Religious group brings Jews, Christians together

Metrowest Daily News, Aug. 13, 2002
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com
By Carolyn Kessel

HUDSON – Judaism and Christianity have more in common than one might think, according to the growing religious group called “Jews for Jesus.”

The group is beginning a campaign in the Boston area – member Mitch Forman will be speaking at Grace Baptist Church on River Road on Sunday, Aug. 25.

“Jews for Jesus” members believe that Jesus was both the Messiah of Israel and the savior of the world.

It’s a message that many of the 800 members of Grace Baptist Church are interested in learning about, according to Dave Bennett, the senior pastor at Grace Baptist. The congregation includes both Christians and Jews, said Bennett.

Some Jews are wondering, “Can they be fully Jewish if they believe in Jesus as the Messiah?” Bennet said. “I thought (Forman) would be helpful and informative,” both for the Jews who are worshiping Jesus and the congregation members who want to relate to their Jewish neighbors and friends.

“I’ve served in a number of congregations, and in all of the congregations I’ve served, there have been a number of Jewish believers in Jesus,” he said. “I’ve had contacts with ‘Jews for Jesus’ speakers,” Bennett said. “They tend to use a lot of humor, since they’re working in an area where there is a lot of sensitivity.”

It’s a delicate subject, but there has been only enthusiasm for Forman, Bennett said. Mark Harringer, a church member who encouraged Forman to visit the church, said the congregation will learn about how Jesus of the bible’s New Testament is the same savior predicted in the Old Testament.

“Many of the people in the Hudson, Marlborough area are friends with Jewish people in the area. A lot of times they have great difficulty explaining to Jewish people about Jesus, so Mitch is going to help our congregation from a biblical perspective,” Harringer said.

Forman considers himself both Jewish and Christian. He was born and raised a Jew in Boston, but says his life was transformed after he overcame his addictions to smoking and drinking and began to worship Jesus.

Forman is the leader of the “Behold Your God” campaign in Boston which will be held from Aug. 19 to Sept. 14 at the same time as the group reopens its Boston chapter.

Services at Grace Baptist Church at 353 River Road are held Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. and are open to the public.

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