Rebel to Rabbi
Robert Browns journey from a lost Jew
to a follower of Yeshua
by Robert Brown
to a follower of Yeshua
by Robert Brown
Testimony
Adopted at birth, I was spoiled
rotten by well-intentioned parents.
As a young Jewish boy in Chicago, I
realized that my mother would give
me just about anything I asked for.
My father was a businessman
whose gruff disposition often times
thrust him into the role of disciplinarian
following my repeated
shenanigans.
Through grammar school and
high school, I continued on the path
of loud outbursts, foul language
and rebellious behavior. After
marrying a Jewish woman in 1963,
we had three boys and tried to
raise them even though we were
young and inexperienced. After my
mother’s death in 1970, it became
even more difficult, losing my best
advocate.
In 1981, my wife and I divorced.
I had paid little to no attention to
my religion or the responsibilities
that went with it. My sons were
each Bar Mitzvah. Shortly after
that I stopped attending Synagogue,
not even going for the High
Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur. I was lost and headed
for Hell.
I had fallen into bad company,
spending most of my time buying
and selling antiques. After realizing
that my traveling partner was
trying to play God over my life, I
ended that relationship and began
traveling alone.
One day in the fall of 1983, while
driving between St. Louis and
Bloomington, Indiana, I spoke to
God, something I had not done in
many years. That Thursday
evening, I told him how lonely I
was and asked Him to send a
woman in my life. The following
Saturday morning I found myself
circling Bass Lake in northern
Indiana. I stopped after seeing a
sign that read, “Cottages For Rent.”
The woman, Delilah, who answered
the door is now my wife of over 20
years. In fact, she had told the
Lord the previous Wednesday, “if
there is ever going to be another
man in my life, You’ll have to send
him. I’m fed up with my choices.”
She knew Him before I did.
Less than two months later, after
being urged to go to church by
Delilah, I was redeemed by Yeshua
who showed Himself to me. It
happened on New Years Eve at the
Church By the Side of the Road in
Knox, Indiana. About a week later,
I called my very good friends Tom
and Karen in Chicago to tell them
what had happened. I will always
hear Tom’s voice as he screamed
out, “Karen, Karen, our prayers
have been answered! Bob Brown
has been saved!” (Karen is also a
Messianic Jew.)
Delilah and I were married a
month or so after that call. We
raised her three children who are
now grown and have given us
many grandchildren. In fact, we
have a total of 15 grandchildren
from both of our families. We
spent twelve years in various
Baptist churches in Indiana, Oklahoma,
Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas
and Louisiana.
In 1995, just prior to leaving
Tennessee, I reluctantly attended a
Messianic Synagogue in Memphis. I
remember vividly the words of a
woman in that congregation on
Rosh Hashanah saying, “Welcome
home.” I shed tears over and over
as I share that story.
Although we spent a few more
months at Baptist churches in
Arkansas, Yeshua began showing
me the Jewish roots of our faith.
Before long, we had returned to
Louisiana where we became part of
the Messianic Jewish movement.
After returning from a trip to
Israel in May 2000, I was blessed to
locate my birth mother, also a
Jewish woman, whose roots were
from Russia. Although she had
advanced Alzheimer’s disease and
lived only for a short time after our
meeting, I was blessed with two
sisters. One was now a Christian
and the other was still a traditional
Jew. During my visit to see them in
California, I took them to a Messianic
Synagogue. Neither had ever
experienced anything like that and
they were both grateful for the
opportunity. While Phyliss has
given her heart to Yeshua, Marlene
shows no interest in religious
things. Yeshua is faithful and we
continue to pray for her salvation.
rotten by well-intentioned parents.
As a young Jewish boy in Chicago, I
realized that my mother would give
me just about anything I asked for.
My father was a businessman
whose gruff disposition often times
thrust him into the role of disciplinarian
following my repeated
shenanigans.
Through grammar school and
high school, I continued on the path
of loud outbursts, foul language
and rebellious behavior. After
marrying a Jewish woman in 1963,
we had three boys and tried to
raise them even though we were
young and inexperienced. After my
mother’s death in 1970, it became
even more difficult, losing my best
advocate.
In 1981, my wife and I divorced.
