Shalom!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Sending warmest greetings from Israel. As we look back on 2025, we can see how far we’ve come. Since last September, Israel has seen many developments and changes. It’s a worrying time, with political and economic instability on the rise and rumours of war circulating. And isn’t it wonderful that God’s grace continues to flow throughout every corner of this land? Our Negev Worship Community stands within this grace. We can’t wait to share with you the wonderful news and the incredible grace we’ve experienced over the past three months.
Sharing the Lord’s Supper in anticipation of his coming.
Each year, we invite international students from our community and local neighbors to join us for a celebratory dinner during Sukkot, Hanukkah, and Christmas. We reach out to students who have traveled far from home and those who might otherwise be alone during the holidays, providing an opportunity for us to share a meal together. As we gather, we reflect on the significance of Sukkot, Christmas, and these traditional Jewish holidays. We come together in God’s grace, hoping to experience the Lord’s presence once again. This year, just like in previous years, over 40 people joined us for the holiday dinner. Everyone contributed by bringing food to share, and we prepared additional dishes so everyone could enjoy an abundant meal.
Truthfully, preparing meals for over 40 people every holiday season is no easy task. People often ask how we manage it. Yet we prepare with hearts committed to practicing God’s grace, which He continually pours out upon us. Moreover, God grants us the strength to carry out this ministry. This year alone, starting with Passover and continuing through Hanukkah and Christmas, we shared meals with a total of 200 people. Though modest compared to Jesus’ table, serving in this small Negev village is an immense honor and joy beyond measure. We thank God and our fellow workers who prayed for us and joined us in this endeavor. We ask for your continued prayers and support so we may sustain this ministry of service..
Praise and Worship Echoing Through the Wilderness
The academic semesters at Israeli universities begin around mid-October every year. Research institutes located in remote areas, in particular, welcome students even later. Therefore, our community holds an interfaith worship service with international students each year, before the start of the semester, to mark the beginning of the new term. Taking advantage of our proximity to the wilderness, we held the ‘2025 Desert Worship Night’ there again this year. Under the theme ‘Look to the Lord like an eagle, like a deer’, we resolved to live lives aligned with God’s purpose in calling us to the wilderness. Everyone experienced immense joy and the delight of fellowship while preparing for the service and cooking food. Once again, we were able to contribute by preparing food and supporting the service. Some people look at me strangely, wondering why I’m not leading worship while wearing an apron in the kitchen. However, I believe that serving delicious food is also a valuable ministry and that doing the difficult, dirty work that others find hard is precisely where I should be. Therefore, I was able to serve with a joyful and glad heart. The sound of praise echoing through the wilderness signified the presence of the Holy Spirit, enabling the students present, as well as participating students from various regions, travellers and local Jewish believers, to experience God’s faithfulness and goodness. I pray that, if the opportunity arises, our intercessors will also be able to join us there one day.
The Time of Intercession: Transforming the Negev
Every Tuesday morning, our living room transforms into a space filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. This time is dedicated to our intercessory prayer meeting, which began a year ago. What started as a small gathering for the needs of local Jewish believers has become a place of grace, attracting visitors who inevitably attend—because God’s presence is undeniably felt here.
Although we are few in number, we pray that our dedication and prayers will transform this village, enabling it to serve as a beacon for the Negev. Please join us in praying for the Jewish families in our community and for the village itself.
Israel is at a turning point.
In early December, a storm named Bairon hit Israel. This storm caused unprecedented flooding and inundation damage in Israel, and refugees in the Gaza Strip, who had been living in tents without homes, also faced great hardship. Thankfully, however, this storm significantly alleviated the drought that had persisted for nearly three years. While cities and villages faced unexpected flooding, the parched Negev and farms were blessed with abundant water, enabling them to complete preparations for the next farming season.
People photographed the rivers and waterfalls created by the long-awaited floodwaters, and various social media platforms were filled with news of refreshing waterfalls and overflowing streams. Refugees who had suffered due to the unexpected flooding were able to overcome their hardships with relief supplies and assistance provided by Israel.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas is nearing its conclusion. All but one of the hostages and recovered bodies have been returned, and the peace agreement has now entered its second phase. However, Hamas continues to pursue its ambitions for war and terror, effectively holding Gaza’s citizens hostage to make unreasonable demands on the West, including the United States and Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah in the north is rearming and eyeing Israel’s northern regions. Additionally, armed groups in Syria, diverging from the government’s stance, are displaying hostility towards Israel. Amid all this, Iran poses a continued threat to peace in the Middle East by supporting Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syrian armed groups, while also accelerating its nuclear weapons development.
