ARIEL: Many in Israel feel that this is the darkest hour we’ve experienced as a nation, but even in the valley of the shadow of death, Israelis are finding new life in Jesus, Yeshua!
SHAYLA: On October 7 at 6:30 am, Israelis woke up to a horrific reality as thousands of barbaric Hamas terrorists infiltrated our borders from Gaza, murdered 1,400 people, burnt whole families, kidnapped the elderly and children, raped women, and slaughtered babies.
ARIEL: Israelis had always trusted in our strong military and defense system, but this tragic massacre has led to a massive crisis of confidence, where many are asking, “Whom can we trust now?”
SHAYLA: As we fasted and prayed as a team, we sensed God calling us to create an evangelistic video that would help Israelis in this difficult moment to realize the eternal truth that the only one who is always powerful, faithful, and worthy of our trust is God himself.
ARIEL: We’re excited to share that not only is this video bearing fruit, but we’re seeing a greater openness to the Gospel, more New Testament orders, and more seekers contacting us than ever before, and more Israelis coming to their Messiah!
SHAYLA: Yael* contacted us, and as our team member Kim answered her questions, Yael began to open up and share how broken she is.
ARIEL: Yael is 29 and grew up in a completely dysfunctional family. She suffered abuse over and over, and ultimately both her parents left her and her two younger siblings.
SHAYLA: She despaired of life and tried to commit suicide multiple times – now her arms are completely torn up. On her last attempt, she wound up in the hospital afterwards. Suddenly she felt a hand touch her from behind, and she heard a voice saying, “It’s not your time to die.”
She told us afterwards, “I knew this was the hand of God, and from that moment, I understood that he exists and began a quest to find him.”
ARIEL: After finding evangelistic videos online, she started asking Kim all sorts of questions about Yeshua and our faith.
Kim and another believer met with Yael and shared their testimonies with her, and she was deeply touched. Yael even started going to a congregation.
For Kim, who just joined us recently, this was the first person she started sharing the Gospel with while working here, and they formed a heart-to-heart connection.
SHAYLA: But then, during one of the services Yael was attending, she suddenly left in the middle. When Kim tried to reconnect, Yael seemed distant.
Kim was heartbroken but kept praying for Yael. The Lord guided her to call again, and Yael agreed to meet her and the other believer again.
ARIEL: Yael was stirred with deep emotions about the war: “How could God allow such evil things to happen to us?” The conversation went into deep topics like free will, sin, and the Gospel, and God opened up Yael’s eyes to see His love and compassion even in the midst of suffering.
SHAYLA: Yael poured out her heart, “Ever since I met you and have been speaking with you, I’ve felt that there’s something right and true here. I never felt that as I was growing up as a traditional Jew. And I want what you have.”
ARIEL: But still, she felt that because she’s had such a sinful lifestyle – sexual sin, suicide attempts, getting drunk – she’s not worthy of God.
SHAYLA: Kim comforted her with the words of Jesus himself, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:31b-32).
Yael responded, “So what do I need to do?”
They answered that all she has to do is repent of her sins, commit her life to Yeshua, and receive him as Lord.
ARIEL: Yael was just about to start to pray, but then suddenly there was a huge rush of wind and noise, since a helicopter was hovering over them. So Yael started shouting out her prayer, confessing her sins and crying out, “Yeshua, please forgive me and come into my life.”
SHAYLA: She even forgave her parents, and started to weep. She said, “I feel totally different now.” For the first time, she was set free from all the bitterness and guilt and shame. Praise God!
ARIEL: Yael and Kim are continuing their connection as she begins her discipleship journey, and Kim was so glad to hear Yael say, “I want Yeshua more than anything or anyone else in my life. I just want to come and be filled with God.”
Yael’s not the only one – God is rescuing people from every background across the nation, delivering them from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light.
SHAYLA: Adi, a secular young man from one of the small Israeli cities near Gaza, was in the streets while terrorists were invading and slaughtering many, but amazingly, he wasn’t hurt. “God definitely protected me!” he told us. He just ordered the New Testament and all the evangelistic materials we have, and wants to learn more about Yeshua.
ARIEL: Adam from the center of the country contacted us, asked many questions about the faith, and just a few days ago declared that he wants to be baptized! But he needs much prayer, as he’s struggling with temptations from his girlfriend to turn away from Yeshua.
SHAYLA: Baruch, a Jewish man studying in an ultra-Orthodox institution, called us, saying that he came to the conclusion that Yeshua is the Messiah! But he’s afraid of going all in because he could lose his family, friends, and home. He needs lots of prayer and encouragement.
ARIEL: And even Muslim Arab Israelis are opening up to the Gospel. A few months ago, I offered prayer to Omar, and Yeshua supernaturally healed him on the spot.
He wasn’t so open to the Good News at the time, but this week he told me, “I saw your videos online,” and we spoke about the whole Gospel together. When we talked about the reality of hell, his usual cheerful smile turned to a somber face, and he said, “Wow, this is serious.”
At the end I asked him, “Do you want to receive Yeshua as the Son of God who died for your sins and rose again?” He said, “Yes!” Hallelujah!
SHAYLA: Noam was like a prodigal son to us. A young Israeli from a religious Jewish background, he saw our evangelistic videos and spoke with us years ago, and received Yeshua. At the time, he was connected to believers, but didn’t ever have discipleship, and unfortunately he fell away into a secular lifestyle.
But just recently, after much intercession for him, we spoke with him in depth again, God stirred a hunger in his heart to search for the truth again, and he experienced God’s love from believers we connected him with in his area.
ARIEL: When I read a text from him just a few days ago where he shared the outcome of his search, I literally shouted, “Hallelujah!” He wrote, “I believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and Lord!” And this time, when we told him about our discipleship group, he said, “Yes, I am definitely in! That’s exactly what I need!”
SHAYLA: Praise God – He’s bringing the dry bones of Israel back to life even in the midst of hardships! And he promised that “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).
ARIEL: We’ve committed our lives to spreading the Gospel, making disciples, and saving lives in this land until that day. But we honestly can’t do it without your help.
Right now, my heart is broken over the fact that we don’t have the capacity to answer and follow up with every one of the thousands of Israeli seekers contacting us.
SHAYLA: The harvest is ready, but we urgently need more laborers! Would you please pray for God to send out the laborers and provide for them?
ARIEL: To hire and equip each new laborer and thereby reach thousands more Israelis per month with the Gospel and disciple many more new believers, we need $3,500 per month. Even the smallest monthly gift makes a difference.
SHAYLA: Also, you can help us reach those who haven’t yet heard. Every $100 given helps us reach nearly 6,000 more Israelis with the life-saving message of the Gospel.
ARIEL: And of course, above all, you can make a powerful difference here in Israel through your fervent and regular prayers. You’re welcome to get our newsletter with inspiring stories and prayer points – including ones we didn’t mention here like the Israeli soldier bombarded by mortars but blown away by Jesus, and many powerful stories from our Pro-Life and Gospel Campaign. You can find all that and more on our website, TreeofLifeIsrael.org.
SHAYLA: And feel free to like and share this video with others so that the word of God’s mighty works will spread!
ARIEL: Shalom from Israel
SHAYLA: and God bless!
