Serving the Servicemen

Through all the ups and downs and fragile ceasefires, our ministry in Israel remains strong! Several of our Chosen People Ministries Israeli staff either have been called up multiple times for reserve duty with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), or are parents, siblings, or spouses of active duty IDF soldiers. It is physically and emotionally exhausting, and they risk their lives daily; yet they carry their faith in Yeshua (Jesus) everywhere they go—touching their fellow soldiers with their light and witness. Behind each soldier is a family carrying the weight. There are parents praying for their children, spouses and children holding on through fear, and a nation continuing to endure.

We pray for protection, strength, and peace over our soldiers and their families.

During the ceasefire when limitations on gatherings were lifted, one of our soldiers, who is a musician by trade, led a worship night at our Ramat Gan Ministry Center. It was living proof of the power of wartime worship to restore the weary. As David’s strength and songs came from the Lord, ours do too. It was powerful to see how hungry people truly are for God’s Word—and for them to come together, lift a voice of hope, and praise the name of Jesus in such a time!

The “Or HaGalil” (Light of Galilee) congregation in Nahariya in Upper Galilee near Lebanon is also on the front lines of this ongoing strife. One of our staff co-pastors with a Lebanese believer, and they report:

Each week, many soldiers pass through our city on their way to bases along the northern borders with Lebanon and Syria. Since 2014, our congregation has handed out gift bags to these soldiers. These bags contain useful items, a drink, and a meaningful postcard with a Bible verse. It is our way of saying, “Thank you for your service.”

However, with the past three-and-a-half years of constant war, we have adapted our outreach to include more specific items, such as gift certificates for a supermarket chain. Even though the amount is not as much as we would like, the soldiers are incredibly appreciative.

When they ask, “Who are you and what is Light of Galilee?” we respond: “We are a local congregation of believers in Messiah Yeshua, and we are here to bless you.” Our presence and cheerful response have led to extended conversations and a heartening openness to the gospel.

Please continue to pray for God’s peace in our country, for protection over soldiers and civilians, for comfort for those who have lost loved ones, for us to faithfully shine the light of Yeshua, and for open hearts to receive His light.

Searching the Scriptures

Our other staff remain active, creative, and bold to share Messiah with those they encounter as well. One writes:

Sometimes when we share our faith and try to communicate God’s plan of salvation, it can feel as if our efforts are in vain. Yet after some time, we see evidence that His Word does return bearing fruit in ways we could not have expected.

For more than two months, people in Israel lived with uncertainty, close to bomb shelters, and with life heavily disrupted. As soon as it became safely possible, we organized a family fun day for 30 families with children. We invited them to a bowling center, where we spent several hours enjoying games, fellowship, and a shared meal. Among the participants were several new families.

One conversation in particular stood out. A couple engaged in a deep discussion with me about what is happening in Israel. I tried to explain how beyond politics, there is a spiritual dimension, and God has His purpose in all things. They strongly disagreed and insisted that everything is driven by politics and money, and that belief in God is simply a crutch. Before they left, I shared Ecclesiastes 3:1,8: “For everything there is a season . . . a time for war, and a time for peace,” and encouraged them to reflect on it. They departed with skepticism. However, just a few days ago, they called and said they could not stop thinking about that verse. It stirred questions in their hearts—especially about what kind of “peace” it speaks of. The Lord has begun His work in them! Now we are continuing conversations about both external and inner peace; these are their first steps toward knowing Him.

Another staff member has been sharing Yeshua with Dahlia* who keeps asking more questions. Dahlia feels drawn to Jesus but is hesitant due to culture and misconceptions. She commented, “It is hard to sleep as I keep thinking about questions of who God is and how I can know Him.” Now she has started reading Matthew together with our staff and is having meaningful conversations.

Liel,* a Jewish Israeli lady from a secular background, came to faith during the coronavirus pandemic. She subsequently read through and studied the gospel of Matthew with one of the women on staff. When we shared with her about the Messianic prophecies within the gospel of Matthew and the story of the Jewish people in the Tanach (Old Testament), she felt frustrated and overwhelmed at how much she didn’t know due to her secular background. Then at the most recent meeting she exclaimed, “I decided to just start reading all the Tanach from the very beginning of Genesis—and have read 29 chapters just this week! I realized that there are no shortcuts.”

Indeed, there are no shortcuts when it comes to knowing God and growing in Him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and the Scriptures testify of Him (John 5:39).

Please pray for the spiritual hunger of those above and for others we encounter. Pray for a desire to study the Scriptures to awaken (or continue), and for the Holy Spirit to bring understanding. And pray for us—for new engagement, meaningful conversations, depth of discipleship, and more hearts opening. Thank you!

*Names changed