Yet again we are facing with the terrifying reality of living under constant rocket fire. Except for an occasional rocket here and there, the remote quiet that we enjoyed for the past few months has been broken, and again we are facing a rapid escalation here in the south of Israel.
In the last 24-hours, more than 130 rockets were fired at civilian population in the southern cities of Israel, including: Beer-Sheva, Ashkelon, Sderot, Ashdod, etc. That is a rocket almost every 5 minutes!
Here in Ashdod some rockets were not intercepted on time and exploded in the city center, one hitting a shopping center that thankfully was empty. Another exploded on a residential street.
What makes it even more complicated is the fact that all the children are on their summer holiday, which they are forced to spend in this stressful situation, running to shelter every few minutes.
We were right in the middle of our celebration dinner for the final Alpha course meeting, we were about to call people to accept the Lord, and we were interrupted by sirens and sound of explosions near by. It was actually quite a sobering moment for people that made many open their eyes to how much they need God in their lives.
Imagine what it’s like to take the Lord’s supper under fire. We actually heard the explosions over our heads.
It’s truly a miracle of protection what we have experienced so far!
“The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place” Psalm 68:17
And now, with the current situation developing, many are leaving the city, while we see this is the perfect opportunity to reach out to people as never before. So we are planning and looking at the different possibilities of outreach, because this time is when people are more open than ever to the gospel and God.
Interestingly enough, usually the large scale escalations have been taking place during Ramadan, a religious annual fast in Islam.Millions of Muslims all over the world are praying and fasting, against Israel among other things, and we feel these demonic powers more active than ever.
We need your prayers as never before! To stand with us in the gap for the protection of our nation, for God’s favor on Israel during this time when it is trying to defend its citizens and is fighting against the enemy that desires it’s destruction and extinction.
“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;” Psalm 95:1We will continue updating you and bringing you news alerts from the frontline.
Beit Hallel is a Messianic Jewish congregation in Ashdod, led by pastor Israel Pochtar, serving holocaust survivors and the poor and needy locally and throughout the nation of Israel, while building up the body of Messiah in the promised land of Israel.