Many people say that Israel is the last bastion of peace in the Middle East. Israel serves as a bulwark not only militarily, but also spiritually, protecting Christianity and the Western world from the forces of evil Islam. While it warns those under the illusion that peace would reign without Israel that true chaos would inevitably follow, to those who misunderstand the concept of peace, Israel can only be seen as an enormous stumbling block.
Dear friends, Israel is like the rough stone God has placed in this land, and we must take care of it. I know it can be tempting to blame this stone when people stumble over it, but I believe that God holds Israel here for a higher purpose, just as the stone that was rejected by the builders ultimately became the Saviour of all.
In these difficult times, God is opening people’s hearts and minds. Since 7 October 2023, openness to the Gospel in Israel has increased by almost half compared to a decade ago. Countless Messianic churches and organisations have reported a steady increase in enquiries about the Gospel. While not a visible, massive revival, God is at work here. In this difficult and chaotic time, people are seeking God. Now more than ever, we must all come together in prayer so that those who believe in Yeshua can faithfully fulfil their role as a beacon of light and hope.
Our Family Update
By God’s grace, our family is doing well. Although our financial situation remains extremely difficult, God provides for us every day, just as he did for Elijah through the ravens. Our two sons are both doing well: one is in Korea and the other is in Jerusalem. Ha-joon recently enlisted in the military, successfully completed his training, and is now serving as an assistant instructor. We are thankful that he endured the training period without major difficulties and graduated. Please pray that, even while serving as an instructor and surrounded by good role models, he may become a person who can share God’s goodness with others.
Ye-jun is happily pursuing his studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music without incident. Although he briefly felt discouraged by other students with more experience, he is doing well, dedicating himself diligently to the piano each day without regretting the path God has called him to. Moreover, by attending the Jerusalem Korean Church, he joyfully lives out his faith, easing the loneliness and longing he felt while living in the countryside without fellow Koreans. While he waits for his work visa to be resolved, please join us in praying for a prompt answer.
Dear friends in the Lord,
Looking back on the year, so many things happened. There was war, a difficult trip to Korea, and we lived through many events. Reflecting, there is not a single moment that was not graced. Seeing the bank account balance and a life with nothing left in hand, there are times of regret. But ultimately, it is because of God’s grace—which has not let us down until this moment and has led us onward—that I can write these words now. Everything is grace. Truly, boundless grace! While I wish He would give more and give abundantly, God has always first given us hearts that can be satisfied. I thank God for gently guiding us, keeping us from greed. I hope our beloved fellow workers share this same heart. Rather than giving thanks because I have an overflow, I pray we close this year with true gratitude from God—the kind that allows us to give thanks even when we have nothing, even when we lack, simply because God is there.
I will pray in the wilderness for you to become a people who give thanks to God, who is with you.
Thank you..
-From the Negev Desert, Kim Dong-Koo & Lina-
He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. Psalm 121:4
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Israel’s well-being!
- Pray that all hostages return and that the peace agreements with Hamas and Hezbollah are upheld.
- Pray that all forces threatening Israel are silenced and that internal political stability is achieved.
- Pray that Israel’s Jews will increasingly hunger for God, not merely return to religious Judaism, but discover Yeshua and obtain the true freedom of the Gospel.
- Pray for the revival of Messianic Jewish churches. Pray that they will be prepared to welcome the many Jews who will return in the future and experience revival where discipleship occurs within the Gospel.
- Pray for the new generation of the Gospel. Pray that they may be bold, fully reflecting Christ’s light in a culture growing darker by the day. Pray for their studies, souls, and families.
- Pray that the Bridge to Israel may open doors for evangelistic ministry. Pray for wisdom, finances, and courage to make bolder decisions.
- Pray for us as we serve the Midrashet Ben Gurion community. Pray for unwavering stamina, wisdom, and generous hearts so we can faithfully serve as channels of the gospel to international students, local believers, and unbelieving Jews.
- Pray for our finances to be met. Our monthly expenses amount to 5 million won. Rising prices have increased our costs. Please join us in praying that the necessary funds will be provided, enabling a steady monthly support of 3 million won.
- We have successfully obtained visas again this year. However, Yeojun’s visa is delayed. Please pray that his visa will be issued promptly so he can pursue his studies without difficulty and devote himself to the piano.
Brigde 2 Israel 