The Nachalat Yeshua Messianic Congregation in Beersheba, Israel gathered on Christmas Eve to celebrate the coming of Christ and to baptize two young women. As the service began, however, more than three hundred Orthodox Jews, including a number of children, entered the church. They were invited to stay. The intruders, however, began to dance around the room and sing while overturning tables and chairs. According to a December 28 report from Compass Direct, the agitators then began beating the Christians. Objects were thrown into the baptismal pool and approximately $2000 damage was caused to church property. The hatred of this group was evident as youths told one Christian woman who tried to enter the building that Christians are Nazis and deserve a bullet in the head. The Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Beersheba, Yehuda Deri, stood outside talking to demonstrators throughout the incident but did not claim any responsibility for the attack. Several complaints have been filed with the police.
Pray that Jesus will become the Prince of Peace in the lives of these Orthodox Jews. Pray for continued boldness for the followers of Jesus in Beersheba.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Israel, click here.
