Messianic Rabbi Kirt Schneider - a cleric never at a loss for words or enthusiasm - is more excited than ever about a new prayer center he is opening next week.
"It's a love gift to Jesus," the rabbi said of the Key of David International House of Prayer.
That's why he is opening the prayer center on Valentine's Day - actually, one second after midnight Tuesday, the first tick of the clock of the lovers' holiday.
The center will be in a designated room at Adat Adonai Messianic Synagogue, on McGregor Lane behind the former Cathedral of Praise on Alexis Road.
Messianic Jews, who believe Jesus is the Messiah, are not considered truly Jewish by the mainstream Jewish community, who often refer to Messianic Jews as "Christians in disguise." Traditional Jews believe the Messiah has not yet come to Earth.
Rabbi Schneider, host of Discovering the Jewish Jesus, seen locally on WLMB-TV (Channel 40) and broadcast internationally, said he felt compelled to start the Key of David after visiting the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Mo., where Christians have been praying 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for nearly six years.
"During the Jewish holidays of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana, God usually has done something for me," he said. "This year, I didn't really know what God was doing so I figured I would go to a place where God is moving. So I went to Kansas City and the International House of Prayer."
He said he spent most of four days in the Kansas City prayer room.
"Something within me rose up and I never had such a clear focus about a calling. I told God I wanted to make an investment in your kingdom and was willing to do anything I need to do to make that happen," Rabbi Schneider said.
He said God gave him the inspiration to open a house of prayer, but no further information. When he prayed to God where it should be, he said the Lord told him: "Hard work."
He felt that was a confirmation that there would be some "bumps in the road," Rabbi Schneider said. "It's not going to be as smooth as silk, but I know this is much bigger than I am."
He named it the Key of David International House of Prayer after two Bible verses: Isaiah 22:22, which states, "I will place on your shoulder the key to the house of David," and Revelation 3:7, which says, "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David."
He said his congregation of about 90 people has rallied behind his vision and the members are taking turns filling in the time slots to ensure that someone will be in the Key of David around the clock, seven days a week.
But the Messianic rabbi envisions Christians from throughout the area participating in the prayer vigil that he said will continue "until the Lord returns."
"We want to make this as easy as possible: Just show up, come anyway you want, dressed as you want. Come anytime and leave anytime," he said. "You don't have to pray out loud, you just have to be there and stand in the gap. The Lord wants his people to call on him for his return."
Rabbi Schneider said he does not view the Key of David International House of Prayer as being in competition with the Greater Toledo House of Prayer, which opened last year on South Byrne Road.
"I just know that God has called me to do this. I'm not competing with anyone," he said.
The Key of David International House of Prayer will open at 12:01 Wednesday at Adat Adonai Messianic Synagogue, 5242 McGregor Lane, Sylvania. Access is available through the back parking lot of the former Cathedral of Praise Church, 5225 West Alexis Rd. Information: 419-885-4645.
First Published February 10, 2007, 10:24 p.m.
