Category Archives: Middle East

September 30, 2025 · 9:00 AM

Two Years Later: Reflections on October 7 and Our Mission in Israel

As we mark two years since that devastating morning of October 7, 2023, I find myself reflecting not just on the horror of that day, but on what it means to love Israel—both as a Jewish person and as a believer in the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus).

A Personal Connection to the Land

I grew up looking at pictures on my grandmother’s wall of relatives I would never meet—family members slaughtered in the Holocaust. So for me, as for so many other Jewish people, Israel represented something profound: a Jewish homeland rising from the ashes of our people’s greatest tragedy.

Now, as a Jewish believer in Yeshua, I feel more connected than ever to the land where He walked, taught, and gave His life. As a lover of Israel, my heart is heavy this month, two years since Hamas’s barbaric massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. More than a thousand terrorists invaded the country, slaughtered more than 1,200 people, and took 251 as hostages.

The Current Reality: Numbers That Break Our Hearts

The statistics from October 7 and its aftermath paint a devastating picture:[1]

Hostages:

  • 251 precious souls taken hostage on October 7
  • 148 released through exchanges (8 of these are deceased)
  • 49 bodies retrieved by Israeli forces
  • 8 hostages rescued alive
  • 50 remain in captivity—Israel believes 28 are deceased
  • Among those still held, 2 people are from Thailand, 1 from Tanzania (confirmed dead), and 1 from Nepal
  • 4 additional hostages have been held since before the October 7 attack

Military Casualties:

  • 898 Israeli soldiers killed since October 7 in the Gaza war
  • 70 police officers killed
  • 329 (of the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since October 7) died on the Gaza border during Hamas’s initial assault
  • 454 (of the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since October 7) were killed during ground operations in Gaza
  • 80 soldiers and officers killed in operations with Hezbollah and other terror groups
  • Additional casualties from West Bank operations, Iranian attacks, and tragic accidents

Each number represents a family forever changed, dreams cut short, and futures stolen by Hamas and their Iranian backers.

Visiting the Places Where Evil Struck

This past June, I led a dedication tour of Israel with more than sixty supporters to inaugurate our new Messianic center in the Tel Aviv area. Part of our journey included visiting the sites where so much innocent blood was spilled.

In Sderot, we learned that Hamas infiltrated this border city through 191 points of entry, killing about fifty civilians and taking over the police station for twenty hours. This was a city where residents had regularly driven Palestinians to Israeli hospitals for medical care; Hamas destroyed this bridge of compassion with their brutality.

At the Nova Music Festival memorial site, we stood where nearly 4,000 young people had gathered for a weekend of music and friendship. Instead of a celebration, 400 beautiful souls were murdered in cold blood. The memorial displays dozens of photos and stories of students, artists, and dreamers who were mowed down while they were just seeking joy through music and community.

The “car graveyard” hit many of us hardest of all. We saw hundreds of civilian vehicles, twisted and burned, bearing bullet holes aimed deliberately at the people inside. These were not military targets but families simply going about their Saturday morning when Hamas terrorists opened fire indiscriminately.

When the War Came to Our New Center

Our tour took an unexpected turn when tensions escalated between Israel and Iran. After Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran retaliated with ballistic missiles and drones. On the morning of June 19, while we were evacuating our tour group through Jordan (since all airlines had canceled flights out of Israel), we heard air raid sirens as missiles flew overhead toward Israel. Moments later, we received devastating news: Our brand-new, recently dedicated Messianic center had been hit by an Iranian ballistic missile.

It broke my heart to learn that the missile severely damaged the condo building that houses our new ministry center in a two-story, ground-level commercial space. However, we are grateful to report the structure is still sound.

Our former rented center directly across the street, which lost all its windows in the blast, has now been repaired. We renewed our lease for another year, allowing us to continue our ministry while completing the repairs to the new center.

Ministry amid Crisis

Even in the chaos, God opened doors for ministry. When we evacuated to Amman, Jordan (our only choice at the time), the hotel where we were staying filled 110 rooms with displaced families, including 100 children whose homes in the Tel Aviv suburb, Petach Tikva, took some direct hits from Iranian missiles and became unlivable. Our Israeli staff immediately sprang into action, organizing games and crafts for the children, providing hygiene products, and offering comfort to traumatized families.

As one staff member wrote, “We sense we are in this hotel for such a time as this. The children are very stressed by the alerts as they now really know from personal experience what can actually happen.” Through art supplies and listening ears, our team ministered to families who had lost everything, showing them God’s love in their darkest hour.

The Heart of the Conflict

What we witnessed reinforced a fundamental truth: This conflict is not simply about land or politics. It is a clash between those who sanctify life and those who worship death. Hamas, backed and funded by Iran, has shown its members value terrorism and destruction over the welfare of their own people. While Israel goes to extraordinary lengths to protect civilian life, Hamas deliberately uses Palestinian civilians as human shields to stay in power.

My heart aches for innocent Palestinians caught in this nightmare. They deserve leaders who build schools instead of tunnels, who seek prosperity instead of destruction, who choose hope over hatred. The tragedy is that Hamas and Iran have stolen their future just as surely as they have tried to steal the same from Israel.

We pray for and grieve for the innocent on both sides who have lost loved ones and for those who are no longer able to live in their homes, like those who lived in the apartments above our new center and who will not be able to get back into their homes for at least a year.

We do believe there is a food shortage in Gaza, which needs to be resolved, but reject the reasons proffered by many blaming Israel for these terrible circumstances. Hamas is at the root of the suffering in Gaza—not Israel, which is now the position of many of Israel’s Arab neighbors.[2]

How You Can Help

Despite the ongoing pain and the damage to our center, we refuse to let terror win. Where Hamas brought destruction, we choose to build. Where they spread hatred, we choose to remember love. Where they celebrated death, we choose to sanctify life.

We also desperately need your prayers. Pray for our staff ministering to traumatized families, for the return of the remaining hostages, comfort for their families, for wisdom in rebuilding, and for the peace of Jerusalem.

Together, we can ensure that the voices of those silenced on October 7 continue to be honored—not for revenge, but for remembrance; not for hatred, but for healing; not for despair, but for the hope found only through Jesus, Israel’s promised Messiah and the Savior of the world.

Thank you for standing with us in our ministry among His chosen people.

[1] These numbers are accurate at the time of writing this letter, but may change by the time you receive it.

[2] Jacob Magid, et al., “In 1st, Entire Arab League Condemns Oct. 7, Urges Hamas to Disarm, at 2-State Confab,” Times of Israel, July 30, 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-1st-entire-arab-league-condemns-oct-7-urges-hamas-to-disarm-at-2-state-solution-confab/.

You can find further information at the Coalition Against Antisemitism (opposeantisemitism.com).

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September 15, 2025 · 9:00 AM

Hope in Suffering

Fall is coming. You can feel it in the air. The growing chill of fall brings with it the Jewish high holidays. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), preceded by the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), is right around the corner. As a Jewish believer in Jesus, I believe each one of these festivals points to Jesus and that He not only fulfills each festival in remarkable ways but He also observed every one of them—perfectly. But because of His perfection, He met the righteous standards demanded by the Law.

Jesus was perfect and the only person qualified to be our sin-bearer. He is a perfect sacrifice . . . He is God in the flesh.

Isaiah wrote, “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him”(Isaiah 53:5–6).

He died so that we can live and enjoy freedom, forgiveness, and salvation through His death and resurrection.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”(2 Corinthians 5:21)!

For millennia, our Jewish people sought atonement in many ways, but as a nation, we failed to seriously consider the possibility that Jesus was our Messiah. Some of this had to do with the way institutional Christianity treated the Jewish people throughout history, which turned the average Jewish person off to Jesus. But thank God this is changing, as many Jewish people today are beginning to turn to Him! Your Mission to the Jewish People is responding to this new openness to the gospel on the part of Jewish people in the United States, Israel, and across the globe.

For 131 years, we have been preaching the same gospel, including the perfection of His person and the redeeming power of His death and resurrection for men and women, enabling Jewish people and Gentiles to find salvation by trusting in Him and Him alone for the forgiveness of sin! 

As the author of Hebrews wrote:

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:11–12)

I love the high holiday season because it reminds me anew of the significance of the atonement, as well as the urgency and necessity of preaching the gospel to the Jewish people. We continue to serve because of your faithfulness and generous support in more than twenty North American cities and twenty countries around the globe.

Thank you for your partnership and love for the Jewish people and our staff.

