One recent Shabbat, we gathered for an evangelistic picnic in a breathtaking spot in northern Israel, where the water remains warm throughout the year, regardless of the season. For many, this place was a new discovery—just as the love of God is for so many in this land.
Believing families came together, inviting new believers and even several families who had never been in fellowship with followers of Jesus before. Among them was a woman who was initially closed off, and hesitant to engage. But our dear sister Lena found a way to reach her—not through arguments or pressure, but by simply serving her, spending time with her, and showing genuine care. By the end of the day, they had formed a connection, and Lena invited her to our women’s gathering and other fellowship meetings.
This is the heart of evangelism in Israel—simply loving people, walking alongside them, and sharing life with them.
Another key to breaking barriers was the time spent around the table. We prepared an abundance of food, creating one large, welcoming table where everyone shared, enjoyed, and experienced the warmth of true fellowship.
But the most powerful moment of the day came when our brother Vlad shared his testimony. He spoke of his past—a life of crime, theft, and destruction. He told of encountering Jesus in the most unlikely place: a prison cell. He shared how God miraculously freed him, only for tragedy to strike again when he was brutally beaten and hospitalized. It was there, in a hospital bed, that he prayed with a Christian woman who visited him and surrendered his life fully to the Lord—just moments before undergoing surgery. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. Vlad died on the operating table. For over two hours, he was clinically dead. Yet, as believers across different congregations fervently prayed, God raised him back to life.
One of the people interceding for him at that time was a prayer leader from a local congregation—the woman who would later become his wife. Together, they eventually came to Israel, carrying with them a testimony of God’s unfailing grace.
After hearing this testimony, people were deeply moved.
They asked questions, especially the women, eager to hear more from Vlad’s wife. The impact of his story was undeniable. It was not just words—it was a living, breathing testimony of God’s power to redeem, heal, and restore.
As the day came to a close, our team took the group to explore the ruins of an ancient city, capturing photos and sharing moments together. Even after parting ways, the messages of gratitude kept coming—people thanking us for the time spent together, for the love they felt, for the hope they experienced.
This is why preaching the Gospel in Israel is more critical now than ever before.
In a land so deeply connected to biblical history yet often resistant to its fulfillment in Yeshua, every moment of evangelism, every conversation, every testimony has the potential to touch and transform a life.
But we cannot do this alone. The work of evangelism in Israel needs the faithful support of those who believe in the power of the Gospel. Your prayers, your generosity, and your encouragement make it possible for the message of salvation to reach those who are searching—even those who don’t yet realize how desperately they need it.
We continue to pray that those who joined us for the first time will encounter the saving grace of Jesus. May the seeds planted that day take root and bear fruit for eternity. The harvest is plentiful, and the workers are few—but with your support, we press on, knowing that God is faithful, and His Word will never return void.
