Here is a story from SGA-supported Pastor Oleg who remains in Israel despite the risk of ministry during the Israel-Hamas war. With his family safe in another location, Oleg is reaching many of his Israeli neighbors who are hurting and providing them with emergency assistance—made possible thanks to the generosity of friends like you.

See how the Gospel is going through an open door to those without hope. 

On October 29, I was on my way visiting needy families in Ashkelon. On that day, I had four addresses to deliver groceries, but I would like to share with you about just one visit.

I went to the district of Ayadut Britannia in anticipation of helping people who I was about to meet for the first time. A woman answered the door. As we got acquainted, I said that we are Christians and provide help to our fellow townsmen in this difficult time. The woman turned out to be quite communicative and shared with me her sorrows. She takes care of her husband and son, who are both disabled.

First, we met with her son named Alexander, a young man of about 30. I noticed a sparkling chain around his neck, apparently with a Star of David. Alexander was very open to talk. He told me that in May, two years ago, a rocket hit their apartment. In my turn, I also shared that at that very time our apartment was also destroyed by a rocket. By God’s grace, it only damaged our housing, and my wife and I miraculously survived.

However, Alexander’s case had different consequences. That unfortunate rocket explosion made him disabled; now he can only sit on his bed and has difficulty standing, apparently due to severe damage to his spine. The man went through pain, fear, and a chain of surgeries in the hospital. Besides, the medics found an unknown toxic substance in his lungs, which also affected his liver. Alexander suggests that Hamas deliberately put that substance into the rocket to affect adversely one’s health. I offered my empathy to Alexander and shared about the Almighty God in Whom we can trust. The young man showed me a small booklet at the bedside table and said, “I read the prayers in this book.”

Then I met with the woman’s bedridden husband. He looked very weak and could hardly move around the apartment without other people’s help. The woman looked at me and said, “It’s too hard. Two disabled people on my hands. There is no one else to help. I can’t even go outdoors.”

Such visits with people you have never met before, help to understand better the simple truth: war, like the Moon, has two sides. One is dark. The other is bright. But, it is in the darkness, when a ray of hope shines brighter.

I am hopeful that evening our visit to this family—one weak woman and two bedridden men—brought into their difficult world the light of the Gospel of Christ, Who reminds again that in His presence there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Rev. 21:4).