Jewish Young People in NYC Are Seeking Messiah!

As a missionary, I meet Jewish people from all walks of life. I focus on building relationships, facilitating Bible studies, and discerning how God is leading—all in the hustle and bustle of New York City!

When I first met Noah, he had been seeking spiritual truth for some time. Noah is in his mid-30s, and despite having a successful career and a beautiful fiancée, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was missing; he felt the void of not having God in his life.

During our first visit, it was clear that Noah was not yet a believer but was on his way to faith. We read some Bible passages, I shared the gospel with him, and he understood it. Noah wanted to believe but was scared to go “all in” because he worried what his atheist Jewish fiancée and Reform Jewish parents would think. He was counting the cost.

Three days later, Noah came to our Shabbat gathering. He listened intently as Jewish believers in Messiah shared their testimonies. He reiterated his reasons for holding back his profession of faith: his fiancée and his family. I asked him if he had prayed to acknowledge Yeshua as his Messiah. He hadn’t but was willing to pray with me. As I led him in a prayer of repentance, we were both filled with joy. Praise God!

Now Noah considers himself “all in” for Yeshua, his Messiah, and we meet weekly for discipleship and to study God’s Word. He told his fiancée, and although she doesn’t understand, she is willing to come to our next Shabbat gathering. He hasn’t told his family yet, and this is a source of stress for him.

More and more young people have been coming to our events in NYC.

We’re seeing Jewish millennials (late 20s to early 40s) and even Gen-Zers (teens to late 20s) increasingly interested in the gospel. They yearn for a sense of belonging and an affirmation of their Jewish identity. Meanwhile, the surging antisemitism they are seeing in the world around them has left them fearful and brokenhearted.

More and more young people have been coming to our events in NYC. We usually first meet them at outreach events at our Moshava coffee shop and art space near the NYU campus. Events like the Village Jam, our weekly musicians’ jam night, allow these young people to experience a vibrant community of Jewish believers in Messiah in a Jewish context.

This is even more evident during our Shabbat gatherings, like the one Noah attended. Every month, Jewish seekers and Jewish believers in Messiah come from all over the five boroughs of NYC for spiritual community. Most Shabbat dinners consist of an eclectic mix of cuisine, lively discussion, and traditional Shabbat blessings. I share a drash (sermon) from the weekly Torah reading that always ties to the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), and I proclaim the gospel.

I love how hospitality, loving and serving, and sharing the message of Yeshua bring meaningful transformation and deep healing to people’s lives. It is such a privilege to serve God in this way. Thank you for making this possible!

Please remember Noah in your prayers, and pray that his fiancée and his family will also come to faith as they see Messiah’s grace at work in Noah’s life. Pray also for our ministry in NYC, and that God will move even more Jewish young people to seek Him out and find life and hope in Him.

Name is changed to protect privacy.