To My Brothers in Messiah…Tim, Mark, Marty and Calvin:

Coming from an Italian-Irish background raised in New Jersey, I could only have been indoctrinated in the Catholic Religion. The biggest Church in my community was the Catholic Church and the town predominantely Italian and Irish. The liturgy of the "Mass" at that time in my youth was mostly Latin...a language that was considered dead (unspoken as a way of communication) which was adopted by the founding fathers of the early “Christian Church” and incorporated into the service. Needless to say, it was a very unpleasant ordeal for me and as a result I slipped deeper into the world. I wound up in the public school system and the "ways of the world"…the NEA (National Education Association) taking its toll on my ability to think for myself. In retrospect of my former life...the old creature, I am not proud as to the life-style I led as a young man in the 1970 America. It was evident that I was heading nowhere fast. Even after touring the world, many short-term relationships and other "worldly" things... I still possessed a very empty life. After a series of business failures and mounting debts, I was faced with either bankruptcy….or something else...only I did not know what else was available to me. As I look back over time, it was evident that my name was waiting to be written in the Book of Life whenever the time came for me to make the decision to surrender my life to G-D through Jesus (Yeshua). I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit time and again until that day of surrender eventually came and I became adopted …

“… into the commonwealth of Israel, partaker of the covenants of promise and no more a stranger and foreigner, but a fellow citizen with the saints and of the household of God; (Eph 2:12, 19)

By my profession of faith, I was that wild olive branch that was "grafted" onto the natural stock...the Hosue of Israel and to the G-D of Abraham, Isaaic and Jacob. (Rom 11). My testimony pales in comparison to those who suffered real loss and gave themselves to Messiah…death, divorce, illness, murder, incarceration. The tragedy in my life was merely a financial loss. But I soon discovered a better way...a way of peace, guidance, direction. It was by the promise of G-D and power of the Holy Spirit that my life was able to change I did eventually pay off that debt that accumulated in my present life. But again I say that my financial debt pales in comparison to the debt that was paid off by the blood of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) which has granted me life eternal in the world to come.

I am grateful for being shown the way, the truth and the life and in return stand faithful to the mission in which I have been called to do in being a light to the nations (Isa 42:6)

The salvation experience is not an event…it is a process. The walk begins with repentance and culminates at our resurrection. That which occurs in-between is what we stand accountable for. Does our light so shine that others may see our witness of Messiah and give glory to G-D? (Mat 5:16). For me, this journey has taken me back to discover the roots of my faith. In order to know the end, we must start at the beginning (Isa 46:10). Through Adam, the first Apostle, up unto Father Abraham, the legacy continued through Isaac and Jacob. From these men of G-D came the twelve tribes, Moses and the Torah, Aaron and the Priesthood, David and the Monarchy, the Prophets all the way up to Yeshua, our Messiah, who has in Himself become our Apostle and Priest (Heb 3:1), Prophet (Acts 3:22), and King (John 18:37).

Gregory Franklin