|
Blackanthem Military News
|
Last Updated:
Jul 3, 2009 - 7:37:28 PM |
|
|
Messianic Jewish Chaplain shares Passover Seder with Everyone
By Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
Apr 12, 2007 - 6:56:11 PM
|
Email this article
Printer friendly page
|
 |
| Chaplain (Capt.) Jesus Perez, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, smiles and greets Soldiers as they arrive to celebrate the Messianic Passover Seder at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in Baqubah, Iraq, April 3. %u201CThe Passover Seder was a community of faith of people who came together to worship and to see God though it. People just being people in the presence of God, regardless of their faith tradition,%u201D said Perez. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs) |
Blackanthem Military News, BAQUBAH, Iraq -- “I see this as a calling from God, to administer to the people, as people, as Soldiers who need to see a human face behind [our deployment]. That’s what a chaplain does. We bring Soldiers to God and God to Soldiers,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Jesus Perez, chaplain for 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
“I feel honor to get to serve [the Soldiers],” he continued. “I see this as a calling, not as a job. The day I see being a chaplain as a job, it’s time for me to retire, it’s time for me to hang up the gloves.”
But what makes this chaplain so special is, to his knowledge, he is the only Messianic Jewish chaplain in the Army and, quite possibly, the whole U.S. Military.
“As a chaplain, I believe I am the only Messianic Jew in that position,” Perez said. “I don’t know of any other [chaplains] in the armed forces that are Messianic Jew chaplains like I am.”
Being the only Messianic Jew serving as a chaplain, it is a privilege to serve his brothers-in-arms while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, Perez said.
“I feel honored,” he said. “I feel honored by Hashim that he gives me the opportunity to be a voice within the community of believers, especially for the Messianic Jewish believers, which in my opinion, there are many [in the military]. That, for me, is a very big privilege.
“Messianic Judaism differs from Judaism in the sense that we believe Jesus, who we call Yeshua, is the messiah,” he continued. “We differ from Christianity in the sense that there are traditions that we don’t follow.
“We continue to follow the Jewish traditions, holidays and all the Jewish laws like kosher law,” said Perez. “We try to follow more of the tradition Jewish setting rather than the Christian settings.”
Perez was born in New York City but grew up in Puerto Rico,; two places that helped mold Perez’s beliefs into what they are today.
“I was born in New York but grew up in Puerto Rico,” said Perez. “That’s where I have my Jewish roots, from New York, and my Messianic roots, from Puerto Rico.
“I grew up in a Jewish family,” he continued. “My parents converted to Catholicism while I decided to go to the route of Messianic Judaism because I saw in Messianic Judaism, the opportunity of see the messiah in everything that we do as Jews.”
But Perez didn’t find a calling in the church just yet. For him, it started when he enlisted in to the U.S. Navy.
“Everything started when I joined the Navy,” he said. “After I joined, I was tasked to be a religious specialist.”
Perez still conducted his regular duties on top of his new duties as a religious specialist.
“Four years later, I switched over to the Army and became an 88Ma [transportation specialist], but was also again assigned as a chaplain’s assistant,” Perez said.
“I kind of got the message there -- four years as a chaplain’s assistant with the Navy, four years chaplain’s assistant with the Army -- so I thought God was trying to say something,” he said with a smile on his face. “So I switched again back to the Navy to be a Chaplain Candidate for a few years. Then I decided to go back to the Army as a Chaplain in September of 2005.”
Perez’s duties as a chaplain are never-ending. He does everything from holding services, leading prayer breakfasts and speaking at Soldier’s memorials.
“When we go [to a memorial service], its not about me being a Messianic Jew or [the Soldiers] being their own faith group, it’s about being a Soldier,” said Perez.
“I minister to them as Soldiers -- that’s my job, that’s my duty,” he continued. “I honor the dead, wounded and taking care of my Soldiers, regardless to what battalion they belong to or what faith group they are.
“[After a memorial service], Soldiers say to me, ‘I’m glad you’re a chaplain,’” Perez said. “They see me as a chaplain, not as a Messianic Jew or a priest or anything like that. They see me as a chaplain and as their chaplain, regardless if they are from my battalion or another battalion.
“It makes me feel awesome; it makes me feel like I’m connecting,” he said. “The Soldiers know I speak their language, being a chaplain’s assistant before and also being a Soldier who was enlisted.”
“Our jobs [as chaplains] are to protect the lives and souls of the Soldiers,” he continued. “We represent peace, love and caring.”
Perez got the chance to share his religious beliefs and customs during Passover, a sacred Jewish holiday which celebrates the freedom of the Israelites from ancient Egypt, by holding a Messianic Passover Seder with Soldiers from all units at FOB Warhorse, April 2 and 3.
Soldiers gathered into the chapel where Perez and his chaplain’s assistant set up tables with the traditional Messianic Passover dishes to share. Perez was also invited to lead the Messianic Passover Seder at other surrounding FOBs.
“For Messianic Judaism, as well as Judaism, Passover is one of the most important [events],” Perez said. “For me, it was important for my Messianic brothers to have a place to go and celebrate, rejoice and come together and retell the story of how we were bonded in slavery in Egypt.
“You could see it in their faces to how happy they were,” he said. “We laughed together, cried together and it was and awesome experience.”
But the Seder was not only for the Messianic Jews stationed at the surrounding FOBs, Perez said it was for anyone who wanted to join in and worship God.
“For me, it was awesome,” Perez said. “We had five Messianic Jews partaking in the service and the rest were from different religions. All of them came, not as Baptist or Presbyterian. The Passover Seder was a community of faith of people who came together to worship and to see God though it. People just being people in the presence of God, regardless of their faith tradition -- that’s what made Passover so special.
“It pleased my heart so much,” he said.
