Church's Ministry Among Jewish People facts for kids
The Church's Ministry Among Jewish People (CMJ) is a Christian organization that started in 1809. It was first known as the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews. CMJ is part of the Anglican Church and works to share the Christian faith with Jewish people.
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How CMJ Started and Grew
CMJ began in the early 1800s. Important Christian leaders, like William Wilberforce and Charles Simeon, wanted to share their faith with Jewish people. In 1809, they created the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews. People often called it the London Jews' Society.
The society had four main goals:
- To share the message of Jesus with Jewish people first, and also with non-Jewish people.
- To help Christians understand the Jewish roots of their faith.
- To support Jewish people returning to the Land of Israel.
- To encourage Jewish people who believe in Jesus.
The society first worked with Jewish immigrants in London. Soon, their work spread to Europe, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. In 1811, they set up a center in east London called Palestine Place. It had a school, a training college, and a church. In 1813, a group of Jewish people who believed in Jesus, called Benei Abraham (Children of Abraham), started meeting there. This was one of the first groups of its kind.
Working Around the World
The London Jews Society was one of the first groups to work globally. In 1836, they sent two people to Jerusalem. They opened a clinic that offered free medical help. By 1844, this clinic had grown into a 24-bed hospital.
At its busiest time, the society had over 250 missionaries. They helped create the role of the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem in 1841. They also helped build Christ Church, Jerusalem, which was finished in 1849. It is the oldest Protestant church in the Middle East.
In 1863, the society bought land outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. In 1897, they opened a hospital there. Today, this building is the Anglican International School Jerusalem, which CMJ still runs.
By 1914, the society was very active. It had many workers, including clergy, doctors, and teachers, at 52 locations around the world. Many of these workers were Jewish people who had become Christians. Since it started, the society had baptized about 5,000 Jewish people.
Over the years, the society changed its name several times to reflect new ideas. In 1995, it became The Church's Ministry Among Jewish People (CMJ).
What CMJ Does Today
CMJ is one of the ten official mission groups of the Church of England. It has offices in the United Kingdom, Israel, Ireland, France, the US, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Australia.
In 2009, CMJ celebrated its 200th birthday with special church services across the United Kingdom.
Challenges and Discussions
CMJ's focus on sharing Christianity with Jewish people has led to some disagreements. Some Jewish community leaders believe this work can harm good relationships between Jewish and Christian people.
In 1992, George Carey, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury (a very important leader in the Anglican Church), decided not to be a patron of CMJ. This was a big decision and was seen as a way to support better relations between different faiths.
CMJ has also supported the idea of a Jewish state in the Holy Land, even before the modern Zionist movement began. They supported the creation of Israel in 1948 and continue to support Israel today. This position has also led to some discussions and disagreements.
Another challenge has been the relationship between CMJ and the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem. Christ Church, Jerusalem belongs to CMJ, which is an independent Anglican group. This means the bishops do not have control over the church or its activities, which has sometimes caused tension.
See also
- Christian Zionism
- Christianity and Judaism
- Evangelism
- Jewish Christians
