OUR STAFF
Founder, Executive Director
Murray Tilles, born and raised in a religious Jewish home, accepted Jesus as his Messiah while a student in college at the University of North Carolina in 1979. Founder and Executive Director of Light of Messiah Ministries, a gospel centered outreach to the Jewish people in Atlanta, GA, Murray has spent 39 years proclaiming the message of Jesus to the Jewish community. His desire is also to help Christians understand the Jewish roots of our faith.
Murray earned his BA in Economics from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill as well as earning a Masters of Divinity and an M.A. in Counseling and Psychology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield IL. He is a missionary, author/writer, theologian, apologist, and teacher, who has appeared on television and radio, and has spoken in over 4000 churches around the world. Currently, Murray speaks in churches around the country helping his brothers and sisters in Christ understand the Jewish roots of our faith through Passover services, teaching on the Jewish foundation of faith in Christ, the Jewish festivals, the conflict in the Middle East.
Murray lives with his wife in Roswell, GA. He has two adult children.
He is the author of "Devoted to Israel", a devotional for Christians to learn about our Jewish roots and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Murray Tilles
Director of Communications and Community Engagement,
Israel Tour Coordinator
Anna Beth has served with Light of Messiah Ministries for six years in administrative, community outreach, and teaching capacities. In addition to directing ministry communications and engagement with both the Christian and Jewish communities of Atlanta, she teaches Hebrew classes and coordinates Light of Messiah’s Israel Tours.
She earned her B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Georgia, and a certificate in Biblical Studies from Israel College of the Bible in Netanya, Israel, the premier seminary in the Middle East. She is fluent in Modern Hebrew and conversational in Arabic. She is currently earning her M.A. in Jewish Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Her heart is to build bridges of understanding between Christians and Jews: that Jewish people can connect to Jesus in a culturally relevant way, and Christians would more fully embrace the Jewish roots of their faith. Anna Beth hopes to help the church reject antisemitism and to more clearly and compassionately understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Anna Beth Havenar
Community Engagement Coordinator
Mariah may be new to Light of Messiah Ministries, but she has had a love for the Jewish people since childhood. During the past six years, she served as a volunteer in the College and Young Adults ministry at her church in Statesboro, Georgia. After taking Hebrew 101 with Anna Beth online, she began to study the Jewish Feasts and Festivals and became passionate about sharing them with her church.
Mariah earned her B.S. from Georgia Southern University with focuses in International Studies and History, and her M.S. in International Policy Management from Kennesaw State University. She has traveled Europe extensively and spent time studying Jewish history in both Poland and Hungary. Her first visit to Israel was with Light of Messiah Ministries on their inaugural Young Adult trip!
She is passionate about educating the church on the Jewish foundations of the faith and the importance of the Jewish Feasts and Festivals. Her hope is to see the Church grow in love and understanding towards their Jewish brothers and sisters.
Mariah Charnock
Executive Assistant - Operations
Alana Tilles has been on staff with Light of Messiah Ministries since its founding in 1991 by her husband, Murray. Alana is a graduate of John Wesley Bible College in High Point, NC with a B.A. in Bible and Theology. She fell in love with the Jewish people while in college and then with her Jewish/Christian husband during her junior year.
After marriage to Murray in 1984 she served alongside him with the ministry of Jews for Jesus from 1984-1991. Alana is primarily in charge of accounting, but contributes to all aspects of the ministry including creative input, holiday and event planning, and our Israel tours.
Alana Tilles
Executive Administrative Assistant
Courteney Gamadanis came to us from The Factory Church in Woodstock, Georgia where she, her husband and five children attend. Courteney has been an active volunteer at The Factory Church prior to joining our team. Courteney spends most of her time taking care of her family! In her spare time, she is our executive assistant in charge of administration, creative input and helping us stay real on social media.