Perez did want to make sure those attending the Seder did not feel he was trying to convert them to his religion, rather let them experience God a different way and let them make their own decision.
“We believe that each person should to have the opportunity to receive a revelation to who Messiah is,” Perez said. “I don’t go out [trying to convert] Jews nor Christians to become what I am. I do what I do and let my life speak to them.
“We had a Jewish sister come to the Messianic Passover because she was curious,” he said. “She said she was glad she participated because now she had questions and needed to do some research. I didn’t [try to convert her,] we just talked about what we see in the Passover and let them do the research.”
After the Seder was complete, Perez smiled and said he was happy he could share the experience with his brothers-in-arms and of his religion.
“If I only had one Messianic Jew in the Passover Seder, it would have been worth it, it would have been enough,” he said. “The whole experience was perfect.”
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
 |
| Soldiers of different religions gather in the chapel at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in Baqubah, Iraq, to celebrate the Messianic Passover Seder. The Seder was held by Chaplain (Capt.) Jesus Perez, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and wearing white, who believes he might be the only Messianic Jew chaplain in the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs) |
|
 |
| Chaplain (Capt.) Eric Bey, chaplain for 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, is one of many non-Messianic Jews to partake in the Messianic Passover Seder held at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq, April 3. He drinks from a juice box instead of the traditional wine because he and his counterparts are stationed in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs) |
|
Comments
ELDER.M.SRIKANTH
01 Jan 2009, 01:51
Dear Rabbis of the ASSEMBLIES arround the world
First of all please pray for the demise Rabbis.They are tears,pain mourning
and loss.There is hope commitment and faith.In the recent terriost
activities three families of Rabbis died in the terrior attacks in Mumbay.
we deeply mourned and prayed for our Rabbi family to have peace. operation
to the rescue four Israeli namrions including Rabbi GAVRIEL Holtzberg and
his wife Rivka who were being held at a Jewish religious centre,ended
tragically. Allof them were killed by the terriotists.May their righteous
memory be for blessing. pleasefray for their families and Global peace.If
you have any peace material I can teach in our Messianic assemblies and
public.please make me as part of your Ministry/organisation and help us to
spread peace out.
SHALOM
Dear beloved Brothers an sister in YHWH
Greetings to you all in the wonderful name of yahshua the Messiah and soon
coming king. HalleluYAH
I already introduced and sent the brief report of introducing our sacred
truth work.you have get in touch with me showing YAHWEH love towards
us.This your we are happily celebrated the Holy feasts.During the time of
Holy feast season we are all remembered all you to have joy peace and
healthy of life.Now I can send our brief report of Holy feasts 2008.
we celebrated the Feast of Trumpet according to EXO 12:16,1 COR 15:50-53
and REV 29:1-6. we celebrated the Day of Atonement according to LEV
23:27-32. LEV chap 16.The day is associated with purifying the bride of the
Messiah just prior to the wedding of the lamb. REV 19 AND ALSO 20,21
chapters.
The feast of Tabernacle is a separate Feast,the eighty day period is one of
the three pilgrims feasts spoken of DEUT 16:16-17, we also referred LEV
23:39,NUM 29:39,EXO 34:24,ZEC 14:1-2.
we are extremely send the report of Feasts of Tabernacle 2008 .on behalf of
all the dear ones who joined with me to send the regards.Thank you YAHWEH
for your great love.Each elder spoke on different subjects.on the last
great day on of our elders voiced the vote of thanks.we did have a very
happy Tabernacle remembered all of you to those who have celebrated Holy
feasts with you .we thanked each and every one who came,took part and
helped in some way to make the Holy feasts 2008a jealous and uplifting
experience for all.The Holy days were Elder with spirit of joy peace
prosperity and happiness.Every one exalted YAHWEH by celebrating Holy
feasts.we want to unite with you as oneness family and grow under your
stewardship..our Messianic believers are very few and poor so as to unable
to bring tithes and offering to YAHWEH presence.we can also run orphanage
and widow home .some time we do not have food to satisfy our hunger
starvation.Even though we can strive hard to spread of the sacred truths to
turn many minds towards abba YAHWEH.
Dear beloved Brothers and sisters, YAHWEH promises to bless to those
who cheerfully give to His sacred truth work.EXO 25:2, MAL 3:10..If you
would like to receive your blessings for cheerful giving back part of what
our ELOHIM has given you in tithes and voluntarily offerings then we ask
you to pray, and than do as He leads you.what ever you send the love gifts
for the celebrations of Holy feasts ,our YAHWEH bestow upon rich rewards in
heaven.If you are unable to send your charities please forward my
information to those who wish to send their benevolence to spread of the
sacred truths to know our people.please do not keep away us from your
companion ship. If you want to really see our YAHWEH sacred truth work
please come down to India to deliver your valuable messages to win the
lost.you donations and charities can be sent through by post or western
union .My postal address is :
ELDER.M.SRIKANTH
CONGREGATIONS OF YAHWEH
PO.ELAMANCHILI
ROMJI NAGAR
W.G.DT., A.P.
S.INDIA E-mail : congregations_12@yahoo.co.in
If you wish to send your love gifts for the Holy day celebrations and for
orphans and widows needs .please send your loving kindness to the given
below western union details.The details are as follows.
NAME: SRIKANTH
SUR NAME: MYLABATHULA
CITY/TOWN: NARSAPUR
DISTRICT: WEST GODAVARI
STATE: A.P.
COUNTRY: INDIA
Please know that you tithes and offerings are not only needed but also
needed your spiritual encouragement to exalt our most High name on earth.
we are prayerfully expecting our kind response with blessings
May the name of YAHWEH be glorifies
yours in Him
(ELDER.M.SRIKANTH)
|
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
