Tag Archives: Chosen People Ministries

Kerstetter Chronicles: October 2015

Imagine you’re standing in line at your favorite café. Through small talk with the college aged guy next to you, you mention that you believe in Jesus. His eagerness surprises you, “I’ve heard of you, Jesus-followers, but never met one! Would you tell me what you believe?”

“I’d love to,” you reply. Drink now in hand, you walk to a nearby table, and watch your new acquaintance invite several friends to join you. Astonished, you end up spending hours answering their eager questions about your faith in Jesus.

Hard to imagine such an incredible opportunity! But this is what happened when our friend, on a short-term outreach to Israeli backpackers in India, met some Israelis in a café, and introduced herself as a Jewish believer in Jesus. Curious to know how a person can believe in Jesus and still be Jewish, they talked with her for hours.

We believe you desire to make the greatest impact for the Lord with the resources you have.  What if you could personally impact eternity for the price of a visit to your favorite café? If every person receiving this letter contributes just $5 more per month for the next four months, the sum would cover the remaining 50% needed for our winter outreach trip. For the price of a latte, you can be the reason an Israeli learns about Jesus.

This December, Lord willing, we will do three weeks of evangelistic outreach to Israelis and gain invaluable experience in hostel ministry in Argentina. Then we will fly to Brazil to visit potential locations for our hostel. This trip is a vital step forward! Please pray for full funding before our departure, and that God will show us the perfect location for this ministry.

Meanwhile, we continue training at Moody Bible Institute. Praise God, this school year is fully covered by scholarships! We are also so thankful that we’ve each seen some improvement in our health. Please continue prayer for full healing and strength.

Through generous commitments over the summer, we have reached 17% of monthly support. Please pray as we work to raise our support to 100% ($6,000/month), required before we can begin ministry in Brazil. Donations now fund our training, outreach trips and ministry work in Chicago.

We so appreciate the essential role you play in this work, and are continually encouraged by the body and love of Christ so beautifully manifested through your faithfulness!

With love,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

Kerstetter Chronicles: August 2015

Friendly faces crowded the apartment, all talking and laughing as they waited to light the Sabbath candles and have dinner. When we walked in, we knew only our host and hostess. But when we drove away at the end of the evening, we had the distinct impression that God had just led us to our “ministry soul mate.” And it seems we were right!

His name is Stephen Arnold, but many of his friends call him by his Hebrew name, Shmueli. On that winter night in 2012, when our new friend, Vlad, excitedly pulled Shmueli across the room to introduce us, it quickly became clear that this was no chance encounter! Shmueli had just moved to Chicago from North Carolina and prayed that God would send him ministry partners to go to Brazil and open a hostel ministry for Israelis. We knew that God had called us to Jewish ministry, and we dreamed of working with Israeli backpackers, but were praying that God would give us clear direction. We never expected that God would combine BJ’s upbringing in and love for Brazil with my Jewish heritage and heart for Israel to uniquely equip us for such a strategic ministry. But here was a man, with a love for Brazil and passion for Jewish evangelism offering us a dream we didn’t know we had.

Now, almost 3 years later, it is becoming a reality. Friend, we eagerly covet your prayers as we step forward into this new work. As missionaries with Chosen People Ministries, our team of three is working to establish a hostel in Brazil in 2017, to share the gospel of Jesus with the thousands of Israelis that backpack through South America every year. And much needs to be done before then!

Thank you for praying for our summer fundraising project. As we near the end of our travels, we praise God for His provision and for all of the gracious friends and family who have supported and loved on us. Please continue to pray for our full funding by January 2017; our Fall Semester at Moody Bible Institute, beginning on August 24th; and our continued healing from Lyme disease.

Praying continually for an overflow of God’s joy and peace in your life,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

Kerstetter Chronicles: June & July

“Am Yisrael Chai! Stand with Israel!” voices shouted in unison with the blasting shofars and rallying drum beats, as the crowd snaked through the northern suburban park. Waving flags of white and blue and banners proclaimed our unified purpose and heart cry.

