David Brickner
Encyclopedia
David Brickner is an ordained Christian Baptist minister who has been head of the Christian missionary group Jews for Jesus
since 1996. Brickner was born and raised in Beverly, Massachusetts
.
, Bricker is not Jewish according to Jewish law as his mother was not Jewish.
Brickner married Patti Vasaturo in 1979, they have two children, Isaac and Ilana.
with the Chicago branch of Jews for Jesus. He led the New York City branch until May 1996, then was elected by a council of his peers the organization's second executive director. He has spent his entire career as a missionary.
were “God’s punishment” for Jews having failed to convert to Christianity. The comments created further controversy because they were made at the Wasilla Bible Church
, where Sarah Palin
is a member; Palin was chosen a week later to be the Republican candidate for vice-president in the United States presidential election, 2008
. Political analysts speculated that Brickner's remarks would cause the Republicans to lose Jewish voters. In an interview with NBC news David Brickner responded to this assessment of his guest speech by saying "That's not what I was saying ... That's not what I believe. The violence is evidence that sin has marred our human condition and because of sin and non belief, God's judgment rests on all humanity."
Jews for Jesus
Jews for Jesus is a conservative, Christian evangelical organization that focuses on the conversion of Jews to Christianity. Its members consider themselves to be Jews – either as defined by Jewish law, or as according to the view of Jews for Jesus. Jews for Jesus defines “Jewish” in terms of...
since 1996. Brickner was born and raised in Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
.
Family background
Although his father was JewishJudaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Bricker is not Jewish according to Jewish law as his mother was not Jewish.
Brickner married Patti Vasaturo in 1979, they have two children, Isaac and Ilana.
Education
- 1981 Graduated Moody Bible InstituteMoody Bible InstituteMoody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
, Chicago, IL Diploma in Jewish and Modern Israel Studies - 1986 Northeastern Illinois UniversityNortheastern Illinois UniversityNortheastern Illinois University is a public state university located in Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. Tracing its founding to 1867, it was first established as a separate branch of a...
in conjunction with Spertus College of Judaica B.A. in Judaica, Minor in Music - 1994 Fuller School of World Mission, Pasadena, CA M.A. in Missiology, Concentration in Jewish Evangelism/Judaic Studies
Career
Brickner began his career as a missionaryMissionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
with the Chicago branch of Jews for Jesus. He led the New York City branch until May 1996, then was elected by a council of his peers the organization's second executive director. He has spent his entire career as a missionary.
Controversial statements
Brickner was reported to have said on 17 August 2008 that the deaths in the Jerusalem bulldozer attackJerusalem bulldozer attack
The Jerusalem bulldozer attack occurred on July 2, 2008, when an Arab resident of east Jerusalem identified as Hussam Taysir Duwait , attacked several cars on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem, Israel using a front-end loader , killing three people and wounding at...
were “God’s punishment” for Jews having failed to convert to Christianity. The comments created further controversy because they were made at the Wasilla Bible Church
Wasilla Bible Church
The Wasilla Bible Church is a non-denominational, evangelical Christian church in Wasilla, Alaska. Pastor Larry Kroon describes the congregation as "socially conservative." Wasilla Bible Church offers ministries devoted to family affairs, including the popular support group for Christian mothers...
, where Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
is a member; Palin was chosen a week later to be the Republican candidate for vice-president in the United States presidential election, 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
. Political analysts speculated that Brickner's remarks would cause the Republicans to lose Jewish voters. In an interview with NBC news David Brickner responded to this assessment of his guest speech by saying "That's not what I was saying ... That's not what I believe. The violence is evidence that sin has marred our human condition and because of sin and non belief, God's judgment rests on all humanity."
Books
- Mishpochah Matters: The Jewish Way to Say Family : Speaking Frankly to God's Family, 1996
- Future Hope, 1999
- Christ in the Feast of Tabernacles, 2006
- Christ in the Feast of Pentecost, 2008
Musical albums produced
- Times and Seasons 1986
- Music for Messiah Live 1989
- Messianic Music Festival 1991
- Yeladim for Y'shua 1991
- He Will Return 1991
- Psalms of a Modern David 1991
- David's Hope 1997