Author Spotlight: Sheryl Young

Why is it imperative for every Christian to gain a fresh, love-filled perspective toward the Jewish people today? What makes a person consider him or herself Jewish? And the question usually on every Christian's mind: Do Jewish people really need to be “converted”? In Sheryl Young’s book, “What Every Christian Should Know About the Jewish People,” are answers to these questions and many more! Come discover the key to building bridges between the only two faiths who believe in the one true God.

Even if you don’t know any Jewish people, maybe you've wondered why it's so hard for them to accept the Gospel. Or you want to know how our two religions can work together in these times of renewed anti-Semitism and anti-Christianity. Who better to explain this than a Jewish person who has found Jesus as her Lord and Savior?

When Sheryl's husband gave his life to Jesus, she thought, "How can I, a girl from a Jewish family, be married to a Christian?" She set out to prove the Gospel wrong. But the moment she really studied the Old Testament and dared to compare it with the New, everything changed. She fell in love with “Yeshua,” saw her Jewish heritage with new appreciative eyes, and realized the two could fit perfectly together.

Sheryl Young has been a “Jewish believer in Jesus” since 1987. She wrote this book for Christians to answer the many questions Christians have asked her over the years about Judaism, the Jewish peoples’ culture, faith, and why Jewish people are hesitant to accept the Gospel message of Christ as their true Messiah.

1. As a Jewish person, how did you come to know Jesus as your Messiah?

My family lived in an all-Christian neighborhood because of my father’s job. I really believed all the stories in the Torah (Jewish version of Old Testament), but I also wanted to know more about the Jesus my friends spoke of.

When we moved away from there, I forgot my desire for many years. Then, my grandparents died, and our family fell away from practicing Judaism. After I got married, my husband (whose mother was a Christian) just up and went to church one day. About two weeks later, he came home and said he’d accepted Jesus. So I went along to church, to see what it was about.

All those feelings came rushing back. But I still thought, I’m a Jewish girl, how can I accept Jesus? Then, the church had a revival and a Jewish believer in Jesus came to give her testimony and sing Messianic Jewish songs! That night, I gave my life to Christ.

2. What was the driving force behind your writing this book for Christians – and not a book for Jewish people about Christ?

Since finding the Lord in 1987, so many Christians have asked me questions about the Jewish religion, Jesus’ Jewish upbringing, and why Jewish people find it hard to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Also, there have been recent times that churches have attempted to “evangelize the Jews” without learning about them first. I felt a strong calling to help Christians have more tools and knowledge for reaching out to the Jewish world community in friendship and love.

3. What are a few questions you answer in the book?

I’m asked most often:

-Is Judaism a religion, a nationality or a culture?

-Why did Hitler target Jewish people and those who helped them in the Holocaust?

-How can I, as a Christian, defend Israel’s existence?

-Do Jewish people really need to be “converted,” and must they leave all their Jewishness behind?

And so much more!

About Sheryl:

Sheryl’s been freelance writing professionally since 1997. Her work has been seen in the Tampa Tribune, St. Pete Times and Florida Baptist Witness Newspapers; Light & Life, Today’s Christian Woman and Better Nutrition Magazines; “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” Vista Sunday School Curriculum, NewChristianVoices.com and The Underground Online Christian Magazine.

How to get the Book:

• Find details about How to Order “What Every Christian Should Know about the Jewish People” at Sheryl's Faith-Inspired Blog, The book is available (online only) at Lifeway Stores,  Amazon, or Wine Press/Pleasant Word Publishing

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