Michael Herts

Dr. Michael Herts, a Jewish believer in Jesus, was raised on Long Island, New York. He faithfully attended a Conservative Jewish synagogue and became a Bar Mitzvah at age 13. In 10th grade, he was first exposed to the good news of Messiah in an understandable way. After two years of searching, he came to believe Jesus is the Jewish Messiah.

From that moment his whole life changed. His family was very hurt and some were very angry about his decision. Contrary to what his grandmother thought he did not become a Gentile but instead gained a deeper appreciation of what it meant to really be Jewish. To worship and serve the God of Israel, and accept His Messiah, His plan of Atonement and reconciliation suddenly made sense.

As Dr. Herts grew in his faith, he gained a deeper understanding of the connection between the older and newer covenants. He came to understand the importance of being a testimony to God’s faithfulness to His people by maintaining his Jewish identity, showing that he can be Jewish and believe in Jesus. With time his heart became even more burdened for reaching Jewish people with the good news of Messiah.

Over the years he has served in leadership positions in various congregational settings. In 2005 he formed a team to plant a congregation in Virginia. In 2009 he received his ordination. In July 2010 he accepted the invitation to serve God as a missionary with Chosen People Ministries.

He is the husband of a retired United States Air Force Colonel. He is also the proud father of three wonderful children who each love the Lord. He earned a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.), a Master of Education (M.Ed.), and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree.

Rich Freeman

Richard Freeman was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York in a traditionally Jewish, though not religious, family. He did, however, receive religious training for five years in a conservative synagogue and received his Bar Mitzvah at age thirteen. Following that experience, though staunchly Jewish nationalistically, he drifted away from the synagogue and attended only on the special Jewish holidays.

In 1973 Rich married Julia DeBellis who was from an Italian Catholic background. It was primarily through Julia’s spiritual pilgrimage that God reached Rich. But first he met a born-again Christian, his supervisor at work. Though Rich responded angrily at first to this man sharing his faith, his life was a wonderful testimony of the peace and joy that comes to those who put their faith and trust in the Lord. The joy in his life made Rich jealous and opened his heart to what was to come. In August 1982, Julia accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and immediately began praying for her husband’s salvation. In January 1983, God answered that prayer. Through the ministry of Chosen People Ministries, Rich heard and responded to the gospel message and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Immediately, God gave him a hunger to know Him and His Word intimately. He immersed himself in the Bible and was discipled by his pastor.

In the summer of 1987 Rich and Julia responded to God’s call and moved to Dallas, Texas where he attended Dallas Theological Seminary. While in Dallas, Rich worked as a missionary with Chosen People Ministries. Before finishing the degree program at Dallas, he was called to pastor the congregation where he was saved, Light of Israel Messianic Congregation. He became pastor of that congregation in December 1989. In 1994, Rich also became pastor of Dunwoodie Baptist Church in Yonkers, New York, which is where Light of Israel’s services were held. For five years of his ten-year pastorate he enjoyed the unique challenge of pastoring two congregations.

Rich finished his studies, begun in Dallas, at Conservative Baptist Seminary of the East, where he received his M.Div., in September 1994. On July 1, 1999 he assumed his position as Vice-President and Director of Church Ministries and Conferences for Chosen People Ministries. Rich received his D.Min. at Gordon- Conwell Seminary in 2004.

Rich works with churches throughout the country and abroad. He teaches Bible Conferences on various topics such as Jewish Evangelism, Messianic Prophecy, End-Time Prophecy, The Church and Israel, The Feasts of Israel, and much more. He also ministers to local churches in Florida where he and his family reside.

Jim Fox
The Law has become the central focus of modern Judaism. It has also become an issue of contention among believers. On Saturday evening Jim will be sharing a message on “The Believer’s Relationship to the Law”

Jim Fox came to know the Lord through the work of Chosen People Ministries (then the American Board of Missions to the Jews) as a child in Coney Island, Brooklyn. He was discipled over the years by a number of CPM missionaries. After getting an undergraduate degree in Chemistry and spending some time in the Navy, he and his young family went to Dallas where Jim earned a ThM in Pastoral Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary. He spent time on staff with Chosen People Ministries in the New York area for a number of years before going into pastoral ministry for 13 years. He returned to CPM to assist with the work in South Florida.

Jim helps lead three of the monthly Messianic Fellowships in South Florida, leads the annual Fun in the Son outreach in South Florida, and is an elder of Common Ground Church in Lake Worth Beach. He is married to his best friend and partner in ministry Rebecca. They have four children and six grandchildren. Jim & Rebecca lead worship at three of our Messianic Fellowships and also assist in worship at their church.

Roy Schwarcz

Roy Schwarcz was born and raised in New York City and grew up deeply connected to his Jewish heritage. After coming to faith in Yeshua as the promised Messiah of Israel, he devoted his life to Jewish ministry and gospel outreach.

Roy has served on college campuses, led home Bible studies, and helped plant Messianic congregations in the Chicago area and in Toronto, Ontario. Today, his primary ministry focus is in the Chicago region, where he leads  Beth Sar Shalom , a monthly Messianic Jewish fellowship that meets at Moody Church. He also serves with the  Olive Tree Congregation  in the Chicago suburbs, the first congregation he planted with Chosen People Ministries.
In addition to his local ministry, Roy serves as Vice President for Fellowships and Congregations with Chosen People Ministries and is leading a team to establish a new outreach in the Bay Area, beginning in the city of San Francisco.

Roy is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and holds a Master of Arts in Theology from the  Charles L. Feinberg Center  at Biola University. He is the author of  Where Jesus Walked . Roy and his wife Joanne are blessed with four daughters and eleven grandchildren.