Our ministry was founded in 1948 by Charles Halff, a young Jewish man from San Antonio, Texas, who became a believer in Jesus as his Messiah and Savior. The Halffs had long been prominent in the local Jewish community, and Charles’ confession of faith in Jesus caused quite a commotion within his family. The story is recounted in detail in his biography entitled What It Costs a Jew to Become a Christian.
In the mid-1950s, we were incorporated as “The Christian Jew Foundation.” In 1988, Dr. Halff asked his longtime friend, Gary Hedrick, a pastor in Eureka, Illinois, to move to San Antonio and assume the presidency of the ministry.
Later, the name of the radio program was changed to "Messianic Perspectives" and the organization became known as “CJF Ministries.”
Our first goal is to reach Jewish people with the Gospel of Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah. Like Paul, we want to proclaim the Good News that God has fulfilled the promise He made to the Fathers: The Messiah has come (see Acts 13:14-39)!
Our second goal is to build up the Body of Messiah and equip believers for service by means of Bible study and discipleship training (see Eph. 4:11-12).
Our third goal is to teach the local church about its Jewish roots and to train other believers in how to share the Gospel with their Jewish friends (see Rom. 9:4-5, 10:14-15).
CJF Ministries broadcasts its daily program, "Messianic Perspectives", on more than 30 radio stations across the U.S. and through our website ("Messianic Perspectives" Webcast). Each day, tens of thousands of people hear our Bible-based messages that present the Gospel in its original Jewish context.
CJF Ministries has established missionary outposts in the major Jewish population centers of the world. Field representatives are stationed across the United States—as well as in Israel, UK, Argentina, France, and the former Soviet Union. Congregation Beth Simcha is here in San Antonio, Texas.
For Messianic Ministries and Congregations, please click here.
What we believe - The Ten Core Beliefs.
To read what it means to say Jesus is the Son of God.
To contact us, please click here.