Pointing Israelis to the Scriptures

With the summer season behind us, ministry gets back to a much fuller pace. Summer vacations passed, and school started last week. Our ministry did host two week-long summer camps for children—attended by both believers and not-yet-believers. Israeli law mandates we be upfront about what we believe, so all the parents of these kids know we are a Messianic ministry. Yet the not-yet-believing parents were just so happy their children had something positive to do for a week. The weather was quite hot for both camp sessions, but everyone still had a great time playing games, enjoying community, and hearing about the gospel.

Besides our young adult Bible studies, ladies’ Bible studies, and other events, a couple on our staff does couple-to-couple counseling and discipleship ministry. They are currently going through a five-week seminar on “Relationships and How We Love.” This Bible-centered counseling helps couples learn about how we relate to others from a biblical perspective. We are praying for everyone who attends—especially those who have not yet come to faith.

We recently hosted three young men from the United States who were here for service ministry. In addition to the ministry time, our staff was able to take them down to the Gaza border to see firsthand the haunting remnants of destruction from Hamas’ October 7 invasion. They also visited the site where more than 300 young Israelis were slaughtered while attending a music festival.

Serving Evacuees and Soldiers

In the north, we continue helping displaced families, as well as the elderly and families suffering from loss of income due to their family members serving in the IDF during these eleven months of war. They hug us and cry with us during our prayers and visits, and they thank us for the grocery gift cards we provide to help put food on their tables.

In both the north and the Gaza envelope, we also continue to help Israeli soldiers with supplies and food—as well as prayer and conversations about the gospel. Thanks to the Lord, the soldiers seem equally hungry for both! One of our staff’s sons in the IDF has been serving in Gaza, and we personally know many other believers in Yeshua who are serving with their units as well.

The atrocities they witness every day in Gaza, combined with the constant level of high alert to protect civilians whom Hamas uses as human shields, while working hard to stop terrorists, is a lot for anyone to endure. Because they are open about their faith, their comrades-in-arms often look to them for encouragement, wisdom, and strength. They rely on the Scriptures and prayer to carry them through, and they beg for our fervent prayers. May the Lord’s presence go before them, behind them, and around them to give them shalom (peace) even in the midst of the battle.

Praying Psalm 27

The war still goes on—on multiple fronts, including in the international community—but the God of Hosts is our protector. This month, the Hebrew month of Elul, we read and pray Psalm 27 twice daily, in preparation for the upcoming fall festivals of Leviticus 23: the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). David speaks of trust in God despite the enemies around him. How appropriate for today!

Please pray this special Psalm with us—and thank you!

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the defense of my life;

Whom shall I dread? . . .

Though a host encamp against me,

My heart will not fear;

Though war arise against me,

In spite of this I shall be confident.

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord

And to meditate in His temple.

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;

In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;

He will lift me up on a rock.

And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,

And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice,

And be gracious to me and answer me.

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,

“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”

Do not hide Your face from me,

Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

You have been my help;

Do not abandon me nor forsake me,

O God of my salvation! . . .

Teach me Your way, O Lord,

And lead me in a level path

Because of my foes.

Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,

For false witnesses have risen against me,

And such as breathe out violence.

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord

In the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the Lord.