I had paid little to no attention to
my religion or the responsibilities
that went with it. My sons were
each Bar Mitzvah. Shortly after
that I stopped attending Synagogue,
not even going for the High
Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur. I was lost and headed
for Hell.
I had fallen into bad company,
spending most of my time buying
and selling antiques. After realizing
that my traveling partner was
trying to play God over my life, I
ended that relationship and began
traveling alone.
One day in the fall of 1983, while
driving between St. Louis and
Bloomington, Indiana, I spoke to
God, something I had not done in
many years. That Thursday
evening, I told him how lonely I
was and asked Him to send a
woman in my life. The following
Saturday morning I found myself
circling Bass Lake in northern
Indiana. I stopped after seeing a
sign that read, “Cottages For Rent.”
The woman, Delilah, who answered
the door is now my wife of over 20
years. In fact, she had told the
Lord the previous Wednesday, “if
there is ever going to be another
man in my life, You’ll have to send
him. I’m fed up with my choices.”
She knew Him before I did.
Less than two months later, after
being urged to go to church by
Delilah, I was redeemed by Yeshua
who showed Himself to me. It
happened on New Years Eve at the
Church By the Side of the Road in
Knox, Indiana. About a week later,
I called my very good friends Tom
and Karen in Chicago to tell them
what had happened. I will always
hear Tom’s voice as he screamed
out, “Karen, Karen, our prayers
have been answered! Bob Brown
has been saved!” (Karen is also a
Messianic Jew.)
Delilah and I were married a
month or so after that call. We
raised her three children who are
now grown and have given us
many grandchildren. In fact, we
have a total of 15 grandchildren
from both of our families. We
spent twelve years in various
Baptist churches in Indiana, Oklahoma,
Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas
and Louisiana.
In 1995, just prior to leaving
Tennessee, I reluctantly attended a
Messianic Synagogue in Memphis. I
remember vividly the words of a
woman in that congregation on
Rosh Hashanah saying, “Welcome
home.” I shed tears over and over
as I share that story.
Although we spent a few more
months at Baptist churches in
Arkansas, Yeshua began showing
me the Jewish roots of our faith.
Before long, we had returned to
Louisiana where we became part of
the Messianic Jewish movement.
After returning from a trip to
Israel in May 2000, I was blessed to
locate my birth mother, also a
Jewish woman, whose roots were
from Russia. Although she had
advanced Alzheimer’s disease and
lived only for a short time after our
meeting, I was blessed with two
sisters. One was now a Christian
and the other was still a traditional
Jew. During my visit to see them in
California, I took them to a Messianic
Synagogue. Neither had ever
experienced anything like that and
they were both grateful for the
opportunity. While Phyliss has
given her heart to Yeshua, Marlene
shows no interest in religious
things. Yeshua is faithful and we
continue to pray for her salvation.
By this time, my appetite for
knowledge of Jewish roots was
insatiable. I could see my life
changing from a businessman who
enjoyed his faith to one who was
quickly losing interest in business. I
inquired with the Messianic Rabbis
as to how I could be ordained.
Their response was to take a series
of Yeshiva courses over a period of
the next two or three years. In the
midst of this uncertainty, I had met
a black pastor named Larry Elder.
He and his wife had befriended my
wife Delilah and myself. His faith
was overwhelming. It showed me
that with all the knowledge that I
had accumulated, I was severely
knowledge of Jewish roots was
insatiable. I could see my life
changing from a businessman who
enjoyed his faith to one who was
quickly losing interest in business. I
inquired with the Messianic Rabbis
as to how I could be ordained.
Their response was to take a series
of Yeshiva courses over a period of
the next two or three years. In the
midst of this uncertainty, I had met
a black pastor named Larry Elder.
He and his wife had befriended my
wife Delilah and myself. His faith
was overwhelming. It showed me
that with all the knowledge that I
had accumulated, I was severely
lacking in day-to-day faith. After
praying for me, knowing my heart,
and receiving a word from the
Lord, He offered me an opportunity
to be an ordained minister of
the Gospel and anointed me for
service to the King of Kings, the
praying for me, knowing my heart,
and receiving a word from the
Lord, He offered me an opportunity
to be an ordained minister of
the Gospel and anointed me for
service to the King of Kings, the
Holy One, blessed be His Name!
