Dear Prayer Partners,
A lot has happened since we last wrote, and we are deeply grateful for your continued prayers for us here in Israel. As the war in Gaza continues, threats from Lebanon and Iran intensify, and tensions rise in Judea and Samaria, your support means so much to us.
Our Experience in Haifa Here in Haifa, we have felt the war mostly through the service of reserve soldiers being called away. While our concern for our husbands, sons, daughters, and loved ones is palpable, we haven’t experienced the rocket and UAV bombings that are targeting other areas in the North.
Our Congregation We continue to gather for two services on Shabbat, and the Lord keeps adding to our numbers. We are thankful for the new families who have moved to Haifa and joined our congregation, and especially for those whom the Lord has called to Himself, many of whom had no previous knowledge of Him. In December and June, six individuals publicly declared their new faith through baptism.
Their stories are diverse—some returning to the Lord from believing families, others coming from secular, atheist Jewish backgrounds. Each story is a testimony of God’s power and faithfulness. Please pray for them as we train and equip these new believers. Many in our congregation are the first (and sometimes only) members of their families to come to faith in Yeshua, including two of those recently baptized. Please pray for them as they witness to their families, hoping to see their loved ones come to faith.
Beit Sefer Shabbat and Youth Group Despite the ongoing war, the school year in Haifa began almost normally on September 1st. We celebrated the graduation of children from 6th grade as they transitioned from Shabbat School to the Youth Group. This year, we have 55 children in Shabbat School (ages 3 through 6th grade) and a growing number of babies and toddlers. We also have 45 youth (grades 7-12), meeting on Friday afternoons.
Our Soldiers The war has made it challenging for our Soldiers group to meet regularly, especially in the first six months of the conflict. At various points, 45 individuals from our congregation have been actively serving. We have managed to gather for a few meetings after Shabbat services, providing meals, time to study the Word, prayer, and encouragement.
This is now the second-longest war in Israel’s history—more than eleven months. We’ve worked as a congregation to meet the needs that have arisen during this time. At the onset of the conflict, it became clear that both our congregation and the IDF were unprepared for the prolonged challenges. In the first six months, we reached out to military units to inquire about their immediate needs. Thanks to support from abroad, we were able to deliver essential equipment directly to those on the front lines.
A year ago, Simon, an elder in our congregation, met Michal, a single Israeli mother, on a flight. Their conversation about faith led to an ongoing connection. When the conflict began, Michal reached out, worried about her brother and nephew, both of whom were being deployed to Gaza. Her brother, Avraham, leads the “Nahal” medical unit, and we were able to provide them with much-needed medical supplies.
We met the Nahal unit just hours before their deployment to Gaza. Michal and her daughter later joined Simon’s family for a Shabbat service. Please pray for her and Avraham as they navigate their journey from Jewish Orthodoxy to secularism, in the hope that they will find the truth of Yeshua.
Supporting Other Congregations We are thankful for the opportunity to support other Messianic congregations, especially those near the Lebanese border. We have partnered with a congregation in Kiryat Shmona, a city near the conflict zone. Despite evacuation orders, they have chosen to stay, providing meals and support to soldiers stationed there. Contributions have been vital to these efforts.
Community Day In April, we were finally able to gather as a congregation for “Community Day.” Meeting in two services has made it difficult to gather as one body, and previous attempts to meet were interrupted by COVID and the war. During our Community Day, we heard testimonies from the war and expressed gratitude to those serving in the IDF with meaningful gifts.
How You Can Pray for Us:
- We’ve scheduled another Community Day for September 14th. Please pray for new members to connect well with others in the congregation, and for all to be refreshed and blessed during our time together.
- Pray for wisdom for our leadership as we plan for the upcoming year, that we would understand and meet the needs of the congregation, building them as disciples of Yeshua.
- Pray for those newly baptized to grow in their relationship with the Lord, and that they would be effective witnesses to their families and friends.
- Continue to pray for the people of Israel to discern that tradition, religion, and military strength cannot bring peace, and that their eyes would be opened to the truth of Yeshua.
- Pray for our national leaders to have wisdom in their decisions, for the hostages and their families as they face danger and grief, and for our soldiers and their families, that they would be protected.
We are so thankful for your prayers and your faithful intercession.
With gratitude and blessings,
Shmuel Aweida and the Beit Eliyahu Congregation
