My story:
“I became a police officer at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (it was my job in the army) and it was there that I was actually exposed to the whole story of Jesus. Before that I knew nothing about him.
I really thought like the majority of people — that He was just someone from the Christian religion, etc. but that’s where I actually became interested and I was very curious to understand more.
My father always studied the Bible and whenever I had a question I would turn to him, so I told him that one of the policemen gave me a tour of the church and Via Dolorosa and explained a little about the story of Jesus.
That was the moment my father admitted to me that he believed that Jesus is the Messiah, and I didn’t understand anything, so he started to tell me how he came to faith. It turns out that he has been a believer since the age of 29.
Each time he told me about his experiences with the faith I was very interested, but somewhere I felt that if I believed in it I had to make a commitment, and I didn’t want to make a commitment to anything at that time.
It took me a long time to admit it, but today I see the whole way I always had signs that it was the truth. I just wasn’t ready to see it.
Then I started reading the whole New Testament, and I asked for forgiveness for my sins and I really accepted Yeshua and after a few months. I also got baptized.
I think one of the things that made me not want to accept it is that I would see religion as a way of doing everything, like in Judaism you have to do all kinds of commandments, but there is no one in the world who really manages to comply with all of it. There is a rabbi who is supposedly more righteous than the common people and I never really understood why it was like that.
It took me a long time to really understand the simplicity of believing in Jesus: what He taught — on the one hand how much depth and on the other hand how simple his words were — it amazed me so much. Today I truly feel that the emptiness I felt then no longer has a place. I feel calm, peaceful.
And I must say that your videos are excellent, I’ve learned a lot through them.”
What to know
- Living in Israel, especially in Jerusalem, many Israelis get a very distorted picture of who Yeshua was, and is today. Elaborate churches full of serious men in robes with strict rules who can’t agree with one another often does not give a good witness.
- There are many Jewish Israelis who believe in secret, but feel they cannot be open about their faith because of the implications in their family and society.
- Our videos tackle common misconceptions that many Jewish people have about Yeshua and are great for busting myths and changing perceptions.
- Reading the New Testament is one of the best ways for Israelis to learn the truth about what Yeshua really taught and said about Himself.
How to Pray
- Yeshua said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Divisions among believers prevents people from seeing who Yeshua really is. Please pray for healing an reconciliation between believers — for love and unity that glorifies Yeshua and testifies to who He is.
- Pray for all those who are stationed at Christian sites like this man. Pray that they would get a glimpse of the truth, and a hunger to know more!
- Pray for those who feel they cannot be open about what they believe — for fellowship, encouragement, and breakthroughs in their situations.
