Friday, Dec. 29 am

Keith Greenberg

Keith Greenberg is a student at Moody Bible Institute and a Jew for Jesus. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he grew up surrounded by a mish-mash of various cultures and religions, "a spiritual omelet." Bar mitzvahed at the age of thirteen and raised in a traditional Jewish home, Keith grew up believing "that a Jew could not believe in Jesus."

During his junior year in high school, a gentile friend by the name of Daniel confronted Keith and spoke to him about Christ. Keith responded, "I'm a Jew. I don't need Jesus." Following that conversation, Keith did not speak to his friend for a year.

Then, during Keith's senior year in high school, something happened that changed his whole perspective. After being on the losing side in a high school basketball game, he and other members of his team decided to initiate a brawl in the parking lot. As a result, one student was so badly hurt that he almost lost an eye; his sight was only saved by the grace of God. Keith admits that this injury was his fault.

The fight resulted in Keith's being kicked out of school. Filled with remorse over what he had done, he realized that he had disappointed his family, and his vision for the future was dashed. He had intended to go to the university, but now he had been kicked out of school. Eventually, Keith confessed what had happened to his mother. "Mom," he told her, "I need something," and suddenly it hit him like a wave. For the first time in his life, he felt that God was real and was communicating to him personally, confirming to him that something was indeed missing in his life.

Soon after that, Keith contacted his friend Daniel, who invited Keith to an event at his church. As a result of that event, Keith became a believer in Jesus.

Keith paraphrased for us the words of "Rabbi Paul of Tarsus" written in 2 Corinthians 5:17. "Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation." Since Keith's conversion, both of his parents have also become believers in Jesus.

"I want to encourage you," he said. "The gospel is powerful enough to do the job. My friend, Daniel, knew nothing about Jews, but he knew I needed Jesus." Keith encouraged us to share Jesus with the world.

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