The vision of Hebrew People is to equip the Bride of Messiah by empowering believers in Yeshua across the nations to awaken, mature, and prepare themselves to present a ready Bride to her Heavenly Bridegroom. We cherish relationships and live out this vision through hospitality, teaching, and discipleship. We walk alongside diverse communities internationally and value 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.
Hebrew People seeks to meet believers at different places in their journey with the Father. With this heart, we offer a variety of activities, opportunities, and spaces for people to learn, interact, and grow.
I How do we fulfill our Vision?
We equip and empower the Bride of Messiah to prepare herself for His return through a Hebrew understanding of the Scriptures, using diverse activities and facilities among the nations, with a particular focus on Africa, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East.
II What does the term a Hebrew mean?
The term HEBREW carries the meaning of having crossed over—a transition from one place, allegiance, or mindset to another. In a biblical sense, HEBREW describes a shift away from a worldly or false-god-centered mindset toward faith in the one true God of the Scriptures. It implies an ongoing process of renewing the mind and living in alignment with this truth. At its core, HEBREW expresses the concept of repentance: a turning from one way of life to another.
HEBREW does not mean Jewish. The term Jew is historically connected to the southern kingdom of Israel, known as Judah, whose people returned to the land after the Babylonian exile. In modern usage, it generally refers to those who identify with or practice Judaism. HEBREW is therefore not a replacement for Jewish identity, nor is it meant to redefine it.
Rather, HEBREW describes a spiritual and covenantal posture—a decision concerning whom one will serve as God. The first person in Scripture to be called a Hebrew was Abraham, who crossed over from serving false gods to walking in obedience to the one true God. In this sense, HEBREW refers to anyone who has repented from serving false gods and has turned to serve the God of the Scriptures, living from a renewed mind and allegiance.
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 and teach them all that Yeshua has taught us. A discipleship relationship is not something to be taught, it is a lifestyle, we share our lives with one another. In this relational context, the disciple is influenced by the life of the teacher, paradigms are challenged, destinies are shaped, and the communities in which the disciples live are transformed through personal relationship.
Fellowship based on hospitality
The strengths of a relationship are based on the amount of time we spend together. The practice of hospitality and personal discipleship is the means by which we accomplish the building of relationships.
Education that empowers people
Education is not merely transferring information, but also equipping people to discern between truths and lies. The knowledge which is conveyed must become a revelation which will impact the lifestyle of the one being educated and empowers them for the purposes and plan that God has for them. Being teachable is a core value of Hebrew People, for the whole team and leadership.
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 culture of Hebrew People is to engage the living Word of God through the typology of God’s dealings with the children of Israel and the original Hebrew context of its customs, culture, and language. The ministry’s standard remains the Word of God rather than the opinions of man. This foundation is supported by solid management, enabling those who minister to focus on people while a dedicated team carries the operational and administrative responsibilities.
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 an 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 themself for the marriage of the Lamb.
VI Historic background
Hebrew People was founded in 2005 by Dr Gerrit Nel and Martie Nel, flowing from a calling they had been walking in since 1979. Over the years, they ministered interdenominationally and internationally, serving as pastors, overseeing leaders, and pioneering educational initiatives and businesses to support the work of ministry. Teaching from a Hebraic understanding of the Scriptures has been central to the ministry since the early 1980s, shaped through years of study and relationship in both South Africa and Israel. Following the passing of Dr Gerrit Nel in 2018, Martie Nel continues together with the Nel family and a team of co-workers, faithfully carrying the vision and values on which Hebrew People was established.
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, the Nel family is continuing in the leadership remembering that it is a honor to serve. The Hebrew People Team is as listed below and their responsibilities, includes the following aspects:
Tiaan & Jani Nel
Tiaan and Jani Nel stand as the head covering of the Hebrew People ministry and team. They, together with their three beautiful boys, currently reside in South Africa and spend many weeks and months traveling, primarily throughout South Africa and Europe, sharing their lives and Biblical teaching in seminars and conferences with the nations. They also visit Israel on a regular basis, bringing visitors from the nations to explore and experience the culture of the Land.
Tiaan was exposed to the Hebrew language at a very early age when he moved with his family to Israel. He was able to quickly learn the language and discovered a gift for teaching Hebrew to others in a non-intimidating way. His teaching gift further developed into sharing the truths of Scripture and presenting the Word from a Hebrew perspective.
More than just Bible teachers, Tiaan and Jani have a passion for building relationships with their students and walking with them in discipleship and apostolic guidance, helping them find purpose, develop their skills, and grow into leadership. Together, they also focus on helping married couples strengthen and restore their relationships.
Jani has discovered the beauty of being a Proverbs 31 woman as she supports her husband and cares for their family. She has dedicated her life to building the Kingdom of Heaven through her passion for her family, serving them selflessly and ensuring that they feel deeply loved and secure. She also shares her personal experiences and testimonies with other women and young mothers.
Martie Nel
Martie is the co-founder of Hebrew People. After the passing of her husband Gerrit Nel she has allowed the Father to expand and challenge her to continue in the good work that they started. She is a passionate believer and lives out her faith in a very tangible way. We are blessed to have her on the team as she has already served in ministry for almost 50 years.
She has a wonderful passion for people and thus has received from the Father the gift of relationship building. Her caring hart for others also overflows into a ministry of intercession and prayer. She takes special care to hear from the Father and prays for individuals as He lays them on her heart, she also heads up many prayers teams during the week.
Mainly based in Jerusalem, Israel she is also very active in the internationally, as she loves to travel and speak with groups in various countries. She is always ready for a new adventure when the opportunity arises to travel to a new country and share about her life and the many miracles that she has seen in her life.
Jacques & Chanelle Nel
Jacques and Chanelle has served in the Hebrew People ministry for over 2 decades. They have been witness to many years of building and changing in the ministry and have dedicated their lives to fulfil the calling that the Father has for them while raising their four beautiful children.
They have been based in Israel for over 20 years and together with Martie serve as the hospitality hosts for our ministry house, Beit Chai, in Jerusalem. They are also responsible for many of the administrative duties involving the day to day responsibilities and bookings of Beit Chai as well as the communication department of the ministry.
They are also responsible to create and maintain the websites of the ministry. They are passionate about designing and creating new things and thus their talents are also activated in the Kitchen of Beit Chai and the media ministry of Hebrew People.
Gilah Kaltwasser
Gilah has served in the Hebrew People ministry for more than a decade. She started off as a translator for Gerrit for the German speaking community and since then continued to grow in the ministry, proving herself to be an important asset of high value. Her eagerness to serve the Father has resulted in a willingness to answer the different callings that the Father has awoken in her heart.
Her passion is helping other woman to be restored and to find their identity in the Father and His Kingdom. Gilah plays a very important roll in our international ministry as she assists us by planing and organising all of the European events and speaking engagements that we as a team are invited to. She has a wonderful gifting for translating not only the words of our teachings but also the heart behind it.
Rochelle Steyn
Rochelle has been a part of the Hebrew People team for more than five years. She has a wonderful servant heart. She is always willing to take up a task and complete it to the almost of her ability. She is responsible for most of the administrative duties such as managing our online calendar, being an online host, our multimedia projects, social media and communications.
Her soft and gentle character is a refreshing addition to our team.