Our Vision, Values, Strategy, & Beliefs

Our vision is simple, focused, and biblical:

Bringing the message of Messiah to the original messengers and equipping the Church to do likewise.

The message, of course, is the Good News of salvation delivered to all the nations of the earth by grace, through faith in the Messiah, Jesus.  The “original messengers?” – The Jewish people!  The very ones through whom God brought us the Scriptures, the Saviour, and even Salvation (John 4:2).

Evangelism

In the earliest chapters of the Bible, God made an unusual promise to the son of an idol worshipper named Abram, saying, “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)  God repeated the promise to Abram’s son, Isaac, saying, “Through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 26:4) Finally, the promise was repeated one last time to Isaac’s son, Jacob, “In you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 28:14)

God’s strategic mission on the earth is to deliver blessings to all nations through the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Jewish people.  Israel exists as a dispensary of blessings to every family in every nation.  It is no coincidence that the blessing of the Scriptures (Romans 3:2) the blessing of the Saviour (Romans 1:3) and even the blessing of Salvation (John 4:22) were delivered by God through the Jewish people.  Likewise, it is no coincidence that future blessings are also linked to the nation Israel.

Regardless of where and how we are serving the Lord Jesus, it makes sense to align our strategy with His.  Jesus, the Saviour of the world and not merely the Saviour of Israel, launched His earthly ministry by focusing exclusively on Israel.  (Matthew 15:24) The Apostle Paul declared unashamedly the power of the Gospel to save all who believe, highlighting God’s strategy to prioritize Jewish evangelism for the sake of all the nations. (Romans 1:16)   Have you noticed that Paul, even though he was the Apostle to the Gentiles, typically went “to the Jew first” whenever entering a new city? (Acts 17:2)  Paul well understood God’s strategy to prioritize Jewish evangelism, not because the Jewish people are inherently special, but because God intends to use them to deliver blessings to all the families of the earth.

Since its inception in 2008, Celebrate Messiah has embraced this evangelistic strategy in a land where people from all around the world, including Israel, are flocking by the thousands: New Zealand!  For the most part, these are sensitive, intelligent young adults who are looking for a life-changing adventure, and who are open to discussing life’s most important questions.

The Zula, our lodge and backpackers (hostel) which is free for Israeli travellers, is our primary means for reaching Israelis in NZ. Imagine a facility staffed by Gentile believers and trained Hebrew-speaking Christian volunteers who are weaving the message of the gospel into the fabric of the daily routine, alert to evangelistic opportunities among guests.  The Zula has gained remarkable acclaim and popularity; most of our guests know about the lodge while they are still in Israel! As a result of God’s favour, we have the opportunity to share the love of Messiah with thousands of young Israelis who stay at the Zula and at our other New Zealand accommodations.

Our outreach takes many other creative forms, including weekly evangelistic BBQs where we serve up free burgers, Bibles, and the Gospel. For many of our guests, this will be their first exposure to the Scriptures. One Brazilian backpacker clutched her new Bible to her chest, and with tears in her eyes said, “This is what I’ve been searching for. Thank you.”

Equipping

In Romans 11:13,14, Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles) has a divine epiphany concerning his fellow Jews: If God is using Gentile believers to provoke Jews to jealously desire and return to the God of Israel, why not enlarge his ministry to include these provocative Gentile believers?  It’s a brilliant strategy, and it’s the very strategy we’re employing here in NZ, where hundreds of Christian households are networked to provide free or low-cost accommodation to Israeli travellers in their homes!  Remember, these are the very people God is using to provoke my fellow Jews to jealousy!  So by strengthening this movement, we (in the words of Paul) “enlarge our ministry” exponentially, reaching tens of thousands of Jewish lives through the hospitality of these Christian hosts.  This is why we go throughout the country providing free training in Jewish evangelism and free Hebrew Bibles and gospel literature to these provocative hosts.

Training

Celebrate Messiah is also committed to serving Christians who are eager to explore our faith through the lens of the Jewish authors who penned the Bible.  We teach on a broad range of topics including Bible prophecy, Israel and the Church, the Gospel in the OT, evangelism, disciple-making and more.  By providing this unique training we’re able to build bridges between two worlds that, sadly, are historically conflicted: The world of Jews and the world of Gentile Christians.

