The Messianic Movement In Prison : FFOZ Blogs

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The Messianic Movement In Prison

By Toby Janicki | Comments
June 10, 2009

At First Fruits of Zion we often receive requests from prisoners for books, materials, and teachings. Sometimes prisoners write us for advice or are just looking for someone to bounce ideas off someone. One inmate who we have been communicating with desired to wrote a testimony about the Torah movement in prison. The following is his observations. If you would like to donate to the First Fruits of Zion Corner's Fund which enables us to donate materials to prisoners and prison libraries please click here and specify Corner's Fund with your donation.

The Messianic/Torah movement, as we know it today, is still very young and trying to find its way. Even younger still, is the Messianic/Torah movement here in prison.
To observe Torah, or any sort of rules for that matter, is contrary to those living in the prison environment. There have been however, an increasing number of inmates leaving traditional church-minded programs and services to join our little mishpochah ("family"). We are just a handful of believers in Yeshua, who, to the best of our understanding (which grows daily)and our ability, keep Torah.

We all have different paths that brought us to the Torah movement. Some have had a spiritual tugging at their heart to be observant, and some have even had serious revelations from HaShem, as I did eight years ago. Others have found odd Messianic teachings that got them to re-think their misunderstanding about Torah. Still others came to understand after trying to dissuade those in the movement, eventually seeing the futility of their argument. Regardless of how they came to understand, it was done through spiritual nudging. Such a Nudnick (1) the Ruach HaKodesh is.

While a few may have joined us with ulterior motives or were misguided as to what the Torah movement is, most are sincere and want to find the truth.

We often struggle to learn, and we do so from whatever sources we can find. We share the various materials with each other, and some materials even have been worn out. Some Messianic materials we find are kind of "out there" and require us to tune up our discernment. My Messianic rabbi said once to "Eat the meat and spit out the bones." The only caveat I give to that is to make sure the meat is not spoiled.

That is the blessing of having First Fruits of Zion's teaching available to us. Their teaching is like a boat in the raging sea of Messianic thought, as they make an effort to demonstrate how Messianic halachah should look. They help sift out funny, Messianic teachings, show the viability of Jewish tradition within the movement, and dispel the belief that Torah is not for all nations.

The movement here, as well as at other prison units, is not only growing in numbers, but is a growing flame. Many, like me, are on fire and desire to consume knowledge of Torah, tradition, and do so within Moshiach's teaching and in His love. We teach other church believers as we learn about the wonderful Torah, which gives freedom, and has never been done away with.

These dedicated inmates are a wonderful asset here, as well as to the world to which most are returning. Not only are they trying to train themselves, they are training others the best they know how. It is wonderful how HaShem is using us, who the world considers despised, to help bring the Torah to the world. Some have already had the opportunity to challenge family members, and others outside, to re-evaluate their understanding of Torah as a believer in the Moshiach. How much more will these men do upon their release, to spread the truth about Torah observance to the world!

By William J. Crary
From the Arizona Department of Corrections

Notes:
(1) Nudnick is a Yiddish word that means pest. Obviously I don't mean to say that the Ruach Hakodesh is annoying, only persistent.

About the Author: Toby Janicki is a teacher, writer, and project manager for First Fruits of Zion and Vine of David. He contributes regularly to Messiah Journal and has written several books including God-Fearers: Gentiles and the God of Israel.

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This is perhaps one of the most encouraging testimonies I have seen in a very long time. I remember a Protestant Pastor long ago who loved a song that was about how "you got to serve somebody." And it's true. We all end up serving either evil or good. As one from the other end of the earth (Alaska) we are hearing alot lately here about the new "Emergent" Church in the USA also known now as Casual Christianity. Lies, lies, and ever more lies, while true faith in what Messiah's followers were called to all along emerges over and over again. But there are more kinds of prisons. And if God's Spirit can, and is, empowering these men to hold true (even if only slowly) in the official prisons it can be done anywhere. We all need to recognize the other prisons too. None of us is without sin. Many of our governments Psychiatric facilities are as much (or more) prisons as what these men must endure. It is not at all unknown for them to be there, in the first place, simply because of their faith.

Angela | July 25, 2009 2:43 PM

My beloved father is incarcerated in a NC prison. He was led by the Holy Spirit into Torah study and has been shown much that he didn't understand regarding the Torah of God whom he serves. Recently, he was introduced to FFOZ through a prison chaplain who is familiar with Hebrew roots. He has since shared FFOZ with us, his family, and we are thrilled to realize that what the Holy Spirit began in our hearts through divine teaching is but a glimpse of what He is at work doing in the hearts of MANY!!

We hope to be able to purchase a set of materials to send to my father in a format that the prison will accept. PLEASE, help to get this material in these prisons. Like the bread broken by Yeshua, may it be blessed to feed a multitude. These men and woman may be forgotten by society, but they are not forgotten by Yehovah! Like seeds, may our numbers increase as the Truth is sown...even among the 'least' of us...His Brethren.

Amy Alphin | July 18, 2009 12:28 PM

Shalom Aleichem!
As one who was recently released from prison - 6/10/09 - in Texas, I now live in Buckeye, AZ; I am intimately familiar with the difficulties of trying to live a Yeshua focused Torah observant life while incarcerated. Sadly, I'm speaking of my experience only, a lot of the chaplains aren't co-operative but I like to think it's because of their lack of true Biblical understanding. Presently because of my circumstances I am unable to offer financial support but please know that my prayers are always going up for the talmidim who are incarcerated as well as those who aren't. For everyone who reads this
I humbly ask that above all else, "pray for these men and women who are incarcerated and help them in whatever ways that you can".
Yes our Heavenly Abba is very busy in prison and lives are being changed by the power of His Ruach HaKodesh.

Respectfully
Clenard L. Pettis

Clenard L. Pettis | July 2, 2009 1:24 AM

Hello - As a volunteer at McNiel Island prison I can assure there is a thriving Torah Club and Messianic congregation there. The issues with the D.O.C is they do not know what to make of us. We love Yeshua which makes us Christian but we keep Sabbath and want Yom Kippur set aside, which makes us Jewish. We keep Kosher but not necessarily Rabbinic kosher so cheeseburgers are o.k. They keep going back to their manual to see what to do with us. All that aside the men all have the weekly FFOZ schedule and come prepared to fellowship and study the Parasha. What started in a Temple in Jerusalem has gone to the far distant isles around the world. And it is from such a prison as opposed to a Temple that the restoration will start and go back to Jerusalem in these end of days. He came to set men free and when men see the freedom in Torah then the light in their eyes come on. Keep up the good publishing and I totally agree with Toby that funds//copies need to be available for prisons.

Richard Scholtz | June 22, 2009 4:30 PM

It just goes to show HaShem is everywhere! It is wonderful that these inmates are studying Torah and learning about Yeshua. May the face of the LORD shine toward these prisoners.

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