Being a Jewish believer in Jesus can feel incredibly lonely, especially for kids. Messianic kids come from all kinds of families: some with two believing Jewish parents, others with one, and many with relatives who don’t yet know Jesus. That mix often creates tension, especially for children.

That’s why Jews for Jesus’ Youth & Family Ministries (YFM) exists: to build community, grow faith, and affirm identity for young Jewish believers and their families. Through discipleship programs, camps, retreats, and more, we’re seeing God move powerfully in the lives of the next generation.

YFM’s flagship program, Camp Gilgal, is a refuge for Messianic children to live out their identities as Jewish believers in Messiah. With both summer and winter camps offered in the US and Europe, Camp Gilgal is a safe place where kids (8–13) can grow in their faith and make lifelong friends who face the same challenges.

YFM Discipleship Director Rebekah Rood first attended Camp Gilgal as a young teen, and it was a life-changing experience for her. Reluctant at first, Rebekah’s reservations quickly melted away when she realized she was in a place that truly embraced both her Jewishness and faith in Jesus.

I didn’t have to explain to somebody … that I was Jewish and believed in Jesus.

Rebekah says, “Camp Gilgal was the first place where I didn’t have to explain to somebody for a whole week that I was Jewish and believed in Jesus. Because I had space to just be myself, I really encountered God for the first time. And we’ve seen God do that for so many kids in different ways every summer.”

YFM Program Director Ilana Brickner adds, “Many of our current Jews for Jesus staff were first introduced to the ministry through this camp. What you invest in when they’re 8, you see the fruit of it when they’re 25.”

Ilana caught the excitement early when her older brother, Isaac, now our Los Angeles branch leader, attended Camp Gilgal and came home with fun stories of his adventures at camp. As soon as she was old enough, Ilana attended Camp Gilgal, and has done so nearly every year since, first as a camper, then as staff, and now as YFM program director. Even now, decades later, Camp Gilgal remains one of the most meaningful parts of Ilana’s year.

“My very best friends today were in the cabin with me when I was 8. It’s my community, and it formed so many parts of my life. I’m so passionate about it because of what I’ve gained and experienced. I want that for everybody,” Ilana says.

Beyond the childhood years, the YFM team realized they needed a program to help teens grow in their faith while confronting the realities of the modern world. Ma’oz (stronghold or refuge) offers a completely different “camp” experience for Messianic teens navigating their faith in a tumultuous and hyper-connected world. Instead of a week away in the wilderness, Ma’oz is set in the hustle and bustle of the largest city in America. The program features a week of sightseeing and ministry in downtown Manhattan, giving teens a taste of what it means to be a Jewish believer in the world today.

It’s important to note that ministry to youth and families doesn’t stop with camp. YFM programs also provide curriculum, retreats, Bible studies, long-term relational support, and other resources to help Messianic families grow and thrive all year round.

You can find out more about how YFM can support your family here.