Raised in a traditional Jewish home in the suburbs of Washington, DC, Scott Brown began an earnest search for spirituality and "self actualization" by dropping out of college and moving into the woods of northern Wisconsin. It was there at the close of a work day that a co-worker casually gave Scott a pocket New Testament. That little Bible launched a crisis of faith, which led to Scott's seven year struggle with the conflict between Biblical truth and rabbinic tradition. God's word was tugging at Scott's heart and mind, but the prospect of being ostracized by Jewish relatives and friends motivated him to continue the search undercover. After all, he reasoned, Jews don't believe in Jesus….do they?

In 1977, Scott married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie. Four years later, after viewing a series of films depicting end-time events, Scott and Marjorie simultaneously experienced a sudden awareness of their sinfulness and their desperate need for salvation. Burdened and confused by this intense sorrow and sense of urgency, they silently drove home. Together that same night, in the quiet of their home, they surrendered their lives to the Messiah, Jesus. The following year Scott and Marjorie moved to Alaska where they spent three years receiving formal training in the Bible.

Scott entered full time missionary service with Chosen People Ministries in 1988 and launched Son of David Congregation (SODC). By God's grace SODC flourished and later birthed a daughter congregation in northern Virginia, Star Shalom (Prince of Peace) Fellowship. Both Messianic congregations continue to faithfully proclaim the Good News of Messiah "to the Jew first" in greater Washington, DC, and to fulfill Jesus' command to make disciples. Scott also served within Chosen People Ministries as a Regional Director and US Director of Congregation Planting, assisting other Chosen People Ministries planters in their efforts to raise communities of Messianic followers of Jesus.

After 19 years of pastoral leadership at SODC, Scott and Marjorie opened a new chapter in their ministerial lives by returning to missionary service with Chosen People Ministries. They are reaching out to thousands of Israeli and other young, international tourists whose physical journeys are often attended with spiritual quests.

CMNZ is driven by the same vision that drives her "big sister" across the ditch: Celebrate Messiah Australia. That vision is simply to bring the Message to the original messengers. Scott hopes to accomplish this objective through servant evangelism, literature distribution, Jewish evangelism training in local churches and direct, intentional encounters with the global community that is continually streaming through New Zealand. These four strategies fall under the categories of Evangelism and Equipping.

EVANGELISM: Sizzler Outreaches - About 2.5 million young adults from all over the world tramp through New Zealand each year, 8,000 - 15,000 of whom are Israelis. Typically, these backpackers are sensitive, intelligent, thinking people and are very open to discussing spiritual issues. Our evangelistic "Sizzlers" have proven to be wonderfully effective in delivering multiple touches in a single event. Along with sausies and burgers, our international guests receive "Backpacker Bibles", individual attention (and prayer) from our team members, and a group presentation of a believer's testimony. These have been so successful we will be replicating them in nearby towns.

EQUIPPING: Virtually hundreds of Christian households throughout NZ are hosting thousands of young Israeli travelers. This presents our greatest opportunity to "bring the message to the original messengers" but many of these hosts lack confidence in sharing the Gospel with Jewish people. We are organizing events specifically designed to equip and encourage these faithful hosts. Additionally, many local churches are expressing interest in discovering their "Jewish roots". We are humbled and excited by the many opportunities God is giving us to teach in churches, church camps, conferences and on national radio.