Brian Crawford is the Director of Digital Evangelism at Chosen People Ministries, where he leads the apologetics ministry Chosen People Answers. He is the author of The Scandal of a Divine Messiah.

Brian received his Master of Divinity from the Charles L. Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies in 2015, and his Doctor of Ministry in apologetics from Talbot School of Theology in 2021. Brian has been married to his college sweetheart, Liz, since 2007, and they have three young children. The Crawfords spent nine years ministering to Orthodox Jewish people in the holy land of Brooklyn, NY, but they now reside in Southern California. Brian enjoys theology, history, philosophy, obscure ancient Jewish texts, photography, videography, and the latest computer technology.

11:15am Tuesday, Feb 16th

Explaining and defending the deity of Yeshua is critical in Jewish evangelism today. A tried-and-true strategy is to emphasize Messianic prophecies that have divine connotations, and a more recent method is to highlight early Jewish binitarian thought. Yet a third line of discussion may be needed for religiously educated Jewish people, as philosophical opinions about the divine nature may need to be addressed. This paper compares these three approaches to defending Yeshua's deity, with a discussion on their pros and cons and suggestions for contextual application.

Dr. Hélène Dallaire joined the faculty of Denver Seminary in 2006, serving in the Old Testament Department. She is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Church Alliance, and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, the  Society of Biblical Literature, the Institute for Biblical Research, and the National Association of Professors of Hebrew. 

Dr. Dallaire earned a PhD and an MPhil in Hebrew and Cognate Studies (Comparative Semitics) from Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, an MA in Biblical Literature from Oral Roberts University, and a BA in Psychology from Ottawa University. She completed additional work at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem University College, McMaster University, and Western Pentecostal Bible College. 

Prior to coming to Denver Seminary, Dr. Dallaire served five years on the faculty of Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion in the position of Director of Hebrew Language Instruction, one year on the faculty of Alliance Biblical Seminary in the Philippines, and completed 10 years of pastoral ministry at the Word Faith Christian Center in Vancouver, BC and Oakville, ON.

11:15am Wed, Feb 19th

Traditiooon (sang Tevya!)!! Congregational leadership in the Messianic Jewish movement (e.g., rabbis, elders) is primarily populated by wise and gifted men. Female ordained leaders in these positions are rare. Is this a biblical tradition or just … a tradition? An examination of biblical passages will show an exciting picture of the varied roles of gifted, courageous, anointed, and passionate women in ancient Israel and the early Messianic body of believers. Could this have an impact on the future of the Messianic Jewish movement?

Steven Ger grew up in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York and Aberdeen, New Jersey, where he was educated in both church and synagogue due to his distinctive heritage as a Jewish Christian. He is the founder and director of Sojourner Ministries, an organization dedicated to Exploring the Jewish Heart of Christianity. The name of the ministry is derived from the Hebrew meaning of Mr. Ger’s surname. In Hebrew, the word "ger" means sojourner or wanderer. This particular "wandering" Jew’s faith journey has led him to the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah who was foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Steven currently serves as Teaching Pastor at the Messianic congregation Beth Sar Shalom in Carrollton, Texas. He earned a BA in psychology and interpersonal communications from Trenton State College (The College of New Jersey) and a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary. Steven lives in the Dallas area with his wife, Adria, and their son, Jonathan Gabriel.

10:00am Wed, Feb 19th

Why does almost every Bible commentary have such a hard time accepting Peter's words at face value regarding his audience being Jewish believers? The issue of intended recipients is no trifling matter to be left segregated within stodgy introductory material. Rather, whether Peter wrote to Jewish believers colors and informs much of the book's theology, most notably, if we are to understand that the Church has inherited Israel's chosen role and responsibilities and that God has transferred His calling from the Jewish People.

Dr. Igal German, a Hebrew Bible scholar and a Messianic Jewish apologist (Ph.D., University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto; B.A., M.A., University of Haifa, Israel), is deeply involved in Jewish ministry. Igal teaches biblical courses at Moody Theological Seminary and Denver Seminary. He also serves as Dr. Michael Brown's Jewish ministry assistant and is the founding director of Yesod Bible Center and the International Biblical Apologetics Association.  Igal is passionate about communicating the full spectrum of biblical scholarship to his students.

3:00pm Tuesday, Feb 18th

The God of Israel reveals Himself as the Hope of Israel (Jeremiah  14:8; 17:13). Messiah Yeshua is Israel's consolation and glory (Luke 2:25, 32). 

Apostle Shaul suffered for the sake of Israel's hope (Acts  28:20). In this seminar, we will explore John's apocalyptic vision of hope for the Jewish people from a post-supersessionist perspective.

Rich grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in a Reform Jewish home. He came to faith in Jesus in 1973 as a student at Syracuse University following several years of spiritual searching and exploration. He has served with Jews for Jesus since 1978 as a missionary at several North American Jews for Jesus branches. Rich currently serves as senior researcher, where he works on writing, editing, and researching the Bible, Jesus, and Jewish culture. Rich received his MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1978 and a PhD in biblical studies and hermeneutics from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1993.

10:00am Tuesday, February 18th

An overview of recent books that those of us in Jewish missions should be aware of. We'll cover volumes on Jewish Journeys of Faith; Antisemitism; Jewish Missions; Biographies; Messianic Jewish Theology; Israel; and more, including the ever-popular "Fun" category!

Petra Scott is the President & CEO of The Road to Jerusalem, a ministry focused on reconciliation and unity. Her call to ministry began in 2001 with her first message in South Africa, and since then, she has spoken at conferences, churches, and Messianic synagogues across the U.S. With over 20 years of ministry experience, Petra is passionate about seeing both Jewish and Gentile believers united in love for the Lord. She holds a degree in Christian Ministry from Azusa Pacific University and has served in various roles, including Teacher, Pastor, Consultant, Outreach Director, and Life Coach. Petra is also the author of Intimacy: Unlearning Religion, Embracing God, the first in a series of books she plans to release. She and her husband, Garry Scott, an Outreach Pastor, live in Jacksonville, Florida, with their three children: Darius, Devorah, and Isaac.

7:30pm Monday, February 17th

Petra seeks to provide context, perspective, and practical ways to live out the unity Yeshua prays for in John 17. When we prioritize "One New Man," it enhances both our identity and our impact for the Kingdom. By embracing this relationship, we reflect God's heart for interdependent unity and advance His purposes together.

Dr Jeffrey Seif serves as the Executive Director of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. Jeff has served for thirty five years as a Bible college and seminary professor and currently maintains active professorial posts as an adjunct. Prof Seif was the project manager for the Tree of Life Bible. Jeff took six years of primary education at an Orthodox Yeshiva. Jeff came to faith in Yeshua, surrendered to a call to the ministry, took theological studies at Moody Bible Institute and then finished at Southern Methodist University, where he earned a master's degree and doctorate in theology and ministry. Jeff is also a graduate of the North Texas Regional Police Academy. He earned a master’s degree from Cambridge University, in England, in Applied Criminology and Police Management. Jeff is currently a PhD candidate at Cambridge University. He has an educational leadership certificate from Harvard University. Jeff is married to Dr Barri Cae Seif.

4:15pm Monday, February 17th

The journey of faith begins with a revolutionary first step. After taking it, individuals are beckoned to take evolutionary steps—driven, personally, by senses of crisis and opportunity. Cognizant of our fragmented as our world is, and mindful how new believers are anxious to find a new home in it, Dr Jeffrey Seif will address some of the issues associated with new Jewish believers’ quest to find a communal home for their hearts.