Statement Concerning Joel Bell and Worldwide Biblical Zionists

Statement by Eddie Chumney, Hebraic Heritage Ministries International:

Dear Mishpochah (family):

It is a great honor that the God of Israel has given me the ability to have a ‘Hebraic Roots ministry named Hebraic Heritage Ministries International and to teach Torah and the “Restoration of the Two Houses of Israel” to believers in Yeshua as the Messiah since the middle 1990's. This duty is not something that I take lightly. In fact, I am humbled that the God of Israel permits me to be a servant in His Kingdom as I am generally regarded as a nationally recognized teacher / leader in this Hebraic Roots / Messianic movement.

Being a servant of Messiah and a teacher over His flock carries with it great responsibility. In James 3:1 we are told to not to try to seek to be a teacher because this position carries with it a greater weight of judgment and responsibility in the eyes of the God of Israel.

It has been as a nationally recognized teacher / leader that I publically advocated in the summer of 2008 that ‘Ephraimites’ support a new work named ‘Worldwide Biblical Zionists’ headed by Joel Bell. The stated goal of WBZ was to partner with Judah in the land of Israel to ‘build up Zion’ and work toward the restoration and reunification of Ephraim and Judah. When I advocated Ephraimite support of WBZ, I did so with a pure heart with pure intentions.

Unfortunately, beginning in September 2008, I began to realize that Joel Bell did not enter into relationship with me and thus some of the other leaders of the Ephraimite Messianic movement with that same pure heart and intent. When I realized what I was witnessing from Joel Bell’s behavior and actions, I became very grieved because many across the USA and Canada told me that they only decided to initially support WBZ because of their trust in me and the integrity in which Hebraic Heritage Ministries has operated over the years.

In April 2008, I went to Israel. While in Israel, I learned that Ephraim Frank (an Ephraimite leader who lives in the land of Israel) was holding a monthly Ephraimite meeting at the Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem. In Israel, an Ephraimite couple who knows Joel Bell found out that I was going to this Ephramite meeting in Jerusalem and decided to inform Joel Bell that I was coming. Apparently, Joel Bell wanted to meet me. Before this Ephraimite meeting, I never knew Joel Bell.

Prior to the start of the meeting, Joel Bell waited outside the hotel conference room to meet me. When I was in the hallway of the conference room, Joel Bell introduced himself to me and asked me if I would be willing to meet with him the next day.

Even though I had never met Joel, I decided to meet with him. I spent about 4 days at his apartment trying to get to know him. It was during this time that Joel told me about his ministry in Israel named ‘Frontline Israel.’ He shared with me how he stood with the Jewish people from Gush Katif who got expelled from their homes in Gaza in August 2005. His testimony really touched my heart as I have a great love in my heart for the Jews who got expelled from their homes.

During this visit with Joel, he introduced me to a leader of the Gush Katif communities who oversees a nonprofit organization in Israel whose purpose is to help the Jews of Gush Katif who got expelled from their homes. In meeting this leader, an arrangement was made to see the operations of a Jewish farmer expelled from his home in Gush Katif who has now resettled in the Negev (southern desert of Israel) starting a new farm.

During these days with Joel at his apartment, Joel showed me his TV production studio. He showed me letters from Jewish politicians written to him expressing their support of ‘Evangelical Christians’ who wanted to love and support Israel.

During my visit with Joel, Joel introduced me to a close friend of his, named Sagiv Assulin. Joel explained that he met Sagiv in Gush Katif and that Sagiv was sympathetic toward working on the cause to help bring Ephraim and Judah together.

I was very impressed in meeting Sagiv. It was easy to tell that Sagiv is an honest person with a pure heart with pure intentions. Joel also explained to me that Sagiv hoped to be elected to the next Israeli Knesset as a member of the Likud political party. It was a great pleasure for me to meet Sagiv.

