Rachel Kushner Interview

Thanks to the Messianic Times Newspaper, I became aware of this fascinating lady named Rachel Kushner.  She has a wonderful testimony and an even more amazing ministry called "Links to Messiah!"

Rachel  is a Jewish believer. Her parents were in ministry and felt called to serve the Jewish community.  She and her two younger sisters grew up experiencing the best of both worlds: Passover and Easter, Christmas and Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, and Shabbat dinners on Friday evenings.  They learned Hebrew prayers, enjoyed latkes in the winter and seder meals in the spring. Most meaningful was learning the deep connection of how Yeshua fulfilled the prophecies foretold in the Old Testament.

“Links to Messiah" is an online ministry where people can buy a holiday box with instructions on how to celebrate various Jewish holidays.

For more info click here:

Home - Links to Messiah

 

Anna Hershman Interview

Anna Hershman was born into an Irish Catholic family.  The daughter of a modern day woman at the well, her childhood was extremely tumultuous.  She became born-again and started attending a Baptist church.  She married a Jewish man, and in 1989, on the day of her son Noah’s Bris, she knew the Lord was calling her to Messianic Judaism. Later, Anna’s faith was challenged with the sudden loss of her husband and son, but she continues to praise Adonai for many blessings. 

Misha Goetz Returns!

What a sweet woman of God!  Here's some info about Misha:

For over a decade Misha has dedicated her life to the art of music and the ministry of worship. 

Growing up as the only child to modern day psalmist Marty Goetz and his wife Jennifer, Misha’s earliest memories formed in Nashville behind the piano where she composed her first recorded song at the age of eight. “As a Messianic Jew, my dream is to unite Christian and Jew in worship of the Holy One of Israel,” says Misha. Her style of worship builds upon decades of her father’s ministry and yet incorporates her own youthful style and anointing. 

Her first full-length album, Weight of Glory, was released summer 2013 to critical acclaim with the help of a successful Kickstarter campaign. Her debut album is a blend of Messianic and Christian worship styles with most of the songs written and produced by Misha herself.  

Above all, Misha’s desire is that her music would penetrate to the heart and usher people into the presence of the Lord. Her heart is to see a generation touched and transformed through surrender in worship. "I love to worship, and it is my greatest joy to see people blessed and changed, the way I am changed in His presence," says Misha. 

Misha's newest CDis "A Time for Everything." Before that she and her father Marty produced a full-length DVD and CD titled Marty Goetz & Misha: LIVE from Jerusalem. It was filmed and recorded in Israel, overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem with a 26-piece orchestra. 

Currently, Misha resides outside of Washington, D.C. with her husband, Joshua, their six-year-old son, Caleb, and their one-year-old, Samuel. 

For more info:  Misha Goetz Ministries (itsmishamusic.com)

David Welch is back

It was fun talking to David Welch again.  Here's his bio:

David M. Welch joined Joel C. Rosenberg’s The Joshua Fund building strategic partnerships in Israel and the Middle East with/for Christian higher education & Christian affinity groups. From 2016-2022, Welch served as the Executive Director of LU Send, Liberty University's centralized hub for student travel/international education where he managed the team responsible for all study abroad and international travel. Welch designed and implemented numerous faculty FAM trips, study tours and study abroad/internship opportunities.  He sourced and negotiated multiple contracts with major study abroad firms/universities for Liberty University, including a strategic partnership with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  Welch is a citizen of both the US and Israel and lived in Israel from 2008-2011. He holds an MA in Public Policy/Int’l Conflict Resolution from Tel Aviv University, and is also a Certified Travel Industry Executive.  In 2011, Welch relocated back to the US, serving in both the Risk Management and the Israel Travel industries between 2012-2016, before agreeing to join Liberty University. He is married to Rachel and they have a boy, Moshe (2020) and a new baby girl, Tikvah (2022). The Welches reside in Williamson County, Tennessee.

Troy Mitchell Returns!

One of the greatest joys in hosting Bagels and Blessings is hearing the best Messianic music on the planet, in addition to getting to know some of the most interesting people too!

Troy Mitchell is a delightful man who loves the Lord.   I enjoyed chatting with him once again and his music just keeps getting better and better!  Here's more info:

Worship leader Troy Mitchell brings a fresh and authentic voice to Messianic Judaism. Mitchell’s original songs draw from the Gospels, the Hebrew of the Tanach, the Midrash, synagogue prayers, and first-century liturgy—even utilizing the Greek of the Apostolic Scriptures—to bring a fusion of Chassidic joy, gospel hope, jazz, and soulish prayer focused on the light of Messiah. His ability to almost become one with the music comes from his 20 some years of leading and/or playing with worship bands.

Mitchell has been challenged by blindness most of his life and has used music as a way to connect with Hashem and other people. His love for the Psalms, liturgy, the words of Yeshua and his involvement in the synagogue has given the movement unique melodies and niguns, but even more than that, it has instilled in him a passion to see everyone have the chance to draw closer to Hashem through music and prayer.

For more info, log into Troy Mitchell Music is creating Messianic Jewish Music and Liturgical Resources | Patreon

Brian Slater Returns!

It's been a long time since I interviewed my buddy Brian Slater.   He is a dear friend with an amazing testimony - and even more amazing is the ministry he started in Israel - Abundant Bread of Salvation.  Here is his story:

Brian is a Messianic believer who lives in Israel.  Brian is CEO/Director of Abundant Bread of Salvation and has managed and established several others of the same works in Tel-Aviv. He has also established an additional Food Pantry in the center of Netanya that serves many Holocaust Survivors amongst the 350 families he serves on a monthly basis. This same facility now also houses the ministry headquarters. He has worked at times as a nurse, giving free medical care and assists in directing the day-to-day operations as well as counseling in a Messianic drug and alcohol treatment center in Netanya. Over the last several years, Brian also has worked closely on many projects serving two local orphanages that house over 500 poor and needy children. Furthermore, he was recently awarded a Certificate of Honor from the Israeli Ghetto Survivors Association for his aid to Shoah-Holocaust Survivors.

For more info:  Abundant Bread of Salvation - Saving Lives in Israel (yeshuasfreshbreadinisrael.blogspot.com)

Ralph & Mindy Seta

It was a joy to have Ralph and Mindy back on the show!  Here's a little background:

Mindy Seta is a Jewish believer who came to faith in the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua (Jesus of Nazareth), on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) 1992. She is the founder of Messianic Dance Camps International and has created dance curricula since 2002. Mindy and her husband Ralph have been traveling together for over twenty years teaching worship through dance, israeli-style, at conferences and congregations around the world.

Mindy is a skilled choreographer, and has choreographed over two-hundred dances that are being utilized in the Messianic movement. She together with her husband Ralph developed the television show, Come Join The Dance for God's Learning Channel in 2013. Mindy currently resides in Southern Nevada; hosts dance camps; trains up new dance leaders; and leads dancing tours to Israel in order to meet with the Believers and minister together in the land. Recently, Mindy has been working on a new teaching series dealing with the healing aspects of the dance.  

Mindy is currently pursuing her doctrinal studies in Pastoral Care and Counseling, with a focus on Traumatology and Community Dance. Mindy has witnessed first hand how The Lord has used this medium of worship in the dance to accomplish His purposes of healing.