Frank Houtz Memorial Scholarship

With reliance on humility, integrity, and sound doctrine, B’ney Yosef North America (BYNA) hereby creates the Frank Houtz Memorial Scholarship from the 10% portion of net BYNA donations plus any additional donations designated for this purpose. A committee will be formed to make the selection for this award following the established application process, award procedures, and timeline.

The Frank Houtz Memorial Scholarship has been created in remembrance of Frank Houtz, one of the founding members and Elders of B’Ney Yosef North America. A longtime veteran of the Hebrew Roots Movement, Frank was introduced to Messianic life by his father, LaVern Houtz, in the 1970s. He and his father co-founded Congregation Beit Minorah in Winchester, Kentucky, where Frank served as an Elder and teacher for nearly 30 years. He was the husband of Mary Lynn Houtz, an artist, potter, songwriter, musician, and teacher. In their nearly 35 years of marriage, Frank and Mary brought seven children into the world, five of whom survived to adulthood.

Frank wrote several books and booklets, including A Sign Between You and Me, Machanayim: The Two Camps of Israel, Adoption from an Ancient Perspective, and A Frank Discussion of the Law. He established the Dry Bones Restoration Company as a ministry for publishing both his writings and Mary’s music. His teaching tours featured seminars dealing with linguistics and Bible study techniques. Seeing the need for this kind of instruction, Frank joined with others in founding the Kentucky Covenant Education Corporation (KCEC) and Jefferson College at Pilot View for the purpose of equipping this generation and the next to understand better the principles needed to build strong families, congregations, and cross-cultural relationships.

Frank passed away suddenly due to a massive heart attack that struck him on February 20, 2019. In life he promoted unity in the body of Messiah through humility and sound scholarship. He taught, “Torah without grace is not Torah, and grace without Torah is not grace.” He imparted this life lesson not only to his children, but to many who knew him as a mentor, friend, teacher, author, visionary, and pioneer. Having finished his journey through a life well lived, he leaves a vibrant legacy, of which B’ney Yosef North America is but one part. This scholarship established in his honor is BYNA’s way of being faithful to our part of his legacy.

This scholarship will be available for use in support of the Arts, including, but not limited to:

  • Music (Instrumental, Vocal, Composition)
  • Performing Arts (Music, Theater, Dance)
  • Literature (Poetry, Drama, Prose)
  • Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Filmmaking, Cinematography, Videography, Architecture, Ceramics, Sculpting, Photography)

The scholarship may be used for tuition, lessons, instrument purchase and rentals, travel, digitizing of music and/or video, building and improving facilities, and other expenses as deemed appropriate by the BYNA Scholarship Committee.

If the BYNA Administrative Council and Elders determine that the purpose for this scholarship is no longer possible, they may designate a related alternative purpose for this scholarship. The name of the scholarship will be retained even if the purpose changes.

Anyone affiliated with BYNA may apply for this scholarship. Fill out the form below, or request via email to info@bneyyosefna.com or via regular mail to: BYNA, PO Box 1068
Centralia, WA 98531