In the Torah, we are told ‘Judah came near to Joseph.’ The rabbis teach that this is a foreshadowing of the ultimate redemption between Ephraim and Judah. I interpreted that what I was experiencing in Israel was the ‘first wind’ of the modern application of ‘Judah coming near to Joseph.’ Having a ministry which teaches the restoration and reunification of Ephraim and Judah in the end of days, I just experienced in Israel witnessing what I believed to be Judah extending his hand to Joseph and it really excited me that this was the beginning of a process of bringing together Ephraim and Judah in the land of Israel.

In talking with Joel and Sagiv while in Israel, it was agreed that we needed to establish a partnership with Ephraimites in the USA and around the world linking them to the welcoming hand of Judah in the land of Israel to begin what would hopefully be the beginning of the ‘footsteps’ of bringing together Ephraim and Judah by the Messiah of Israel. It was decided that the name of this entity to seek to accomplish this task would be called, “Worldwide Biblical Zionists.” WBZ would be a nonprofit organization based in Israel which those ministries, leaders and individuals who supported the effort to unite Ephraim and Judah in the land of Israel would seek to support.

In doing so, Joel asked me to be the ‘International Director’ of Worldwide Biblical Zionists. Joel also asked me to be on the board of WBZ when it was formed.

In my excitement for the vision of WBZ to partner with Judah in the land of Israel to ‘build up Zion’ and that Judah would partner with Ephraim to help unite the whole house of Israel, I recommended that Hebraic Heritage Ministries introduce Joel and Sagiv and the vision of WBZ to Ephraimite leaders in the USA at a special meeting to be held in Portland, Oregon in July 2008. Furthermore, Hebraic Heritage Ministries pledged to try to arrange meetings across the USA and Canada to promote the vision of WBZ.

Through my personal contacts, I was able to arrange meetings for Joel and Sagiv to speak and promote WBZ in Waco, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Denver, CO; Nashville, TN; Canton, OH; Tampa, FL; Ocala, FL; Cocoa, FL; Houston, TX; Chicago, IL and Sedley, Canada from July 2008 - August 2008.

In my zeal to work to promote WBZ, I wrote the “Ten Commandments of a Biblical Zionist.” I tried writing these “Ten Commandments” in such a way that Ephraim and Judah could meet on ‘common ground’ and with mutual respect for each other.

During this time, NOBODY supported and gave a greater committment to WBZ than Hebraic Heritage Ministries as the leadership meeting in Portland and the meetings across the USA and Canada was made possible through the support of WBZ by HHMI.

For those who don’t know how I met Joel Bell or how the concept and vision of WBZ came into being, I wanted to share this personal testimony. I wanted to share this personal testimony to show that nobody had a greater zeal and made a stronger ministry commitment to WBZ than Hebraic Heritage Ministries. I wanted to share this personal testimony to show that my commitment to WBZ was based upon a pure heart and pure intentions. In spite of these efforts, it is with a heavy heart that I have to say that I can no longer support WBZ and Joel Bell.

Next, I would like to share why I no longer support WBZ and Joel Bell. With such an initial strong support for the vision of WBZ, Joel’s behavior and actions needed to be severe in order for me to withdraw my support. However because many Ephraimites did decide to get involved with WBZ and a teacher / leader is responsible for the sheep which he leads, I also must be honest and straightforward in saying that WBZ should no longer be supported as long as Joel Bell is its leader. In short, I now believe that Joel Bell is a wolf disguised as a shepherd.

After the meeting with Ephraimite leaders in Portland, Oregon in July 2008, several of these leaders were asked by Joel Bell, Sagiv and myself to be on the board of WBZ when it was formed.