We were proud to be a part of it all – to make a public statement that despite the increasingly hideous news claims and accusations made against her, we stand with Israel. All of our connections in Chicago were represented there. Friends from Moody Bible Institute, Chosen People Ministries and several Messianic synagogues walked behind and in front of us. And each one was there because of a deeply felt importance of identifying with Israel before a cynical world.

In light of our American Independence Day, our hearts are stirred with a similar national pride and a deeply felt gratitude for our freedom. Truly, God has blessed America. But, as a nation, we stand at a crossroads before God. Will we continue to stand with Israel, or will we turn our back on her? As individuals, we must do what we can to sway the tide. Will we each take a stand against the modern faces of anti-Semitism? Will we accept the influence of political misinformation and faulty hermeneutics on our churches and schools? Or will we seek and stand for truth?

With each new strain placed on our ties with Israel, a familiar verse is brought continually to our minds.

“And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.” Genesis 12:3

So, this month, as we celebrate our great nation and our blessed freedoms, I urge you to pray for the United States of America, and our relationship with the people of Covenant. May we never turn our backs on Israel, and may God always bless America.

As we travel around the country this month, we would appreciate prayer specifically that we will present our ministry clearly and simply, and that God will move in many hearts to join our partnership team through prayer and financial support. Please also pray for continued recovery for both of us from our Lyme treatments in May, and strength & energy for our travels.

As always, we are so thankful for your love, prayer and support for us, and we pray that God will use us and this ministry to richly bless you.

Love in Yeshua,

 BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

Kerstetter Chronicles: May [Cross Culture]

She saw crosses everywhere she looked throughout the church camp. The sight of them made her feel sick to her stomach. During the conference, message after message was focused on the crucifixion. The speakers really made it sound like they think the cross is the beginning and end of the gospel, she told me, and said she could not relate.

 

My stomach knotted and I thought to myself, “Uh… yeah! What are you saying? The cross is the center and foundation of the Gospel.” But I kept silent and listened, “Maybe there is something I’m missing here.”  

 

“My grandmother was poked by a lot of kids in school. They’d take their crosses off and see who could draw blood first,” she told me. “My mom was nicknamed ‘Christ-killer’ in school. She was the only Jewish girl.”

 

“Is this for real?” I felt sick now. I knew already about the long and bitter history between “Christians” and Jews from the Crusades to the Holocaust, and how Nazi soldiers sang Christian hymns as they savagely beat Jewish prisoners in the name of Christ. I had even heard stories like this one before, but I still felt shocked. “This sounds so medieval. How could this happen In the United States? In my parents’ lifetimes? In mine?” I could see real struggle written on her face as she told me that she really tries to understand the cultural symbolism Christians attach to the cross. Despite her sincere appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice there, she told me she only associates the cross with punishment, shaming and brutality, and the bitter suffering our Messiah endured, not with grace and love and joy. To her, she said, Jesus and His grace are so much more than the cross, and better represented by other symbols, like a dove.

 

I left the conversation feeling shaken and frustrated. “This person is a Jewish believer! Why can’t she set aside these cultural issues now and recognize the true meaning and place of the cross in Scripture?” Over the next week, I thought about her words and mulled over the issue with God. My heart started to soften and I began to recognize some truth in her points. It is true, Jesus is so much more than the cross. His grace certainly did not end there. And maybe, I would feel the same way if I had not been so protected and sheltered from the anti-Semitism that is still shockingly present in my generation. But more than anything else, I began to recognize that the root of this issue is cultural and historical, rather than theological. My friend does not struggle with the truth of the crucifixion, or lack appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice, but she grapples with the painful associations that many Jewish people connect with the cross.

 

As I reflected, heavy hearted, on the deep wounds and division between the Jewish people and the Church, I began to wonder how we got here. And what can be done now to nurture unity and healing between Jewish and Gentile brothers and sisters in the body of Messiah? And who will step up to the task? Will it be me? Will it be you?

