1983 to 1997 - Messengers Messianic Fellowship

MESSENGERS OF THE NEW COVENANT was originally established in New Jersey in 1940. It's early activities included sending aid packages of clothes and food to Europe for those Jewish refugees who had fled Germany as well as sharing Messiah Jesus. In 1946 the emphasis shifted to outreach in New Jersey. A number of respected Jewish believers have headed up MESSENGERS, including Rachmiel Frydland and Isaac Levy Finestone. The Messengers Fellowship met in Springfield NJ in the 1970's. When a very young Mottel Baleston arrived in 1983 to direct the ministry, the Messengers Center in downtown Montclair NJ was leased. We started a Friday evening Messianic Fellowship in September 1983. Those times resulted in many Jewish people coming to Messiah and growing in their faith. A vibrant fellowship continued there for 15 years.

Note: Due to privacy & security issues, this public web page does not show all the aspects of our activities.

In 1988 Mottel & Deborah Baleston were able to spend 3 months living and studying Hebrew in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.

In the background is the famous Kotel Ha-Maravi,
the 'Western Wall', the most visible remnant of the retaining wall that holds up the plaza above on which the Second Jewish Temple once stood. This area is usually packed with worshippers & tourists but on this brutally hot day at high noon, they wisely took a break from the blazing sun. Not me!

In 1983, at the beginning of the ministry, Mottel & Deborah led worship before Bible classes at the Ariel Discipleship program at Camp Shoshanah.
During those years, many dozens of Jewish believers in Messiah grew mature in their faith here.

One of our Friday evening Messianic Fellowship meetings in Montclair, 1996

The years 1995 thru 1997 saw a number of the Jewish believers we discipled move out of the area, and it was good to see others replace them.

At left is Shelley, a Jewish believer with a real talent in music. She was a
great help for several years in those Friday evening gatherings.

Julian is a Jewish believer who was a regular at the Fellowship

We planned and led "MESSIAH IN THE PASSOVER" Seders that demonstrated the clear portrait of Messiah Jesus in the Jewish Passover Ceremony

Sam assisted Mottel in leading the Passover this year

In 1996 we increased our fellowship and cooperation with Beth Messiah Congregation, here at a picnic. We taught their Bible Studies and did Hebrew tutoring. In 1997 Mottel would start to lead that Messianic Congregation.

Shelly is the Jewish believer who assisted in music at our meetings. Mottel was privileged to officiate her marriage to Ken, and together they helped, here at the Passover Seder.