We are not here to replace the local church, but to assist other ministers, lay-workers, and agencies in New Zealand and worldwide who share our vision and are dedicated to the cause of Jewish evangelism.  It’s an honour to be a resource to those who wish to better understand the cultural and historical context of the Scriptures. We are humbled and excited by the many opportunities God is giving us to teach in churches, church camps, conferences, Bible schools and mission agencies.

Ask Israeli travellers, “What’s your favourite town to hang out in the South Island?” and one answer will prevail over all others: “Wanaka!”

For years, we at Celebrate Messiah NZ entreated God to enable us to have a stronger presence in the most prominent Israeli enclave in New Zealand: the Wanaka/Queenstown region. This resort area, located in the middle of the South Island, is famous for its Middle Earth vistas, world-class hikes, extreme sports, skiing and snowboarding, bunging jumping, skydiving – you name it; it’s all there, including hundreds of Israeli travellers any day of the week during the warm months. And when young Israelis come to this region, they typically stay for days or even weeks, simply because there’s so much to see and do. Their extended stay means more opportunities for building relationships and for engaging in spiritual conversations.

Bottom line: Wanaka/Queenstown is kind of like NZ’s Jerusalem or New York City when it comes to Jewish evangelism! But here’s the problem: There is only a handful of households hosting Israeli travellers in the entire region, and there is virtually no intentional Jewish evangelism happening there other than our occasional outreaches.

So we dreamed.

We imagined a facility located in Wanaka that was specifically geared toward Israeli travellers and providing accommodation for groups of Israeli guests. We dreamed of having a place where Jewish-oriented Bible studies and Jewish holiday/holy day celebrations would be woven into the fabric of the daily routine, and trained staff would be alert to evangelistic opportunities among our precious Israeli guests.

We also imagined this facility being used to train Christians in the Jewish roots of our faith as well as the fundamentals of intentional disciple-making. And the dream didn’t end there, because a ministry centre in Wanaka would place our staff only minutes away from one of the largest backpacker enclaves in New Zealand, where we could engage in regular, ongoing outreach.

You’ve got to admit: As dreams go, this is one of the best when it comes to Jewish evangelism in New Zealand. But Wanaka is one of NZ’s most popular resort areas, so property values are inflated far beyond the prospect of affordability for our little non-profit mission agency. Humanly speaking, it simply wasn’t reasonable for us to dream about owning or even renting a facility in Wanaka or Queenstown.

Are you aware that, with the endorsement of heaven, dreams really do come true?

That’s right: God has made this dream a reality by giving CMNZ a lovely little lodge located just minutes from the centre of Wanaka. It provides accommodation for 34 guests with a well-equipped kitchen, a dining area and a large, comfortable lounge. The property also includes a 3-bedroom manager’s residence.

We’re calling our new Israeli backpacker, the Zula Lodge. “Zula” is a term used in Israel to describe a place where you gather with your best friends. We want our Zula to be a warm and inviting gathering place for Israelis in New Zealand.

The Zula opened its doors in May of 2015 and hosted more than 700 young Israelis during the following summer season, providing three free nights and low-cost accommodation thereafter for guests. The lodge was booked solid for weeks in advance and became so popular that, sadly, we had to turn hundreds away.

Nevertheless, the Israeli believers who staffed the Zula had countless opportunities to speak of their Messiah, Yeshua, and to demonstrate His love through sacrificial service. This is a critical component in our ministry because when young Israelis encounter other young Israelis who are passionate about Yeshua, it makes a powerful impact on their hearts.

Join us in praising and thanking God for this unspeakable gift! What a joy to have a place where we can freely share the love of God with His own Chosen People!

If/when you’re in the Wanaka area, be sure to ring us. If our staff are available, they would love to show you a dream come true!

See how much Israelis love staying at the Zula.

BOOK THE ZULA LODGE FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT!

The Zula Lodge is our primary means for reaching Israeli travellers with the good news of their Messiah. For most of the year, the Zula is filled with Israeli guests who are enjoying free hospitality, being served by dedicated staff members who are taking every opportunity to share the Gospel. Since the Zula receives no income during the “Israeli season,” we seek to offset our expenses by hiring out the Zula to groups and individuals during the off-season.

Why not enjoy a holiday in beautiful Wanaka and support the Zula at the same time? Use the lodge for your next family or church event!