 

“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”

Ephesians 2:14-16

 

Prayer Requests

Please be praying as we continue to learn about Jewish and Messianic culture, and as God continues to stretch our understanding of who He is and how He relates to His people. Consider how faithfully and lovingly God has cared for the Jewish people throughout history, and pray about how God might desire to use you in His plan for them in the present.

We thank God for each of you and your faithful prayer, encouragement and financial support for us. We will begin travelling in July to present our ministry and raise funds. If you are interested in hosting a presentation in your home, small group or church, please email us. We would love to meet with you! May God bless you as spring comes to an end and you begin your summer plans.

Love in Yeshua,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

Kerstetter Chronicles: March & April

“Ilu natan, natan lanu. Natan lanu et ha Shabbat. Natan lanu et ha Shabbat. Dai-a-nu. Dai-dai-anu. Dai-dai-anu. Dai-dai-anu. Dai-anu! Dai-anu!”

Grins broke across each face around the table as the familiar Hebrew words, sung out in unison, filled the room and affirmed in our hearts the eternal truth, “It really would have been enough.” If God had brought us out of slavery in Egypt and had not split the sea for us; If He had only split the sea for us, but had not brought us through on dry ground; If He had only brought us through on dry ground, but had not provided us manna in the desert for forty years; If He had only fed us with manna, but had not given us the Sabbath. It would have been enough! But God has done so much more for us.

“Dai-anu!” the song finished, and the voices seemed to fade into the memory of songs sung in Passovers gone by. As the head of the house began to explain each element of the Passover service, I thought to myself, “There must be thousands of Jewish people across the world singing this song tonight and praising God for His miraculous provision for Israel. God has done so much for us!” And I ached inside as I thought for the thousandth time, “If only they could see just how much He has done for us. If only they could believe that Jesus is the Messiah that God promised.” And for the thousandth time, God spoke to my heart, “I have not forsaken them. I will open their eyes and they will know that Yeshua is the One they have been waiting for.” And again a passion was ignited in my heart. “We must tell them. We must share the truth that Yeshua is the promised Messiah.”

Will you partner with us, as we continue our ministry preparations and find opportunities here in Chicago to share the truth of Messiah with Jewish people? Your prayer and financial partnership are crucial as we continue studies at Moody Bible Institute and prepare to begin full time work with Chosen People Ministries reaching Israeli backpackers in Brazil in the year 2017. 

Please be praying with us:

  • Praise – A Jewish man from our executive Passover outreach downtown prayed to receive the Lord this week!
  • Praise – Carissa’s health has continued to improve since treatment in January. Please pray that both BJ and she will soon make complete recoveries.
  • Praise – God has provided $600 for BJ to get the same Lyme treatment in May. Please pray that He will provide the remaining $2,000 needed.
  • Praise – We have received commitments of monthly support totaling $345/month. Please pray as we develop a partnership team with the goal of reaching Chosen People Ministry’s requirement of full support, $6,000/month, by January 2017.
  • Praise – our ministry partner, Stephen (Shmueli) Arnold, just returned from a productive survey trip to Brazil. He has identified three possible locations for our hostel ministry. Please pray that God will give us clear direction as we consider these options.

Finally, please pray for us as we make plans to travel this summer. We are now scheduling dates to speak in churches and present our ministry. If you are interested in partnering with us, or know of someone who would be, please email us! We would love to share our ministry vision with you personally or with your Bible study or small group.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support of us. May God use your connection to this work to richly bless you.

“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

Romans 11:11

Love,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

If you would like to partner with us financially donate to our account with Chosen People Ministries at chosenpeople.com/donation *Please be sure to write “BJ Kerstetter” in the space marked special designation. If you would like to contribute toward BJ’s Lyme treatment, school bill or other expenses, click the button below:




Kerstetter Chronicles: Happy New Year

     Happy New Year friends! We realize we’re a bit late with the greeting, but we wanted to give you, and ourselves, a chance to get through the holidays and hopefully find a little more time for reading and writing emails. 2014 has been such an exciting year for us. So much has happened that I hardly know where to begin! First of all, we want to sincerely thank each of you for your prayers, encouragement, love and support for us. Your faithfulness and generosity are so vital to our studies and ministry, and you bless us more than you know! We have learned and grown so much in our faith this year, as we have seen God lead and provide for us. We hope our letters have been testaments to His love and our gratefulness, and have encouraged your hearts as well! Here is a summary of what God has done for us in the past year, and some of the things we are looking forward to for 2015.

recap of 2014:

  • We were accepted into the Jewish Studies program at Moody Bible Institute.

