My story began long before IAMGesher was ever created.

I grew up in a Pentecostal church and spent much of my childhood immersed in church life. We attended services throughout the week, and from an early age, I was taught to love God and respect His Word.

Like many people, however, life brought challenges. During my teenage years, I drifted away from church and stopped attending regularly. For many years, I walked a different path, yet God never stopped pursuing me.

In my early thirties, God led me back to Him. I became committed to a non-denominational Christian church and spent nearly ten years growing in my faith. Those years were valuable and helped strengthen my relationship with God, but I often felt there was something more I had not yet understood.

Eventually, I made a decision that would change everything.

I decided to read the Bible from beginning to end as carefully as I could, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. Rather than relying primarily on commentaries, traditions, or other people’s experiences, I wanted to understand what the Word of God actually said for myself.

As I read, questions began to arise. 

I encountered commandments, practices, and instructions that appeared throughout Scripture but were rarely discussed in the churches I had attended. I read about the Sabbath, the biblical feasts, dietary instructions, and many other things that seemed deeply woven into God’s relationship with His people. 

At the same time, I encountered passages such as, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” I struggled to reconcile what I was reading in Scripture with many of the explanations I found outside of Scripture.

The more I studied, the more I felt God drawing me deeper—not into legalism, but into relationship.

Another realization that profoundly shaped my journey was understanding that Yeshua Himself was Jewish. He lived among the Jewish people, observed the biblical feasts, honored the Sabbath, and participated in many of the customs and traditions of His day. That realization caused me to ask even more questions.

As I began learning about Jewish history, culture, and traditions, many passages of Scripture suddenly came alive in ways I had never experienced before. Customs that once seemed unfamiliar often provided beautiful context for understanding why certain things were said, why certain actions were taken, and how many events throughout Scripture unfolded. There were countless moments where I found myself saying, “Oh… now I understand.”

While I came to recognize that traditions should never replace God’s commandments, I also discovered that many traditions preserve valuable historical context that can deepen our appreciation of Scripture when understood in their proper place. Those discoveries only fueled my desire to continue studying, asking questions, and growing in my understanding of God’s Word.

What changed my life was realizing that obedience and love were never meant to be enemies.

I was not seeking salvation through works. I was not trying to earn righteousness. I simply loved God and wanted to honor Him.

As I began observing things like Shabbat and learning about the biblical feasts, what surprised me most was how these biblical practices strengthened my relationship with God. They helped me better understand His character, His faithfulness, His provision, and His plan of redemption through Messiah.

Shabbat became more than a day on a calendar. It became a weekly reminder to pause and delight in God.

Passover and Unleavened Bread reminded me of redemption.

First Fruits reminded me of the hope of resurrection through Yeshua.

Shavuot reminded me of God’s instruction and His desire to dwell among His people.

Sukkot reminded me of His provision, His presence, and the temporary nature of this life.

Even the dietary instructions became expressions of trust, reminding me that God’s ways are good and that He knows what is best for His people.

As my understanding grew, I also discovered how difficult and lonely this journey could sometimes be. Many friends, family members, and fellow believers often misunderstood my desire to follow these biblical practices. Some assumed I was trying to earn salvation or place myself under the law.

That was never my heart.

My desire was—and still is—to follow God because I love Him.  

Yet through those experiences, God taught me not only to stand firm in my convictions, but also to extend grace to others who may be at a different place in their own walk of faith.  Many sincere believers love God deeply, even when their practices look different from mine.

That understanding became an important part of my journey.

That journey continues today, and it is from those experiences that IAMGesher was created.

Over the years, I found myself creating resources for my own family because I couldn’t find simple, Scripture-centered materials that explained both the biblical foundations and the historical context behind the feasts and other practices found throughout Scripture. Those personal resources eventually became the beginning of this ministry.

The name “Gesher” means “bridge,” and that is exactly what I hope this ministry will be—a bridge for believers who are asking questions, exploring the biblical roots of their faith, or seeking to better understand the commandments, feasts, and traditions found throughout Scripture.

My goal is not to tell people what they must do. My goal is to help them understand what the Bible says so they can study, pray, and seek God for themselves.

If you find yourself asking questions similar to the ones I once asked, I hope these resources encourage you, strengthen your faith, and help you continue your own journey of discovery in God’s Word.