Mark S. Railey
I grew up in a Christian home, specifically within the Baptist tradition. My dad was a Baptist minister, and that set a strong foundation for my early faith. However, after my parents divorced when I was eleven, my experiences broadened. I spent a few years with my mother, who always hung a Mazuzah on her doorpost and who attended a very pro-Israel non-denominational church. That exposure started to plant seeds of a deeper connection to Israel and, eventually, to Judaism.
My Story
When I was fifteen, I moved in with my dad and became deeply immersed in the Southern Baptist world. I felt a strong calling and became a licensed and eventually ordained Southern Baptist minister. I attended a Baptist university and went on to seminary, pursuing advanced theological studies. I was spirit-filled, which didn’t quite fit within the Baptist norms, but I pressed on, believing that God was leading me through it all.
My Jewish journey truly began in 1987 when I went to Israel for the first time. I felt an immediate and profound sense of home. That trip and a subsequent winter in Israel, where I participated in a Messianic synagogue led by Ari and Shira Sorkoram, dramatically shifted my faith journey. I found a deep connection to Messianic Judaism and began teaching Hebrew at a Bible College I was attending in Germany (Glaubenszentrum).
Returning to the States, I attended the University of Houston and joined B'nai B'rith Hillel. I was fully immersed in Jewish life, even serving as VP of Hillel and representing the Jewish community at events. I also began attending Congregation Beth Messiah, a UMJC synagogue in Houston. During this time, my future wife and I were active in the Israeli Folk Dancing Club, engaging deeply with Jewish culture and community.
A turning point came when a newspaper story on Messianic Judaism featured us. Our picture landed on the front page of the Houston Chronicle’s religion section. Almost immediately, I was blacklisted from the Jewish community. My fiancée and I married under the shadow of this controversy, and we stepped back into the safety of the Baptist world. I finished my degree at Ouachita Baptist University and graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, continuing in ministry and academia.
For years, I walked in both worlds—Christian and Jewish—without feeling fully at home in either. I founded institutions, pursued advanced degrees, and held leadership roles in Christian contexts. But the call to reconnect with my Jewish roots never left me. In 2019, I began to openly talk about returning to Messianic Judaism and to my Jewish identity.
We moved to Arkansas and founded a Beit Midrash, a study center where we explore both Jewish and Christian teachings. We joined Temple Shalom, a Reform synagogue in Fayetteville. They welcomed us as “Jewish Enough,” and though I was invited to consider serving as their cantor, I did not take on that role. Instead, my wife and I completed an Introduction to Judaism course through the Union of Reform Judaism.
Over time, the temple community shifted, and I found myself again on the edge, more comfortable outside traditional boundaries. I began building a Torah Pursuant community in Waldron, Arkansas. My congregation is primarily made up of Torah Pursuant Gentiles who see themselves as Messianic Jews, sort of. They call me their rabbi, and I serve them with love and a genuine desire to help them grow in faith and understanding of Torah.
In 2022, I was formally ordained under the Rural Shepherd's Network. I founded the Association of Torah Pursuant Communities (ATorahPC), established a Beit Din, and continue to mentor and lead this growing community. I also studied under a Yeshua-believing Orthodox rabbi, learning deeply from both Jewish and Christian sources. I pursued academic studies in Hebrew and Jewish traditions, even writing a Siddur for our services that honors both traditional prayers and our unique approach.
My teaching approach is gentle and welcoming. I don’t demand traditional Jewish practices from my congregation. Instead, I encourage them to pursue Torah sincerely, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their observance of the mitzvot. I celebrate the beauty of Jewish tradition while also embracing the fresh wind of God's spirit among those who are often excluded from traditional synagogues and churches.
I am not a traditional Jew nor a traditional Christian. I live in the “excluded middle,” welcoming everyone who wants to learn and grow. I build bridges. I love Israel, the Jewish people, and the Church. I appreciate the insights of both Jewish and Christian thinkers, finding wisdom in the teachings of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Maimonides, Rashi, and many others, as well as in the works of Christian theologians.
I live a Jewish life. I wear tzitzit, teach Torah, celebrate the Moedim (holidays), and share the richness of the Hebrew scriptures. I write extensively, sharing insights on Torah Pursuancy through my website and social media. I guide my community with a compassionate and open heart, always striving to honor God and love people well.
If there is one thing I hope people understand, it is this: I am not challenging anyone’s faith or identity. I am simply living out my calling, teaching what I believe God has shown me, and offering a safe place for others who, like me, find themselves on the edges of traditional faith communities. I believe the Messiah will come and help us all understand where we have gotten things wrong. Until then, I will keep building bridges, teaching Torah, and loving people—Jew, Christian, and everyone in between.