Etz Chayim Messianic Synagogue in Lakeland, Florida, founded in March 2004, is a member of the International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS).
The IAMCS is a subsidiary of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America
(MJAA). The MJAA, founded in 1915, is the largest association of Messianic Jews and non-Jewish Believers in Yeshua (Jesus) in the world. Its purpose
is threefold:
- To testify to the large and growing number of Jewish people who believe that Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus) is the promised Jewish Messiah and Savior of the world;
- To bring together Jews and non-Jews who have a shared vision for Jewish revival; and
- Most importantly, to introduce our Jewish brothers and sisters to the
Jewish Messiah Yeshua.
Since 1967, when Jerusalem came back into Jewish hands, tens of thousands of Jewish people have come into the kingdom of God. Many of these Messianic Jews did not want to assimilate and immediately began to form themselves into Messianic Congregations to retain their Jewish heritage and to be a light to their Jewish people.
By the early 1970's the MJAA was already deeply involved with assisting, encouraging, counselling, and even training leaders for Messianic congregations.
As more and more congregations were formed, many within the MJAA had a desire to form a fellowship of Messianic Congregations or Synagogues under the auspices of the MJAA. The purpose of such an organization would be to strengthen one another, unite in the Lord, and work together in this Endtime Jewish revival. As a result, in the spring of 1986, The International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS) was formed. The IAMCS is the largest Messianic Jewish Congregational Alliance in the world, with well over 100 member congregations throughout the world.