The Message of the Gospel is Often Wrapped in Flesh

Jesus lived the message He preached and calls upon us to do the same. Have you ever thought of suffering as a means of preaching the gospel? There is great spiritual power in our suffering! Jesus demonstrated this, the apostles followed suit, and so did the early Christian martyrs. Suffering is one way God reveals His grace and power—especially when we follow His example and suffer with grace.

The apostle Peter understood this when he wrote,

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:12–14)

Our suffering is not redemptive and cannot take away sin, but it does empower our witness to the One who can.

As the apostle Paul declared, one of his deepest desires was, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death”(Philippians 3:10).

Identifying with the Sufferings of Jesus: A Testimony from Tel Aviv

Seventy of us recently learned this powerful spiritual lesson firsthand on a recent trip to Israel. We had the privilege of identifying with the Lord and the Jewish people through suffering, and to a person, we all agree that it was a great privilege to have the experience.

Let me tell you the story.

On June 14, 2025, after several nights together in a bomb shelter alongside other guests and hotel staff, we dedicated our new Messianic Center in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv. Just days later, on June 19, our beautiful new center was struck by an Iranian ballistic missile—an event that deeply marked our ministry, our staff, and our Mission. While we are grateful that no lives were lost, the physical damage to our center and surrounding buildings is significant. Yet, we believe that this suffering is not in vain. It has become a powerful testimony to our identification with the people of Israel and, through them, with the sufferings of the Messiah Himself.

We should be able to rebuild the new center within the next year. Meanwhile, we are continuing our ministry across the street as we have kept our rental facility for another year. Now is the time to bring Jesus’s love and grace to hurting Israelis, and we want to be there for Him and for them!

Sharing in Israel’s—and Messiah’s—Suffering

The missile strike on our new facility deepened our connection with the State of Israel. Our suffering has drawn us closer to the Savior, “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,” and to our Jewish people. Paul knew the meaning of suffering as well. He caused believers suffering in his former life. The apostle wrote to the Roman believers, “And if [we are] children, [we are] heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him”(Romans 8:17).

In suffering, we stand in solidarity with Israel—not as outsiders, but as Jewish and Gentile believers who love the Jewish people and have chosen to walk a path of discipleship marked by obedience, rejection, and sacrifice. Our Messiah walked this same path.

A Historical Commitment to the Jewish People

Chosen People Ministries’ connection to Israel is not new. Our roots stretch back to before Israel’s rebirth in 1948, when our early missionaries there ministered to Jewish communities in the land under the British mandate. We helped Holocaust survivors resettle and rebuild their lives, including some who came to faith and became foundational leaders in Israel’s Messianic movement. More recently, our work has grown among Russian-speaking Jewish immigrants and native Israelis alike.

Our commitment to Israel has always had its roots in love—for the people, for the land, and above all, for the Messiah who walked its soil. The bombing of our center is not the first time we have suffered, and it will not be the last. But it serves as a physical symbol of the truth—that we are willing to share in Israel’s sufferings because our Lord did, and we follow Him. 

Witnessing through Suffering

Paul’s words in Colossians 1:24 are particularly poignant: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.”Suffering is not pointless; it is purposeful. It draws us closer to Jesus, conforms us to His likeness, and becomes a testament to our love for Israel and the Jewish people.

Knowing His sufferings and the sufferings of our people motivates our Israeli staff to serve displaced families—and especially their children—in the wake of war by serving in the very places where missiles fell. One of our Israeli staff praised the Lord for the opportunity to care for more than one hundred displaced children and their families immediately after the missile strike. It was nothing short of providential. We were in the right place at the right time, able to bring healing, comfort, and the love of the Messiah to those who were hurting. In the future, we will be rebuilding alongside the one-hundred-plus families who also suffered loss because of the destruction caused by the Iranian missile. 

A Witness for the Future

We believe that the damage to our center—dedicated just two days before the missile strike—will serve as an ongoing testimony. It testifies to our love for Israel. It testifies to our willingness to suffer with our people. Ultimately, it testifies to the Suffering Servant, Yeshua the Messiah, who gave Himself not only for Israel but also for the nations.

In 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul reminds us, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” We cling to that hope, and we press on—not despite our sufferings, but through them.

As we await the day when Yeshua returns to rule and reign from Jerusalem, we will continue to minister in His name among His people and in His love and embrace the privilege of suffering for His glory!

I cannot thank you enough for your faithfulness and pray you will join us in our Rebuilding Israel Campaign.

In light of the rise in antisemitic outbreaks around the world, the ongoing battles in the land, and the public relations war involving Israel, this year will be crucial for Your Mission to the Jewish People and the nation of Israel . . . let’s stand together.

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August 15, 2025 · 9:00 AM

Sheltering under His Wings

There is now a temporary peace between Israel and Iran, and we hope and pray it holds and that the actions of both the Israeli and United States military have neutralized the nuclear threat Iran posed to Israel and the free world.  

A New Understanding of Sheltering!

The word “sheltering” is the term our Israel staff families use to let us know they are safely in bomb shelters as missiles rain overhead from Iran, Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah.

This beautiful and impactful Hebrew word for shelter, סֵתֶר (seter), is found throughout the Bible, but especially in the Psalms. For example, one of the most well-known uses appears Psalm 91:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark (Psalm 91:1–4).

Seter is often used to refer to the secret place where God hides His saints. The following are some other wonderful and comforting passages where seter is used to describe God protecting His people:

  1.  “You are my hiding (סֵתֶר) place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7).
  2.  “In the secret place (סֵתֶר) of His tent He will hide me” (Psalm 27:5).
  3. “You hide them in the secret place (סֵתֶר) of Your presence” (Psalm 31:20).

This word has taken on a new depth of meaning for me after spending a few weeks in Israel this summer. Over the past year and a half, my dear brothers and sisters in Israel have been bombarded by missiles from various sources: Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and more recently and intensively, from Iran. Iran sent hundreds of drones and ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles loaded with explosives.

The first two waves came through Iranian proxies—Hamas and Hezbollah—who Iran has been supporting, arming, and encouraging! Let us not forget that on October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel, mercilessly killing innocent young Israelis at a music festival, on an army base, and then turned their ire onto various settlements in what is known as the “Gaza envelope.” By the end of that day, more than 1,200 people were murdered, 250 were kidnapped, and since the defensive war began, more than 1,000 Israeli soldiers have been killed as well.

When the war in 2023 started, almost 700 days ago, our staff—mostly younger Israelis and many with small children—would rush to bomb shelters throughout the night and sometimes during the day. Through their WhatsApp group, they would let everyone know they were safe in their shelters by using the English word sheltering as a code word for safety.

Our Tel Aviv Messianic Center’s Dedication Tour Interrupted

In mid-June, I led a tour of sixty devoted followers of Jesus and lovers of Israel on our dedication tour that marked the opening of our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center. Little did we know that on our way through the tour, Israel would attack Iran’s nuclear facilities and many military positions to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Soon Iran’s proxies would regularly fire missiles, which drove us to visit the bomb shelters. For days we heard the blasting sirens at least twice a night and sometimes during the day.

Israel’s leaders had sufficient reason to believe that Iran and its military leaders had manufactured enough nuclear material to put together at least a half a dozen nuclear projectiles that would undoubtedly magnify their efforts to destroy Israel. The leaders of the Jewish state chose to act quickly to neutralize this threat, as well as the Iranian military infrastructure. Israel was able to stage a preemptive strike and, though not perfect, the Israeli Air Force was able to significantly reduce Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

However, Iran still launched hundreds of various types of missiles into Israel. Most were shot down by Israel and the United States, but some made it through, killing people and damaging homes, schools, hospitals, and other buildings, including our rented center and our new center, which was dedicated two days before the attack.

Helping Those Displaced by War

Let me tell you what happened immediately after Iran’s intensive bombing on Israel and then give you some idea of how you can help. I received this email from a staff member—at that time still at the last hotel where our group stayed—the day I began leading our sixty-plus tour participants out of Israel through Amman, Jordan:

When the tour group left, we noticed the hotel lobby filling with families from a building that took a direct hit from an Iranian rocket. There were 110 hotel rooms of people who arrived with over 100 children. I immediately went to the manager and asked if we can do something to help the children. They gave us a room that was used for displaced children earlier in the war. It was dirty and disorganized, so we cleaned it up and began offering the parents a place with games and crafts as well as helpers for their kids.

