At this year’s AMI (My People) Conference we hope to take a giant step toward fulfilling the goal of the Messianic Israel Alliance, which is to “Equip the people of Israel to accomplish the restoration of all things.” Batya has outlined how this year’s conference will ignite a greater emphasis on being led by the Holy Spirit. I know that those who are preparing for this conference are very excited. Since I am one of the world’s greatest optimists, I am hoping for a modern day re-enactment of the Upper Room experience.

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit...” (Acts 2:1-4).

This experience prepared the disciples to immediately reach out to crowds who had come to Jerusalem from all over the world, to seek a closer relationship with the Holy One of Israel.

Was the outreach of the disciples successful?

On that day alone, about 3,000 were baptized and added to their ranks. The one-hundred and twenty had increased twenty-five times (2500%) in one day.

The blessing that can be poured out on a group of disciples who are in “one accord” can indeed be powerful!

Applying this model to our situation, I asked myself, “Once we have been transformed by AMI 2003, what should those who are on the cutting edge of His mission for our generation be prepared to do next? We continue to see crowds all over the world seeking a closer relationship with the Holy One of Israel. So what is the necessary factor for those who want to move in an Apostolic anointing?

Being “in one accord.”

Sadly, the current state of the Messianic Movement can best be likened to the dysfunctional family Robinson. Each little group on its own island, speaking only to God, their members, and no one else. We would like to help solve this problem and to help bring restoration to the Messianic Movement.

Bringing the Whole House Together

To help facilitate this restoration, we are working to bring together the major ministries of the Messianic Movement by asking them to gather after our “Upper Room AMI Conference.” This conference is especially dedicated to “His People,” and we are asking ministries that are in agreement with this common goal of restoration to work together to help establish a reunited house of Israel.

We recognize that we all have different furrows to plow in this earthly field, but that should not keep us from plowing in the same direction, with our eyes on the same goal, which is the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel.

If we will work together as allies we can be a help to our embattled brothers and sisters in the Land, and thus help accomplish our Father’s purposes for this generation.

We must cease to fight one another over non-Salvation issues, and awaken to the reality that we have a vicious enemy that is literally working to destroy all the people of the God of Israel. United we can stand against this enemy— divided he can pick us off one by one.

Seeking the Father’s Face

The theme of this year’s conference is “Seeking the Father’s face” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Being in a face to face relationship with the Holy One is part of the ultimate restoration of all things. When Cain entered into sin, he could no longer see the face of the Holy One (Genesis 4:14). Because of sin, man was destined to wander in the wilderness of life. However, in His infinite mercy, the Father promises to deal with us in that wilderness, face to face (Ezekiel 20:35). When all things are summed up in the Book of Revelation, once more His people will be able to see His face (Revelation 22:3-5).

As King David said, “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, YHVH, will I seek."

David also prayed, “Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation” (Psalm 27:8-9, KJV).

We are now seeking our Father’s face like never before! At the same time, we are reaching out to our Messianic brothers and sisters, imploring them to join with us in a stand of unity that will cause the world to finally believe that our Messiah has come in the flesh (John 17:23).

The mission of the MIA is to help equip and empower the people, that they might work toward the restoration of all things (Acts 3:19-21). This will result in us once again having a face to face relationship with the Father, just as Adam and Eve did in the garden.

We know that when we search for the Father with all our hearts we will find Him. As He promises, He will build us up, restore our fortunes, re-gather us from all the nations, and bring us back to the place from where we were exiled (Jeremiah 29:11-14).

Prior to entering into this promised relationship, YHVH brings us into the “wilderness of the peoples.” There, He enters into judgment with us, “face to face.” He also brings us “into the bond of the covenant” and purges from among us all “rebels and transgressors” (Ezekiel 20:33-38).

Men of peace need to lay aside their differences at this time and unite against the enemies that seek to destroy us. We need to unite under a broad banner of “Salvation in the Messiah,” peacefully accepting each other as brothers. For without peace, we cannot have the fullness of the Spirit that we so desperately seek. We cannot have the victory that is promised to the whole House of Israel.

Proposing a New and Different Tactic

To help bring us together, we propose a tactic that perhaps differs from some that have been used in the past.

We propose that, rather than coming together to declare how we disagree, we instead define how we agree. Rather than gathering to tell everyone what we are against, let us gather to declare to all what we stand for.

We are offering to provide a public arena, to be used by the Ruach Ha Kodesh to unify the flock and the “good shepherds” who truly want to care for the scattered flock of Israel (Jeremiah 23:1-8).

AMI 2003, the Peoples’ Conference, takes place over Labor Day weekend, August 28th through September 1, 2003.

It concludes at the close of the Sunday evening session. Then, on Monday, September 1st, Labor Day, the Peoples Day, we will host a Town Meeting where the voice of the people can be heard. Major ministries from both houses of the Messianic Movement—Judah and Ephraim—are being invited to send representatives to this public meeting.

Projected Format for the Meeting

Each ministry will be given the opportunity to make a short presentation outlining:

1. Who they are
2. What they stand for
3. What they believe
4. Their ultimate visions and goals

The presentations will be followed by a public “town-type meeting” with representatives of each ministry serving on a panel that will be open to questions from the audience. Plus, a list of identical questions will be asked of each representative by the moderator.

The following ground rules apply:

• Statements must be positive in nature.
• Each ministry will explain “who they are,” rather than “who they are not.”
• Beliefs must be expressed in “what they believe,” and not by “what they do not believe.”
• Attacks on other ministries will not be allowed.

For example if a ministry is convinced that the Sacred Name is to be transliterated and pronounced in a specific manner they are free to give their reasons. Another ministry may believe differently, and they are free to give their reasons for their choice. But neither ministry will be allowed to criticize the other for their position, or call them names because of their differences.

The People Need to Know

The purpose of this meeting will be to make the Body aware of what each ministry is about, who they are, what they stand for and believe, and what is their ultimate mission or goal.

This meeting will help answer the questions of those who have expressed dismay over the differences and divisions that exist in the Messianic Movement.

We are hopeful that this effort will bring to light that many of the imagined differences do not really exist, that they are not as has been presented, and/or that the different ministries are serving different purposes.

Be There for AMI 2003—A Life-Changing Event!

Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in what could be an historic, world-changing Town Hall meeting.

AMI 2003
The 5th Annual Messianic Israel Alliance Conference
Aug. 28th - Sep. 1st
Labor Day Weekend, Orlando, FL
"Seeking the Father's Face"
800.829.8777