Founder’s Blog
FFOZ & The US Pentagon
Several months ago we received an order...actually it was more like a kind request from a Chaplin in the US pentagon for FFOZ materials. Of course we complied, and below is an account of what followed. I could go on and on about these recent happenings, but I will leave that to Hope Egan; she prepared a summary for me and updated me concerning the recent recognition of the Torah message and FFOZ by the Chaplin’s office of the Pentagon. I will share her report with you here.
Boaz, last year we received a request for donations of FFOZ materials to the Pentagon Chaplain’s Office. Master Sergeant Mark L. L. (U.S. Air Force) is the Special Events and Religious Education Manager for the Pentagon Chaplain’s Office. As an FFOZ constituent and Torah student, Mark remembered what you had said and done prior to the “Trembling at the Word” seminar in Texas in 2005, so he immediately thought of our ministry upon his assignment to the Pentagon Chaplain’s office:
Before the seminar you graciously offered FFOZ material at little or no cost to those who could not afford it but desired to have them. That act of generosity left an impression on me because I had never witnessed such an act of kindness from any other ministry. Because of what I had witnessed in San Antonio, regarding your generosity, I felt comfortable asking FFOZ for material.
In response, we provided a number of books, DVDs and magazines to them for a variety of causes:
1. For their periodic book distribution. Every two months they have a massive give away on the Pentagon’s concourse for distributing free books to the Pentagon’s 25,000+ employees.
2. We’ve provided them with copies of our materials for their office, which helps them respond to the increasing number of requests he gets for Messianic Jewish literature.
3. Several of our DVDs and audio CDs were sent to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We are among the many publishers (among Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths) who routinely donate the thousands of cases of books and Scripture dog tags that support our soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines a peace of mind as they defend our country.
On a personal note, the article “Sedley: How ‘Little Rome’ became a Messianic Phenomenon” in the current edition of messiah magazine encouraged Mark because he recently started a Torah-based bible study in the Pentagon:
I plan to use FFOZ Torah Club material, DVD teachings and books published by FFOZ as a source of information. If God can move the hearts of a community in Canada to learn Torah, how much more might He move in our nation’s highest military community? I feel blessed to be a ‘trailblazer’ in furthering His kingdom with the Messiah’s Torah in the Pentagon.
In response to our donations, Mark has also sent us some official Pentagon correspondence:
Dear FFOZ:Please accept this certificate of authenticity for a flag that was flown over the Pentagon in honor of First Fruits of Zion. The date selected has a special connection to the Torah community because it was flown on 15 October 2006, which was also "Simchat Torah." Of note, the United States Air Force also held their Air Force Memorial Dedication close to the Pentagon so the flag would have been seen by thousands of spectators that day.
Also please accept the first ever Pentagon Chaplain's coin. These special coins are given to those who help support the spiritual needs of the Pentagon Chaplain's office. The coin is presented to you for your generous contribution of FFOZ books, CD's and DVD's.The image of the Roman centurion reminds us to stay prayerful and to continually have on the armor of God. On the reverse is the image of an Eagle and Pentagon. This same image is on a special stained glass which was donated by Eagle's Watch Foundation. The stained glass in the Pentagon Chapel was handcrafted by the family members and loved ones of those who were lost. There is a red piece of glass for each person who died during September 11, 2001. In the center, the Eagle and Olive Leaves symbolize peace. Behind the Eagle is our Nation’s flag – the Red, White, and Blue. The ground breaking for the construction of the Pentagon was 11 September 1941.
As Special Events and Religious Education Coordinator, it gives me great pleasure to present the certificate of authenticity for a flag flown in FFOZ's honor and the Pentagon Chaplain's coin to you. The people of the Pentagon are searching for truth in light of what happened on 9/11. FFOZ is now indeed a part of the healing process for many who witnessed the devastation and for the many who lost friends and co-workers on that tragic day.
Blessings in Yeshua,
MARK L. L., MSgt, USAF
I trust that you are as encourage and intrigued by this as I am. To be sure FFOZ will continue to support the efforts of Mark at the Pentagon through resource support. Additionally we are in the planning stages of having the “shalom tour” role through DC were I will be able to speak at a chapel service. Your prayers for this effort are appreciated--Shabbat shalom, Boaz
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Visitor Feedback:
Shalom, My heart just leaped for joy. I am in the the Army Resrves and getting ready to be mobilized. I have been studying torah also with FFOZ. When I read the the comments from MSGT MARK.L I was excited because I felt alone In my persuit of Torah,and how to present it to my fellow soilders. Because there is no substitute for the truth
Shawn Lewis | March 3, 2007 5:39 PM
Boaz,
I love reading these. To continuely see Gods hand at work is so humbling to me. Reading this has left me teary eyed and very excited for FFOZ's future. God continues to answer our many prayers. Be safe achi and I hope all is well. Shalom.
