Hebrew People has as vision to equip and empower believers in Yeshua within the nations to awaken and prepare as a bride fit for the coming Messiah, her Heavenly Bridegroom. We cherish relationships and use hospitality as a platform for teachings and discipleship. Our walk with the Father is a journey – one in which we need the support, feedback and companionship of those journeying with us.
We minister to people, drawing from a basis of set values and a Hebrew perspective of Scriptures. Our aim is to provide people with the knowledge, tools and self-confidence to shift paradigms, change destinies and transform communities to live from a revelation of who Yeshua is as the image of our heavenly Father.
We are also unique with our own particular needs, preferences and likes. We all are also at different places in our journey with the Father. Hebrew People therefore offers believers from across the globe a variety of activities, opportunities and facilities to learn, interact and grow.
I Vision
The vision of Hebrew People is to equip and empower the bride of Messiah to prepare herself for the coming of the Messiah from a Hebrew understanding and perspective of the Scriptures through a diverse number of actions and facilities in the nations, with particular focus on Africa, Australia, Europe and the Middle East.
II What does the term a Hebrew mean?
Being a Hebrew means “having crossed over from one mindset or place to another”. This implies that you have changed from a worldly mindset to believing in the one and only true God. It also means that you are constantly renewing your mind in this belief of the one true God of the Scriptures. In essence it means to repent.
The term Hebrew does not mean to be Jewish. The term “Jew” is related to those from the southern kingdom of Israel which was called Judah which returned to the land after the Babylonian exile and in modern thinking it means someone who subscribes to Judaism. The term “Hebrew” is not a replacement for being Jewish but rather a sense of having changed in your mindset to whom you will serve as God. The first person to be called a Hebrew was Abraham. Anyone who has repented from serving a false god to serving the one and only true God of the Scriptures are considered to be a Hebrew.
III Values
The values which Hebrew People holds to, are embodied in the following facets:
Transferring a lifestyle through discipleship
The great commandment is to make disciples. This commandment is not fulfilled in a theater style of discipleship only although it has great value, but rather in a “sharing of your life with one another” style where the disciple is influenced by the lifestyle of the teacher. The paradigms of the disciple are challenged, the destiny of the disciple is shaped and the community in which the disciple lives is changed by the teacher through personal relationship with the disciple.
Fellowship based on hospitality
The strengths of a relationship are based on the amount of time we spend together. The practice of hospitality is the means by which we accomplish the building of our relationships.
Education that empowers people
Education is not merely transferring information, but also equipping the student to discern between truth and a lie. The knowledge which is conveyed to the student must become a revelation which will impact the lifestyle of the student and empowers the student for the purposes and plan God has for the student.
Family life as the foundation of a community
The cornerstone of society is the family and the strength of the family is measured by the effectiveness of the husband as family head to lead his own family into a lifestyle of being true worshippers, while also being engaged making disciples of other family heads to do the same.
Supporting ministries with servitude
Servitude is the mark of great leadership in the kingdom of God. In the kingdom of Heaven, your ability to lead is measured by your ability to serve.
IV Culture
The ministry operates from a culture of understanding the Scriptures within the typology of how God dealt with the nation of Israel and the original Hebrew understanding of the Scriptures from the customs, culture and language idiom it was written in. The backbone to the operations of the ministry is seated in solid management which provides the freedom for those ministering, not to be tied down by administration but rather be supported by a team who takes care of the operational administration.
V Association
Hebrew People works in relationship with other ministries and organizations of similar vision in order to corporately achieve the vision of the Kingdom of Heaven. Hebrew People does not believe that anyone has an exclusive claim to any part of the vision of the Kingdom of Heaven and is open for co-operation with other people and organizations. The basis of such a association must be relationship and not membership. The vision, values and culture of all the actions and facilities created to fulfill the vision must always be in step with that of Hebrew People which is to equip believers in Yeshua in the nations and to awaken as the bride of Messiah to prepare them for the marriage of the Lamb.
VI Historic background
Dr Gerrit & Martie Nel founded Hebrew People. They started out in the ministry in 1979 on a part time basis and in 1983 they ventured out into full time ministry. They served as pastors of different congregations as well as on the international executive of the denomination they were affiliated to. They were and continue to be responsible for overseeing leaders in various organizations globally. They also pioneered a number of educational institutions and a number of businesses with the aim of generating funds for the work of ministry. Since 1992 they have been ministering interdenominational and internationally. Together they taught globally and have also took apostolic oversight of leaders who submited themselves to them for discipleship. Their passion however has always been teaching. Since 1984, they have researched the Scriptures from the Hebraic mindset of the culture and customs from which it was written. Their research has been supplemented by studying informally with Rabbi’s both in South Africa and in Israel since 1996. They have always been dedicated to teamwork and believe in and live the culture of discipleship. Their belief has always been that discipleship is done on the basis of a lifestyle, sharing the practice of a relationship with God with disciples and not just a theoretical lecture style of only imparting knowledge. Hebrew People was established from this background.
VII Ministry locations and facilities
The central office of Hebrew People is based in Jerusalem, Israel, but Hebrew People also has regional facilities in Europe, USA and Africa.
VIII Management team
The management team of Hebrew People consists of an executive as well as team leaders of the different activities of Hebrew People who have been co-opted to the management. Since the passing of Dr. Gerrit Nel on the 28th of October 2018, Martie Nel is continuing in the leadership role that they shared. The executive of the Hebrew People Team is as listed below and their responsibilities, includes the following aspects:
Martie Nel
Martie is one of the founders and leaders of Hebrew People. With more than 30 years in ministry, she provides apostolic and prophetic guidance to the entire team. She is also responsible for strategic planning and implementation across all aspects of the ministry.
Martie is passionate about teaching and host conferences and seminars world-wide. This also provides her with the opportunity to network and interact with other international congregations and ministries. Her commitment to relationships is clearly evident in her dedication to a life of discipleship and worship. A multi-media study group system enables her to disciple leaders from around the world.
Jacques & Chanelle Nel
Jacques and Chanelle are based mainly in Israel and take care of the well-being of our visitors in Jerusalem. With a spirit of servitude and the hearts of shepherds, they oversee Chai Tourism & Hospitality Ministries which arranges tours to Israel, hosts guests in Beit Chai Jerusalem and Beit Tehilah in Switzerland. Apart from the responsibility for logistic and administrative matters, they host our guests in Hebrew People’s ministry house, Beit Chai, in Jerusalem. Jacques and Chanelle founded and manage the media ministry, Kol Kallah, of Hebrew People, thus compiling and distributing Hebrew People’s teachings in audio and visual format. They are also responsible for designing and maintaining the Hebrew People websites. They are also responsible for the oversight of the development of the virtual reality app of Hebrew People’s tabernacle project.
Tiaan & Jani Nel
Tiaan & Jani have a strong teaching anointing and equip believers internationally from a Hebrew language and idiom perspective. They are also the leaders of a part of Hebrew People called Bethel Communities in South Africa that is focused on discipleship and personal relationships. Tiaan & Jani have a passion for praying for business people and seeing how the Father influences their businesses and ventures through a kings and priests anointing that releases blessing.
Gilah Kaltwasser
Gilah is our contact person in Europe. She has been with us for more than a decade. She served Gerrit and Martie faithfully, being Gerrit’s translator in the German speaking areas. Now she continues to serve Tiaan and the team with her language skills, organisational talents and love for the Word of God. Together with her husband Jürgen they passionately share their lives with non-believers and people who have been cast out of society to bring the Light of God into the lives of those who still need to be saved.