We have now coordinated with the hotel and have a team of social workers, along with a volunteer community group, who works with kids, but it’s not nearly enough. As some of us engaged the kids, others spoke and prayed with moms and offered an ear and comfort to people who were displaced and frazzled. We are also supplying some personal hygiene items and diapers. Since we were still at the hotel after the tour, we decided to prolong our stay for a week to try and serve these newly displaced Israeli families in practical ways and show them the love of God through Jesus the Messiah.

Please pray as the people don’t know how long they will stay here or where they will go. The children are very stressed by the sirens and the level of threat to their families and homes. 

Thank you for your prayers and for the support Chosen People Ministries is providing so that we can serve needy and hurting Israelis and their children.

Helping the Helpers!

Let me share a few ideas about how you can partner with us during Israel’s time of need. Our ministries in Israel must continue and increase more than ever before, as the need is overwhelming.

  1. Chosen People Ministries needs to meet the physical and material needs of Israelis in the name of Jesus, as the Messiah also fed and cared for those He was seeking to save.
  2. Israel needs the prayers and support of the global church:
    • Please pray for Israel’s defense, and for nations of the world and the media to be more supportive of Israel.
    • Pray for the victims of the Iranian regime whose ideology is shared by the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Please also pray that, along with Israelis, the innocent in those countries ruled by these terrorist groups discover the love of God and His ability to shelter us from evil.

It is wonderful to see how many Israelis and Jewish people outside Israel recognize that truly devoted Christians have a deep and abiding love for the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

We know Israel is not perfect, nor is any country or human being. Because of that universal reality, we need to live our lives in the shelter of His presence and help others discover the real peace that comes from the presence of the Lord. More than anything else, the Jewish people need to know the Lord, and our global staff is bringing the gospel message to Israelis and Jewish people, young and old, around the globe.

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August 1, 2025 · 10:00 AM

Jesus Is Changing Lives In Israel

I recently returned from a difficult trip in Israel; the war with Iran began when I was there with about sixty staff and partners! You may have heard our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center was damaged by an Iranian missile. Please pray for us as we begin the repairs.

Despite these setbacks, we have seen remarkable growth take place since war started in October 2023, including eleven new believers whom our staff are now mentoring and discipling! What an encouraging sign of God’s work in Israel. Attendance at our Bible studies continues to increase, with many eagerly coming to engage deeply with Scripture.

So, allow me to share with you some wonderful testimonies of how Jesus is changing lives and resurrecting hope in the hearts of many forlorn Israelis who live beneath the grim shadow of war and hate.

  • Upon reaching rock bottom and planning to end her life, Devorah* encountered Jesus and came to faith! She began attending our young adult group and read through the entire New Testament. She also meets every other week with one of our staff for mentoring, Bible reading, and prayer. She is passionate about following the Lord and eager to use her large social media platform to share about the radical way Jesus has transformed her life. 
  • One of our ministry staff members, along with his Greek-Israeli friend, an accomplished bouzouki (a stringed instrument) player, unexpectedly found himself in high demand for concerts among Israeli soldiers. What began as an outreach to severely wounded soldiers in hospitals has grown into a broader and greater ministry where our staff member and his friend minister regularly through music and the Psalms to entire units! Our staff member explains, “We always make it clear that we are believers, that they are not alone, and that Christians in the United States are praying for them.” The impact is visible as many respond with weary but grateful smiles, singing, and even dancing! In one particularly moving moment, a young woman suffering from chronic pain was brought to tears as the team gathered around her in prayer. What began as a simple offering of compassion, the Lord has multiplied into a powerful display of love, encouragement, and hope amid overwhelming need.
  • A few months ago, one of our workers came across an elderly believer friend in the mall who needed strength to care for his ailing wife. Our staff members now make regular visits to his family, which has helped our friend better care for his wife. God wonderfully redeemed a dire situation!
  • At a recent Sabbath dinner, one of our staff members engaged in a meaningful conversation with a new believer, Hadas*, who began following Jesus only a few months ago. Hadas came with many questions, which led to a deep and enriching spiritual discussion involving several believers. Afterward, she shared that the conversation had significantly increased her understanding and sparked a desire in her to read and grow in her knowledge of the Bible!
  • Recently, one of our staff joined a ladies’ brunch and small prayer meeting where each woman shared how God had stretched her faith and revealed His faithfulness. One woman testified how the Lord led her to the right apartment outside Tel Aviv and then provided a car within her budget. Another woman shared how, just as her lease was ending and while she was still job hunting, God miraculously provided both a new job and an apartment nearby—right on time! We are grateful for this growing community and sisterhood where younger and older believers alike are able to come together and encourage and pray for one another. Praise God for such sweet fellowship!
  • Our staff recently had the tremendous privilege of exploring the book of Ruth with a group of young adults. We noticed that the young adults were not just listening but were engaging thoughtfully, reflecting personally, and connecting the teaching to their own lives. After the sessions, our staff had meaningful conversations with the men and women in attendance. Many shared how the study opened their eyes to new perspectives, challenged them to think deeply, and even stirred some to action. When the teaching ended, they did not just rush off to chit-chat but lingered, asked hard questions, and shared what was on their hearts. They wanted to pray together, wrestle with the truth of Scripture, and let it shape their lives. The Bible study is alive and bearing fruit! God’s truth is transforming lives!

As we transition into our new facility in Tel Aviv this month, we believe even greater opportunities for ministry lie ahead because of the Lord’s blessing on our work and because of your faithful prayers and support! We could not have made it this far without you. I pray and ask you to continue partnering with us to show the love of Jesus to His own people in this hour of dire need.

Let’s Act Now!

Like many heroes of the faith during World War II who saved Jewish lives and fought antisemitism, the actions we take now will write history, as the next generation of Bonhoeffers and ten Booms rise up to take their stand with God’s chosen people.

First of all, please pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the safety and well-being of Jewish people in Israel and around the globe. I was recently in England where there are pro-Hamas protests almost every day throughout London. As the psalmist wrote, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you’” (Psalm 122:6).

This is a prayer with a promise. So, please pray for the Jewish people, for Israel, and for your Jewish friends and associates. Please pray that, by turning to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through Jesus the Messiah, the peace of Jesus would fill the hearts of Jewish people who are seeking answers to questions about the fragility of life.

Jewish people feel threatened by the plague of antisemitism spreading throughout the world at this critical moment in human history. As Charles Dickens wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The worst because Israelis and many Jewish people feel threatened by growing antisemitism in the West, and even in the United States; the best because Israelis are turning to spiritual truth to fill the void in their souls. Many, especially those under forty, are seeking hope, peace, and stability, and they are finding it through the love of Messiah Jesus. Please pray and take action against anti-Jewish and anti-Israel hatred around the globe, and continue to spread God’s Word to the Jewish people.

I always ask my Gentile believing brothers and sisters to think about sharing the gospel with the Jewish people and to keep Jewish evangelism from becoming the Great Omission of the Great Commission! As the apostle Paul shared in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Paul reminds the Gentile believers to make the Jewish people jealous of the Jewish Messiah who lives in the heart of every true follower of Jesus. He wrote in Romans 11:11, “I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.”

We recently held two gospel proclamation campaigns in both the United States (Shalom New York) and in London (Shalom London). These went well, although we did receive some opposition from anti-Israel protestors, who waved Hamas and Palestinian flags together, making it clear what these misinformed souls supported. The Lord gave us the opportunity to share the gospel with many of these who seem to hate the Jewish people, but for whom Jesus died. We spoke to hundreds of people about the Lord on the streets of these two great cities with a combined Jewish population of about three million.

We are about to walk into the hornets’ nest by beginning a residential university outreach at Columbia University. Undeterred by pro-Hamas and anti-Israel sentiments at the school, we will be renting an apartment and deploying three workers on campus. They will align their schedules with the university calendar and spend each day sharing the good news with students. We are doing the same at New York University, which has similar challenges with anti-Israel activists. 

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July 15, 2025 · 9:00 AM

Hineni! Isaiah’s Call and Ours

We live in turbulent times, which is why it is so important that we put our trust in the Lord and make ourselves available for service. We have an inspiring example of this in the ancient Hebrew prophet Isaiah. There is no place where the character and commitment of the prophet are more clearly seen than when God Himself called him to ministry (Isaiah 6).

Isaiah’s call came around 740 BCE, when the kingdom of Judah stood at a crossroads. King Uzziah, who had reigned for fifty-two years, was dead. With his passing came uncertainty, fear, and the looming shadow of Assyrian aggression on the horizon.

