Latest News from Israel

Joy: Welcome, friends, to God’s Church on the Move—the podcast that takes you to the spiritual hotspots around the world where God is transforming lives and building His Kingdom.

Before we jump into today’s episode on Israel, I want to tell you about something we’re working on — something to look forward to. We’re calling it Asked and Answered. It’s a Q&A‑style podcast where Ron and Charis Pierce answer your questions about modern missions.

Learn more about Empower, the countries we work in, how missions have changed over the years, the link between transportation and spiritual growth, and so much more. To have your question answered, send it to askus@​ronpearce.​org, and then be sure to listen to see if it gets featured!

Also, don’t forget about Ron’s Adventures, our other podcast where we share the lighter side of international travel.

But now — back to God’s Church on the Move with Ron and Charis Pearce.

Joy: Welcome to the studio, guys!

Ron: It’s good to be back.

Joy: Today, we’re tackling Israel.

Ron: Israel is truly unlike any other country in the world. It has a distinct character, flavour, and spiritual dynamic that stands apart from the regions we work in — Asia, Africa, or even other Middle Eastern nations.

There’s the rich history — the land of the Bible — and then there’s the present. Seeing it all firsthand is powerful. From what happened in Jesus’ day, to what’s happened in the 2,000 years since His death and resurrection, and now — how that’s all affecting today’s religious and political dynamics.

And that’s what today’s podcast is about. This will be a shorter episode, but it’s going to focus on one key message:

God is moving in Israel today like never before.

There is a new level of receptivity to the Gospel that hasn’t been seen in over 2,000 years.

Joy: Just hearing you say that is exciting — especially because, if I’m honest, I don’t always think about Israel the way I should. So, to hear they’re hungry for the Scriptures is amazing.

Ron: Exactly. I was just there a couple of weeks ago, visiting with many Messianic and Arab leaders. One brother — I can’t share his name — he’s a respected leader in the land. I asked him how Israel has gone from being a spiritually cold nation, resistant to the Gospel for so long, to what we’re now seeing: thousands of people coming to know Jesus as the Messiah. Even rabbis are investigating the claims of the cross and passages like Isaiah 53. Young people are watching YouTube videos and coming to faith.

He told me, ​“We’re not in full-blown revival, but we are far from the coldness of the past. Something shifted about five to eight years ago, and in the last two to three years, things have intensified.”

I asked him what he would call this moment. He said, ​“We’re no longer cold. We’re not yet burning with revival, but there’s receptivity. There are questions.”

Joy: That’s huge. Just to hear that people are even asking questions.

Ron: Exactly. And then he quoted this verse: ​“Come, let us reason together, says the Lord.” He said that’s what Israel is doing right now — reasoning with God. People are being logical. They’re looking at the evidence and beginning to see how Jesus must be the Messiah.

Joy: Isn’t it true that for so long, they just didn’t want to hear anything about Jesus?

Ron: Oh, absolutely. For years, Christians were unwelcome. The name of Jesus was treated like a swear word. Few in the land were believers. But now — it’s changing. Hundreds, even thousands, are attending congregations, reading the Scriptures, and growing in Christ.

Charis: It’s incredible to see. When people receive a Bible or New Testament, they don’t tuck it away. They sit on the curb and read it. They crave it.

RON: We’ve seen photos of this. Soldiers, ultra-Orthodox Jews, labourers on break — all reading God’s Word on the streets. In some countries, people take Scripture and toss it aside. In Israel right now? They cherish it.

Joy: Why now? What’s caused this?

Ron: We believe the Holy Spirit is opening a door. Romans 11:25 says there will be a partial hardening of Israel until the full number of Gentiles comes in. Empower works around the world and we’ve seen millions of Gentiles turning to God. Now, that veil over Israel is beginning to lift.

We are living in historic times.

Joy: That gives me goosebumps. The fact that we’re alive to witness this is incredible.

Ron: It is. I wrote about it while I was in Jerusalem — how privileged we are to see the beginnings of Israel turning to Jesus, in the very place where He died and rose again. We are witnessing the early stages of His return.

Joy: You mentioned Arab leaders as well. Can you share more about that?

Ron: Right now, there are about 30,000 Messianic Jewish believers attending congregations in Israel — across about 300 congregations. They come from different backgrounds: Russian, Ethiopian, Hebrew-speaking, etc. There’s also another 30,000 who believe but haven’t made it public — many are youth, or even rabbis, who remain hidden because of family or cultural pressures.

And then there are the Arab believers. In the north especially, we’re working with Arab congregations seeing incredible growth. One pastor near Nazareth shared how they have so many people listening outside the church that they had to put up a tent. Then another tent. Now, more people are outside than inside, listening through open windows.

Joy: They’re not allowed to come in?

Ron: Right — many are from Muslim backgrounds and haven’t made a public declaration. It could be dangerous for them. But they’re hungry. They’re reading their Bibles outside and listening to the Gospel.

Joy: Is it legal to approach people with the Gospel on the street?

Ron: It’s complex. But young people are especially open. Technology is a major factor. Israel has the highest online engagement in the world — 60% more than any other nation. They are constantly online.

Joy: More than North America?

Ron: Yes. They’re constantly watching videos, reading content, and engaging. That’s why YouTube and digital evangelism are so effective. There’s a powerful video on Isaiah 53 — a man reads the passage on the street, and one person says, ​“Well, this has to be Jesus.” Then he adds, ​“But we weren’t allowed to read this before.”