Zula Lodge provides comfortable group accommodation for 34 guests just 5 minutes from the stunning Wanaka lakefront. Set in lovely wooded grounds near the beautiful Clutha River, it is just minutes away from world-class hikes, ski fields, biking trails, extreme sports, and some of the most spectacular views in New Zealand. The quiet location, communal facilities, friendly hosts, and affordable rates make the Zula an ideal choice for churches, schools, clubs, families, friends, and individuals.  Visit the Zula website or ring us for more information.

https:/zulalodge.co.nz
03 443 9487

1. PRIORITY OF JEWISH EVANGELISM

We are deeply committed to bringing the Gospel “to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16) in light of the fact that the Bible prioritises Jewish evangelism within the broader context of Jesus’ command to preach the Gospel to all peoples.

2. MOTIVATED BY LOVE

The core motivation of sharing the Gospel with any people is the love of God demonstrated in the Person of Jesus the Messiah.

3. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

We are committed to sharing the Gospel in a way that is culturally relevant and effective, without compromising the claims of Jesus.

4. UNITY IN MESSIAH

We deeply value the unity of the whole body of Messiah and will seek to maintain fellowship with all people involved in the Church and associated missionary organisations. We believe in the equality of all believers in Messiah.

5. MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY

We need to be accountable to each other, to associated ministries and to the wider body of Messiah.

6. INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP

We believe that the fruit of evangelism must be preserved by intentional discipleship, and by incorporating new believers into local worshipping communities.

7. SPIRITUAL INTEGRITY

The messenger must earnestly seek to live a life that is consistent with the Message.

8. HUMAN DIGNITY

Since all human beings are made in the image of God, how we treat them is a reflection of our love and respect for Him. The worker is more important than the work.

IN ESSENTIALS, UNITY

IN NON-ESSENTIALS, LIBERTY

IN ALL THINGS, CHARITY

I

We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible, which is therefore inerrant and infallible in the original autographs. We affirm the 66 books of the Bible (Old and New Covenants), are the standard of all truth, the final authority for doctrine and practice. Rabbinic Jewish literature is of human origin, and we recognise its value only where it is supported by or conformable to the Word of God. We do not consider it binding upon issues of faith or life. (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Peter 1:21)

II

We believe that there is one God. He is infinite and perfect, eternally existing in three distinct and equal persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – each possessing the nature and perfection of deity, as well as the characteristics of personality. (Deut. 6:4; Acts 17:24; Psalm 90:2; Matt 28:19 – 20)

III

We believe that the first man, Adam, was created in the image of God. Adam sinned and, though the image of God has not been lost, as a consequence all people are now born guilty before God and with a nature that inherently rebels against Him. Genesis (1:26 – 27, 2:7; Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:1 – 3; Romans 5:12)

IV

We believe that God made an everlasting and irrevocable covenant with Abraham. It includes the unconditional election of Israel as God’s chosen people, the promise of the Messiah through whom all the world will be blessed, and the gift of the land of Israel to the Jewish people. (Genesis 12:1 – 3, 15:9 – 17, 17: 1 – 5; 2 Samuel 7: 12 – 16; Romans 9 – 11)

V

We believe that God the Son, the eternal Word, came to Earth in human form and was known as Jesus, or Yeshua, the Messiah. We believe in His full deity; His virgin conception by the work of the Holy Spirit; His full humanity and His sinless life. Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; John 1:1 – 3, 14, 20:28; Colossians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15, 7:26. We believe Yeshua, the Messiah is the promised Prophet, Priest and King. As the Prophet, He revealed the mind of God in His teaching. As the great High Priest, He offered Himself once and for all as the only effective sacrifice for the sins of men, dying as atonement, which is both penal and substitutionary. He continues His priestly ministry as He intercedes for His people. As the King, He began His reign when He ascended into heaven after His death and bodily resurrection. He will return physically and visibly to reign on earth. (Romans 6:9 – 10; Revelation 20:1; Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22 – 24; Matthew 13:57; Hebrews 1 – 2; Leviticus 21; Hebrews 5 – 17, 7: 1 – 3; 2 Samuel 7:12 – 16; Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:32 – 33; Matthew 2:1 – 11)