For Isaiah, this was not just a national crisis—it was personal. He had lived and prophesied during Uzziah’s reign, warning of God’s judgment upon a people whose hearts had grown cold. Now, as political stability crumbled, so, too, did any illusion that his words had made a difference. The vineyard of Israel, as he would later describe it, was about to be trampled and laid waste (Isaiah 5:5–6).

In this moment of profound despair and seeming failure, God revealed Himself to Isaiah in a way that would forever transform the prophet’s life.

A Vision of Glory

Isaiah described his extraordinary divine encounter as follows: “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple” (Isaiah 6:1).

Amid earthly loss and uncertainty, Isaiah was granted a glimpse of the true King who would never die, seated on His eternal throne, lifted above all others in the heavens. 

The terms used to describe God’s posture are “high and lifted up,” which also match the prophet’s description of the Messiah in Isaiah 52:13, “Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.” These words offer a further hint of the divine nature of the coming Servant of the Lord.

The imagery is striking as the train of God’s robe filled the entire Temple. This vision provides our first glimpse into the heart of Isaiah’s message—amid human frailty and failing kingdoms, God’s sovereign rule remains unshaken and all-encompassing.

Above this throne were the seraphim, fiery angelic beings whose very name recalls the “fiery serpents” of Israel’s wilderness wanderings (Numbers 21:4–9). Their thunderous chorus echoed through the Temple, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3).

The Hebrew word for “holy” (kadosh) means set apart. Three times, the seraphim declared God’s utter otherness—His complete separation from sin and creation. This repetition is not mere poetry but a profound expression of God’s triune nature, although Isaiah himself may not have fully comprehended this mystery. As the seraphim proclaimed God’s holiness, the very foundations of the Temple thresholds trembled, and smoke filled the sanctuary. 

The Cleansing of a Prophet

In the presence of this overwhelming holiness, Isaiah could only see one thing clearly—his own unworthiness, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). The Hebrew word for “ruined” (damah) means utterly destroyed. Isaiah recognized that his prophetic lips were unclean (tamey), the same term used throughout Leviticus to describe ritual impurity. 

Isaiah may have wondered how a man with unclean lips and an unclean heart could speak God’s holy word. How could he condemn Israel’s sin when he himself was so deeply flawed? Yet, God’s response to Isaiah’s confession reveals the core of the gospel message:

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven” (Isaiah 6:6–7).

The coal was not just any coal, but one taken from the altar of sacrifice—drenched in the blood of atonement. The seraph’s touch did not just cleanse Isaiah’s lips for prophetic speech. It provided comprehensive forgiveness. His iniquity was taken away, and his sin atoned for by the shed blood of the sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11).

Again, we see a foreshadowing of the Messiah. Just as Isaiah received cleansing through sacrificial blood, we receive forgiveness through the ultimate sacrifice of Yeshua (Jesus). Additionally, like Isaiah, our cleansing is not just a one-time event from years ago but a daily reality that enables us to be intimate with God and prepares us for service. 

Saying Yes to God

Encountering God’s holiness and experiencing His cleansing grace positioned Isaiah to hear God’s call: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8).

The Hebrew phrase, “Here am I” (hineni) is far more than a statement of physical presence. It is a declaration of complete availability and readiness to follow orders. Throughout Scripture, this response marks moments of profound encounter with God: Abraham said, “Hineni!” when God called him to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1); Moses said it when God spoke from the burning bush (Exodus 3:4); and Samuel said it when God called him as a boy in the Temple (1 Samuel 3:4).

Each of these instances represented a turning point—a moment when ordinary people made themselves fully available to an extraordinary God. 

The Challenge of Faith

What makes Isaiah’s story so remarkable is what happened after he said, “Hineni.” Isaiah received perhaps the most discouraging commission in Scripture:

Go, and tell this people: “Keep on listening, but do not perceive; keep on looking, but do not understand.” Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed. (Isaiah 6:9–10)

God was essentially telling Isaiah he would preach, but the people would not listen, and his preaching would make their hearts harder. No wonder Isaiah responded with the anguished question: “Lord, how long?” The answer was equally devastating: “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, houses are without people and the land is utterly desolate” (Isaiah 6:11).

The Hebrew prophet teaches us some great lessons in evangelistic patience, which is what many of us who serve with Chosen People Ministries have learned. We know that the day is coming when the Lord will turn the hearts of the Jewish nation to Jesus (Romans 11:25–29), even though we are eager and pray for our Jewish people to come to know their Messiah right now. 

The Promise of the Remnant

Even amid this dire commissioning, God offered Isaiah a glimmer of hope about a faithful remnant, “Yet there will be a tenth portion in it, and it will again be subject to burning, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains when it is felled. The holy seed is its stump” (Isaiah 6:13).

This doctrine of a remnant runs throughout Scripture. The prophet predicts that even though Israel might be cut down like a tree, the stump—a faithful remnant—would remain, preserving the possibility of new growth. The apostle Paul would also later write: “In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice” (Romans 11:5).

This remnant doctrine allows us to redefine success in evangelism. We are called to faithfulness, not visible results. We proclaim the gospel to all, knowing some will reject it while others—the remnant God has prepared—will receive it. The Lord has called us to faithfully proclaim the good news and let Him bring the good result!

Our Hineni Moment

What does Isaiah’s experience mean for us today? Like him, we live in uncertain times. Like him, we may feel our witness falls on deaf ears. Like him, we are painfully aware of our own unworthiness.

Yet Isaiah’s vision offers us hope. The same commission—difficult though it may be—comes with the same promise of a remnant who will believe.

Therefore, knowing His forgiveness and in obedience to His call:

  • We preach whether people respond positively or not.
  • We preach until the opportunity is no longer available.
  • We preach, confident in God’s promise to preserve a faithful remnant for Yeshua.

We do not measure our success by visible results but by our faithfulness to the gospel. Our motivation comes not from confidence in our own abilities but from a vision of God’s glory and grace through Jesus.

Are we ready to say hineni—to be available to God and to serve Him in bringing the message of Yeshua to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16)? May we, like Isaiah, be transformed by a vision of God’s holiness, cleansed by His grace and compelled by His call to say with sincere hearts, “Hineni, send me.”

Thank you for your love, faithful support, and prayers for our global staff who call on the Lord for His holy purposes while reaching Jewish people for the Messiah.

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June 2, 2025 · 9:00 AM

Prophecy and Politics in the Middle East 

Shalom, in the name of the Prince of Peace—Jesus the Messiah. I am now in Israel, and we are touring the country with two busloads full of faithful prayer partners and watchmen for Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:6–7). We are also celebrating the dedication of our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center. What a joyous occasion! 

The Lord is moving powerfully in the Holy Land! Young adults are coming to faith in Jesus as Messiah, and the entire body of believers, tempered by suffering, is growing by leaps and bounds. The number of people coming to the Lord is more than I have ever seen, and the maturity of leaders and congregants is remarkable. It is so true that we grow the most through adversity. 

I can also confirm that the entire nation of Israel is under incredible stress. Political tensions are virtually intolerable, and there are still dozens of hostages and hostage families who have not seen their loved ones for almost two years. 

So again, please pray for our staff, many of whom are quite young and are going through hardships that are causing them to grow up more quickly than we would wish. So many of the believers in the land are still running in and out of bomb shelters and back and forth between reserve duty in the Israel Defense Forces and civilian life. They desperately need our love, support, and, most of all, our prayers. Please join us in begging the Lord for the peace of Jerusalem by praying for the local Israeli believers and, especially, for the Israel staff of Your Mission to the Jewish People. 

PROPHECY AND POLITICS

As believers, we must also understand that today’s events were predicted in the Bible. This helps remind us that we serve a God who knows the beginning and the end and holds Israel in His covenantal grip. 

When praying for the Jewish people and for Israel, it is very helpful to understand the landscape of the modern Middle East through the eyes and words of the Jewish prophets.

The biblical prophecies about the nations surrounding Israel provide a framework for understanding current geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The prophet Zechariah speaks of Jerusalem becoming “a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around” (Zechariah 12:2), and that there will come a time when all nations will gather against Jerusalem: “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:3). 

These verses seem to describe the current tensions with Israel as she is surrounded by nations with varying degrees of hostility. These developments, which suggest the prophetic scenario of nations gathering against Jerusalem, may very well be unfolding before our eyes.

The Bible, through the prophet Zechariah as well as Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, assures us that God will act on behalf of His chosen people Israel and prevent the nation from being destroyed. The Messiah Jesus will return in glory and majesty to rule on David’s throne and rescue His people who will recognize Him in His coming. The main text to keep in mind as you read the remainder of this president’s prayer letter is Zechariah 12:9–10:

And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.”

