Salvation When We Least Expect It: Camille’s Story

Camille attended our Paris Passover event in 2021 at the insistence of a mutual friend, a Jewish believer named Joël. The following year, she came on her own. That’s when I introduced her to Irma, another Jewish believer (whose story we told in our January 2022 newsletter). I was surprised when Irma put her hand on Camille and prayed for God to reveal Himself, and to show Camille that Yeshua (Jesus) is her Messiah. It was uncharacteristic for Irma, and I wondered if Camille felt pressured.

But unbeknownst to me, God was working! In fact, my wife, Delphine, had offered Camille a copy of our Messianic prophecy book, Y’shua, that same night.

I was so pleased when Camille accepted my invitation to one of our Zikaron BaSalon events, where Holocaust survivors share their stories. Camille’s parents had survived the Nazi concentration camps, but their memories were so traumatic that they would never discuss what happened. So, Camille was grateful to finally connect with her parents’ past. I had expected this but was totally surprised when she exclaimed,

“Josh, I believe!”
“Believe what?” I asked.
She replied, “In Jesus!”
I asked, “What about Him?”
Camille answered, “Everything—that He is the Messiah, the Son of God.”

After years of claiming to be an atheist, I finally realized the truth about Jesus.

It turned out that Camille had read the entire Y’shua book in one sitting, then continued reading the Bible on her own. “After years of claiming to be an atheist, I finally realized the truth about Jesus and the truth about myself,” she admitted with a smile. Wow—how amazing is our God!

But there is another piece of the story that you’ve got to hear!

Joël, the friend who insisted that Camille attend our Passover event, had himself survived the Holocaust at a young age. He became a follower of Jesus and shared his faith with the people he’d grown up with, including Camille. Though they could not understand Joël’s choice, she and the others saw changes in his life and how he had been able to heal spiritually from the trauma he experienced.

Joël holding a book he authored

Over the years, Joël continued to passionately share the gospel with his Jewish friends. When Camille came to that first Passover event, Joël was suffering from kidney failure. Camille was quick to donate one of her kidneys to save her dear friend. Nonetheless, Joël died a month later.

Joël’s funeral was held at a monumental cathedral. He was greatly loved, and more than 1,000 people attended. Camille was very happy that we were there to represent Joël’s Jewish identity.

His death really shook her, but his testimony had made an impact, and she decided she would come to another Passover event. She confessed, “Joshua, I can’t believe like you do … but I’d like to.” And you know the rest.

I know that Jesus and the angels are rejoicing over Camille’s salvation, and so is Joël! While we continue to minister to her here in France, I’ve also connected her with my colleague Kata in Hungary, where Camille was born and where she frequently visits family.

Pray for Camille as she grows in the Lord, and for other Jewish seekers like her. Pray for God to continue raising up witnesses like Joël and Irma—and don’t be surprised if He answers that prayer by emboldening you as you share your faith.

Names and top photo are changed to protect privacy.