For over twenty-five years, President and CEO of Jewish Voice Ministries International (JVMI), Jonathan Bernis has worked on the forefront of world evangelism, taking the Good News of Israel’s Messiah to the far reaches of the earth—to the Jewish People, and also the Nations.

A Messianic Rabbi, Jonathan founded Shema Yisrael Messianic Congregation in Rochester, N.Y. in 1984, where he served as Senior Pastor until 1993. As the walls of communism fell in the Former Soviet Union, Jonathan answered the call of the Lord to bring the message of Yeshua (Jesus) to this land long held in darkness, and held his first large-scale outreach in St. Petersburg, Russia in May, 1993. He was overwhelmed by the vast numbers of people hungry for God …half of them Jewish!

Hear O’ Israel! Ministries was born, a unique ministry producing large scale International Festivals of Jewish Music and Dance sharing the Good News to eager audiences of Jews and Gentiles. Jonathan moved to St. Petersburg, Russia where he founded the St. Messianic Center of Petersburg, the first of many training centers worldwide formed to equip and train a new generation of Jewish Believers for ministry in this ripe new field of harvest. More than 500,000 people have attended these vibrant festivals throughout Eastern Europe, India, Africa and South America. Millions more have participated via live television broadcasts. Tens of thousands have responded to altar calls, and about one third of those who have responded have been Jewish. Over a dozen new Messianic Jewish congregations have been birthed in the Former Soviet Union through these outreaches.
When Jonathan merged Hear O’ Israel! With Jewish Voice Broadcasts in 1999, it was a marriage of broadcast capability and large-scale personal outreach – a strategic partnership for the 21st Century! JVMI has just completed its state-of-the-art High Def Messianic Media Center in Phoenix, with a soundstage capable of seating a live audience of over 100 and producing network quality programs.

The mission of Jewish Voice is two-fold; proclaim the Gospel to the Jew first, and also to the Nations (Romans 1:16), and equip the Church to reach the Jewish People – providing education about the Hebraic Roots of Christianity, the Church’s responsibility to Israel and the Jewish People, and how to share the Messiah with the Jewish People. The Good News is proclaimed through television, print media and large scale international
festivals and humanitarian/medical outreaches.

The Lost Tribes of the House of Israel are of particular interest to Jonathan and Jewish Voice. A prophetic sign of redemption, as God is revealing these enigmatic peoples from Ethiopia to Eastern India, Jewish Voice has mobilized to reach out with essential humanitarian and medical provision, as God’s arm extended in the love of their Messiah. This is a very exciting and rewarding area of ministry; particularly close to Jonathan’s heart as these are the poorest Jewish communities are on the earth. Jonathan hosts a weekly television program called Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis, which is aired throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and most recently, Israel. Unique among Christian broadcasting, Jewish Voice brings a distinctly Hebraic “voice” and view, with prophetic news, testimonies, and insights from Israel and international guests.

A much sought after speaker, Jonathan teaches at conferences and churches around the world. A passionate supporter of Israel, he is an active member on the board of several Israel-based ministries, and has been instrumental in the founding of many pro-Israel and Israel-Church reconciliation organizations.

Jonathan holds university degrees in Judaism and Early Christianity, and has done extensive post-graduate study including work on archeological excavations in Israel. He has led over 30 teaching tours to Israel since 1984.
Jonathan resides in Phoenix with his wife Elisangela, and their daughter, Li’el.