ESCALATING THREATS IN THE REGION

Let us take a few moments to find out the major Middle East players and assess what Israel might face today and tomorrow from her neighbors. We will look at the current Middle East through the lens of Scripture by learning more about some of Israel’s neighbors: Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Russia, Iraq, and Yemen. The escalating threats from Iran and Lebanon in particular represent a serious concern for Israel’s security for several reasons at this present moment.

Iran

Iran maintains openly hostile relations with Israel, with its leadership continuing to threaten Israel’s existence. The country actively supports armed proxies across the region, including Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, the Houthis, and various militias in Syria and Iraq. Iran’s nuclear program represents an existential threat to Israel, and Israeli leaders have repeatedly stated they will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Israel has increased cyber and intelligence operations targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and supply chains in response to these threats.

Syria

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria is now under a transitional government led by Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir. It has a temporary constitution signed in March 2025, placing the country under Islamist rule. Israel continues to conduct airstrikes targeting Iranian supply lines and militia bases inside Syria. The northern border remains volatile, especially following the recent Hezbollah conflict.

Lebanon

After a devastating recent war with Israel, Lebanon formed a new government under President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, aiming to implement reforms and reduce Hezbollah’s influence. However, Hezbollah, while pushed back during the 2024 war, was not eliminated. Israel continues to hold Lebanon responsible for Hezbollah’s actions. While the new Lebanese government has pledged reform, Israel remains wary and continues heavy surveillance and occasional cross-border operations.

Russia (Gog/Magog)

Russia’s continued involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, particularly its support of Iran’s nuclear program, potentially places it in a position to fulfill the prophetic role described in Ezekiel 38–39 (Gog/Magog) of leading a coalition against Israel. Russia’s threat to Israel has been evolving through its growing alignment with Iran and continued influence in Syria. Despite the fall of Assad altering some dynamics, Russia still coordinates its Israel posture in sync with Syria. While diplomatic channels remain open between Russia and Israel, especially regarding air operations over Syria, Russia’s deepening relationship with Iran poses a threat. Israel walks a careful line, avoiding open alignment with NATO to preserve its operational freedom near Russian military assets in Syria. 

Iraq (Babylon)

The prophetic significance of Babylon (modern Iraq) keeps this nation relevant and could be part of the potential end-time coalition that will gather against Israel (Jeremiah 50–51; Revelation 17–18). While Iraq does not pose as direct a threat to Israel as Iran or Syria, it remains a concern due to the presence of Iranian-backed militias operating in the country. Israel monitors these groups and has allegedly carried out covert strikes against them. Iraq’s constitutional opposition to normalization with Israel and strong pro-Palestinian public sentiment create a hostile environment. 

Yemen

Yemen represents a more complex case. The country has been embroiled in civil war since 2014, with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels controlling significant territory. The Houthis have demonstrated hostility toward Israel, particularly during the Gaza conflict. The Houthis continue to launch missiles and drones toward Israeli territory.

OUR ROLE AS JESUS FOLLOWERS IN THESE LAST DAYS

These escalating threats from nations that will rise against Israel in the end times align with biblical prophecies. This current grouping of nations hostile to Israel underscores the importance of standing with Israel, both spiritually and practically. As these prophetic scenarios potentially unfold, Israel will need support from those who understand God’s promises regarding His people. We need to pray for the Jewish people during this heart-wrenching season, especially for the hostages and for the leaders of the nation. 

We can also take some joy in knowing that the number of Israelis who follow Jesus as their Messiah is growing. For example, our Psalms of Hope Campaign, where we offer a free download of a modern Hebrew version of the Psalms, has crossed the 5,000-download mark, which is incredible. To think that so many Israelis are seeking a more intimate relationship with God through reading the Psalms is encouraging. Those who downloaded the Psalms are now one step closer to finding Jesus, who often quoted the many prophecies about Himself in the Psalms. 

After spending time with our staff for the last two weeks, I am again impressed with their love and dedication for the Lord and our Jewish people. 

We believe now is the time to reach Israelis with the gospel, as we see the storm clouds rising and the vision of the Middle East envisioned by the prophets of Israel beginning to take shape. 

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March 14, 2025 · 9:00 AM

How Then Should We Pray

Shalom in the wonderful name of our Messiah, Jesus! May I share some of my recent experiences in Israel? These days are dark and difficult for Israelis, and they need your prayers. 

I spent some days on the ground recently and still remember standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands of Israelis in Hostage Square, listening to ambassadors, military leaders, and the parents of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. The event was deeply painful. I recall one mother who began speaking calmly about her beautiful daughter held captive by Hamas terrorists. As she spoke to the crowd, her grief and rage overtook her, and she began screaming, leading the crowd in a desperate chant: “Bring them home. . . bring them home. . . bring them home NOW!” 

I tried to grasp their suffering, imagining how I would feel if my own children were taken by a group of violent, cruel, and apocalyptic murderers with no respect for human life, who abuse, torture, and use the hostages as pawns. My dear Christian friend, the thought alone is unbearable. Many of those taken hostage were so young, barely in their twenties, and all they did was attend a music festival or visit their parents at one of the Gaza border towns. When I think about the hostage deal, I think about these parents and the young people who did not deserve to be treated with such agonizing cruelty. 

The singular redeeming feature of this hostage deal is that some families have been or will be reunited with their loved ones. But the cost is staggering. The ratio of convicted mass murderers and criminals released from Israeli prisons to the few Israeli hostages freed is grossly unbalanced. In a sense, Israel was forced to mortgage her future for the sake of the present. Now, the future looks even darker as convicted terrorists will once again roam free and be able to strike again someday. How can we possibly weigh the life of a freed hostage against the lives that may be lost in the future at the hands of those released? 

The consequences of these impossible decisions will be felt for years to come. Every Israeli remembers that Yahya Sinwar was once just another prisoner like those who were released in this deal. Years ago, he was freed in a similar exchange—one that secured the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza. No one at the time could have foreseen that Sinwar would go on to mastermind the atrocities of October 7, 2023. Was the deal worth it? There is no consensus. For Shalit’s parents and family, the answer is clear—he came home. But if Israel had known then what it knows now, would its government have made the same decision? These are impossible choices.

A MORAL DILEMMA ROOTED IN JEWISH VALUES

This hostage deal, in many ways, reflects deep Jewish values. There is nothing more precious to a Jewish person than the life of a family member. Their safety and well-being are paramount. But it is impossible to fully judge the morality of these choices. We know our enemies are seizing control of the narrative and manipulating these events for their own purposes. Every Israeli now lives with an even more uncertain and dangerous future. Whether this deal was worth it will ultimately be determined by those who welcomed their sons and daughters home—and by those who, in the days to come, may lose their loved ones to future violence. Fairness and justice will remain elusive until the One True Judge rules among His chosen people.

PRAYING FOR ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE

Very few Israelis are turning to Jesus—the One who sees their suffering, who knows their pain more intimately than anyone. Jesus is not a stranger to betrayal, injustice, and grief. He weeps with His people. Let us pray that both secular and religious Israelis recognize the One who says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Pray especially for the families who live with the daily agony of loss. Pray for the children who have been scarred by what they have seen, for the soldiers who risk their lives every day, and for the leaders who make impossible decisions. Above all, pray that they come to know the One who gives life, who restores the brokenhearted, and who alone can bring the kind of peace that the world cannot offer. The world searches for political, military, and diplomatic solutions, but true peace is found only in the Messiah of Israel (Isaiah 9:6–7).

We must stand in the gap, interceding on their behalf so that, in their pain and searching, they may encounter the only One who can bring healing, comfort, and eternal hope.

Let us also remember those released from captivity in recent months. The first ones freed after being held by Hamas for more than 470 days were four young Israeli female soldiers. Now reunited with their families, they face the long journey of healing from the physical and psychological scars of their ordeal. We must also keep in our hearts and prayers any who remain in captivity by the time you receive this newsletter.

As we lift these precious individuals and their families in prayer, we must ask the Lord to comfort those mourning the loss of loved ones and provide strength for those awaiting the return of their family members. May they come to know the One who offers true peace and rest for their souls.

TAKE ACTION AGAINST ANTISEMITISM

Besides praying for those Israelis suffering such pain and loss, we must also mobilize to oppose antisemitism. We cannot simply stand by. Let us take action. We will continue to hold rallies, speak to our government officials, and raise the banner of concern about antisemitism. 

