Rev. Kevin Parviz is the Director of Apple of His Eye--Missouri and Pastor of Congregation Chai v’Shalom, a Messianic-Lutheran congregation of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS).
The Apple of His Eye Mission Society is a Jewish outreach of the Lutheran church-Missouri Synod founded in 1996. Since that time, it has established a missionary training facility in St. Louis operated by Mr. Steve Cohen, Congregation Chai v'Shalom and The Apple of His Eye -- Missouri, pastored by Rev. Parviz, The Apple of His Eye Texas, led by Rev. Jay Klein, The Apple of His Eye -- PSW led by Mr. Ted Martin, and The Apple of His Eye -- New York, currently vacant.
Kevin, a Jewish believer in Jesus, came to faith through the ministry of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Denver, Colorado. As the father of a child in a Lutheran school, he found an unusual love for the Christian teachers, parents and children who witnessed their faith to him so sincerely. Through the faithful prayers of his wife and daughter, and the patience of the pastors and members of St. John's, Kevin's heart was softened and he was brought to faith through the Holy Spirit.
His love for the school led him to eventually become a teacher there. Kevin spent two years as the school principal and then, Kevin entered Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to study for the pastoral ministry. It was there that Kevin began to realize the direction that God was leading, as he helped to begin the Apple of His Eye in 1996.
Kevin was chosen as the first student to enter a new track for cross-cultural ministry. It was during this time that he, along with Mr. Steve Cohen (formerly of Jews for Jesus) and Jennifer Krupp (now in the Missouri District Office) began The Apple of His Eye. After completed his academic study, Kevin spent his vicarage with AOHEMS to learn the missionary craft and graduated from Concordia Seminary in 1998. He, with the help of God, has planted a model Lutheran Messianic Congregation in the St. Louis area. Congregation Chai V'Shalom (Life and Peace) enjoyed its inaugural service on April 18, 1998, and meets on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at 6327 Clayton Ave., St. Louis. Congregation Chai V' Shalom and AOHEMS will provide training and resources to the church at large. Your prayers for this endeavor are much appreciated.
Kevin has also worked at Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis, and has authored several articles for publication. Additionally, he is a contributing author to the devotional, The Best Loved Passages of the Bible, as well as to Concordia Pulpit Resources, the "Tell the Good News About Jesus" project, and has authored a LifeLight Bible Study called Bible Feasts, all for CPH. He authored the 2000 Lenten Devotional Ponder the Path... the 2001 Advent Devotional Amen, Come Lord Jesus, and has written for the online "Equipping Newletter," all for Lutheran Hour Ministries, has written for the synodical publication "Evangelgram," and has served Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, MO as an interim youth minister, has served on the Board of Directors for Concordia Gospel Outreach, the Board of Congregational Services representing the Task Force on Witnessing to the Jewish People, has chaired the Committee for Curriculum Development for Missionaries and Evangelists to the Jewish People through the task force, and has served on the planning committee for the New Directions in Mission Leadership Conference. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Lutherans in Jewish Evangelism, a recognized service organization of the Synod based in St. Louis, and he is finishing up his Ph.D. in Practical Theology through Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Since 1997, Rev. Parviz has preached and taught in over 200 churches in 4 countries.
Kevin and Colleen have been married for 27 years and have four children, Courtney, Rachel, Benjamin and Joshua. They also have a new son-in-law, Courtney's husband Mark, and are expecting their first grandchild in July. Wherever Kevin gives a presentation, he hopes that those in the church will take the initiative to invite their Jewish friends to come and consider Jesus from a Jewish perspective. A free-will offering will be received for the ongoing missionary work of The Apple of His Eye-Missouri, and Congregtion Chai v'Shalom. Kevin can be reached at The Apple of His Eye, 6327 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139. His phone number is (314) 645-4456. He may also be reached via e-mail at revkevye@chaivshalom.com.
You are invited to correspond with him about Jewish people and evangelism.