The Smiling Sheep and Ethel Chadwick

Today’s interview was taped at the Messiah Conference this past July.  Marc Vidito, from "The Smiling Sheep" interviewed me, I interviewed him as well and we also chatted with Becca Chefran from "Stones of Witness."

Marc's Bio:

Marc has been in ministry since 1995 serving the Young Messianic Jewish Alliance as conference planner, worship ministry coordinator, worship leader, percussionist, speaker, and youth mentor. He has co-led worship and the high school youth ministry with his bride, Dara, at Congregation Beth Hallel in Roswell, GA since 2002. He founded Meuchad: Messianic Worshippers United where he served as ministry director and continues to serve as senior advisor.  Recently he founded "The Smiling Sheep," and we talk about it on this interview.

Ethel shares her story of coming to faith in Yeshua also. She was raised in a Jewish home and came to faith in 1976 after a co-worker shared with her at Kodak. She was pleasantly surprised to learn that Jesus and His disciples were Jewish and that Yeshua said in Matthew 5:17 "I came to fulfill the law and the prophets, not to change it." She shared about the beginnings of Bagels and Blessings as well.

Crystal Buchhalter Interview

Crystal grew up in Detroit, MI singing choral, traditional Jewish, Tin Pan Alley, musical theatre and liturgical music in her synagogue under the apprenticeship of well known Cantor, Harold Orbach; at which time she also started performing around Metro Detroit. She then began studying classical voice at Interlochen Fine Arts Camp where she first considered a career as a classical artist and Cantorial Soloist. She has a degree in classical voice from Oakland University in Detroit and has since performed with The Collegiate Chorale in NYC, Nashville Opera, & as a Cantorial soloist from San Francisco to NYC, as well as London, Israel & South Africa, and has directed and performed on national and international tours. She most recently led worship for the Jews for Jesus 50th anniversary convocation on Cyprus & is the advocate for multiple musicians in Israel on behalf of the Nashville based ministry, Artists in Christian Testimony. She is currently recording an album of virtuosic Cantorial music in Nashville.

Jamie Ellen DeOliveira

Jamie Ellen De Oliveira is a Jewish Born, Messiah Yeshua Believing, Messianic Recording Artist! Born to a mom that was on Broadway, and a dad who was a music publisher, the writing seemed to be on the wall! 

Before coming to faith in 1981, Jamie performed in various venues in the U.S. singing Musical Theatre, Opera, and even traveled with The Fred Waring Singers! 

In 1984, Jamie traveled as the Soprano Soloist for a Christian touring group called the "Spurrlows". Jamie Ellen has been a featured soloist on the Messianic Television Program, "Jewish Jewels", hosted by Neil & Jamie Lash since the early 1980's which is still in syndication now, programs are on the Jewish Jewels Channel on YouTube. Some other credits include featured concerts at various congregations throughout the U.S., and Canada, soloist at the Sukkot Conference in Jerusalem through Friends of Israel, ICEJ Feast of Tabernacles Conferences in Israel, the lead role of Lili in “Carnival” (a 'Christianized' version through Campus Crusade for Christ), at the University Theatre in Ft. Collins, Colorado, solo vocalist for Nova Southeastern University Commencement Ceremonies with the NSU orchestra for the last 17 years, soloist with the Hollywood, Florida Philharmonic. She has also performed in Messianic Believers, Jeremiah & Wendy Ginsberg's original musicals, “Mendel & Moses”, “Rabboni," (AKA "Mendel's Messiah"), and "Esther, Sweet Esther". 

Still ministering in music as the Lord leads, and excited for what He has in store!

Jocelyn and Corey Brown

This sweet couple attend Shema Yisrael Congregation here in Rochester, NY and it was a delight to interview them. 

Jocelyn and Corey Brown, a married couple like so many, both decorate the Christmas tree and light the menorah, raising their Jewish children to develop their spirituality within the Messianic culture. Jocelyn was brought up in a secular Humanist Jewish family. Corey’s aunt and grandmother were the only ones to expose him to the Christian teachings of the bible as a child. Now raising a family of their own have blended their backgrounds to accept Yeshua into their household as their guiding light.

When the world became unexpectedly challenging during the 2020 lockdowns, the Browns strengthened their faith in God as they discovered you cannot have liberty without proper moral governance, a virtue rooted in their American heritage. With faith and freedom deeply intertwined, the Browns held the belief that Messianic Judaism would provide a remedy to the new restrictive environment humanity would have to endure.  

Together they created American Seekers Academy, a Classical based homeschool co-op for ages K through 12. In this interview, we discussed their faith and their exciting education program. For more info go to www.americanseekersacademy.com.

Yochanan Marcellino Returns

It was great reconnecting with Yochanan Marcellino at the Messiah Conference this past July. Here’s a little background on him:

Yochanan Marcellino was the son of legendary Motown A&R producer Jerry Marcellino (Michael Jackson, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Lionel Richie & the Commodores and Smokey Robinson). Yochanan Marcellino was also the founder of FM Management, managing such artists as Kerry Livgren of Kansas ("Dust in the Wind"), Cindy Birdsong of The Supremes, Kyle Henderson of The Producers and John Waller, who has featured songs in the Fireproof, Courageous andWar Room motion pictures and soundtracks. Marcellino also founded several successful record labels over his 40-year career, including Kerygma Records/Bright Star Records,City of Peace Media and its affiliates, and most recently, Identical Production Company (The Identical motion picture). Marcellino has released over 70 major music projects worldwide through his record labels and has led key divisions of several other music companies.

He is the founder, president, and CEO of City of Peace Media, City of Peace Films, and Galilee of the Nations and has been instrumental  in producing  much of the music we have come to enjoy within the Messianic Community.