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Lev Leigh
To whom it may concern,
I served with Jews for Jesus for six years, from 1995 to 2000. During
my time with the mission, I found Jews for Jesus to be a Christian
ministry (or Messianic, if you prefer) with a passion for the good
news about Jesus and a heartfelt dedication to communicating the
message of the Messiah in the most loving, forthright and creative
ways possible.
Needless to say, everything that Jews for Jesus endeavored to do, was
done, to the best of my knowledge, in line with the ethos and
morality germane to Christianity. As anyone who knows anything about
this religion will agree, the moral standards of Christianity are
extremely high, if not, the highest.
I found that the organization cherished the values of uprightness and
integrity in all dealings, both with Jewish people who do not believe
in Jesus, with Jewish people who do, and with the believing Church at
large, to which Jews for Jesus always showed the highest respect and
regard.
Besides being an efficient and effective organization, Jews for Jesus
also contributed something of an extended family atmosphere to those
dedicated staff members who served and continue to serve under the
banner of this ministry. Those people who minister with Jews for
Jesus do so because they love the people and the ministry that they
are serving with and because they subscribe to the same forthright
testimony that Jews for Jesus upholds.
I formed high-caliber friendships with high-caliber people while I
was in the ministry. I continue to retain my friendships with Jews
for Jesus people. Some of these Jews for Jesus friends continue to go
the extra mile in their support of my family and I; as we have since
left the ministry and proceeded into pastoral work.
I always felt proud of the theological stance that Jews for Jesus
took and continues to take on a broad range of issues. The ministry
made the gospel the primary concern and agreed not to make secondary
matters divisive.
During my time with the ministry, I found the leadership of Jews for
Jesus to comprise experienced and seasoned men and women of God who
gave thoughtful consideration and prayerful deliberation to all the
major decisions of the ministry. I was privileged to take part in
numerous Jews for Jesus Council meetings where I saw this open,
transparent and trusting decision-making process at work. All council
meetings took place in the spirit of mutual respect for the opinions
of whoever attended these meetings, be they new staff members,
administrative workers or veteran missionaries, male or female.
I was also privileged to sit in on numerous meetings and
deliberations in the Executive Director's office. I feel that a
special word must be said about David Brickner, who presently serves
as the Executive Director of this ministry and who represents the
genuine character and ethos of this ministry. In my numerous dealings
with him, I found David to be a man with his heart in the right
place; a godly, humble and warm-hearted individual who has been
graciously leading the ministry from one strength to another and from
one season to the next. David was elected to be the new Executive
Director by his peers in the ministry of Jews for Jesus. I think they
chose well.
David Brickner endeavors to work through all the variegated concerns
that come across his table as an under-shepherd of the Messiah. He is
fully aware of the spiritual nature of his task and has chosen to
make himself accountable to many people within the ministry. An
external Board of Directors, from all walks of Christian life, also
holds David accountable. I often heard David on the telephone
speaking to staff members about their needs, plans or concerns. In
each and every conversation, I heard only edifying and encouraging
words.
I was never mistreated by the ministry of Jews for Jesus. On the
contrary, the ministry always dealt with my family and I impeccably.
Further, during my six years of ministry with Jews for Jesus, I know
of no one who was mistreated by this ministry. Certainly, no one of
the many staff members who I knew ever even hinted that any kind of
mistreatment was ever taking place. I did know of some personality
conflicts, but what organization fails to have those? Where there
were disagreements, godly procedures were mandated, whereby offended
parties were encouraged to resolves their differences in person, face
to face, before going to a third party for arbitration. It would be
good if other organizations could emulate this procedure.
No organization is perfect. Jews for Jesus is, I believe, as upright
and above board as anyone could hope for. It is highly respected by
other Christian missions and by the Church at large. In fact, Jews
for Jesus remains a model of integrity and faithfulness to those who
would pursue the high and difficult task of proclaiming the gospel
forthrightly and unashamedly to their fellow Jewish people.
Those who have ever been hurt by individuals within this ministry
should seek to resolve their pain with the individual who hurt them.
The ministry of Jews for Jesus never condoned or encouraged any kind
of maltreatment whatsoever. It should not be blamed for the sins, or
perceived sins, of certain individuals. And let us remember,
individuals are not incapable of sinning!
Any individual who maligns the ministry of Jews for Jesus not only
commits an act of ungodly slander but also provokes an unwarranted
and ignominious attack on the hundreds of wonderful, noble and
kind-hearted people who form the rank and file of this mission all
around the world. To cast aspersions on the character of these
dedicated individuals is an act of cowardice, whether it is
perpetrated by a Jewish or Gentile believer in Jesus, or, for that
matter, by a Jew or Gentile who does not believe in him. One could
say the former should know better.
As one who served in this ministry for over half a decade, I can
solemnly testify and assert once again: the ministry of Jews for
Jesus in no way condones or encourages any form of abuse.
Accountability levels are high in the ministry. I know of one
individual who was removed from his post for unChristian behavior.
Those who may have been hurt by individuals associated with Jews for
Jesus need to distinguish between personal and corporate sin. And
having done so, those who have been offended ought to go directly to
the individual that allegedly hurt them, and seek an apology, render
forgiveness, or form some kind of resolution face-to-face.
Slandering an organization at large, and by association all those
people unknown to the offended party who work within it, is no way to
work out one's unresolved interpersonal conflicts.
My years in Jews for Jesus engendered within me a strong sense of
dedication and seriousness of purpose, of uprightness and integrity,
and of humility in the high and holy calling of serving the Messiah.
When I announced that I was leaving the ministry of Jews for Jesus, I
was upheld and supported in my decision.
To those who continue on in the mission I say, "Be strong and very
courageous" (Joshua 1:6).
Written of my own free will and sincerely
Pastor Lev Leigh
Hope Baptist Church
Richmond, CA
Jenifer Leigh
AN OPEN LETTER REGARDING MY EXPERIENCE WITH JEWS FOR JESUS
My name is Jenifer Leigh. I served with the ministry of Jews for
Jesus for six years.
I am very thankful to the ministry for allowing me to serve the Lord
with them in bringing the Gospel to the Jewish people. During my
time with the ministry, I served on four New York campaigns. I
enjoyed them all. In fact, I enjoyed all my years of service with
Jews for Jesus. I would not have had the opportunity to tell so many
of my Jewish people about Jesus if it were not for the ministry of
Jews for Jesus.
I also had the opportunity to really grow in my own personal life.
David Brickner likes to remind me of the first time he met me. He
says that I was so shy I couldn't even look at him in the eye as we
sat over a cup of coffee. Through the years, Jews for Jesus upheld me
and encouraged me and I grew in confidence and in many other ways.
In all my years with Jews for Jesus I was never mistreated by the
ministry of Jews for Jesus, nor did I ever know of anyone being
mistreated by the ministry.
I left the ministry on good terms and continue to have a good
relationship with people still in Jews for Jesus. I am thankful to
God for allowing me six good years of serving Him with the ministry
of Jews for Jesus.
Sincerely,
Jenifer Leigh
Richmond, CA
1/5/2003 |
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