ONE FOR ISRAEL’s Arabic ministry team, though just three people in number, are seeing some wonderful fruit from their labor. “We saw the work of God, there have been some big challenges, and we needed miracles,” Carlos Damianos relayed. They needed miracles and they got them.
But there’s more to come!
Carlos, who heads up the Arabic ministry, shared some of the wonderful feedback they’ve had in the weeks after the large event they put together in December.
“We had feedback from both Arabs and Jews,” he says, explaining that there were around 500 people at the event roughly half were Arabs and half Jews. There were another 80 on a waiting list, wanting to come, but the hall had reached capacity. “It was historic,” Carlos exclaimed.
Carlos invited people to pray at the end of the meeting, many have approached the team since, saying that God touched their hearts. They even got a letter from a Jewish lawyer (not a believer) who attended. He said,
“I couldn’t imagine that someone could gather Jews and Arabs under one roof, talking about spiritual and eternal things, at this critical time for Israel. It really moved me.”
He ended his letter with a quote from the New Testament:
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
There was worship in Arabic from the Sakhnini Brothers and also in Hebrew from Beit Eliahu, as well as testimonies from Orit, who left Orthodox Judaism, and Kareem, who used to be a Salafi trained terrorist before God radically changed his life (pictured with Carlos below). There was also a testimony from Enas, an Arab lady who came to faith from a nominal Christian background. She had been involved in New Age activities, looking for peace, but eventually she found Yeshua.
Kareem as he explained that he was raised to hate Jews, and how God had revealed Himself to him ten years ago, changing his heart completely.
Understandably, the Israel’s security services had their concerns about an ex-terrorist coming to the country, but Carlos explained Kareem’s background and after a thorough three hour investigation they were not only satisfied that he was no threat to Israel, but they were actually pleased to welcome him.
In his interview at the airport, Kareem explained how he loves Jewish people and is an advocate for Israel in Europe where he is now based. One of the officials told Carlos, “You poured out so much information and it’s so moving, I have goosebumps,” adding, “It makes me want to cry.”
Kareem testified, “I grew up to hate Israel but today I am full of love for Jewish people.”
“God did wonderful things,” says Carlos. “It was amazing. We are planning to do more like this”
Since the event, Carlos has been corresponding with the Jewish lawyer, who had been watching some of our videos, including one where Carlos discusses how Yeshua can bring ex-Muslims to love Israel with Dr. Golan Broshi. “He’s at a crossroads,” Carlos says.
Similarly, his elderly neighbors who are also non-believers came to the event and said, “We felt something different. God really touched our hearts.”
What’s next for the Arabic Ministry?
Our Arabic ministry reaches out in the Arabic language to millions around the world through a strong media presence. They have gained hundreds of thousands of followers on various media platforms, around 70% of whom are Muslim. There are also many Arabic speakers who are nominally Christian, some of whom have never picked up a Bible in their lives. Others go to church occasionally, while others are born again and strong in their faith.
Youth conference coming up
In addition to reaching out with the gospel to non-believers, the team are putting on another conference on Friday 6th February, this time for Christian young people.
The theme is based around this Bible passage in 2 Timothy:
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:20-22)
The name of the conference is “Useful to the Master of the House.”
They will be gathering young Christian Arabs from all over Israel for the event, encouraging them to seek God and to be a useful vessel in His hands.
Please pray for the event, for all the young people who come, and for the team as they organize the event. It always takes miracles!
