When I lead pilgrims to Israel, I always invite friends who are ministering in Israel to address our group. Some of these include Dan and Meg Price, who obeyed the Lord’s calling and uprooted from Kentucky to serve Him in the Holy Land; Avi Mizrachi, who pastors a Messianic congregation in the heart of Tel Aviv; and Baruch Korman, a gifted teacher who engages with Orthodox Jews to expose them to the Gospel.
A few years ago, I was delighted to introduce our group to Reuven Doron. Reuven demonstrates the power of one Gentile praying to impact the life of one Jew who in turn touched many others. Here is his powerful testimony:
I was born in Israel and served in the Israeli Defense Force as a special forces commando. When my enlistment was up, I decided to go to America to attend school, seek my fortune, and sow some wild oats. To support myself, I picked up a few side jobs and launched a school for Hebrew.
What I did not know is that one of my Hebrew students had been praying every day for many years, “Lord, send me a Jew. Send me one Jew that I can share the Gospel with.” When this man realized how arrogant and obstinate I was at that time, his prayer changed to: “Lord, send me a different Jew. This one cannot be the right one!”
But God knew differently. I was the right one, and his stubborn prayer of faith had been answered. Eventually that Christian man rose to the challenge and began sharing with me about his faith in the Jewish Messiah — Jesus (or “Yeshua” in Hebrew). I put up strong opposition, but the powerful testimony of God’s love and faithfulness eventually made me jealous and sent me into a season of prayer and fasting to find out who is this amazing Messiah of Israel. Dramatically, I was born again and started a life of faith in Yeshua.
Today, I am the Director of Sar-El Academy and Ministry Relations. Sar-El is the faith-based Israeli tour company led by Messianic believers that coordinates pilgrimage tours for Lamb & Lion Ministries. I have the privilege of serving the Lord as an avid advocate for the Gospel — to Jew and Gentile alike!
Reuven Doron is still as strong and stout as he was as a special operations soldier in the IDF, but now he has embraced his new evangelical mission.
Reuven’s story should motivate all of us to raise the same prayer as the man who shared the Gospel with him: “Lord, send me a Jew. Send me one Jew that I can share the Gospel with.” We may not have to wait many years as that man did, but I believe the Lord will answer that prayer if that is your heart’s desire because it reflects a heart after His own.
