ETZ KHAYIM LEADERSHIP
Jess Cano is the Founder/Congregational Leader/Elder
Torah Teacher and Ro’I (Shepherd) of Etz Khayim. Jess has served the Lord for over 26 years and has been in Pastoral ministry for 24 years. I Pastored my first church in Florence Colorado. A couple of years later we moved the church to Canon City where most of our attendees lived. I was an associate Pastor for a 300 member church and led many small home groups over the years. My journey in finding my spiritual roots led me to the Messianic and Hebraic Roots movement. I discovered that my family origins were Jewish. I have taught Torah in many Messianic Congregations including Messianic Synagogues in Pueblo, Colorado Springs CO., and Austin Texas. Jess is a Sephardic Jew. He and his wife Janis have 9 children. The entire family is actively serving the Lord. Jess plays guitar and sings the Hebrew prayers at Etz Khayim. Along with leading the congregation at Etz Khayim Jess was the primary teacher for the Colorado Springs Christian Chinese Church. Jess’s heart is to see the Gospel of Yeshua HaMashiach go into all the world and to make disciples of all nations.
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Tom Darr- "I accepted Jesus as my personal savior in 1973. Judy and I were going through a difficult time in our marriage, and were contemplating separation. She had a dramatic conversion experience that completely changed her demeanor and personality. Witnessing such a transformation quite frankly astounded me. We were attending an Episcopal Church in Denver in 1973 and a small group of believers continually invited us to a small group Bible study. Judy finally convinced me to go, and that was the beginning of the scales falling off of my eyes. Through that small group that worshipped God intimately, and cared and prayed for each other, and through the testimony of a Spirit filled Episcopal Bishop, I came to the Lord in a special service of dedication at our local Parish. In 1974, I received the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I came to realize the importance of small groups as faith building communities, and of worship as an important expression of our faith, and as a tool for evangelism. Until 1997 when the Lord led us out of the Episcopal Church and into a Torah based lifestyle and Hebraic roots movement, I served him as worship leader and small group leader in several Parishes. I believe these two ministries are what He has called me to be about. I have continued to deepen and expand my worship leading experience within the Messianic-based congregations I have been involved with. The beautiful Messianic songs, coupled with modern and traditional songs within the larger Christian Church reach deeply into the Spirit that resides within us, and speaks to the many varied backgrounds that the Lord is calling into the Hebraic Roots movement at this very exciting time in history. "
