PHOENIX -- Sharing the gospel message with the Jewish people in order to complete the Great Commission is their main purpose, the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship's president said at a June 16 meeting in Phoenix.

And Southern Baptists have an opportunity to play an integral role in assisting the fellowship achieve their goal, said Steve Barack, rabbi at B'nai Ohr Beth Tefilah, a Messianic fellowship in Lindenhust, Ill.

"The size and influence of the Southern Baptist Convention gives us the opportunity to evangelize more people," Barack told about two dozen people who attended the gathering, held the day before the start of the June 17-18 SBC annual meeting.

"If Jewish evangelism becomes a focus for Southern Baptists and matches the biblical mandate of ministering to the Jews first, then we can fulfill the Great Commission together," Barack said.

In addition to assisting local Messianic congregations to increase in size, Barack said the fellowship also encourages partnerships with Southern Baptist churches.

Barack said the purpose of the fellowship is three-fold: to promote Jewish evangelism; promote Messianic congregational planting; and allow the fellowship to act as an ambassador to the Southern Baptist Convention.

Speakers at the Messianic Fellowship meeting included R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.; Jim Sibley, coordinator of Jewish ministries for the North American Mission Board; and Doug Metzger, director of NAMB's Strategic Focus Cities initiative.

Officers elected for 2004 are Barack, president; Jorge Sedaca, Southfield, Mich., vice president; Diana Owen, Dallas, secretary; and Penny Isbell, Bessemer, Ala., treasurer.