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About
KolDodi
When
talking with a Messianic Jew, a Jew who has accepted Jesus,
don't ask when he became a Christian. Instead, ask when he
became a believer.
"Jewish
believers usually don't use the term Christian to describe
themselves," said Ken Alpren, messianic rabbi or pastor
of the congregation of Messianic Jews that began meeting weekly
on Friday nights at ClearView. "Applying the term Christian
to ourselves would suggest the believer is no longer a Jew.
That is the farthest thing from the truth."
This
principle is only one of many things ClearView members will
have the opportunity to learn from Ken and the members of
his congregation.
Alpren,
a native of Philadelphia, became a believer in 1972 "through
the love of some wonderful Christians and the vehicle of end-time
prophecy." He and his family lived in Nashville from
1987-92 until they joined Chosen People Ministries. During
the past decade, they have served as planters in Philadelphia.
They eventually went on to plant a congregation in South Florida,
after spending eight months in Israel.
Ken
and his wife, Frances, live with children-Samuel, 13, and
Ashira, 12, and have been joined by adult children, Esther
and Ben. (Read more about Ken Alpren!)
The
Messianic fellowship will be "mission oriented,"
Ken said. "We want to be involved in reaching the Jewish
community in Nashville. We hope to see a diverse congregation
in terms of reaching Jewish people and others with an interest
in growing in their understanding of the Jewish roots of the
Christian faith."
Ken,
who will have an office at ClearView, expressed gratitude
to the church for providing facilities and a "covering
for us spiritually."
Also,
he said his members will benefit from the children and youth
ministries.
"Hopefully,
we can be a blessing to ClearView," he said, adding that
he is available to help members better understand and reach
their Jewish friends and they can join us for such exciting
upcoming Jewish holiday celebrations as Rosh ha Shannah, Sukkot,
Chanukah, Purim, and Passover.
KolDodi
currently meets at Calvary Baptist Church at Murphy Rd. &
Bowling Ave. in Nashville, at 5:00 p.m. each Saturday evening.
Email
Messianic Rabbi/Pastor
Kenneth Alpren
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