I recently returned from Israel where I spent a week with our staff who have been deeply impacted by the wars with Gaza, Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran. Quite a list! There is so much damage, and Israelis often feel a sense of helplessness as they do not know if the peace accord—more like a truce—will hold!
On the other hand, I am also writing with a heart full of gratitude and hope, even as we reflect on one of the most challenging chapters in Chosen People Ministries’ 131-year history of serving the Jewish people.
On June 18 of this year, an Iranian missile struck our newly dedicated center in Tel Aviv. The building we had built out for more than two years—finished just days before—now stands severely damaged, likely unusable for the next several months. Yet, amid this devastation, I see God’s faithfulness and an unprecedented opportunity for ministry.
A Dream Interrupted, But Not Destroyed
Let me take you back to June 15, when we dedicated our new center with joy and thanksgiving. We were finally ready to expand our outreach to the families and young Israelis of greater Tel Aviv. The location was perfect. It was right on the light rail connecting downtown Tel Aviv to the religious suburbs, accessible to families with children who had moved to the area for more affordable living, yet still within easy reach of the young singles working in the city.
We envisioned hosting our monthly concerts and Sabbath dinners that regularly drew over one hundred people—mostly young Israelis, some already believers in Yeshua (Jesus), many still seeking. We planned multiple adult Bible studies each week and special events for children. This was not just about having more space; it was about creating opportunities for life-changing encounters with the gospel. Then, less than a week after our dedication, the missile hit.
The thirty-unit condominium building above our property took severe damage. However, our commercial space on the ground floor was not hit the worst. We believe we can use it again by May, if the building is deemed habitable and safe to enter. But for now, we continue ministering full-time from the rental property nearby that we have used for several years.
Ministry During the War
The bombing of our center is just one challenging story among millions in Israel right now. For months, our staff and the families we serve faced the constant threat of missile attacks, rushing to shelters, wondering if each night might be their last. The psychological toll has been immense—not just from the bombings themselves, but from the political upheaval, the hostage crisis, and the profound losses experienced socially, emotionally, and spiritually across Israeli society.
Even as I write this, Israel and Hamas have just signed a peace treaty. We are cautiously hopeful, approaching this development with both faith and humility, because we simply do not know if the treaty will hold. We rejoice that all the living hostages have returned to their families, bringing closure to one of the most painful chapters of this conflict. But regardless of what happens politically, one thing is certain: The needs in Israel are greater than ever, and so are the opportunities for ministry.
What We Have Been Doing
Despite everything, our twenty staff members in Israel have continued to serve. We have continued providing practical relief work alongside spiritual care. We deliver cooked meals to elderly Israelis and distribute food packages containing oil, flour, and other staples, with a particular focus on Holocaust survivors who have endured yet another trauma in their lives. We also offer short-term housing assistance for five to ten people when needed.
Most importantly, we are providing intensive biblical counseling to help people process their post-traumatic stress. We sit with them in their pain, help them make sense of the chaos, and point them to the hope found only in Yeshua. We visit the elderly, offering companionship to those isolated by fear and circumstance. We support single mothers overwhelmed by the burden of protecting their children through air raid sirens and shelter stays.
We distribute Bibles and provide spiritual care, which is really our forte. While we are committed to benevolent work, our heart is for direct spiritual ministry and discipleship. Most of our evangelism happens through relationships, walking with people over time as they see the reality of Yeshua’s love demonstrated through our actions. We have also launched strategic outreach initiatives like Psalms of Hope, a program that encourages Israelis to read the Psalms and discover a wonderful inside view of a relationship with God.
Why Tel Aviv Matters
You might wonder why our greater Tel Aviv location is so important that we are committed to its restoration. Let me explain.
Ramat Gan, the section of greater Tel Aviv where our center is located, is a distinctly Israeli neighborhood—you do not hear much English on the streets here. The light rail accessibility means we can reach both the family-oriented communities of Ramat Gan and the young professionals working in the city center. There is also a direct connection to Bnei Brak, one of the most religious suburbs of Tel Aviv.
When we lost access to this newly built-out center, we lost more than a building—we lost capacity. We lost space for the larger concerts, Sabbath meals, Bible studies, and gatherings that were just beginning to flourish. Space creates opportunity. Right now, we are working with only 1,600 square feet in our rental property. It is enough to keep ministry going, but not enough to grow into the fullness of what God is calling us to do.
This is why we bought the new building. We need the room—and opportunities—to expand.
An Invitation to Rebuild Together
For 131 years, Chosen People Ministries has maintained a faithful presence in Israel, and we have done so because of faithful partners like you. Many of you have supported us through our Watchmen for Jerusalem program, making recurring gifts that sustain our year-round operations. Today, I am inviting you to consider a special commitment to this Rebuilding Israel initiative.
Will you help us rebuild—not just a facility, but lives, families, and ultimately a nation’s understanding of their Messiah?
The peace treaty gives us reason for cautious optimism. However, regardless of political outcomes, spiritual needs will remain—and perhaps intensify. As the immediate danger subsides, people will begin processing their trauma. Questions about God, suffering, and meaning will surface with new urgency. This is our moment.
Together, we will rebuild—stronger, larger, and more effective than before.
Thank you for standing with Israel, Chosen People Ministries, and Jewish people who desperately need to know their Messiah.
Dr. Mitch Glaser 