Pastoral Profile
Pastor John Wesley, II & Martha Atkins are the founders and head shepherds of Congregation Beth HaShem, located in Durham, NC. Congregation Beth HaShem is Durham ‘s first “One New Man” Messianic Congregation where Biblically Observant Jews and Non-Jewish Believers in Yeshua work together to break down the wall of enmity between Jew and Non- Jew as they worship as one manifesting the prophetic words of Yeshua the Messiah (Ephesians 2:15 KJV).
They started their prophetic quest for Hebraic Oneness in Yeshua back in the mid 80’s. Both have received the Messiah as their Savior much earlier, but without a true sense of spiritual completeness and fulfillment. During their quest of Hebraic Holiness Martha’s ancestral DNA began to cry out. It was later confirmed to Martha while the family was stationed at San Antonio Texas, that she was indeed Jewish. The Ruach HaChadash (The Spirit of Holiness) then began the task of revealing to her husband the Hebraic Oneness of Our Trichotomy.
While visiting a Messianic Congregation in San Antonio Texas, the Ruach began revealing the Hebraic purpose of all believers of Yeshua. Since this time both have graduated from Ministry Training School and have assisted in three messianic congregational fellowships. They have kept a long-standing relationship with Rabbi Eric Carlson and Rebbitzin Barbara since 2001. Rabbi Eric the founder of Congregation Zion’s Sake (www.zionsake.org) had agreed to be The Apostolic Arm for Congregation Beth HaShem just before our inception on the fourth day of Hanukkah, Dec. 07, 2007.
John & Martha have been married for over 26 years, with three children and one grandchild to date.
