Ashkelon is an amazing 4000-year-old city rich with biblical history, where the most ancient city gates in the world were found standing. They weren’t broken down or buried underground, they remained standing throughout history. This means that when Abraham walked around Ashkelon in his day, he passed through these gates. Now THAT is historical!
Currently, Ashkelon is a vibrant coastal city that attracts a lot of young families due to its still somewhat affordable housing, mainly due to its proximity to Gaza. However, that also means Ashkelon has been targeted the most by rocket fire.
The past two years have been incredibly challenging for our Ashkelon congregation. Covid has brought so many changes to our lives, in the way we gather and do congregation. A war that broke out earlier this year has only made things more difficult for our work in Ashkelon.
It has taken many months and it was a long process of rebuilding our congregation in Ashkelon, but we finally relaunched our weekly services!
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…
Zechariah 4:10
It hasn’t been easy, but we are here, seeing the hunger and open hearts in Ashkelon and claiming the city for the Lord.
The vision was to build a strong congregation in Ashkelon that reaches thousands of people. We have seen the effectiveness of our work and outreach in Ashdod, and we have applied it in Ashkelon, seeing wonderful results and responses. We have been witnessing amazing openness among people to the gospel, and what God has shown and promised us at the beginning regarding Ashkelon, is beginning to bear fruit.
Our work has been very inclusive, as we have been additionally supporting a Hispanic congregation in Ashkelon, as well as starting a ministry in Amharic for Ethiopian Jews.
We have invested so much in building up our local congregation and ministry in Ashkelon, and we’ve seen amazing fruit. God is moving powerfully in this city with such rich biblical history.
God has been preparing us to move even more effectively in Ashkelon, showing us how His word and testimony are changing countless of lives in that city.
Currently, with a mass influx of Ukrainian Jews arriving and settling in Ashkelon, we are blessed to embrace them, help them and share with them the Good News of the gospel, of the generosity and love of Christians like you who selflessly help and support them in their plight.
As a result of this work, just a few days ago we baptized 8 new believers in Ashkelon and launched a new discipleship course for seekers, those who want to learn more about God. These are the ones who might not be ready to join a local congregation yet, but they are eager to learn more about God, and they are actively seeking to draw near to Him.
Thirty non-believers (“seekers”) signed up for our seven-week discipleship course designed to help ground them in their faith and encounter Jesus in their pursuit of God.
It has been amazing to see the transformation and change taking place in Ashkelon as a result of our work, preaching the gospel, reaching people with the Word of God, and showing them His love through acts of kindness.
When we help people practically, just as Jesus fed the masses that came to hear his teaching, their hearts are open to the message of His love and salvation. It’s all about being sensitive to people’s needs while sharing the Good News of Jesus.
We’re thankful for your prayers for Ashkelon and the local congregation there, as well as for your generous support of the congregation there and its humanitarian outreach which has been a tremendous blessing.
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.