Jews For Jesus Founder Will Share Experiences

Moishe Rosen sacrificed much to practice Christianity: his family.

Rosen is in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene this weekend to discuss the Jews for Jesus Evangelistic Agency, which he formed in 1973.

He will also talk about what it’s meant to him to be a Christian Jew.

Rosen grew up in a Jewish family and attended an Orthodox synagogue before he came to believe in Jesus when he was 21. He then attended a Bible college and four years later was ordained as a minister.

His family disowned him when he told them of his decision to become a Christian.

Jews who announce their belief in Jesus typically become outcasts, Rosen said. Banishment comes from Jews’ sense of integrity and being faithful to what they have been taught.

Rosen formed Jews for Jesus to tell others that Jews can believe in Jesus. Group members travel the world using poetry, drama and music to deliver their message.

“We’re making ourselves accessible to people,” he said.

Still, it can be hard to live as an outcast from Jewish society.

“It’s painful when people think it’s their religious duty to revile you for what you believe,” Rosen said.

To follow one’s belief is never really easy, he said.

“I believe what I believe because I believe the Bible,” he said. “Bible truth is not always comfortable to us.”

Rosen will speak at Manito Presbyterian Church, 401 E. 30th, at 6 p.m. today, and at the 8:15, 9:45 and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday.

He will also speak at 6 p.m. Sunday at Bethel Baptist Church in Coeur d’Alene, 2215 N. Seventh.

For more information on Jews for Jesus, visit the group’s Web site at www.jews-for-jesus.org.

Support for widows offered

Widows of all ages and faiths are invited to attend an introductory luncheon March 1 at Valley Fourth Memorial Church, 2303 S. Bowdish. The Widow’s Might Ministry is designed to provide support and encouragement to those whose husbands have died.

Although the 1:30 p.m. meeting is free, advance registration is requested.

To register, or for more information, call the church office at 924-4525.

12-step spirituality to be topic

“The Spirituality of the Twelve Steps: A Way of Life for Anyone” is a workshop offered next month at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in cooperation with the Twelve Steps to Life Ministry, which meets at First Presbyterian Church.

James Barrett, a mental health counselor and addictions specialist, as well as the cathedral’s music director, will lead the workshops.

Participants will learn the healing power of the 12 steps “when approached as a means of identifying things in our lives and character which interfere with being of maximum usefulness to our God or Higher Power, our neighbor and ourselves,” said Jim Flynn, spokesman.

The free public workshop will meet in Monsignor O’Connor Hall, directly behind the cathedral, 1115 W. Riverside. Advance registration is required.

To register, or for more information, call Flynn at 327-4760.

Faith leaders will meet

A “Relaunch Celebration Luncheon” for local faith leaders, sponsored by the Spokane Council of Ecumenical Ministries and the Odyssey Faith and Values television network, will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th.

The meeting is to establish a religious programming group to work with those who produce the council’s Fig Tree newspaper and with its communication committee.

Those interested in becoming program committee members will meet with the Rev. Michael Manning of Odyssey’s “The Word in the World” and other staff members.

Space is limited, so advance registration is required. To register, call 624-5156.

, DataTimes