Our new division of Chosen People Ministries, the Coalition Against Antisemitism (opposeantisemitism.com), is directly addressing the growth of global antisemitism by producing teachings, videos, and various resources you can use to better understand and counter antisemitism when you witness it, which is a Christian duty as I see it. After all, God said to Abram, “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). 

The apostle Paul, himself a Jewish believer in Jesus, wrote to the Roman Christians expressing God’s heart of concern for His chosen people:

For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. (Romans 15:26–27; emphasis added) 

What could be more critical today than caring for the physical, material, and spiritual well-being of the Jewish people? Your Mission to the Jewish People is doing all these things to serve the Jewish people worldwide, especially in Israel.

OUR NEW OUTREACH CENTER

We are also opening our new Tel Aviv center this month in time for the celebration of Passover when we will honor the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. I am thankful for the generosity of our prayer partners and supporters, who enabled us to move into the new Center without any debt. Praise be to God for His provision. We are excited and believe the Lord will use this larger space powerfully for our outreach events. We are teaching Bible studies, holding concerts, comforting the grieving, and doing everything we can to bring the love of Jesus to Israel. Thank you for your prayers, your support, and for standing with us as we bring the message of Jesus the Messiah—the Prince of Peace—to Israelis and Jewish people around the globe.

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October 1, 2024 · 9:00 AM

Memorializing October 7, 2023

It has been one year since the most horrific attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust. What is even more tragic is this gruesome attack took place in Israel, which was founded to be a safe and peaceful homeland for Jewish people—especially for survivors of the Holocaust, which ended a mere three years before the country was established on May 14, 1948.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER OCTOBER 7?

Let us review what transpired one year ago on October 7, 2023.

Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip entered Israel, unprovoked, to murder, rape, torture, kidnap, and terrorize innocent Israelis. This attack was far more than an act of war, as evidenced by Hamas’ brutality toward innocent Jewish civilians, including young and old, babies, Holocaust survivors, and other noncombatants. These were crimes against Jewish people and against humanity.

On this tragic Sabbath, Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped 250 innocent victims, and began what has become a seemingly endless war in Gaza. As with any war, far too many blameless people on both sides have been killed and are suffering displacement from their homes, even one year later. This conflict has led to the terrible loss of life and injury to thousands of Gazans because Hamas victimizes its own citizens, using men, women, and children as human shields.

The hostages kidnapped on this fateful day were treated with inhumane cruelty. We have since learned many of the more than one hundred hostages remaining in Gaza have already died. Some are lost and cannot be found. This is heartbreaking, especially for their families.

THE FALLOUT FROM OCTOBER 7

The attacks on Israel intensified on April 14, 2024, when Iran launched a direct attack on Israel by sending drones, rockets, and missiles to strike civilian and military targets within Israel. This attack was torturous for all Israelis who endured the long wait for the missiles to strike and the bombs to drop. Most Israelis could not have known Israel and her allies would destroy 99 percent of the rocket and missile barrage. Still, Iran’s direct attacks raised the stakes and added to the threat of a regional conflict.

The war intensified when Hezbollah, perched on Israel’s northern border, started shelling those within the reach of its rockets and missiles, which are more powerful than those of Hamas in Gaza. We also see another mounting war, even more ominous than the one in Israel and Gaza, plaguing Jewish people today. There is a growing, global wave of online antisemitism along with increased attacks upon Jewish people throughout the world. The numbers speak for themselves as antisemitic incidents against Jewish people living outside of Israel have tripled over the last twelve months.1

The actions of Hamas were antisemitic in nature. There is a long history of Islamic antisemitism beginning with the Koran and other early Islamic writings, and we believe this tragic history of Islamic antisemitism influenced Hamas terrorists to commit those horrible atrocities against innocent Jewish people last October.

Let’s face it—angry adherents to the jihadist principles promoted by Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups simply hate Jewish people!

MESSIAH, OUR ULTIMATE HOPE FOR PEACE

Even though the conflict and impact of October 7 is ongoing a year later, it would still be beneficial to pause for a moment of reflection. Let’s consider what happened on this tragic Saturday and consider how we should continue to respond to the growing problem of global antisemitism.

I hope thinking this through together will help us today and tomorrow as we draw closer to the glorious day when the Messiah Jesus will return and reign as the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Prince of Peace. As the prophet Isaiah wrote,

And He will judge between the nations and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war. (Isa 2:4)

We know the Bible teaches the end of days, as described by Jesus himself, includes wars and rumors of wars that will escalate and intensify, like birth pangs, until He returns (Matthew 24; Luke 21; Mark 13). So, the hostilities in the Middle East horrify us, but we also turn our eyes to a greater day promised by God of an enduring peace. One day our Redeemer will return to save His people and establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness. We believe this promise, and, by His grace and in the power of His Spirit, we should live today in light of tomorrow (Acts 1:9–11).

FOUR LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THE PAST YEAR

1. Our commitment to Israel and Jewish people must be founded upon Scripture.

Our commitment to the Jewish people and the State of Israel should not fluctuate with the news cycle, or the reporting of our favorite channel, or trusted websites. The news about Israel and the war is constantly changing. The actions of the Israeli government are hard to track and evaluate, as is true for our own country. It can be exhausting keeping up!

As believers, we know there is only one unchanging source of information we can turn to for comfort, inspiration, and a deeper, unbiased understanding of the swirling events we read about each day: the Word of God! Our position on Israel and the role of Jewish people in the plan of God should be biblical. As I told a friend as we were speaking about this issue—with tongue firmly planted in my cheek—“There is actually quite a bit written about Israel and the Jewish people in the Bible!”

The Bible is God’s final word on Israel and Jewish people. Though we might have slightly differing points of view of God’s purposes for Israel, the Scriptures are still the best source for information to better inform us of God’s plan, which is the lens through which we should view the conflicts in the Middle East. The Word of God should certainly guide our prayer life. We can all agree with the psalmist who firmly says to regularly “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Ps 122:6).

I am encouraged by some very significant trends about the Israel-Hamas war through a survey we did last March. It appears many American Christians believe we should support Israel because she has a right to defend herself and because Israel is the best ally the United States has in the Middle East. These are good reasons to support Israel, and many of us believe this, but the foundation for our ongoing support needs to have a biblical rationale, or it can easily be undone. Christians need to think biblically in all areas and believe God’s word is the final authority on all matters, including how we understand the role of Israel and Jewish people in God’s plan (Genesis 12:1–3, 15:18; Acts 1:6–8).

2. The attacks of October 7 were driven by a festering hatred of Jewish people by classical Islam, intensified by a radical jihadist Islam.

Historic forms of antisemitism are now re-packaged with political and human rights verbiage, viciously used for hundreds of years against Jewish people before the modern State of Israel was established. We see this on the right, the left, and in Islamist extremism. All too often the newer and more politically-oriented arguments against the modern State of Israel obfuscate the underlying antisemitic arguments, tropes, and conspiracy theories.

For hundreds of years the rights of Jewish people were severely limited in many countries. My people were forced to live in ghettos in western Europe and the Pale of Settlement in eastern Europe where Jewish influence could be more easily controlled. This strategy of geographic exclusion and Jewish containment enabled governments to keep Jewish people away from the mainstream culture. In North Africa, Spain, and a variety of Arab countries, Jewish people were heavily taxed by Muslims who controlled the political systems. Sometimes, Jewish and Muslim communities lived together peacefully, but there was always a reason why Muslims felt superior to their Jewish neighbors. As Islam grew and spread throughout the Middle East, traditions developed in the Muslim world identifying Jerusalem as a Muslim and not a Jewish possession.

Various Muslim and Middle Eastern mischaracterizations of Jewish people are well known and have fueled a depth of hatred against Jewish people going well beyond the seventy-five-plus years of modern Israel’s existence. There is no denying October 7, 2023, elevated this historic Islamic antisemitism, harkening back to the seventh century, to a new genocidal level. Hamas terrorists dehumanized Israelis through torture, rape, and other horrific acts of violence.

Embedded anti-Jewish sentiments in the Muslim world in general were exacerbated by the Iranian revolution, social media, and the founding of the modern State of Israel in 1948. Adherents to Hamas’ violent ideology are not only hostile to Jewish people but also to the Bible, Western civilization, and God Himself.

We need to pray for even the most violent of jihadists and not return hate for hate. Let’s encourage missions among them as the best way to bring about peace in the Middle East and to protect the values we cherish is to bring the gospel to those who oppose us. When people come to Jesus, their lives and worldviews are transformed. We do need to love our enemies, whoever they might be!

