Yeshua. Torah. Fellowship.
At Kehillat Yeshua Ministries we strive to model a life built on these three things, in that order.
Yeshua.
First and always foremost, we are disciples of Messiah Yeshua, through the grace of Adonai, and by the power of the Ruach Ha'Qodesh (Holy Spirit). We promote, teach, and - God willing - embody the Gospel of the Kingdom for all (both Jew and Gentile). Without Yeshua as the Cornerstone, the rest of the picture - even Torah - is meaningless.
Torah.
Second, we uphold the ongoing validity and applicability of God's Torah ("Law") for all believers. We seek to observe these commandments in our daily lives to the best of our abilities, both individually and corporately.
Fellowship.
Third and finally, we strive to promote fellowship and community. All believers should be actively involved and engaged with a local fellowship community whenever possible. Torah was given to a corporate entity – Israel – and is meant to be lived out in community with others.
Yeshua.
First and always foremost, we are disciples of Messiah Yeshua, through the grace of Adonai, and by the power of the Ruach Ha'Qodesh (Holy Spirit). We promote, teach, and - God willing - embody the Gospel of the Kingdom for all (both Jew and Gentile). Without Yeshua as the Cornerstone, the rest of the picture - even Torah - is meaningless.
Torah.
Second, we uphold the ongoing validity and applicability of God's Torah ("Law") for all believers. We seek to observe these commandments in our daily lives to the best of our abilities, both individually and corporately.
Fellowship.
Third and finally, we strive to promote fellowship and community. All believers should be actively involved and engaged with a local fellowship community whenever possible. Torah was given to a corporate entity – Israel – and is meant to be lived out in community with others.
Our History
Kehillat Yeshua Ministries is a Messianic ministry operating primarily online.
Put simply, we believe that the Torah (God's instructions as found in Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation) is still relevant and obligatory for believers today. Not out of some misguided attempt to earn salvation (ie. legalism), but out of a heart that desires to obey the Creator, since He knows what's best for us. You may already be familiar with groups that call themselves Messianic or perhaps "Hebrew Roots." We have found there is quite a bit of baggage associated with these terms, and each carries its own theological and doctrinal nuances. For Kehillat Yeshua Ministries however, we prefer to define ourselves as a Messianic ministry, and not a Hebrew Roots one. (note: see document here for an explanation of the differences: Messianic and Hebrew Roots_rev1.docx)
2020-2021
Our ministry started out as a home fellowship named Nehemiah Restoration Fellowship (NRF) meeting in homes in 2020, and despite the challenges the year brought we nonetheless persevered. We started with just five (5) families, but within just a few months grew enough that our gatherings could not be contained in living rooms any longer.
We started with three overseers (elders, co-pastors) who split the burden of teaching and leading the congregation. It soon became clear that we needed a central meeting location, and more organization. So we started our filing to become an official non-profit organization, with a board of directors to provide oversight and accountability.
In April, 2021, we began public meetings every Sabbath in The Church of God at Jerusalem Acres building in Cleveland, TN. Within just the first few weeks, however, our size actually decreased. It seemed Adonai had plans we did not anticipate, and two of the three co-founding leaders moved out of state for new opportunities just three months apart.
The congregation then became home to a few new members, attending from as far south as the Blue Ridge, GA area. We were able to live stream services every week and built up a following of dedicated online viewers each week. Despite this, the local congregation continued to shrink for various reasons as members relocated during the economic shake-up of 2021.
2021-2022
Starting in Spring of 2022, NRF leadership made the decision to forego public meetings for the time being and take a Sabbatical, instead focusing on the growing the ministry that was seeing growth: the online teaching ministry. At this same time, we rebranded the ministry from Nehemiah Restoration Fellowship to Kehillat Yeshua Ministries.
Summer 2022-Present
The summer of 2022 brought yet another exodus: Jonathan Brown, the last remaining of the original three co-pastors of NRF, also left the state of TN, as his family relocated to Dallas, TX for work and school opportunities.
At present, Kehillat Yeshua Ministries does not operate weekly services at a local congregation, though we are working on producing new teaching material and expanding our offerings of teachings and support to individuals and congregation. Additionally, we are working on establishing an academic ministry school, a digital Yeshiva, for aspiring Messianic teachers, pastors, and scholars. More to come on this as things develop!
Put simply, we believe that the Torah (God's instructions as found in Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation) is still relevant and obligatory for believers today. Not out of some misguided attempt to earn salvation (ie. legalism), but out of a heart that desires to obey the Creator, since He knows what's best for us. You may already be familiar with groups that call themselves Messianic or perhaps "Hebrew Roots." We have found there is quite a bit of baggage associated with these terms, and each carries its own theological and doctrinal nuances. For Kehillat Yeshua Ministries however, we prefer to define ourselves as a Messianic ministry, and not a Hebrew Roots one. (note: see document here for an explanation of the differences: Messianic and Hebrew Roots_rev1.docx)
2020-2021
Our ministry started out as a home fellowship named Nehemiah Restoration Fellowship (NRF) meeting in homes in 2020, and despite the challenges the year brought we nonetheless persevered. We started with just five (5) families, but within just a few months grew enough that our gatherings could not be contained in living rooms any longer.
We started with three overseers (elders, co-pastors) who split the burden of teaching and leading the congregation. It soon became clear that we needed a central meeting location, and more organization. So we started our filing to become an official non-profit organization, with a board of directors to provide oversight and accountability.
In April, 2021, we began public meetings every Sabbath in The Church of God at Jerusalem Acres building in Cleveland, TN. Within just the first few weeks, however, our size actually decreased. It seemed Adonai had plans we did not anticipate, and two of the three co-founding leaders moved out of state for new opportunities just three months apart.
The congregation then became home to a few new members, attending from as far south as the Blue Ridge, GA area. We were able to live stream services every week and built up a following of dedicated online viewers each week. Despite this, the local congregation continued to shrink for various reasons as members relocated during the economic shake-up of 2021.
2021-2022
Starting in Spring of 2022, NRF leadership made the decision to forego public meetings for the time being and take a Sabbatical, instead focusing on the growing the ministry that was seeing growth: the online teaching ministry. At this same time, we rebranded the ministry from Nehemiah Restoration Fellowship to Kehillat Yeshua Ministries.
Summer 2022-Present
The summer of 2022 brought yet another exodus: Jonathan Brown, the last remaining of the original three co-pastors of NRF, also left the state of TN, as his family relocated to Dallas, TX for work and school opportunities.
At present, Kehillat Yeshua Ministries does not operate weekly services at a local congregation, though we are working on producing new teaching material and expanding our offerings of teachings and support to individuals and congregation. Additionally, we are working on establishing an academic ministry school, a digital Yeshiva, for aspiring Messianic teachers, pastors, and scholars. More to come on this as things develop!