  • In August, we moved to downtown Chicago and BJ started classes at Moody.

  • The community of Devar Emet Messianic Synagogue welcomed us as family and has been an incredible encouragement and blessing to us.

  • We celebrated many of the biblical Jewish holidays for the first time, and learned so much about our rich cultural, historical and scriptural heritage.

  • We talked, prayed, dreamed and planned with our good friend Shmueli (Stephen) Arnold about our possible ministry together with Israeli backpackers in Brasil. Please pray for him, as he is working in Argentina for the next couple months, and will then be headed to Brazil to check out possible ministry locations!

  • In December, BJ was accepted as a student missionary with Chosen People Ministries (CPM; www.chosenpeople.com). This will allow us to get involved in ministry part time with CPM, gain needed experience and understanding of this ministry, and begin to raise support as we prepare for full time ministry.

  • As part of CPM Chicago, we were invited to move into Chosen People’s housing in West Rogers Park, Chicago. This will save us around $4,000 each semester. Woohoo! We made the move before Christmas break and we’re so thankful for this opportunity.

Looking forward to 2015:

  • We’re starting this year off with a bang in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where we’re seeing a Dr. Anthony Smith at Dynamic Health for Lyme treatment. We’ll be back in Chicago on January 10; but please keep praying for us because the detox process after treatment is really intense for at least 6 weeks! It will be a rough road for a while but we trust that God will carry us through it, and He has a plan, whatever the outcome is of this treatment.

  • When we get back to Chicago, BJ will begin his second semester at Moody. 2 years to go now! He is especially excited to study Apologetics and Jewish Life & Communication.

  • We have been accepted to go with Chosen People Ministries on their Outreach Israel trip this summer. (Dates TBA.) This will qualify as BJ’s required internship for Moody, and will provide us with crucial ministry & cultural experience for working with Israeli backpackers. We are also praying about staying in Israel after the Outreach program to take modern Hebrew courses that are not available at Moody. Right now we need to raise $9,000 to go on Outreach Israel, and we are looking into the cost of Hebrew studies. Please pray about helping us meet that goal!

  • Praise the Lord! Our first semester at Moody has been paid in full! Thank you so much for your contributions to help us get there! We are now able to start making payments for the spring semester bill of $1,100.

  • More praises! Several dear friends have committed to monthly contributions totaling $265/month! This is fantastic, and we are so thankful. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us this year in our ministry to the Jewish people?

     Again, thank you for your continued prayer and support for us. We are so thankful for you and we love hearing from you! Know that you are in our prayers as well. May you have a blessed new year.

Because of God’s faithfulness,

BJ and Carissa Kerstetter

     To contribute toward our school bill or other expenses please continue to make donations through our website, kerstetterconnection.com/donate, or make checks payable to BJ Kerstetter at CPO 2163, 820 N. LaSalle Blvd. Chicago, IL.

     If you would like to make a donation specifically for our trip with Outreach Israel, you may

  1. Mail checks to Chosen People Ministries at 241 E. 51st Street New York, NY 10022. Checks must have the name “BJ Kerstetter” in the memo section.

  2. Donate over the phone by calling Chosen People Ministries, 1 (888) 2-YESHUA. Ask for the receipting department and inform them you would like to give a financial gift to “BJ Kerstetter.”

  3. Click here to donate online. Please be sure to enter the name “BJ Kerstetter” in the section entitled “Special Designation.” Donations can be made via Credit, Debit, or PayPal.