3. The devil is behind this world’s hostility toward Jewish people.

However, we must come to grips with the spiritual battle we face today in the Middle East. As Bible-believers, we recognize Satan’s hand in shaping modern antisemitism. The Scriptures teach us the source of antisemitism is the devil himself. Antisemitism, called “the oldest hatred,” has plagued the children of Abraham since his call from Ur of the Chaldees (Gen 12:1–3).

When God called Abraham to father the chosen people, Satan made Jewish people the target of his fury. The evil one has tried to eradicate the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in every age and in endless ways to prevent God from using Israel as His instrument of redemption and blessing through the Jewish Messiah. We cannot view antisemitism as merely some type of nationalistic, political, or ethnic hatred but, rather, as a cosmological effort on the part of the devil to destroy Jewish people and disrupt the plan of God.

True Christians need to take up spiritual arms to fight this spiritual battle, as Paul writes, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against

the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

By God’s grace, believers worldwide must exhibit love toward Jewish people and oppose antisemitism because we believe in the Bible, the Jewish Messiah, and the covenants God forged with the sons and daughters of Israel. This is critical today because, more than ever, the Jewish community needs real friends amid this rising sea of antisemitism.

What a wonderful testimony it would be to Jewish people if Christians stood against the enemies of Jewish people, testifying through our actions how those who follow the Jewish Messiah love Jewish people.

4. Believers in Jesus should act on behalf of Jewish people and oppose antisemitism.

There is a very popular statement attributed to the brilliant Jewish scientist, Albert Einstein, who was very concerned about antisemitism as he lived through the horrors of the Nazi period and was one of the scientists saved by the Allies: “If I were to remain silent, I’d be guilty of complicity.”2

This reminds me of the words of Isaiah, who wrote: “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning” (Isa 62:1). We cannot remain silent when Jewish people are under siege! God still has His holy hand upon His chosen people; they are still the apple of His eye. We are speaking of the Savior’s earthly family, and if we love Him then we must love His people!

God will never allow His chosen people to be destroyed (Amos 9:8). If you choose to be an enemy of Jewish people and seek the destruction of God’s people, then you stand in opposition to God’s purposes in this world. He promised to bless those who bless Jewish people because through Jewish people He brings blessings to the world (Gen 12:1–3).

As followers of the Messiah Jesus, whether Jewish or Gentile, we recognize our humanity demands and even compels us to raise our voices and not remain silent about antisemitism. All racial hatred is antithetical to the biblical message and human decency, as the Almighty, blessed be He, created each of us in His image.

When the Jewish people are under siege, we must be diligent in standing for and with Jewish people. We must also remember the suffering of innocent Gazan families, whom Hamas leaders deliberately put in harm’s way, as Jesus died for us all!

So, let us take to heart the messages of this hour and commit to saying something and doing something, especially on behalf of Jewish people in Israel and around the globe.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

It is time to act! Here are some practical steps you and your church can take to stand with God’s chosen people today.

Pray 

As believers in Jesus the Jewish Messiah, we can pray for Jewish people. This is so important, and I hope you will consider holding a special time of prayer or even offering just a simple prayer on behalf of Jewish people at your services October 5–6 in commemoration of the first anniversary of the attacks on Israel of October 7!

Chosen People Ministries can provide your church with a short video or two, bulletin inserts, and other resources to effectively and sensitively bring attention to the Middle East crisis at your services October 5–6.

Reach out

Please consider reaching out to your local Jewish community to let them know you stand with Jewish people. If there are commemorative events on October 7 sponsored by your local Jewish community, try to attend and let your Jewish friends know you care.

Give

Please pray about making a special gift to Your Mission to the Jewish People to be used in proclaiming the good news today. We are doing so much to help our Jewish family and friends know Jesus is the Messiah and the One who brings ultimate safety and peace to Israel, to Jewish people around the world, and to our individual hearts.

Participate

Consider attending the Moody Summit against Antisemitism, sponsored by Moody Bible Institute and Chosen People Ministries, scheduled for November 9 in Chicago.

As the Savior said, “Peace [shalom] I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). Jesus also said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Please join us in bringing the message of the Prince of Peace to a war-torn and fractured world in desperate need of the hope and redemption only available through Jesus the Messiah—“to the Jew first” and also to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16).

Thanks for caring and for your generosity.

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September 3, 2024 · 8:30 AM

Hope Is Rising in Tel Aviv

Shalom in His grace. I am delighted to write and bring you up to date on what God is doing through our 130-year-old mission to Jewish people.

Israel is still deeply in turmoil, which keeps me on my knees. Even if Israel agreed to some type of peace accord with Gaza, welcomed all the living hostages back, received the bodies of those who died in captivity, and secured the safe return of the tens of thousands of Israelis who evacuated their homes near the border, Israel would still have to face all the challenges of a future plan for Gaza! Even if Israel fully dismantles the threat of Hamas (and Hezbollah), how long would peace last? 

POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIPS FOR ISRAEL

There is also the question of potential governing bodies who would partner with Israel in controlling any future terrorism from Gaza. If an alliance of Arab countries with Israel had equal authority in the Gaza Strip, would this partnership endure? I realize these scenarios are hard to imagine, and we cannot predict the future. We can only follow the One who can!

Who could logically believe this alliance could work? The Palestinian Authority, who controls the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), has proven itself to be an undependable partner in peace. Judea and Samaria have been rife with terrorism, and it is possible more Israeli soldiers will die in this territory than in Gaza!

And what about Hezbollah’s frequent rocket attacks into northern Israel, destroying homes and causing raging wildfires? Can we really trust Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy, to remain within the demilitarized zone already established at the Litani River in 1985? Hezbollah moved into southern Lebanon after the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was forced out in 1982. What assurance does Israel have they will not use their Iranian-supplied arms to bring destruction to the north, including to cities like Haifa or in the Galilee? Many believe their rockets and missiles can even reach Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as well. You can see Israel’s options for partners is getting slimmer as time goes by.

SOME OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY WITH LEBANON

This is not the first time Israel thought a solution would work in southern Lebanon. An Israeli news source, Ynet News, describes the first Lebanon war:

The 1982 Lebanon War began on June 6, 1982, as what was supposed to be a short-term military operation—Operation Peace for Galilee. The operation was meant to destroy [Palestinian] militant infrastructure on the Lebanese-Israeli border, which had been used by terrorists to attack [the Israel Defense Forces] . . . as well as the Israeli communities abject to the border. In 1978 Israel launched Operation Litani, temporarily occupying southern Lebanon up to the Litani River. Once the IDF withdrew its forces later that year, an alliance was formed between the IDF and the South Lebanon Army (SLA), resulting in a buffer zone along Israel’s border.1

However, this plan for northern security did not hold as Ynet further describes,

January of 1985 saw the Israeli government decide to gradually withdraw from Lebanon, and by springtime most of the IDF’s troops—with the exception of those stationed in the south Lebanese buffer zone—were out of Lebanon. 

According to the Defense Ministry, Israel suffered 1,217 fatalities in the war itself, which lasted between 1982 and 1985. 

The rising number of fatalities among IDF soldier[s] stationed in the buffer zone led to a growing public outcry to pull all troops out of the area and in 1999, then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak led his government to vote for the complete withdrawal from Lebanon.

The last Israeli soldiers left Lebanon on May 24, 2000.2

Why would the lack of lasting peace be any different today? Israelis old enough to remember these events ask themselves this question. What has changed other than Iran and Hezbollah drawing closer and becoming more militarily capable?

Israel will do whatever it takes to survive. If viciously attacked, Israel will defend herself once again. Only this time, with the memory of what happened previously, Israel’s response will be fierce and decisive, leading to further and more massive destruction on all sides.

ISRAEL’S DILEMMA

As you can see, Israel is still in a very difficult situation. I do not want to leave you feeling hopeless but to help you get a sense of what our staff in Israel is going through as they reach Israelis at this critical time with the message of true hope through the Messiah. Not even one of our workers permanently left Israel during the war—though many of them could have gone elsewhere. I am so proud of their dedication and selfless service.

I could not be more pleased with the way our staff has served the Messiah and shown His love in dozens of ways, touching the lives of thousands of Israelis who feel so vulnerable and hopeless at times.

So, our staff continues to serve faithfully, and they can do this because you care and stand with them in their efforts!

