1981: My Story

Izzy here. In the following chapters I'm going to share with you about my journey and the work I've been entrusted with - a mission that has already touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people - but I thought I'd start here by introducing myself and telling a little of my story. 

Happy Childhood

I am Canadian! I grew up in the prairie province of Saskatchewan, probably the Nazareth of North America. My grandparents were my heroes: hard-working, Depression-era pioneer farmers whose families had immigrated to Canada from the far western and eastern ends of Europe, some from Jewish families and some not. My Dad led a faith community and my Mom homeschooled me and my three brothers. I had a very happy childhood and spent much of my time reading books and building forts. 

Teenage Crisis

In my early teens several crises shattered my perfect world and set me on a quest seeking answers to life's toughest questions. God revealed himself very personally and called me to spend much time, dedicating myself to prayer and the ministry of the Word, similar to Yeshua's first disciples. For several years I spent hours a day, and sometimes whole nights, in meditation and study while working just enough to subsist. The inner work was intense! I fasted for months on end, eating only once daily, and at one point fasted altogether for over forty days with only my passion and the divine presence sustaining me.

Jewish Jesus

My deepest desire was to experience as much of God as a man can in this life and to know the Master for myself, and I wasn't disappointed. Yeshua began showing himself to me in very personal ways, with one of the most precious revelations being just how Jewish he is. There is so much I could say about that epiphany, and really it's what every one of these stories is going to be about in one way or another. He led me to start going to a local synagogue and there I began encountering Messiah in the midst of Judaism and the Jewish community. As part of my own journey following Yeshua in this way I learned Hebrew, spent almost a year in Israel, and reconnected with my family's Jewish roots.

Coming Home

After meeting somebody at my synagogue who was Messianic I spent several years going through the Hebrew Roots and then Messianic Jewish movements. Since then I've come full circle and am back in the Jewish community where I feel most at home and closest to Messiah, practicing traditional Judaism. My passion to experience God and know Yeshua for myself hasn't changed since my teens and the following stories are an overflow of that romance. I hope they bring new life and love to your heart. 

Your Story

I have two requests: I'd like to keep you updated by email or text, if you'd be willing to sign up. And I'd love to hear your story too! Just sign up for emails and then hit reply and tell me what your spiritual journey has looked like. Because I know we crossed paths for a reason.