Hidden Heroes: How Your Missionaries Serve in Hostile Lands

As we strive to bring the good news of Messiah Yeshua to Jewish people around the world who would otherwise never hear it, some of our missionaries are stationed in countries that are hostile to the open proclamation of the gospel.

One of our volunteers ministering where it is illegal to openly preach the gospel recounts how a housebound senior, “Bubbie” (grandmother in Yiddish), declared her faith in Messiah.

“As I was delivering invitations to people for our holiday events, I was invited to come into an elderly Jewish woman’s apartment. Bubbie was very welcoming and happy to see me.

“I told Bubbie about our community of Jewish believers in Messiah, and she asked where we hold our gatherings, since it’s not something we would be allowed to do out in the open. She had not left the house for a long time—it was clear that she could not get to our events, even with help. I asked her if she believed in the Lord, and she answered with an emphatic, ‘Yes!’

“I asked, ‘When it’s your time, do you want to go to heaven?’ Without hesitation, she replied, ‘Of course I do!’

“I asked her if she believed in Jesus and was surprised when she said she did but had never been invited to profess her faith in Him! As I led her in the prayer of repentance, I marveled at what an awesome God we serve!”

Freedom of religion and freedom of speech are not societal values shared around the world, and the implications of these policies are profound and far-reaching. In places where such hostility to God’s truth is sanctioned by the government, it’s no surprise that spiritual, physical, and emotional poverty can be pronounced. But it’s often in dark places like these that Messiah’s love shines brightest.

An important part of this work involves loving and serving the most needy just as Messiah would.

As we minister in countries where open preaching of the gospel is forbidden, an important part of this work involves loving and serving the most needy just as Messiah would. Loving and serving our Jewish people means sharing Messiah’s love in meaningful and tangible ways, specific to their particular needs and circumstances. This can take many forms, including meeting urgent needs for food and essential medicines. But sometimes it can be as simple as offering friendship and community to those who are isolated and lonely or creating a safe place for seekers to have open spiritual conversations.

At times this work can be dangerous, as we face persecution from hostile unbelievers—and sometimes—even from the government. Because of that, we must carry out our work carefully and covertly.

Nevertheless, we have seen the Lord move powerfully as we deliver His message of hope in Messiah to the most desperate seekers like Yaakov, who wrestled with difficult spiritual questions for many years.

I first met Yaakov over eight years ago, when I was cold calling the Jewish community. Publicly communicating one’s faith in our country can only be done by government-approved organizations, so we must be careful not to draw too much attention to our activities.

We prayed together and Yaakov confessed his faith right there in the hospital ward. Praise God!

Yaakov was interested in spiritual discussions and began attending our clandestine Bible classes and Sabbath classes regularly, in addition to reading the Bible on his own. But after a few years of wrestling with difficult questions with no satisfactory answers, he started attending a traditional Jewish synagogue in the hopes that he would find the spiritual truth he had been looking for. We continued to meet often, and I would ask if he received answers to his questions. He usually responded with a “no.”

I hadn’t been able to see Yaakov for about six months when I found out that he had been hospitalized with cancer. I went to visit him and had a frank conversation with him. Once again, I shared the gospel with him and asked him to repent and reconcile with God. We prayed together and Yaakov confessed his faith right there in the hospital ward. Praise God!

We can rejoice because … he won the ultimate victory of spending eternity with his Messiah.

Sadly, Yaakov lost his battle with cancer a few months ago, but we can rejoice because we know he won the ultimate victory of spending eternity with his Messiah, Yeshua (whom I picture being amused while answering all of Yaakov’s many questions!).

Thanks to partners like you, we are bringing the good news of the gospel to seekers like Bubbie and Yaakov living in countries that are closed to the gospel. Please pray that Bubbie will live out the rest of her days in peace and joy, anticipating meeting her Savior, Yeshua, face-to-face as Yaakov has. And please pray for all the other seekers in dark and hostile places, that they may also find all the answers they are looking for in Messiah’s love.

Names are changed to protect privacy.