Building Bridges of Understanding since 1887
In the beginning, what has become Christianity was an entirely Jewish phenomenon. The Messiahship of Yeshua was a debate within the Jewish community.
As belief in Yeshua (whose name became "Jesus" in the Gentile world) spread and the church became predominantly gentile, measures were taken to divorce Christianity from its Jewish roots. (see Council of Nicea) At times the Jewish people were ignored, and at other times persecuted by those who claimed to follow Jesus. (Crusades, Pogroms)
In 1881 the Pogroms began in Russia. The following year brought the "May Laws," which culminated in the expulsion of the Jews from Moscow. Mass emigration ensued. Over the next 50 years approximately two million Jews left Russia. Many of them ended up in Chicago.
Beginning in November, 1887 an organization was founded in Chicago whose purpose was:
"to promote the intellectual, social and religious welfare of all nationalities."
Part of the initial work was helping Jewish immigrants learn English and develop the employment they would need in order to thrive in their new home.
The
man generally considered the founder of this new work, which at first was
called the Hebrew Christian Mission and changed, in 1889, to The Chicago
Hebrew Mission, and later American Messianic Fellowship, then AMF
International, was one William E.
Blackstone, the first general superintendent.
Blackstone was born October 6, 1841 in Adams, New York, a descendant of prominent 18th century English jurist William Blackstone. At the age of 10, William came to faith in Jesus, a moment he considered a major event in his life. As his faith matured, he came to espouse the "dispensationalist-premillennialist" view and was convinced that the return of the Jewish people to their land would precede the coming of Christ to earth.
In 1878, Blackstone produced a 96 page book titled Jesus Is Coming, which was enlarged to 256 pages in subsequent editions. The book was translated into over 42 languages, including Hebrew and Yiddish. The Hebrew version, published in 1925, bore the title Hofaat Ha-Mashiach Ha-Shin -- The Second Appearance of the Messiah.
Blackstone believed and fervently taught that, according to the Bible, Israel must be restored to their land -- even though it seemed highly unlikely in his day. Blackstone saw Israel as "God's sun-dial." He would often say "If anyone desires to know our place in God's chronology . . . look at Israel"
But the Jewish people were more than a timepiece to Blackstone. Here is a sample of his writings about the Chosen People:
"But, perhaps you say: 'I don't believe the Israelites are to be restored to Canaan, and Jerusalem rebuilt.'
Dear Reader! have you read the declaration of Gods' word about it? Surely nothing is more plainly stated in the Scriptures. We would that we had space to quote the passages, but we can only give a portion of the reference. We beg of you to read them thoughtfully. Divest yourself of prejudice and preconceived notions, and let the Holy Spirit show you, from His word, the glorious future of God's chosen people, "who are beloved" (Rom. 11:28), and dear unto Him as "the apple of His eye" Zach. 2:8"
In November of 1890, Blackstone convened a Conference on "The Past, Present And Future Of Israel between Jews and Christians." The result of this conference was The Blackstone Petition of 1891, which has come to be known as the Blackstone Memorial. The memorial was presented to President Benjamin Harrison on March 5, 1891, concerning Jewish persecutions in Russia. Blackstone proposed an international conference with the goal of restoring the land of Palestine to the covenant people Israel "and to promote in all other just and proper ways the alleviation of their suffering condition."
Blackstone was written up in the Encyclopedia Judaica as an early Christian Zionist who petitioned to seek the establishment of a Jewish homeland but his chief desire was to see the Gospel message proclaimed to Jews and Gentiles around the world.
We at AMF International fervently believe that God's love for the Jewish people is everlasting (Jer. 31:3) and that His promises are eternal. We take the covenant of Sinai at face value and believe that what God promised to Israel cannot be revoked or reassigned. We reject outright the unbiblical notion that God has rejected Israel in favor of the church. As the Christian Scriptures affirm in Romans 11 "God's gift and his call are irrevocable." (Romans 11:29)
Our goal is to help Christians understand the Jewish roots of our faith and God's ongoing commitment to his Chosen People. We teach that anti-Semitism is inconsistent with Biblical faith. We "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" which includes her spiritual renewal as well as physical safety. Like Blackstone, our continuing desire is to demonstrate the love of Yeshua and whenever possible, to give evidence from the Scriptures of his Messiahship.
See also: "God's Little Errand Boy"
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