There are moments when eternity enters the room quietly—without drama or spectacle, just the gentle presence of God moving in hearts. One such moment unfolded recently around a humble table in Jerusalem, where what began as a casual visit became a sacred encounter with the living God.
A faithful believer—an Israeli mother—had reached out to her son Avi and his wife Galina, inviting them to join a small gathering. Years earlier, Avi had once stepped into a church as a child, but the memory had faded with time. Now an adult, preparing for military service, Avi was far from faith. Like so many young Israelis today, he and Galina had grown up without ever truly hearing the Gospel—not in a way that touched the heart.
That evening, as we sat around the table sipping tea and sharing stories, the conversation slowly shifted to deeper things. We spoke about life, about brokenness, and about hope. Then we opened the Scriptures and read the words of Yeshua:
“Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst… No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:17
A simple parable—but full of meaning. We began to explore what it means to receive something new from God, something alive and powerful. I shared how the “old wineskin” represents our sinful nature, inherited from Adam, and how true transformation begins only when we repent and allow God to make us new.
As we continued, we spoke about the seriousness of sin and the hope found in Yeshua, the Lamb of God, who came not to condemn, but to save.
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29
Then, gently and without pressure, I offered a prayer of repentance—an invitation for anyone who wished to receive God’s forgiveness and begin a new life in Yeshua.
To my surprise, Avi quickly responded, “No, I don’t want to.” His words were firm, but his eyes held questions.
Galina remained silent—but her expression was tender. There was something stirring in her spirit. So I asked if I could share my own story. I told them how I once tried to pray to God without really knowing who He was—until the day I encountered Yeshua. I described the peace He brought to my life, the clarity, the sense of being truly loved and forgiven.
After a pause, I asked again, “Would you like to pray with me?”
Galina said nothing. But she turned to Avi and looked into his eyes. No words were exchanged—yet something passed between them. He reached out, gently took her hand, and said, “If you want to… I’ll go with you.”
We stood together. I looked at Avi and said, “Are you sure you want to do this? You’re about to enter the army. Wouldn’t you rather go under the protection of God, knowing you walk with Him, no matter what comes?”
There was a long silence. Then, with quiet resolve, Avi answered, “Yes.”
And so we prayed. A simple, heartfelt prayer. Words of surrender. Words of life.
After the “Amen,” Avi stood still for a moment, eyes closed. The atmosphere had shifted. There was a peace over him—a visible release of the weight he had carried. You could see it in his posture, in his face. Something had changed.
We embraced them both and shared the next steps. This wasn’t the end of a moment—it was the beginning of a journey. We encouraged them to stay close to the body of believers, to study the Word, to grow in faith, and to follow Yeshua not just as Savior, but as Rabbi and King.
“And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob.’”
Romans 11:26
This is why we do what we do. This is the very heartbeat of our ministry: to bring the Gospel back to the people of Israel—one heart, one family at a time. Each testimony is a living stone in God’s redemptive plan.
Please join us in praying for Avi and Galina. Pray that their faith would deepen, that their love for Yeshua would grow strong, and that they would become bold and faithful talmidim—disciples—who will, in turn, lead others to the same hope they’ve now received.
This story was shared by Chaim, one of our evangelists and dear leaders at Beit Hallel Congregation. Chaim has spent his life walking the streets of Israel with open hands and a heart burning with love for the lost. His story reminds us that God is still on the move in Jerusalem and beyond, drawing His people back to Himself.
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news…”
Isaiah 52:7
To God be the glory. May we never grow weary of sharing this Good News. Hope is rising in Israel—and it begins with hearts like Avi and Galina’s.