A WARTIME MIRACLE: THE NEW NEW TEL AVIV CENTER

Now, let me tell you about what I can only call a wartime miracle. Our beautiful new ministry center in Tel Aviv is almost done. Can you believe it? We still need a little more than a half million dollars toward this $6.5-million-dollar project. 

But the true miracle is not the funding but rather overcoming the lack of labor over the last year as building projects in Israel so often depend upon Palestinian laborers—many of whom came in through Gaza each day. 

And yet God provided laborers from among Christian Arabs and Israelis to get us very close to the finish line on the building. We cannot tell you how thrilled we are to see God’s provision. It reminds me of the miracle of the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:13–21). We did not bring much to the table by way of labor, but God maximized what we brought. 

THE FREEDOM TOWER, A SYMBOL OF HOPE

May I explain to you a little bit more how I feel about what the Lord has done? 

I lived through the 9/11 tragedy in New York City. My house in Brooklyn is downwind from the World Trade Center towers, meaning smoke was clearly visible from my home. I cannot tell you about the horror of those moments, when more than 2,977 people died. In September 2021, on the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, we honored the hundreds of law enforcement, fire department, military, and Christian workers who perished as they worked to save others. We also thanked those who rallied to the challenge to help rebuild New York City. 

I am sorry to say both Israel and the United States have a common enemy. Those who perpetrated the awful tragedy of 9/11 and those who are behind the war in Israel have a common ideology. This ideology of evil goes far beyond borders and resides across many nations. These adherents hate the West, hate Jewish people, hate Christians, hate the Lord, and hate Judeo-Christian values. But the Lord overcomes our enemies! 

I watched the new Freedom Tower being built for years. Today, it stands grand and proud as a symbol of our freedom and our enemies’ inability to destroy us. 

HELP US FINISH THE NEW TEL AVIV MESSIANIC CENTER

I want our new Messianic center in Tel Aviv to stand as a sign of God’s faithfulness to Israel, Jewish people, and in particular to the Messianic Jewish movement within Israel, which is growing by leaps and bounds over the last twenty-five years. Our Romans 11:5 remnant is increasing, and Chosen People Ministries—Your Mission to the Jewish People—is one of the largest ministries in Israel.

In Tel Aviv, we hope to plant a congregation, continue our outreach concerts, and implement other ministries. Our staff across Israel will continue to reach out to children, young adults, elderly Holocaust survivors, and many others.

Endnotes

1 “The Lebanon War (1982),” Ynet News, November 30, 2008, https://www.ynetnews.com/ articles/0,7340,L-3631005,00.html.

2 Ibid.

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June 15, 2024 · 9:00 AM

Christians against Antisemitism

I have been pondering the touching story in the New Testament about the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant (Luke 7:1–10). As the story progresses, we discover this centurion was noteworthy for his surprising love for Jewish people, which led him to build a synagogue for the Jewish community of Capernaum (Luke 7:5).

Perhaps the centurion saw the dimming spark of God’s presence in the Galilean city, which Jesus Himself chided for its lack of spirituality (Matthew 11:23). Conversely, Jesus commended the words and actions of this centurion who had come to love the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

I find the Roman centurion to be an inspiration! He loved the God of Israel, the Messiah of Israel, and the people of Israel.

While Jewish people today do not usually require Christian help to build synagogues, we do need help fighting the increasingly virulent antisemitism not seen since the Holocaust. Additionally, our not-yet-believing Jewish people need to hear the gospel message so they, too, can powerfully encounter Jesus the Messiah, the Prince of Peace.

A PROMISE

We live in a world overwhelmed by spiritual, moral, and political confusion, which is why it is so important to see life through the lens of Scripture. For example, though more than 60 percent of Christians above the age of fifty believe the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, our younger generation of future leaders in the church are not as certain. The number of those believers under forty who support Israel drops down to below 50 percent! However, when we read about God’s assurances to Abraham and his descendants and the Abrahamic promise to create a people destined to live in the Promised Land, we are clear on this fundamental truth: God gave the land of Israel to His chosen people.

In Genesis 12:1–3, we learn this promise is without conditions and free of time parameters. The fulfillment of the promise depends upon the power of God rather than the capabilities of humankind. Jewish people were created for a holy purpose and mission to bless the world. God said directly to Abram, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, emphasis added). God created Jewish people for the sake of the Gentiles!

A PEOPLE

The very creation of the people was a miracle. Abraham and Sarah were beyond childbearing age, yet God supernaturally intervened to create Isaac, who was the first fruits of God’s promise to Abraham.

God promised no one would ever destroy this people. Numerous nations tried to destroy the people of Israel, but God would not allow it and kept His mighty hand upon them (Jeremiah 31:35–37).

A PLACE

The boundaries of the land given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are outlined in Genesis 15:18: “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.’”

The answer to those who question if Jewish people have a right to the land is to believe this passage and take it literally—as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.

The cry of anti-Israel protesters, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” opposes what God promised in His word. As faithful followers of Jesus and those who believe the Bible, we reject the slogan entirely as it displaces Jewish people from the very land God Himself promised!

The tension in the Middle East will never subside until those involved in the conflict recognize the biblical promises of God to Jewish people and take them to heart. God pledged ownership of the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Any efforts toward reconciliation apart from this promise will ultimately fail.

We do not wish to debate whether 1948 was a human act or accomplished by the power of God. We understand the current conflict is complex, yet at the heart of the issue is the question of whether the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel by virtue of God’s covenant with Israel. If we read the Bible literally and come to the conclusion that He gave this land—with the Genesis 15 boundaries—to Jewish people, then we must support the right of Jewish people to live in the land God established for His chosen people.

A PURPOSE

God promised Jewish people would live in the Holy Land and be a blessing to the nations. Isaiah predicted shalom (peace) would come to the Middle East: “In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth” (Isa 19:24).

Jewish people will enjoy an enduring peace when the Prince of Peace reigns on His rightful throne. This hope reminds me of the temporary nature of all earthly conflicts, which the Messiah Himself will one day resolve.

A PRAYER WITH A PROMISE

The prayer we should pray throughout the Israel-Hamas conflict is the one for peace the psalmist penned in Psalm 122:6–7: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’”

This prayer includes a promise: Those who love Jerusalem will prosper. The Hebrew word shalah, which is translated as “prosper,” refers to a sense of inner peace, as those who pray for peace will experience peace in their lives as well.

The peace we enjoy in our relationship with God is a foretaste of the global peace God will bring to the world when His Son returns to reign on His rightful throne. He is the Prince of Peace and will remove the curse of sin at the heart of the current conflict. He will bring humanity back to the peace Adam and Eve experienced in the Garden of Eden. The prophet Ezekiel mentioned a future day when the nation of Israel will turn to the Lord, and the land will be “like the garden of Eden” (Ezekiel 36:35).

A PLEA: FOR CHRISTIANS TO OPPOSE ANTISEMITISM

I am hoping both local churches and individual Christians will boldly pray against and actively oppose the rising global antisemitism. Our 130-year-old ministry is here to inspire you to pray for, support, and act on behalf of Jewish people by opposing antisemitism.

Jewish people need our help today!

SEE SOMETHING . . . SAY SOMETHING: A CALL TO ACTION

How can we stand by and watch Jewish people suffer at the hands of modern-day Hamans and Hitlers? Antisemitism is anti-gospel and anti-God. It is antithetical to God’s promises found in Scripture. The problems in the Middle East cannot be solved by removing Jewish people “from the river to the sea.” The beginning of any diplomatic solution must be to allow Jewish people to live safely and peacefully in the land God promised to His chosen people.

Let me be clear: We believe the gospel is the only ultimate hope for Jewish people, Arabs, and all who seek authentic and enduring peace.

So, how can we be part of the solution to this seemingly insoluble problem?

The first step is to turn to the Lord in prayer and intercession and then view the conflict through the lens of Scripture. Our actions must begin with prayer because this battle is a spiritual one, and prayer puts us in the right relationship with the One who made these promises. The Scriptures provide the understanding we need to propose workable solutions because they are in sync with God’s eternal purposes.

Then, like the centurion, we ought to find ways to bless Jewish people, as blessing the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will lead to blessings for the world. If we support those working toward the destruction of Jewish people and their removal from the land of Israel, then we are working against the eternal purposes of God (Acts 5:39)!

Let us join the Holy One in blessing Israel, Jewish people, and all men and women who are created in the image of God and for whom Jesus died.

Thank you for caring, praying, and supporting the 130-year-old work of Your Mission to the Jewish People.

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