Each calendar year, the B’ney Yosef North America leadership (Elders and Administrative Council) gather for a “face-to-face” meeting as prescribed by our bylaws to share what is going on in our lives, pray for one another, and seek the Father as we set priorities for the upcoming year(s). A word that came forth this year as we gathered included a picture of trees in a clearing, brown and seemingly dead. But if one looked through the trees, one could see a white barked tree standing all alone, tall and strong. The interpretation was that there are many “good” things for us to focus on as we plan for the future, but we should look deeper to find what the Father has planned for us and focus on those things.
So, with that in mind, and remembering our mission – to nurture those of Hebraic identity in Messiah’s body by fostering reconciliation, the leadership team has identified six things to focus on in 2026. They are (in no particular order):
- Celebrating our ten-year anniversary (March 2026)
- Providing Ephraimite teachings and Torah 101 instruction via YouTube
- Reaching and involving the next generation
- Planning Regional Conferences and encouraging Family Reunions
- Training for future replacements
- Commercial networking/Torah Marketplace
Watch your monthly newsletters as we plan how to move forward and implement these priorities. The Leadership team has set these goals, now we are looking for passionate volunteers to help “make it happen”. If you are interested in helping us fulfill these goals, please reach out to us at info@bneyyosefna.com
We also took a moment to review our accomplishments since 2016. Of course these are not OUR accomplishments, but what Father has allowed us to do on behalf of His Kingdom. They are (in no particular order):
- Affiliations initiative is up and running with 12 who have joined to date
- Researching benefits such as discounts on books
- QR Code created and inserted on our brochures, business cards, flyers
- Brochures updated and given to all leadership
- Website updated with links to teachings by Barry, David J, Mark, and Reunion Roadmap as well as the annual Bible reading plan, articles, calendars, book reviews
- Product at Revive and other events (Israel Summit with Israel Guys)
- Reviewed and updated Vision/Mission
- Creation of Mishpacha document
- Reviewed and updated ByLaws, Articles of Association, Articles of Incorporation, Mishpacha Guidelines
- Monthly newsletter with 705 recipients and a link at the top for donations (39.5% open rate)
- Social Media presence – on FaceBook, Instagram, Signal, Telegram with posts of Reunion Roadmap, reposts of teachings by Barry, Mark, and David J, reposts of Hanoch’s FB posts
- Canadian representation in Leadership
- Monthly financial support for Hanoch
- Creation and awarding of the Frank Houtz Memorial Scholarship
- Partnerships with Ten from the Nations/Altar of Prayer/Messiah Meetings/Israel Guys/The Way Council
- Weekly Prayer calls with an average of 10 participants
- Annual budget from $13,419.56 in 2018 to $16,200 in 2024
- Printing of Dr. Suuqina’s booklet “Did you know you are a Jo?” Attempted to translate into Spanish but words did not translate well.
- Developed and printed “Building Community” booklet
- Support for Israel though planting of trees as part of Greening Israel for Memorials and Special Recognitions
- Support for Israel through purchasing protocol gifts from Blessed Buy Israel
- Retractable and reusable banners were designed and purchased for use at conferences
As is typical for our gatherings, we also did protocol with a local indigenous woman and her daughter while visiting Michail and Melanie Bantseev at their home in Moose Creek, ONT. Rita and Rose shared their testimony (they are both Sabbath Keepers) as well as some of their challenges as indigenous people. If you are wondering what is protocol and the importance of doing it, we suggest you read Dr. Suuqina’s book “Warfare by Honor”.
Our final day together was spent in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. We had the opportunity to go together on a double-decker city tour. We saw several Canadian governmental buildings, embassy’s, ambassador residences, museums, and monuments (including a Holocaust Monument). It gave us an opportunity to pray for Canada, its leadership and its people.
Again, if you share our passion for His Kingdom and would like to help us implement some of these goals, please reach out to us at info@bneyyosefna.com.
