Senior Leadership
Rabbi Dr. Itzhak Shapira
Shaliach Tzibbur
Tzahi (Itzhak) Shapira was born and raised in a traditional Sephardic Jewish home in Israel.
After years of studying Rabbinic Jewish texts, he found the Messiah within the Hebrew writings. He serves as the Shaliach Tzibbur of Yeshivat Shuvu. He also serves as the founding rabbi of Ahavat Ammi Ministries, an international Jewish organization that is focused on reconciliation between Jews and Yeshua.
Rabbi Shapira is the author of and contributor to numerous works including The Return of the Kosher Pig, The Besorah according to Covid-19, The Rivkah Remnant, Ahavat Olam Siddur, From Nisan to Nisan, The Night of the Bride, 100 Gates-100 Shofarot and many more.
Pastor Matt McKeown
Shaliach Tzibbur Africa
Matt McKeown is the Senior Pastor at the United Brethren in Christ Church (UBIC) in Holly Hill Florida and the Manager of Sound Mind Studios.
The call on Pastor Matt’s life is an interesting one. The Lord is using him to be a bridge between the Christian world and the Jewish world. It is his desire to see Jewish people recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as the Jewish Messiah and for Christians to recognize the Jewish foundation of their faith. Matt has an ordination as Moreh Torah by Yeshivat Shuvu, the largest Messianic Jewish Yeshiva in the world.
Matt, his wife Kara and their three teenage children live in the Daytona Beach area of Florida. In addition to serving at UBIC, Matt serves as a Board Member and Psalmist at Congregation Beth Judah Messianic Synagogue and is a member of Jubilation, the music team at Temple Beth El Ormond Beach.
Pastor Juanita Weiss
Shlichat Tzibbur Africa
Juanita Weiss received a BA in English Education from Norfolk State University; an MA in journalism from Regent University, and an Associate in Biblical Studies from Bible Teachers Institute. An ordained minister with Evangelical Christian Alliance, Min. Weiss served in ministry along with her husband at Beth Messiah Synagogue under the leadership of Rabbi Joseph Rosenfarb, under whose tutelage she was enlightened to and ultimately embraced the Jewish roots of her faith.
David and Juanita are the Founders and CEO of Weiss Ministries, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit ministry. Weiss Ministries’ serves as a bridge between diverse cultures through teaching/preaching, publications, performing arts, and missions.
In the spring of 2014, David and Juanita launched Malchut Chayim (Kingdom Life) Messianic Congregation in Chesapeake, Virginia. In 2020, Min. Weiss completed a five-year program at Yeshivat Shuvu, the world’s largest online Messianic Yeshiva, which resulted in ordination as Morah Torah (Teacher of the Torah). David and Juanita are blessed with one son, Jonathan Tyler.
Congregational Leadership
Tatra Cohen Chikwiriro
Gabbai of Beit Shuvu
Tatra Cohen was born of the Sarif clan within the Lemba Jewish tribe of Southern Africa. Having spent early years of his life, in Assemblies of God and coming from a family background influenced by radical Islam, through study of scriptures; young Tatra realized a strong need to pursue his Jewish heritage.
By the second year in a Theological Seminary, he had begun serving in two young Lemba Messianic congregations under a Messianic Jewish Ministry. He also influenced, advocated, and lead many Lemba communities return to their Jewish heritage, he also spoke at Radio stations including ChaiFM South Africa and founded the Lemba Jewish Heritage, an engaging platform for the Lemba in all their state of expression.
Among other things, the most fulfilling was his long search and finding of the historic Lemba people of Zambia who were hidden from the rest and manage to link them back to a Jewish humanitarian organization helping them today.
Tatra is currently Talmid of Yeshivat Shuvu Africa and he is doing his studies in Messianic Judaism.