First Christian Church invites all to hear Robyn Wilk speak at the church at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Wilk, an evangelist with the Jews for Jesus organization, is stationed in New York City.She will be sharing the historical roots of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah and its current significance for people from all walks of life.
Jews for Jesus is an agency that proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world. "What could be more Jewish than following the Messiah?" says Wilk, who considers herself 100 percent Jewish and 100 percent Christian.
Robyn Wilk grew up in New York City in a conservative Jewish family. When she was 12,they moved to Kansas where Robyn attended junior high and high school.
At Wichita State University, Wilk's Christian suite mate told her about Jesus. Wilk said, "I told God that I did not want to be a Christian but I needed to know what I ought to believe. I received help from an unexpected source. Josh MacDowell, a famous author, lecturer and apologist spoke at our school.
"I found his explanations credible and was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. As a Jew, I felt torn because this would not be acceptable to my Jewish family and friends.
"I wrestled with the issue until I realized that God had answered my prayer and I needed t accept that answer. I made an all out commitment to Jesus in 1981.
"Later I was excited to find there are other Jews who believe in Jesus."
Wilk is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a master's degree in music and of Fuller Theological Seminary with a master's degree in missiology.
For a time she was a member of the Liberated Wailing Wall, the "mobile evangelistic music team" of Jews for Jesus. Later she served as the leader of the San Francisco branch of Jews for Jesus. Since January of 2007 she has led the agencies' missionary training center in New York City as its director.
Jews for Jesus was founded by Moishe Rosen, a Jew who has believed in Jesus for more than 35 years. The organization has permanent branches in eight North American cities and five countries.
Dr. Rosen is quick to point out that he did not "start" Jews for Jesus. "Jews for Jesus began about 2,000 years ago. Jesus' first disciples were Jewish, and there have been some Jewish people who have believed in Him ever since."
Wilk will also conduct an "Everyday Evangelism Workshop" at the church on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 2 to 5:30 p.m.
Wilk says, "If you can witness to a Jewish person you can witness to just about anybody!"
Drawing from the same materials she uses to train missionaries to reach Jews around the world, she will teach attendees how to share the gospel right here in the north state.
All are invited to attend both events.
Information is available from First Christian Church at 527-4688.
