Jews for Jesus

I was raised in a Jewish family in the Chicago suburbs, where we attended a Conservative synagogue. I had my bar mitzvah at age thirteen and in college I wrote a research paper on why Jewish people in the first century didn't believe Jesus was the messiah (I didn't know that many did!). I read what traditional Jewish scholars had to say on the subject—as well as what Christian scholars, secular historians and textual critics had written. As part of my research, I interviewed two rabbis and two Christian ministers to hear both sides. At some point in my research I began to lean in the direction that it just might be true—Jesus might actually be our Messiah. However, being Jewish made it very hard for me to seriously consider his claims (and the New Testament). I knew that everything I was being exposed to went against my entire upbringing. Just after I finished my paper, my Gentile girlfriend recommitted her life to Christ and told me about it. I began to see positive changes in her life which reminded me of the positive qualities I had seen in some other Christians I had met at school. Struggling to figure it all out, I began to pray: “If there is a God, show me, and if Jesus is the Messiah I'm willing to find out.” Within a few months, I knew that the God of the Bible was alive and that Jesus is the Messiah whom he promised would come. I prayed to receive him in May, 1975. 

How did my family react? Well, that's another story and I've written my full testimony including my family's response in a booklet called "Blindsided," which is available by clicking the related link below.

Stephen's grandparents immigrated to America from Eastern Europe in the early 20th century, ultimately settling in the Chicago area. As a boy, Stephen enjoyed sports and excelled in school. In his high school years he began to question the values he had been raised with, which and instead of focusing on academics, began to spend all his time playing guitar and harmonica. Over the next few years he searched for answers to his many questions about life, eventually becoming a follower of Y'shua. You can read his testimony below.

Three weeks after receiving his bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Illinois, he got married and began to work with abused and neglected youth in a residential treatment center in Chicago (taking one year out to live on a kibbutz in Israel). He received his master's degree in social work in 1984. He and his young family attended a messianic congregation, where Stephen served as the worship leader. 

In 1989, Stephen began missionary training with Jews for Jesus and now serves as Branch Leader at the Washington, D.C. office, as well as holding the ministry’s portfolio for their work in Israel. Laura and he have four children, three of whom are married. He received a master's degree in intercultural and Jewish studies in 1997.

Stephen is known to be a warm-hearted and engaging teacher and a good listener. 

February, 2013
Last month I stepped into my new role with Jews for Jesus serving as our North American Director. After 24 years of wonderful ministry assignments this is the biggest yet! Please ask God to give me wisdom as I supervise and mentor our 10 branch leaders in the US and Canada, and to give me a heart that truly cares for them -- and the creativity to show it in meaningful ways.

Being a missionary can at times be a tough assignment, and being a missionary to our own Jewish people brings another layer of stress and difficulty. As North American Director, I want to serve our staff and encourage them to stay engaged in the good fight and not to be distracted by other things. 

Honestly, I am seeking God to show me how He wants to use me in this role and I appreciate you for praying for me and standing with me in this.

Thank you for caring and praying!

Stephen