Hope of Israel Congregation

Hope of Israel Congregation in south Charlotte is a community of Jewish and Gentile believers who worship Yeshua as Israel's one and only Messiah. Its stated aim is to raise up Messianic disciples who serve as witnesses to Israel. Sam Nadler is congregational leader and an elder. He also teaches and mentors congregation planters through Word of Messiah Ministries.

Shabbat begins at 9:30 on Saturday morning with Shabbat School for children, teens, the sisterhood and the brotherhood. The worship service follows at 10:30 and runs about 90 minutes, and it is streamed online. Afterward everyone stays for oneg, with bagels and coffee. First-time guests can ask for a free packet that explains the service and its Hebrew terms. On Tuesday evenings at 7:00 there is a midweek study and a ladies' Bible study.

The congregation takes its calling from Romans: Jewish believers bear witness to God's faithfulness to His covenant, and Gentile believers are to provoke Israel to jealousy. It holds that God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is irrevocable and unconditional, and that Gentile believers are grafted into the Jewish olive tree. Shabbat and the festivals are kept freely, as an expression of identity and never as a means of salvation. The good news goes to the Jewish people first.

David Taylor serves as chazan and elder, and Michael Kovalev, also an elder, leads discipleship. Miriam Nadler leads the sisterhood. Other ministries include children's and NextGen youth groups, young adults, outreach, dance and prayer.