Our mission is to share the gospel with Jewish people from all walks of life, but that doesn’t stop us from proclaiming Jesus to anyone we encounter. Last September, I received a phone call from a social worker in central Israel. He asked if we had space in our women’s shelter for a homeless woman named Amal.*

Amal was originally from Taybeh, a predominantly Muslim city in Israel. Five years earlier, she had fled her hometown, and ever since then, she has been living without a stable place to call home.

Amal has four children who are no longer in her custody. One of her daughters struggles with addiction, is involved in prostitution, and has been violent toward her. The environment in Taybeh had become so unsafe and hostile that Amal felt she had no choice but to run.

When I invited Amal for an intake interview, it took five scheduled appointments before she finally came. She was hesitant and afraid, worried that entering a structured program would feel confining and rob her of freedom. But in mid-October, Amal walked through our doors and was welcomed into the shelter.

Barriers we might have feared simply fell away.

For our staff, this was a first. We had never hosted a Muslim woman before and given the tension during the ongoing conflict in Israel, we wondered what the dynamics would be like. It quickly became clear that the Lord was at work. Barriers we might have feared simply fell away, and Amal radiated warmth, openness, and kindness. She shared her life generously, supporting other residents, and became a true blessing within the program.

From the very beginning, Amal showed a deep spiritual hunger. She eagerly joined our morning Bible devotions and asked thoughtful questions. One evening, she approached a staff member and said, “Teach me how to pray like you do, not the structured prayers I know from Islam.”

The conversation lasted hours as they talked about Jesus, grace, and what it means to speak to God from the heart. At the end, they prayed together, and Amal asked to receive Jesus as Lord of her life. Praise God!

Since then, Amal has continued to grow spiritually. She regularly asks for prayer, attends congregational gatherings, and shares how meaningful these times have been for her. She has even described dreams where she prays in Jesus’ name against things that frighten her. We see a genuine transformation taking place and a deep hunger to know God more.

Amal’s journey is not without challenges. She longs for her children and struggles with complicated relationships, financial hardship, intrusive thoughts, and depression. But she is in the process of physical and spiritual restoration, and we are seeing God walk with her every step of the way.

Amal’s story is unique, but it does not exist in isolation. She is one life shaped by years of instability, loss, and fear. These realities touch countless people across the region.

Our calling is not driven by politics but by compassion and the hope of the gospel.

In moments of deep suffering and division, our calling is not driven by politics but by compassion and the hope of the gospel. Our staff continue to deeply grieve the immense pain and loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza. Our hearts break for every child, every family, and every person caught in the crossfire of this ongoing conflict. We are grateful for the ceasefire and continue to pray that it will hold.

Stories like Amal’s are why we’re planting a new congregation and ministry center in Haifa, the largest city in northern Israel where Jews and Muslims live side by side. We’re creating a welcoming space where Jewish and Arab neighbors can meet, build friendships, and encounter the hope of Yeshua (Jesus). Most Jewish or Muslim people will not walk into a church, but they will sit down for coffee and an honest conversation. This center will be a safe place for seekers to ask questions, explore faith, and experience the love of Jesus through genuine community.

We believe the only true and lasting hope for peace in the Middle East (and anywhere in the world) is found in Jesus. Political solutions may bring temporary relief, but only the gospel can transform hearts, reconcile enemies, and bring healing that endures.

Please pray for Amal’s spiritual growth, for inner healing, and for restoration with her children. Pray for our missionaries, staff, and volunteers to be equipped with the readiness to share the gospel with whomever they encounter. Finally, pray for peace among Jews and Muslims in the region and that all will come to know Jesus as Messiah.

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.