Chosen People Ministries (CPM) is an
evangelical Christian
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...
nonprofit organization which engages in
evangelization of Jews.
It is headquartered in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
and led by Mitch Glaser, who was raised Jewish and converted to Christianity.
Its stated mission is to "pray for, evangelize, disciple, and serve Jewish people everywhere and to help fellow believers do the same". It supports the establishment of
Messianic Jewish congregations, which it describes as "faith communities that stress the Jewish context of the
Gospel of Jesus".
History
Leopold Cohn, a Hungarian-Jewish immigrant to the United States who became a Christian, founded the Brownsville Mission to the Jews in 1894. The Brownsville Mission later expanded to the
Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York and became the Williamsburg Mission to the Jews from 1897 until 1924. In 1897, the Williamsburg Mission headquarters housed a medical clinic, boys' club, Girl Scouts, and sewing and English classes, in addition to evening Gospel services.
From 1924 until 1984 it was known as the American Board of Missions to the Jews. Since then it has been known as Chosen People Ministries.
Methods and locations
Chosen People Ministries has staff in 16 countries.
It also sends out missionaries and conducts evangelism in areas of high Jewish concentration, teaches in churches, and produces evangelical literature and media.
Centers
Brooklyn, New York - The Charles L. Feinberg Center
In 2010, Chosen People Ministries attracted attention when it acquired a former funeral home in the heart of an Orthodox Jewish community located in
Midwood, Brooklyn
Midwood is a neighborhood in the south-central part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bounded on the north by the Bay Ridge Branch tracks just above Avenue I and by the Brooklyn College campus of the City University of New York, ...
. This acquisition sparked anger from the Jewish community in New York. The Center opened in 2014 and houses an English-speaking congregation, a Russian-speaking congregation, and an accredited seminary program.
The seminary program, The Charles L. Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies, is co-sponsored with
Talbot School of Theology and offers an accredited Master of Divinity program in Messianic Jewish Studies. The program is designed to train Messianic congregational leaders, outreach workers and educators. In addition to the full Master of Divinity program, it offers a 6-course Certificate in Messianic Jewish studies. Classes are held in Brooklyn at the Feinberg Center, though the summer program includes classes at Talbot's Los Angeles campus.
Berlin, Germany
In 2012, the organization a building dedicated to Jewish evangelism in Berlin, Germany. The Berlin center hosts a hospitality network, Shabbat fellowships, tandem language partnerships, and friendship ministries.
Ramat Gan, Israel
In 2017, Chosen People Ministries opened a Messianic Center in the Ramat Gan area of Greater Tel Aviv. The center hosts seminars on parenting, financial management, biblical counseling, as well as a bi-weekly women's Bible study.
Toronto, Canada
In 2019, Chosen People Ministries opened the Toronto Messianic Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The centre houses the headquarters of Chosen People Ministries in Canada, as well as serves as the meeting place for Kehillat Eytz Chaim (Tree of Life Congregation).
Church affiliations and memberships
Chosen People Ministries states that it is a member of the
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) is an American financial standards association representing Evangelical Christianity, Christian parachurch organization, organizations and churches, which qualify for tax-exempt, nonpro ...
, CrossGlobal Link, the Canadian Council of Christian Charities, the Christian Stewardship Association and the
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC; ) is a national evangelical alliance, member of the World Evangelical Alliance. Its affiliates comprise 48 evangelical Christian denominations, 66 Christian organizations, 33 educational institutions, ...
.
References
{{reflist
External links
Official web site
Suggested reading
Evangelizing the chosen people: missions to the Jews in America, by Yaakov Shalom Ariel, published in 2000
1894 establishments in New York (state)
Christianity in New York (state)
Christian missionary societies
Messianic Judaism in the United States
Organizations based in New York City
Christian organizations established in 1894
Conversion of Jews to Christianity