In the past year, I have become
the “Rabstor,” a term coined to
identify me as a Rabbi to the
Jews and a Pastor to the non-Jews.
Currently, Delilah and I serve Him
daily and lead two Messianic
synagogues, Tikvah Yisrael in Metairie,
Louisiana and the Hope of Israel
in Slidell, Louisiana. We have been
blessed over and over. We know
that Yeshua has more work for us
to do. We await His guidance.
Following Hurricane Katrina and a word from the Lord, we relocated to Terre Haute Indiana with a specific unction to bring the Jewish roots of our faith in Israel's Messiah to the people of this area. After arriving and getting settled, we found an insatiable hunger throughout the area churches for Jewish roots teaching. We also found Pastors with a similar interest although not all. Hope of Israel Messianic Synagogue is growing. We have, by His grace, established communication with the local Reform Jewish Synagogue. We have participated in "A Night To Honor Israel" in July, 2007. For the past eighteen months, we have taught Jewish Roots of Christianity, thanks in great part to Dr. Jack Sternberg of Hot Springs Arkansas who wrote Christianity-Its Jewish Roots. Now, we have been asked to teach this class at Links Theological University in Linton Indiana. As of May, 2007, my wife Delilah, a registered nurse, among many of her accomplishments, has joined the ministry full-time. Together we are serving as instructed by the Holy Spirit of God. We ask your prayers as we enter new phases of ministry including teaching other churches and faith groups this same Jewish roots message. It is not about the number of people who come into your congregation, it is about the number who will go out in the world. Finally, it is not only about the knowledge (truth) but about the Spirit as well. This part, which is day-to-day faith and the use of it is essential in the teaching of Jewish roots. We confirm this through Hebrews 4:2 which says, "For indeed the Gospel was preached to us as well as to them (the Israelites in the desert), but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." NKJV Thanks be to God, who made sure that I went out armed in faith so that this message could be understood by many who desire to hear it. Thanks for your interest in Hope of Israel Ministries. God bless you with Shalom, Rabstor
In the past year, I have become
the “Rabstor,” a term coined to
identify me as a Rabbi to the
Jews and a Pastor to the non-Jews.
Currently, Delilah and I serve Him
daily and lead two Messianic
synagogues, Tikvah Yisrael in Metairie,
Louisiana and the Hope of Israel
in Slidell, Louisiana. We have been
blessed over and over. We know
that Yeshua has more work for us
to do. We await His guidance.
Following Hurricane Katrina and a word from the Lord, we relocated to Terre Haute Indiana with a specific unction to bring the Jewish roots of our faith in Israel's Messiah to the people of this area. After arriving and getting settled, we found an insatiable hunger throughout the area churches for Jewish roots teaching. We also found Pastors with a similar interest although not all. Hope of Israel Messianic Synagogue is growing. We have, by His grace, established communication with the local Reform Jewish Synagogue. We have participated in "A Night To Honor Israel" in July, 2007. For the past eighteen months, we have taught Jewish Roots of Christianity, thanks in great part to Dr. Jack Sternberg of Hot Springs Arkansas who wrote Christianity-Its Jewish Roots. Now, we have been asked to teach this class at Links Theological University in Linton Indiana. As of May, 2007, my wife Delilah, a registered nurse, among many of her accomplishments, has joined the ministry full-time. Together we are serving as instructed by the Holy Spirit of God. We ask your prayers as we enter new phases of ministry including teaching other churches and faith groups this same Jewish roots message. It is not about the number of people who come into your congregation, it is about the number who will go out in the world. Finally, it is not only about the knowledge (truth) but about the Spirit as well. This part, which is day-to-day faith and the use of it is essential in the teaching of Jewish roots. We confirm this through Hebrews 4:2 which says, "For indeed the Gospel was preached to us as well as to them (the Israelites in the desert), but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." NKJV Thanks be to God, who made sure that I went out armed in faith so that this message could be understood by many who desire to hear it. Thanks for your interest in Hope of Israel Ministries. God bless you with Shalom, Rabstor
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