VI

We believe in the full deity and the personality of the Holy Spirit. We believe that He bears witness to Messiah Yeshua through the Word of God; that He convicts people of sin; that He regenerates individuals, baptizing them into the body of Messiah; that He indwells, seals, fills, helps, and produces in believers the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 6: 11; Romans 8:15; 1 Corinthians 2:10 – 11; Ephesians 4:30; John 16:8; Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5: 22 – 23; John 16:8 – 11; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 12:13) We believe that the Holy Spirit sovereignly gives spiritual gifts to believers. (I Corinthians 12:1 – 11, 28 – 30; Romans 12:6 – 8; Ephesians 4: 11)

VII

We believe in justification by grace alone through faith alone. Faith in Messiah Yeshua is the only way of salvation, for both Jew and Gentile. True believers in Messiah Yeshua cannot lose their salvation. (Ephesians 2: 8 – 9; Acts 4:12; Romans 8:27 – 30; John 10:28 – 30)

VIII

We believe that the church is comprised of both Jews and Gentiles who have surrendered their lives to Yeshua as Saviour and Lord. Gentiles who have come to faith in Messiah Yeshua are fellow heirs with Jewish believers of the promises of God. Ephesians 2:15 We believe in the establishment of the local assembly of believers where both Jews and Gentiles are encouraged to live together in unity while freely expressing their respective cultural distinctives. (Hebrews 10:24 – 25; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3: Titus 1:5 – 9)

IX

We believe that the final state of those who have trusted in Messiah Yeshua will be eternal life in the presence of God. The state of those who have not trusted in the Messiah will be one of eternal judgment. (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:8 – 9)

Celebrate Messiah New Zealand is a non-profit organisation. We are supported by individuals and churches who recognise the need to share the Gospel with God’s ancient people. Learn more about supporting the mission of Celebrate Messiah New Zealand.

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Celebrate Messiah is directly accountable to a Board of Directors consisting of clergy and lay-persons of various denominations. 

(Included with permission from Myles and Katherine Weiss)

1. Israel is still the apple of God’s eye and His inheritance, close to His heart.
   (Ps. 148:14; Zech. 2:8; Deut. 32:8-11; Rom. 11:29; Ps. 33:11-12)
2. God’s faithful servants are moved to prayer and compassion over Israel’s condition. (Ps. 102:13-17)
3. God commands us to give Him and ourselves no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. (Isa. 62:1, 6-7)
4. God wants to give us the desire, anguish and gift of travailing prayer for Israel’s salvation. (Rom. 9:2-3; 10:1, 14)
5. God commands us to seek the spiritual and physical good of the Israeli people and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (Ps. 122:4, 6-9; Rom. 15:25-27; 1:16; 2:9-11)
6. The Jewish people’s acceptance of Messiah Jesus (Yeshua) will lead to life from the dead – worldwide revival of unprecedented magnitude.  (Rom. 11:15; Act 3:19-21)
7. Yeshua linked His second coming to Israel’s national turning to Him.  (Matt. 23:39)

While our outreach is not exclusively to Jewish people, we emphasise Jewish evangelism in accordance with God’s plan to “bless all the families of the earth” through the Jewish people.  Jewish people exist as a dispensary of blessings for all the nations.  By leading Jews to faith in their Messiah, we participate in God’s plan for global revival!

Jews For Jesus is a similar organisation whose focus is also Jewish evangelism.  We are not the same organisation, but we work hand-in-hand with Jews For Jesus missionaries around the world.

Simply put, if we are not ministering alongside the local church, we are not reaching our potential for effective ministry.  In Romans 11, God commissions Gentile believers to “provoke to jealousy” the Jewish people.  Understanding this commission to the Church, Paul included Gentile believers in his ministry for the sake of Jewish salvation.  We need the local church if we would fulfil our calling.

Learn more about our ministry to churches and other groups.

Dispensationalism teaches that God ordained certain economies or ages throughout history and that these ages have distinct purposes in the overall plan of God.  Classical Dispensationalism identifies seven such ages.  However, what distinguishes Dispensationalism from other theological systems is its emphasis on approaching the Scriptures from a literal/historical perspective.  It also maintains a strict distinction between Israel and the Church. 

While we don’t dogmatically embrace every tenet within Classical Dispensationalism, we believe the Bible should be interpreted from a literal/historical perspective.  Therefore, we do interpret literally the passages related to the Rapture of the Church and the Millennial Kingdom.  We also believe God’s Word teaches that Israel and the Church are two distinct entities with distinct roles, not to be confused or consolidated.