Homecoming
When you grow up in a country like Israel you take for granted all those things that are unique to the country. You are living in the land of the Bible, you are learning to speak the Hebrew language in kindergarten without great effort – without knowing that at the same time there are people struggling for months just to say some simple phrases – and in many ways you are experiencing things that many people dream of. You grow up in a modern country with only a few decades of history, where people from all parts of the world are establishing a society together. All these elements are pretty exciting, but when, as in our case, you are only eight or ten years old and all that matters is playing football, these are not the typical thoughts that occupy your mind. However, coming back to the country eleven years later has opened our eyes to some things we did not pay so much attention to as children.

The most obvious thing is the importance and value of the Caspari Center ministry. As children, Caspari Center was only our father’s workplace to us, a name among lots of other names. Now, some years later, we ourselves are part of the Caspari team. We are hardworking volunteers (this is open for discussion), and are excitedly following the work of Caspari from an inside perspective, observing the different areas of ministry. Before we came to Caspari in August 2004, our main idea was to spend a year in the land of our childhood, rediscovering forgotten memories. But after being here a while, we saw the great need of preaching the gospel to the Jewish people. We believe Caspari’s work to be important because we think it is necessary to equip Israeli believers with theological training, but also because we believe there is a connection between this and leading people to Jesus. Realizing this, the importance of Caspari became clearer to us. It’s a good feeling to be part of this, returning to the country where we spent eight years of our childhood.

To be honest, we must admit that the work of the volunteers is not always the most challenging and exiting thing you can imagine. When you are dusting thousands of books in the library it’s good to know that you are part of a bigger picture, so that you can see the importance of your work in a wider perspective. Then the tasks are easier to swallow...

It may be hard to believe, but jobs like picking up the mail, making order in the library, and washing floors are ways to support and embrace the Messianic body in Israel, although in a more indirect kind of way. Just as important for us is meeting people in our spare time. Then we feel we are being used in a more direct manner, even if it’s not related to Caspari. The people whom we meet on the way to work on the bus, in Ben Yehuda St. (downtown Jerusalem) or in the park playing football (soccer) are also important parts of our ministry. The image the common Jew has of the man he refers to as “Yeshu” (Jesus) and what he thinks it means to be a Messianic Jew still amazes us, but it also inspires us to provide people with accurate knowledge. The thought of how God can work in a person who just briefly hears that our work is related to Jews who believe Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah is really encouraging.

It has been exciting to return to the country in which we grew up. We have not only returned to the country of our childhood, but in many ways to ourselves. It is meaningful to be in an environment where we can attain a deeper understanding of our faith, and where the goals of the ministry we are involved in are to spread this understanding to the society around.

Johannes and Svein Elgvin, volunteers at Caspari Center from August 2004 to June 2005


Steve Engstrom
First of all, let me say that it is such a privilege to serve this ministry. I believe strongly in the vision to reach the next generation of Jewish believers, and I know God has called and equipped Caspari to do that.

I would like to introduce you to my family, who are definitely part of the team and cheering for us! My wife is a talented violinist and a great mom to our three kids, who are 10, 6, and 2. She is also the dean (or “director”) of a music school in a town near us. Our family lived in Israel for several years while I worked at Christ Church and other ministries related to the British organization CMJ (Church’s Ministry among Jewish People).

We live in Wisconsin, about a 10 minute walk from Lake Michigan. For the last four years, I have been the director of a “pregnancy center,” which is a ministry serving individuals facing challenges related to unplanned pregnancies and abortion.

I joined the Caspari team officially on September 1st, and will share responsibilities with outgoing CEO Torkild Masvie through the rest of the year. For me, Caspari is inspiring and important because it works directly with congregations in Israel. That local connection is a unique feature of Caspari, and means that the work we do is immediately relevant to the growth of Messiah’s Body. I can’t think of anything more important.

I also believe Caspari has a significant role to play in the way Christians abroad think about Jewish evangelism and Jewish believers in Jesus. As our scholarly work progresses, it will challenge many of the assumptions that prevent Jewish believers in Jesus from having a strong voice and witness for Yeshua.

As you can imagine, I will need your prayers! I eagerly anticipate getting to know you and working with you to see our vision become a reality: a strong Body of Yeshua in Israel and a clear witness of God’s love to both Jew and gentile through our Messiah.

With much Shalom,
Steve

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