While we were traveling in the USA during the summer of 2008, Worldwide Biblical Zionists did NOT legally exist. It did not legally exist in the USA or Israel. It was a ‘concept.’ It was agreed by Joel Bell, Sagiv, myself and the designated ‘board’ members of WBZ that Worldwide Biblical Zionists would be set up as a nonprofit organization in Israel after November 2008. As a result, it was agreed that the money collected for the WBZ entity during the USA / Canada speaking tour would be temporarily set aside and deposited into Joel Bell’s ministry, ‘Frontline Israel’ account and then would be transferred to the WBZ account when WBZ officially became a nonprofit organization in Israel. This agreement was made with the trust and confidence in Joel Bell to do this.

It was also agreed that any and all decisions made by WBZ on how it would operate would be made through a group decision of the designated board members.

In short, Joel Bell agreed that he would ensure that WBZ would be accountable financially and in decision making.

Beginning in late August and early September 2008, Joel began to make unilateral decisions for WBZ without any board meetings. Furthermore, he never revealed to the board members the amount of money that was collected as offerings at the meetings across the USA and Canada. Joel also did not reveal to the board members the names of the people who made a commitment to be a ‘member’ of WBZ or how much money was collected from solicitations to become a ‘member.’

In a phone conversation with Joel on September 9, I had a discussion with him about his promise to be accountable financially and how the designated board members of WBZ would jointly be making decisions on how to run WBZ. I discussed with Joel about how he deposited money into the account of Frontline Israel without being financially accountable to the designated board of WBZ and how he initially promised to be financially accountable. I discussed with Joel the concern that he was making unilateral business decisions for WBZ without having any board meetings to discuss various issues. I asked Joel if he was willing to have a board meeting to discuss these accountability issues. Joel said, ‘Yes.’

One of the leaders who attended the initial leadership meeting in Portland, Oregon and who was asked to be on the board of WBZ was Monte Judah. Monte was also asked to be the North American director of WBZ.

During the first week of September, Monte Judah (a designated board member) and I began to notice several ‘red flags’ regarding Joel Bell’s behavior and actions regarding various issues. I will not take the time to discuss all the ‘red flags’ in this letter.

These ‘red flags’ were in addition to witnessing Joel’s behavior and actions wherein he was not being accountable financially or in WBZ decision making.

As a result of these ‘red flags,’ Monte Judah put up a public statement on his website in the middle of September letting people know that supporting WBZ should be done ‘cautiously’ pending further investigation.

After posting this public statement, Monte had a personal conversation with Joel Bell. Following this meeting, Joel agreed to have a board meeting to discuss the ‘accountability’ issues so Monte decided to take down his public statement.

After initially agreeing to have a meeting on September 9, Joel agreed to have the meeting on September 20. However, we were not able to have the meeting. The meeting was rescheduled for the next week. However, Joel canceled those meetings.

Monte and I decided to try to have the board meeting again after Sukkot. When we tried to have the board meeting after Sukkot, Joel wrote a letter to Monte and I telling us that we were being disruptive to help the efforts to promote WBZ and to not correspond with WBZ again.

In short, not only did Joel decide to not be accountable financially or in decision making, he decided to ‘fire’ Monte and me from being board members of WBZ and having the ‘positions’ of international director and North American director without ever having a board meeting to discuss the ‘firing’ or without ever receiving a resignation letter from us.

Furthermore, Joel told me in September that the ‘designated board members’ weren't ever really on the ‘board of WBZ because the ‘true’ board of WBZ needed to be exclusively people who are Israeli citizens. For Joel, telling people that Monte and I were on the ‘board’ was just a way to ‘sell’ WBZ to the public using our name recognition to do it.

There are many more issues besides the ones already discussed. Namely, Joel has mistreated and offended other Ephraimite national leaders, ministries and organizations. He has spoken many lies about me. One time he cussed me out on the phone. He misrepresented the WBZ November tour to Israel causing some of the people who attended the tour to be disappointed in what they experienced.

After meeting Monte Judah, Monte asked Joel and Sagiv to attend and speak at the the Lion and Lamb Ministries Sukkot 2008 to be held in Chandler, Oklahoma. Joel and Sagiv agreed to come. However, Joel decided to cancel his attendance without first notifying Monte that he did’t intend to come after being invited to do so.