Jay Armstrong | March 4, 2007 7:01 PM
Wow. I really thought this was great. Like Jay I felt very teary eyed too! I guess I shouldn't be surprised at seeing the truth Go Marching On. Glory Glory Hallelujah!
Sally Slager | March 6, 2007 3:02 AM
After reading this article I thought...Now THAT'S Homeland Security! :)
Shalom,
Bill
Bill Beyer | March 6, 2007 7:36 PM
As a former combat veteran, I salute you.
As a Jewish believer in Yeshua and fan of FFOZ, I say Mazel Tov.
I was so excited to read this article. Wow, what an incredible opportunity that Adonai has opened. Baruch haba bShem Adonai! Your excellent teaching material will continue to be used mightily in these last days to awaken the hearts and minds of Jews and gentiles all over the world. Thank you all for your faithfulness to His calling in this most important work. Thanks for supplying "spiritual" Meals-Ready-to-Eat to nourish the souls of our troops.
Shalom.
Claude Scheiner | March 8, 2007 2:53 AM
I am continually amazed at the impact that Sptember 11th has had on many of us. It was this single event, immediately followed by a deep and intense spiritual introspection that HaShem used to direct me to Torah study and eventually FFOZ and all of its wonderful resources. To me, it was a wake up call opening my eyes to our wonderful Jewish Messiah and following Him in the more full light of His life and lifestyle.
Dennis Henley | March 8, 2007 10:23 PM
As I read this blog, I wept with joy and am continually in awe of how Adonai works to fulfill HIS purpose.
I am a part of the Beit Ohr congregation in Sedley, Saskatchewan, Canada, and have seen Adonai's hand of blessing in our community. HE blessed me with the desires of my heart, and that was to have a messianic congregation in my area, that worshipped the G-D of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, in truth and in wisdom, learning and walking out Torah. Beit Ohr has been one of Abba's greatest gifts to me. Our leaders and their wives are exceptional in their love and faithfulness to G-D, and to us, the congregation.
I am especially excited to see the G-D of Israel at work and bringing Torah through the Pentagon to the US soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines. May He be their strength and fortress as they go forth into battle.
I encourage those who are just beginning this walk of faith, to open their eyes and watch with great anticipation and excitement, the HAND of Adonai at work. HE will bring together from the four corners of the earth
those whom are seeking HIM with all their hearts, minds, and strength.
May we dwell together in UNITY.
May HE who makes peace in HIS high places,
Make peace upon us and upon all Israel.
Amen.
Shannon | March 11, 2007 2:58 AM
This is wonderful news to us; as we have a son in Iraq and he would be so blessed if he could obtain some of your materials. Is there someone we can be directed to in order to find out how he might request them? So many people have no idea what kind of issues and decisions that are faced over there. In our last conversation with him, he shared with us the lack of judgments and rules that have such devasting effects on all within the prison camp he is assigned to. To have these resources available to him would be a source of wisdom and stregnth from HaShem; bringing him the guidance and discernment neccessary to be a refection of Him in utter chaos and violence.
We thank You, Adonai, for using these teachings and the dedicated ones who bring forth such depths and insights into Your Torah!
Blessings to you all!
Jackie | March 12, 2007 1:16 PM
How grateful am I to have read this!! My cousin works for the Pentagon, and he was one of the first ones of our family to return to the faiths of our fathers but he went so far as to stop believing that Yeshua is Meshiach, so passionate in his zeal to learn about Judaism. Halleluyah!! I pray that revelation would come to him through this effort and he would return to his first love. I call it the weightiness of the Torah married to revelation of B'rit HaDasha. Shalom and blessings.
Damaris Solis | March 19, 2007 12:16 AM
Shalom!
That is so good!
I live in Canada, but that is great!
Sharlise
Sharlise | May 7, 2007 1:42 AM
My wife and I took our 2 children to Washington DC in December of 2006 for a learning vacation. We visited our Congressman to pay respects, give feedback from his constituents and ask for passes to sit in on last year's final day of Congress. First, we had lunch in one of the cafeterias.
Sitting there and spotting our Nation's leaders around the room was pretty cool. But then, I spotted a soldier in dress Alpha's. I walked up to him and thanked him for his service and noticed that he was a Chaplain. I soon found out that now the US Military has Messianic Chaplains!! This is a brand new division in the Chaplain's Corp. Being a Jewish Believer in Moshiach Yeshua, I was thrilled to no end. If only this was available when I served in the Navy. Please, let us pray for our Chaplains and the awesome responsibility they have to bring the Torah to our troops (let's not forget the Airmen, Marines and Sailors, too) in a fast-growing military that suffers from Political Correctness. Let us continue to pray that they be given the freedon to proclaim God's Freedom.
B'rachot.
Brad | November 5, 2007 7:43 AM