Covenant & Conflict

In today’s episode, David Blease talks with Ryan Warren about his journey from hip-hop dancing to pastoring and advocating for the Jewish community in Dallas. Ryan shares how he built deep friendships with Orthodox Jewish leaders by genuinely seeking to understand their faith, emphasizing the need for Christians to approach the Jewish people with humility and respect rather than focusing on conversion.

Rabbi Marty Waldman shares his personal journey of finding faith in Yeshua as a Jewish man. He describes profound supernatural experiences that drew him to Yeshua and the gradual process of integrating Jewish traditions and worship with his newfound faith.

In this poignant interview, Nicole shares her traumatic experience of the terrorist attack in Kibbutz Beri, Israel, where her mother was m*rdered and the community suffered devastating losses. Despite the heartbreak, she and Ido express hope for rebuilding their community and emphasize the importance of peace, dignity, and solidarity in the face of violence.

If God gave this land where 80% of the Bible occurred to the Jewish people, then why does it have an “undetermined" status internationally, with certain Jewish settlements considered illegal? Nic and David jump into these very complicated political and spiritual waters to share different perspectives to help cut through the confusion.

Can revelation about the importance of Israel and the Jewish people radically change your understanding of, and relationship with God - even after 30 years as a Christian? Meet Charles Ikutiminu, originally from Nigeria, who now serves as Global Ministries Pastor (Africa) at Gateway Church. He enthusiastically shared with David Blease the spiritual and theological journey he and his wife began as they simply obeyed God's leading to pray daily for Israel.

Ashlee, a friend of Gateway Center of Israel, joins David to discuss her personal experiences while employed as a nanny to an Orthodox Jewish family. Knowing zero about Jewish life before being hired, she shares how much she gleaned from observing this family’s adherence to their Kosher dietary laws, Sabbath observance, and religious lifestyle. Not only was her Christian faith enriched by the beauty of Jewish culture, but most importantly, a lifelong friendship was established between her and this family.

Where do we begin to understand the complicated topic of the end times? Nic and David dive into eschatology (or study of what is to come) with author Travis Snow, who has researched theology and biblical prophecy for 20 years.

Nic and David have a fascinating conversation with two Israeli professors - Dr. Guy Golan (Texas Christian University) and Dr. Guy Chet (University of North Texas) - who wrote "My Brother's Keeper," a book that analyzes the complicated relationship between American Jews and Israel.

Nic Lesmeister introduces his friend Yoel Shoshani, a native-born Israeli and Jewish believer in Jesus, who served in the Israeli military reserve force immediately after the horrors of October 7th. He shares his sobering eye-witness observations as an Israeli military escort to international journalists as they toured the terrorized villages in the massacre's immediate aftermath, as well as how he and his family have personally processed the life-changing realities of war.

In this episode of "Covenant & Conflict," Gateway Center for Israel Executive Director Nic Lesmeister and Teaching Pastor David Blease respond to recent claims made about Messianic Jews (or Jews that have professed faith in Jesus as their Messiah) by a traditional Jewish media site.

This new podcast aims to help Christians examine long-held perspectives in the light of Scripture, develop a biblically-based understanding of Israel & the Jewish people, and facilitate an ongoing conversation about God's ultimate purposes in a post-October 7 world.