Some rabbis claimed it wasn’t about a person but about Israel as a nation. But now, people are starting to see the Truth. They’re saying, ​“I was blind, but now I see.

They are really into understanding this one website I mentioned. I had interviewed a fellow who’s connected with it. It’s been downloaded in Israel — a small country — 2 million times. That tells you something. They are really on it.

Another brother I just met with is the pastor of a larger congregation inside Jerusalem. I asked him, ​“Are you sure the videos you’re putting out are being watched?” He said, ​“Absolutely.” I said, ​“How do you know?” And he said, ​“We just got a bill from Google.”

Apparently, if you’re on Google and watching a video for more than eight seconds, they send you a bill. He said the bill showed that three million hits had been made — people who had watched the video for over eight seconds. That’s not accidental. That means people are intentionally watching. They’re producing these videos constantly.

I saw one. It was really interesting. They called it Isaiah 53: ​“The Forbidden Chapter.” It’s in Hebrew with translation. The interviewer made sure the people understood what the passage meant. And then in some of the videos, they asked, ​“Does this remind you of anyone?” Some said, ​“Absolutely not.” But then there were some whose faces changed, and they said, ​“Yes. It’s Jesus.” It was incredible to see.

If Israel has nine million people and the video got three million hits, that means some people are watching more than once. They’re sharing it with friends. They are opening up. It means there is an incredible opportunity. This is not just opening a door — this is saying, ​“Here are the answers you’ve been looking for.”

Many people have never even heard of Isaiah 53. It’s been removed. They’ve never read it.

Moving along, let’s talk about another group: the military. Young people have to serve up to three years. Traditionally, Messianic believers were not well-liked. But now, because of their walk with God and their behaviour, they are respected. They’re recognized as quality people — with morals, ethics, and values that line up with the Word of God.

Now they’re able to share the Gospel with their friends. They’re impressing commanding officers. Everything is working together for good. It got to the point where some anti-missionary Jewish folks approached a commanding officer asking for dirt on Messianic believers, hoping to get them dismissed. He told them, ​“Get out of my office. They are the best of my soldiers. I wish I had hundreds more.”

They’re being recognized now for their lifestyle in Jesus. Yeshua is transforming them. And others are watching. Their reputation is growing. They’re carrying Bibles into training, into camps, and studying the Word. This is excellent. When young people are doing this, it’s excellent.

Joy: They’re not afraid.

Ron: No, they’re not. And they’re online. Even though they might not be allowed to have their phones on the front lines, when they return, they show their friends the videos. Videos that match up with the Word of God.

Now let’s shift. There’s something happening in Israel that’s different. All the forces are coming from the north — Hezbollah, with its 100,000 missiles in Lebanon. They are angry. You’ve got folks in the West Bank and Gaza sending firebombs and balloons, causing turmoil. Iran and other nations want to wipe Israel off the map. There’s war on the borders with Syria and Lebanon. All of this is converging.

You’d think people would be panicking. But I drive around, and life goes on as usual. They’ve learned to live with the turmoil. Sirens go off, and they say, ​“Here we go again,” and head to the shelters. I asked one brother, ​“How do you live like this?” He said, ​“Now that we’ve given our lives to Yeshua, He’s in charge. He will take care of us.”

Even in the shelters or on the streets, people ask, ​“How do you have peace and joy?” And they get to share about Jesus. Believers have learned to live with the shaking. But those who don’t know the Lord? They look calm on the outside, but inside they are searching. They know the world is getting worse. They’re reading the headlines, and they’re afraid.

But this is the day we’ve been waiting for. People are no longer looking for systems or political leaders. They’re looking for a spiritual leader. Someone to give them peace. To give them the answers.

I asked one brother, ​“Is this new?” He said, ​“Oh yes. For years, this wasn’t the case. People followed rabbis or others they thought could be the Messiah. But now they want God to reveal Himself.”

This movement is being led by two groups: the young and the old. You’d be amazed how many Russian Holocaust survivors from the Soviet Union or Germany are still alive and bold in their faith. They tell others, ​“Come to church. I’ve found the answer. I no longer fear.”

And then there are the young Messianic believers — 13, 14, 15 years old. Once scared, now filled with peace from Jesus. They’re bold and not ashamed of the Gospel.

That’s the verse I want to end with:

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe: first to the Jew, then also to the Gentile.”

That’s what’s happening in Israel. Jesus is no longer a curse word — He is a symbol of hope. With all the nations coming against them, people are starting to look to Yeshua as their answer.

We’re not at the end yet, but we are not where we used to be. We have turned a corner. That’s why at Empower, we are providing Scripture, New Testaments, study materials for pastors, and resources for young video creators. We support Messianic pastors to plant congregations and work with Arab churches to get the Word out in Arabic. We are doing all of that.

We can’t discuss how, but we are doing it.

Joy: I just find it so interesting that when there’s an openness to the Gospel and the Lord moves, it crosses generations, economic status, and language barriers. We see it again here in Israel.

Ron: Exactly. This is what we should be excited about. Joy, you asked why people aren’t more excited. It’s because they don’t know what’s happening. But now they do. If ever there was a time to get excited, it is now. Not just for the Gentiles. Now it’s for the Jews as well.

Joy: There’s not much more to say to that. Except — let’s get excited. We have turned a corner.

You’ve been listening to God’s Church on the Move. I’m Joy Kita.