Ariel Ministries has been born from necessity to meet an urgent need for evangelism and discipleship of Jewish people.Arnold Fruchtenbaum graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1971 and received his Ph.D. from New York University in 1989. After graduating from Dallas, he moved to Israel with his wife Mary Ann and established a Bible institute. The institute became so effective in discipleship that after two years certain religious leaders forced Arnold and Mary Ann to leave Israel.Upon their return to the United States, Arnold and Mary Ann saw that there was an explosion of young Jewish believers rivaling what is recorded in the Book of Acts. Along with the joy of seeing hundreds saved came the agony of watching new Jewish believers falter in their enthusiam and doctrine because of poor discipleship.The concept of a new and powerful ministry simmered with Arnold’s heart during the following years as he worked first with the ABMJ (now Chosen People Ministries) and the Christian Jew Foundation. Finally, he could resist the call no longer and on December 1, 1977, Ariel Ministries turned from a dream into reality.
THE BIRTH OF CAMP SHOSHANAH
In 1959 Burl Haynie who discipled Arnold Fruchtenbaum developed a special Bible teaching camp for Jewish children, which came to be known as “Memory Camp” in the Adirondack’s of New York. This location was owned by Rose Burnham who shared the same vision as Burl Haynie. In order to qualify to come to this camp, one had to memorize 120 verses over a period of 12 weeks, reciting 10 verses weekly. The children would then attend Memory Camp for two weeks for the purpose of studying the 120 verses which had been memorized.
In 1974, 12 years after the Memory Camp ceased, a Jewish discipleship Camp was formed. Since those days the camp became known as Camp Shoshanah. Shoshanah is Hebrew for “Rose”, in memory of Rose Burnham who with Burl Haynie had the vision of the Camp becoming a Jewish discipleship Camp. That program today has developed into 5 weeks of Bible teaching from a Jewish perspective to Jewish and Gentile believers. You can go to www.Ariel.org and click on “Camp Shoshanah” for information on the Camp (www.CampShoshanah.org). I personally have attended Camp Shoshanah since 1995 and have found it more spiritual rewarding then my Bible College years which I have also valued greatly. I would recommend anyone who wants to study the Scripture and learn the Jewishness of the Scriptures as taught by Jewish believers such as Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum so that they can be equipped to share the Gospel of Messiah with Jewish people. Here are some of the courses taught in the three week part of Camp:
BIBLE STUDIES: Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Minor Prophets, Life of Messiah, Book of Acts, Galatians and The Messianic Jewish Epistles (Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter and Jude)
DOCTRINAL STUDIES: Eschatology (Doctrine of the last Days), Ecclesiology (The Doctrine of the Chruch), Israelology (Doctrine of Israel), Dispensationalism, Covenants of the Bible and the Ministries and Gifts of the Holy Spirit
JEWISH AND MESSIANIC STUDIES: The Feasts of Israel, Rabbinic and Messianic Views of Messianic Prophecy, Jewish History, Zionism and the History of Israel, Holocaust – its History and Theological Implications, Jewish Family Life, and Messianic Jewish Theology – Circumcision, Sabbath, Bar Mitzvah, Jewish Congregations, etc
DISCIPLESHIP: Design for Discipleship, Spiritual life and Bible Study Methods
The two week part of Camp has taught courses on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. If you have a burden to see Jewish people come to faith and desire to study hard and grow strong in the faith so that you can be fully equipped in ministring to Jewish people, consider Camp Shoshanah.
WHAT IS THE MINISTRY OF ARIEL MINISTRIES
The term “Ministry” encompasses both ideology and methodology. Ariel Ministries believes the basic responsibility for reaching Jewish people rests upon the shoulders of the local church and individual believers within the local church. Ariel Ministries has been an effective ministry in reaching Jewish people. Its thrust is to minister to the body of Christ with is made up individuals who are part of local churches to accomplish to basic goals:
EVANGELISM: to make the individual believer and local churches aware of Jewish people who live and work in their neighborhoods or spheres of reference for the explisit purpose of witnessing to them so that they would put their faith and trust in Yeshua, the Messiah.
DISCIPLESHIP: through the effective sound teaching of the Scriptures through Camp and many of Arnold Fruchtenbaums teaching material as well as the Discipleship program called “Come and See” (www.Ariel.org and click on “COME AND SEE“) believers become equipped in the Word.
Many believers in our churches have constant contact with Jewish people, yet are unaware of what they can do to witness and reach them. Come and learn from us.
A survey of several hundred Jewish believers was taken several years ago by the International Board of Missions to the Jewish People. One of the main questions dealt with who was instrumental in leading them to Christ. Would you believe that 98% were led to Jesus Christ by some concerned Christian from the pew of a local church! To illustrate this and to show the need of believers witnessing to Jewish people look what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 11:11. It is critical to understand that God saved Gentile believers so that through our daily walk in Christ before them, and by showing our personal relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we Gentiles are to be God’s instrument in the lives of Jewish people coming to faith in Messiah Yeshua. Look at exactly what Paul said, “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.”
Herein is the KEY to reaching the Jewish people for Messiah. The concerned effort of the person in the pew! Herein is the KEY spiritual growth of Jewish believers in Messiah and Gentiles, Discipleship! Ariel Ministries is the help the person in the pew of the local church needs to have an effective outreach from his local church to the Jewish people that are in his or her sphere of reference.
HOW CAN ARIEL MINISTRIES HELP?
Ariel Ministries can help you as an individual believer as well as your local church in several ways in your outreach to the Jewish community at large. It will help you understand why Jewish people have rejected the Gospel of Messiah so vigorously, and understanding the clear message of the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) of the deity of Messiah and the nature of the plurality of God among many more things. Here are some area we can help you and your local church in:
Come and visit and use our discipleship program on www.Ariel.org and click on “Come and See.”
Conferences on “Jewish Roots of our Faith”.
Become familiar with the teaching materials available on Ariel’s website. Some books called Messianic Christian, dealing with all the First Coming references of Messiah; Jesus was a Jew, dealing with Isaiah 53; Israelology, understand God place for Israel in the Scriptures; and the many CD’s, MP3’s and DVD’s on the Jewishness of the Scriptures
Register for very good sound, biblical teaching in the Word of God from a Jewish perspective at Camp Shoshanah.
Evangelism workshops in your church by an Ariel Missionary Staff person.
Share the ministry of reaching Jewish people in a Missions Conferences.
Sharing God’s Plan for Israel in Prophetic Conferences.