A Secular Jewish Upbringing
Moishe Rosen, born Martin Meyer Rosen on April 12, 1932, in Kansas City, Missouri, grew up in a traditional Jewish household, yet his upbringing was largely secular. As a young man, he worked as a machinist and was indifferent to religious practices. However, his life took a transformative turn in 1953 when his wife, Ceil Rosen, converted to Christianity. Intrigued by her newfound faith, Rosen began to explore the New Testament, which set him on a path of deep spiritual inquiry.
A Gradual Discovery
Rosen's conversion to Christianity was not the result of a single event but rather a gradual process. As he later expressed, "I came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, not because of any single event or crisis, but because of the cumulative effect of the evidence and the persistent testimony of those around me." Through study and dialogue, he came to see Jesus as the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies he had learned about.
Founding Jews for Jesus
In 1973, Rosen founded Jews for Jesus in San Francisco, California. His mission was to share the message of Jesus with Jewish communities, believing that his faith in Jesus did not negate his Jewish identity but completed it. As Rosen stated, "I never stopped being a Jew, but I became a fulfilled Jew through my faith in Jesus."
A Legacy of Evangelism
Rosen's dedication to evangelism led him to attend Northeastern Bible College and become ordained as a minister in the Conservative Baptist Association. His life's work was marked by a passion to reach out to others with the message that had transformed his own life. Through Jews for Jesus, he provided a platform for many to encounter the same truth he had discovered: that Jesus is the Messiah.
Moishe Rosen's story is a testament to the power of faith and the profound impact of Jesus on a life committed to sharing His message. His legacy continues through the ongoing mission of Jews for Jesus.
