Anti-Christian group with criminal connection seeks to thwart Zion’s Hope missionary efforts in Israel.

Editor’s Note: The anti-Christian groups mentioned in this report should not be construed to represent the actions or attitudes of the vast majority of Jewish people in Israel. Most are tolerant and courteous to those of other faiths.

Written by John Theodor, Missionary Director in Israel for
Zion’s Hope.

In my last report, I updated you on our recent Mega Evangelism Campaign in Jerusalem. We used 200 buses, 3 newspapers, Jerusalem radio, and 3 outdoor mega TV screens to share prophesied Bible events for Israel and the world.

When we do something like this for the Kingdom, however, the evil one does not sit still, and his work showed itself only a few weeks after the end of our campaign.

An anti-Christian group distributed hate material throughout my neighborhood It was a flyer with pictures, full names and addresses of certain church leaders, including myself, that went to every mailbox in my area and the areas where these pastors live. They did this to warn everyone that we are believers in Jesus; therefore, we are very dangerous, people need to be aware of us, and our activities could target them next. It was also done to send us a message that they know who we are and where we live. This hate material, containing my name, address, and picture, is a “first” for me and my family, but it is not the first time this has happened to other elders in our congregation and other churches in Israel.

For years, our brothers in Arad and Beer Sheva have been hated in their cities, persecuted at their homes and in public places, meanwhile, authorities have been very slow and reluctant to do anything about it.

Recently, however, we have seen an escalation in persecution against believers. Last October, a fire damaged a Jerusalem church used by several believing congregations, and in May, hundreds of New Testaments were burned in a town in central Israel – with the approval of the town mayor.

But the worst incident so far happened earlier this year during the feast of Purim, which commemorates the events found in the Book of Esther. In a time when people traditionally give gift packages to friends and neighbors, a Christian family received a package at their home. The housekeeper placed it on the family table while she went outside to throw out the trash. The family’s teenage son, who was at home, opened the package and it exploded, almost killing him. Yes, it was a package bomb, intended to kill, and only by God’s grace and sovereignty did the boy miraculously survive the point- blank range blast.

During our May campaign, we received a phone calling themselves “The Red Line.” They warned us that they are worse than any other anti-Christian group in Israel and have contacts with criminal figures and know who we are and where we live.

VIEW FULL REPORT»