Whether we’re talking about Hanukkah or Christmas, Yeshua is the reason for the season. Both holidays tell the story of the Jewish Messiah, whether it’s the cleansing from idolatry and the temple menorah representing the light that dwells among us, or the story of the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem. Both holidays are typically celebrated without a thought to the Messianic meaning, but ONE FOR ISRAEL held a seasonal outreach event to bring Yeshua back into focus:
“He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.” (John 1:7)
Both Arabs and Jews were invited to the special event in the northern city of Haifa. The Arabic outreach team prepared for hundreds of believers and non-believers to come and hear about bearing a witness to the light. Although the presentation took place in Arabic, there was simultaneous translation into Hebrew for anyone who needed it.
Three powerful testimonies were part of the line up: one from an ex-Muslim who was trained as a terrorist but was radically saved, one from a Jewish lady called Orit who had a revelation of Yeshua in a synagogue on Yom Kippur, and another lady who is a school teacher, warning of the spiritual dangers of yoga. The main message came from Carlos Damianos, who talked about the light of Yeshua from John chapter 1, and the importance of being willing to share this light without fear.
There was a festive meal together and two worship bands — one Jewish and one Arab — bringing praise to God and to the Light who came into the world.
Most Arabic speakers in Israel are Muslims and less than 2% of Israel’s population are labelled “Christian”. Most Arab Christians reside in the northern towns and cities of Israel, in Haifa, Nazareth, Shfaram, and around the Galilee, so Haifa is the perfect place to hold an event about Jesus in Arabic.
Many Christian Arabs in Israel have never spent time reading the Bible, much like the millions in the West who celebrate Christmas each year with no real thought to the meaning behind the holiday. The term “Christian” does not necessarily indicate faith, but rather culture, so we are praying that many will come and meet our Savior in a personal way. Some Muslims will also be open to an invitation to an event like this, and so please join is in praying that many come and find the true light for themselves!
Please pray for all those who came to hear about Yeshua, the light of the world: that they would receive His light and life.
“The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:2)
Photo by Elena Kloppenburg on Unsplash
