A few months ago, I went out to do some filming for our So Be It! YouTube channel, expecting a normal day of talking with Jewish people about Jesus on the streets. As it often happens, when a good conversation gets going, more people stop and listen. That day, it was a group of Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews) who gathered around us, listening carefully as we talked about Yeshua (Jesus), the Scriptures, and the hope we have in the Messiah. These are all topics that the Haredim are curious about, though they can also bring out some anger in them.

There was one man in the group who stood out. He was maybe in his late 20s and was dressed in the standard black suit with long sidelocks of the Haredim. But while most people will eventually shake their heads and walk away, this guy stayed the whole time and paid attention. He even pulled out a little notebook and took notes. When the main conversation eventually wrapped up and most of the crowd left, he stayed behind with a few others who were asking more questions.

I didn’t think I’d ever see him again after that day, but he really stuck out in my mind, you know?

Then, about a month later, I went to Jerusalem to film. That day, I happened to run into my good friend and former So Be It! co-host, Jeff Morgan (now host of Highway 53), and another friend Golan Boshi from the ministry One for Israel. Somehow, we all happened to be in the same place at the same time! We were all filming and talking with people from the Haredi community. It was encouraging to see how God brought us together with these incredible ministry partners to reach his people!

And the response we were all having was amazing! There was a small crowd of Haredim who were listening and engaging with all three of us, going from one conversation to another and back. The day couldn’t get much better—until I saw another familiar face. It was the same Haredi guy from a month ago!

We recognized each other immediately and greeted each other. But what happened next surprised me even more: this guy knew all of our names! Not just mine, but Jeff’s and Golan’s too, even though they had never met. He knew who we all were. He knew our videos. He knew the conversations. And he was excited to see us in person.

It made me think he wasn’t just curious. He was spiritually hungry.

He stayed there for hours listening as we talked about Yeshua with others. He was locked in, absorbing everything, staying close but not trying to stand out. It made me think he wasn’t just curious. He was spiritually hungry. But that didn’t mean that he was ready for further connection.

At one point, I asked if we could exchange contact information to stay in touch. He answered sadly that it was not possible. I can understand the risk for him. In the Haredi community, showing interest in Yeshua can lead to serious personal consequences. Taking that kind of step could come at a high price.

That was a sad moment for me. Here was a guy who had invested hours watching our videos in secret, obviously wanting to know more about Yeshua, but the cost of being found out was still too high.

I can’t say for sure what is happening in his heart, but I believe God is at work, drawing him to Yeshua. And having that one Haredi man on the street is a powerful sign of a larger work God is doing. He’s drawing Jewish people to himself. So, more and more of our people are becoming curious and even watching our videos in secret. They may be afraid to be caught showing interest in Yeshua, but still, they are watching.

When a young Haredi guy recognizes me, Jeff, and Golan on the street, and sticks around for hours listening to conversations about Yeshua, that stands out. To me, it points to a deeper work God is doing behind the scenes, beyond anything we can see, track, or measure.

So, please pray. Pray for endurance and effectiveness for us and for our colleagues from other ministries doing similar work. Pray for this person: that the seeds planted would continue to grow; that truth would take root deeply; and that God would give him clarity, courage, and protection. Pray for a deeper revelation of Yeshua as Messiah. And pray for the many others like him who are secretly searching and counting the cost.

We don’t always know who is watching. But God does. And he is at work.