, two of the Ebenezer Home’s Israeli administrators, and from Samantha Lagoy, a resident volunteer.

Our own Elders David Jones and Barry Philips have some important insights to share this week as they discuss the purpose of memorials. Are memorials simply there for us to remember, or are they persistent reminders to take action on the things of importance to our God? This midrash, along with the music of Will Spires and Jimmie Black, connects powerfully with the testimonies shared by our fellow laborers at the Ebenezer Home.

To learn more about the Ebenezer Home, including how you can help in such important work as the Nursing Ward project, visit their website at https://www.ebenezer.co.il/.

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/

Is it necessary to jettison our intellect to believe the Bible? Are there really so many contradictions in the scriptural accounts and in the interpretations of them that we should simply walk away? Caleb Cohen worked through questions like these soon after he graduated from Clemson University and went to work at Eastman Chemical Company. In this second part of our interview with him, Caleb tells us how he found a resolution to this profound crisis of faith.

Along with Caleb are our musical guests Will Spires and Kelly Ferrari Mills, and our Elders David Jones and Barry Phillips, who investigate the subject of Spiritual Warfare.

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/

Young people grow up and go to college, and then their worlds change. It’s a familiar story, but each story is unique. What Caleb Cohen experienced at Clemson University is similar to, but very different from, what every young man and woman experience when they leave home. His family lives out a strong faith in Messiah Yeshua, and that faith has been part of Caleb’s life for as long as he can remember. But did his family prepare him for the challenges of a secular university, and for living on his own in another state when he entered the workforce? Listen to his story and find out! Caleb is our guest for the next two shows, and in this program, he is joined by musical artists Gregory Brown and Eved Adonai, and by our Elders David Jones and Barry Phillips, who take a look at the 9th of Av and its implications for our eventual reconciliation with Judah.

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/

Did you know Uganda is over twice the size of Pennsylvania? Over 40 million people live in Uganda, and although their country is blessed with fertile land and many natural resources, their lives are made more difficult and cut short by a number of serious problems. One is the devastating plague of AIDS, which impacts a huge portion of the population. Climate challenges (a long dry season), underdeveloped infrastructure, and ethnic and religious diversity also complicate matters, multiplying the challenges Rogers and Betty Kinani face in caring for hundreds of orphaned, abandoned, and abused children at Cornerstone Childcare in their eastern Ugandan city of Budaka. 

We conclude our visit with the Kinanis in this program. Pastor Rogers explains more of the challenges facing them each day, such as providing Torah-honoring Christian ministry to a community where Muslims are the majority. Even with these challenges, there are many blessings and victories, as Rogers tells us. There are also many ways to join them in their work, and even to join in a ministry project planned for March 2020! 

The music of Solomon Lopez and Jimmie Black punctuate the story of Cornerstone Childcare, and David Jones and Barry Phillips tie things together with their midrash on our identity and connection in a global faith community.

Want to know more about this fascinating ministry of love and faith? Please visit the Cornerstone Childcare-Budaka Facebook page, or click on their new website: http://cornerstoneccp.org/

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/

Do you live by faith? We may think we live by faith until we realize how large a support system we have. The infrastructure of developed countries ensures that we have few long-term worries about the availability of drinking water, enough food (even if it’s not quite the food we like), continuous electricity, and other things we consider the basic necessities of life. That’s not the case in many parts of the world, such as eastern Uganda. We hear a first-hand account of conditions there from Rogers and Betty Kinani, founders of Cornerstone Childcare in their city of Budaka. The Kinanis have been living by faith even before they quit their jobs as teachers to answer our Father’s call to care for the orphans in their community. Their daily obedience to that call has resulted in an orphanage and a school that serves hundreds of children and families. Having come to understand the applicability of Torah to their Christian walk, Rogers and Betty are doing their best to impart these biblical values to the little ones under their care. They share their story with us over these next two shows.

Along with Rogers and Betty, we have a discussion of Perseverance from our Elders, as well as music from Miriam Houtz and Eved Adonai. Come join us for this challenging and encouraging program!

Want to know more about this fascinating ministry of love and faith? Please visit the Cornerstone Childcare-Budaka Facebook page, or click on their new website: http://cornerstoneccp.org/

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/

What is the best way to act if God gives you understanding on something, but others somehow don’t receive that same understanding? Michael Marlin’s testimony provides one very good answer to that question. In his case, as in the case of man of our audience, that is what happened when he and his family began to investigate the parts of the Torah that they had not previously considered applicable to them as Christians. How they handled the differences of opinion and practice with their Christian family and friends provides an important lesson in living out our faith – a topic Barry and David investigate in their midrash. Some great music by Mason Clover and Corey Jewell round out our presentation in this week’s show!

As you listen to the podcast, check out Shalomstead, the Marlin’s family business. Visit their website at: https://www.shalomstead.com/

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/

Bringing up children is a challenge. Bringing up 8 of them – including foster children – is an even greater challenge. How about adding a working farm, livestock, and a home-based business to the mix? Let’s not stop there; let’s think about moving all the people, livestock, and material possessions from Kentucky to Georgia. Would you be able to maintain your sanity through it all? If so, could you remain at peace and be a joyful witness to the redeeming work of our Messiah Yeshua?

If this sounds impossible, maybe you should listen to Michael Marlin’s story. That’s exactly what he and his family have done recently. Now that they are settled in their new home in North Georgia, Michael is able to share his family’s story with us! We begin our two-part visit with Michael in this podcast, along with music by Mason Clover and Jimmie Black. Our Elders Barry Phillips and David Jones round out the show with a discussion about joy – the kind of joy that rises above circumstances and reflects the love of our Heavenly King.

Thanks for listening to Reunion Roadmap! We have more resources available on our B'ney Yosef North American website at https://bneyyosefna.com/

If you like what you've heard, considering partnering with us by one of the options available at this link: https://bneyyosefna.com/donate/