While I went to Israel in November 2008, I did not attend the WBZ tour. While in Israel, I met with a leader of a major evangelical Christian organization. I met with a traditional Jew who has a large speaking ministry to the evangelical Christian world in the USA. I met with an Orthodox Jewish rabbi. All of these people indicated to me that they could not support Joel Bell in Israel and have had bad experiences with him. There are Ephraimite leaders in Israel who do not support Joel Bell.

Finally, I met in Israel with a traditional Jew who spent several days on the WBZ tour. His name is Hanoch. As a Jew, he told me how distressed he was in what he witnessed on the WBZ November tour. Hanoch supports the reunification of Ephraim and Judah, however, he does not believe that WBZ is the tool to facilitate this task.

In conclusion, I do not recommend that Ephraimites support WBZ and Joel Bell. Through Joel’s behaviors and actions, I believe that he is a ‘wolf’ trying to dress as a shepherd. My main complaint against Joel Bell is his failure to be financially accountable and in WBZ decision making. However, there are myriads of other 'red flags' which cause great concerns, some of which I have only briefly mentioned, some I have not mentioned at all.

Sadly, I was deceived through Joel’s lies and manipulation techniques.

I am sorry that if through my initial recommendation to support WBZ some Ephraimites have been hurt. However, in seeking to be a person of honestly and integrity, I believe that I needed to give a report of the current situation so that many others won't be hurt.

I pray that those who read this letter will listen to what I am saying.

Regarding Sagiv Assulin, I believe that he is a person of honesty and integrity. I believe that Sagiv has a pure heart with pure intentions and motives. On December 8, Sagiv was nominated to be a potential candidate for the Likud party to be a member of the next Israeli Knesset. I pray that Likud will win enough seats in the next elections that Sagiv will be a Likud Knesset member. I know that Sagiv will serve the people of Israel with pride, honor and integrity. Let us pray for Sagiv’s best of success in his endeavors.

Statement by Monte Judah, Director of Lion and Lamb Ministries:

I concur completely and stand as a witness with Eddie Chumney and his stated position concerning Joel Bell and the WBZ organization. Many brethren attempted to work with Joel Bell in an effort to realize the shared vision of many Messianic brethren for the return of the House of Israel (Ephraim) to be joined with the House of Judah (Jews) in the land. Our hearts are still committed to help to “build Zion,” however, I do not believe that everyone must check through Joel Bell before returning to the land, as he has stated.

Because of Eddie’s and my reputation within the Messianic movement, people look to us for leadership, and in this case we were misled by promising words and a false set-up. Sadly, from my experience this summer I have come to view Joel Bell as a type of modern day Laban, that he is a master promoter—raising expectations—and then doesn’t do what he says. This was obvious when it came to his handling of the monies sent to him for the building of WBZ. He offers plenty of justifications for his actions. Most grievous to me is Joel Bell’s disrespectful tone toward anyone questioning his actions, including toward those who have been generous and hospitable to him, as in the case of Eddie Chumney. Eddie Chumney’s statement explains the course of events thoroughly, so I won’t take up space repeating any of that here.

Every believer must make their own conclusion, but I agree with Eddie Chumney and his assessment in the matter of Joel Bell and any organization he might be affiliated with now or in the future. If you wish to do anything with Joel, you should understand that once he gets what he wants from you (money, connections, etc.) there is a possibility he will discard you as he has done others.

I am saddened that so many people were adversely affected by Joel Bell’s lack of accountability with the membership fee into WBZ which seemed to have disappeared and they received nothing from WBZ and inquiries into getting a refund went unheeded. I am hopeful that those who were harmed will remember that Jacob had to deal with Laban before going home, but he didn’t need him to go home. Joel Bell is not the leader of B’nai Ephraim nor the gatekeeper to Israel.