A Report from on the Ground in Israel
Prior to 6 October 2023, the body of believers in Israel was growing. They would gather weekly for services, brainstorming effective ways for face to face and online evangelism, in-depth discipleship of new believers, fun gatherings for kids and youth and attempting to bring unity among the congregations and pastors… and as you can imagine, the list goes on. Many people acknowledge that the number of believers in Israel have more than doubled in the past few decades. Young people and old people (and everyone in between) have been accepting Jesus as their Messiah, their lives are changed and they become part of the vibrant, yet small body in Israel. This good news has been reported worldwide with rejoicing and excitement of what more is to come.
Then Came 7 October 2023
This one day changed the people of Israel in indescribable ways. Currently there are no results or summary or conclusions, the people are still living in a seemingly unending trauma.
Psychologists and health care workers talk about what will be national PTSD, but at the moment, there is no ‘post’ as we are still ‘in’. For the record, lets remember the brutality, thirst for torture and murder and cunning plans for death Hamas had on 7 October. Over 1200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken hostage on that day. Homes were burned, children watched the horror of loved ones killed in front of them, families and friends forever ripped apart. At the time of writing there are 23 hostages still alive as of 600 days in the tunnels of Gaza and the people of Israel desperately want them home, as a small act of closure.
How did the body of believers in Israel react? Feelings of shock, horror, disbelief, frozen, tears, anger, betrayal, doubt, fear are a small list of emotions that everyone felt—the same that you probably felt.
But, by knowing the power of prayer, trust in an Almighty God and hope for peace, the believers in Israel unified like never before!
After the initial shock, calls started to be made for the immediate need of supplies for the massive call up of reservists. In days, Israel called up over 300,000 reservists to protect the northern borders from a very possible invasion by Hezbollah as well to re-enforce Israel’s southern borders with Gaza. Many soldiers had to leave their families behind, and work stopped.
Congregations and ministries were left without leadership, worship leaders, children’s workers and administrative workers etc. Many families suddenly became single parent homes. Many elderly people were terrified to go outside. Many people were displaced from their homes.
The believers stepped up in incredible ways and became one—sharing finances, vehicles, ministry staff and volunteers in ways never seen before. They packed food parcels for needy families and elderly and delivered it to congregations. The congregations dispersed it as well as invited the people to join for a meeting. Many not-yet-believing families started to attend the congregations and stayed even after the food parcels stopped.
Most elderly had their food parcels brought to their door and those visits brighten their lives both physically and spiritually as they would sit fearfully alone during the week. Hot nutritious meals were cooked by volunteers and brought to single parent families. A believing soldier would request specific supplies desperately needed for his unit. Often, the supplies would be miraculously acquired, driven to the unit or military base and given to the solider. He would share with his unit the believers who love them and are praying for them. Through the fear of dangerous missions or the solitude of nighttime guard duty, many soldiers would seek out the believing soldier to ask deep spiritual questions about the Lord and His love and protection for them.
For months, this went on and the body was rejoicing over this. In dark days, the light of the Messiah Jesus shone bright. Many people who received supplies either heard about Jesus for the first time, were brought closer to him through their own spiritual journey or accepted Him as their Messiah!
Everyone wishes for the calm of 6 October, but the believers in Israel can not deny that something incredible has come out of the darkness of 7 October.
After the initial months of shock and reaction, Israel has settled into a temporary status quo. For a sense of normalcy, everyone needs to live their lives and work, go to school, attend family gatherings etc. That is part of healing from trauma. Ministries around the country, on the other hand, are not experiencing a status quo—we are experiencing an exciting move of the Lord!
Congregations are full. Bible studies are full. Youth conferences are full. Not only numerically full, as numbers always give a feeling of accomplishment, but people are fully ENGAGED.
Many believers all over the country are finding people are desperate to study the Word and will attend congregations and Bible studies, bringing their spouse and children and eventually extended family. Attendees have found that the Bible brings hope and peace during such a tumultuous time. Not all of these people are believers—yet—but they are close!
The fact that they seek the safety and openness that can be found in any believer’s home, ministry center or weekly worship setting speaks volumes. When sharing and comparing these stories, believers are realising that time is very ripe for a massive harvest!
Israel is predominately a young country with around 30% of the population between the ages of 18-40. Those who were directly or indirectly affected by 7 October either at the Nova Music Festival, months of military and reserve duty or displacement have caused many to slide into depression, drug use, anxiety etc.
We pray for these special people to understand the healing power of Jesus and His words of salvation. However, through this incredibly difficult time, many young people are exploring spiritual truths! They browse through many ministries’ evangelistic online videos and content and communicate eagerly online. They are attending young adult groups, Bible studies, Sabbath community dinners and nights of worship. Many comment that as they walk into a facility, they sense its different and a safe space. Many and I mean many have opened up to the truths of Jesus, read His word, engage in conversation and ask for prayer. A number have confessed that Jesus is the Messiah and have been baptised! How exciting it is to see light come out of the darkness!
When was the last time you sat in a room with very open not-yet-believers and listened to their innocent questions about life, faith, fears and hope? When was the last time you saw the joy as a new believer expressed a moment of understanding through reading a portion of the New Testament? When was the last time you watched someone worship the Lord with 100 other young adults, tears streaming down their face as they read the lyrics for the first time? Out of the darkness of 7 October, His Light is shining bright. The body of believers in Israel could not have imagined we would be where we are today, we still wish for the calm of 6 October but none can deny the Kingdom business of what has been happening since 7 October.Please keep us in prayer!
Rachel works with Celebrate Messiah’s partner ministry in Israel, Beit Sar Shalom. She is part of the team of outreach workers doing amazing work for the Lord in Israel.
Beit Sar Shalom has two ministry centres in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, but their work occurs across the country, wherever the Lord leads them.
As well as everything mentioned in this report, their ministry work also includes a unique and time sensitive ministry to Holocaust Survivors, as well as single mothers, new immigrants, soldiers, and in children’s camps and to help the poor and needy.
Do you want to bless Israelis from your own home? Go to hostisraelis.com.au to find out more.
To support the work of Beit Sar Shalom in Israel go to celebratemessiah.com.au/donate and choose ‘Israel Mission Support’
To support the work of Celebrate Messiah in Australia visit celebratemessiah.com.au/donate
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