At the southern tip of Israel, where the mountains of the Negev Desert meet the waters of the Red Sea, lies the city of Eilat. It is here that Maayan Congregation, part of our wider Beit Hallel congregational family, has been faithfully serving the Lord, caring for families, and sharing the love of Jesus with its community.
For many years, this congregation has held a special place in the hearts of our ministry partners in Israel. Its pastor, Ariel Ben David, and his family are deeply loved, and the relationships between the pastoral teams extend far beyond occasional visits or ministry events.
But behind every congregation are people who carry the responsibility of caring for others. Pastors, ministry leaders, and their families devote countless hours to teaching the Scriptures, praying with those who are struggling, encouraging believers, and helping their communities grow in faith.
And sometimes, those who spend their lives strengthening others need encouragement themselves.
For Maayan Congregation, this has been especially meaningful during a difficult season for their beloved pastor, Ariel Ben David, and his family.
A Pastor and a Congregation Close to Our Hearts
Some of you may remember Pastor Ariel from previous prayer requests we have shared. Following his serious cancer diagnosis, we invited our friends and partners to lift him and his family before the Lord.
That invitation to prayer remains just as important today.
Pastor Ariel and his family are deeply loved by the believers who know them, including Pastor Israel Pochtar and the Beit Hallel pastoral team, who have maintained a longstanding relationship with Maayan.
Over the years, our congregations have shared a common commitment to discipleship, prayer, and strengthening the Body of Messiah in Israel.
Maayan’s ministry has included youth gatherings in the surrounding desert, times of prayer for Israel and neighboring nations, and the ongoing work of helping believers grow in their relationship with Jesus.
These may not be the kinds of activities that attract international attention, but they are an important part of the everyday life of the Church in Israel.
And when a pastoral family faces a serious personal challenge, the encouragement of fellow believers can mean a great deal.
A Visit That Was About More Than Fellowship
Recently, Pastor Israel Pochtar traveled to Eilat to spend time with members of the Beit Hallel pastoral team and to encourage the leadership and congregation of Maayan.
The visit provided an opportunity for fellowship, prayer, and strengthening the relationships that have grown between these believers over the years.
It was also a reminder that ministry is not something pastors are meant to carry alone.
Even those who regularly stand before congregations to teach and encourage others have their own concerns, responsibilities, and moments when they need the support of their brothers and sisters.
The Apostle Paul understood the importance of this mutual encouragement when he wrote:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
These words are especially meaningful when we consider the relationships between our congregations in Israel.
Although they may serve in different cities and face different challenges, they are part of the same Body of Christ. Their calling is not only to care for their own congregations, but also to stand alongside fellow believers when encouragement and support are needed.
Pastor Israel’s visit to Eilat was a practical expression of that fellowship.
The Quiet Faithfulness of Local Ministry
When we hear about ministry in Israel, our attention often turns to large evangelistic gatherings, humanitarian projects, or remarkable testimonies of people coming to faith.
These are wonderful things to celebrate.
But there is another side of ministry that deserves our attention: the quiet, faithful work of local congregations.
It happens when a pastor takes time to listen to someone who is hurting. When believers gather to study the Bible and pray together. When young people are encouraged to build their lives on God’s Word. And when a congregation continues caring for its community through both joyful and difficult seasons.
This is the kind of ministry our Maayan Congregation has been carrying out in Eilat.
And it is one of the reasons we believe strengthening local congregations is such an important part of standing with Israel.
A healthy, encouraged congregation can continue being a place where families receive spiritual care, believers grow in their faith, and people have opportunities to encounter the love of Jesus.
But those congregations also need friends who remember them, pray for them, and help them continue their work.
Will You Stand With Our Brothers and Sisters in Eilat?
Dear friend, we would love to invite you to remember our Eilat congregation in your prayers.
Please continue praying for Pastor Ariel Ben David and his family. Ask the Lord to bring healing, strength, comfort, and peace as they face the challenges before them.
Pray also for the congregation’s leadership and members. Ask God to renew their strength, deepen their unity, and give them wisdom as they continue caring for families and serving their community.
And if the Lord places it on your heart, we invite you to consider supporting Maayan’s ongoing ministry financially.
Through your generosity, you can help strengthen this local congregation as its leaders continue discipling believers, caring for families, and sharing the love of Jesus in Eilat.
Would you consider standing with our Beit Hallel congregational family in Eilat through your prayers and financial support?
There is something beautiful about believers who may never have met one another, and who live thousands of miles apart, choosing to care for each other because of their shared faith in Jesus.
That is part of what it means to belong to one Body.
For us at Voice of Judah Israel, standing with Israel also means remembering the faithful men and women who serve the Lord in its local congregations, often without recognition or attention.
We are grateful for Pastor Israel and the Beit Hallel team, who continue nurturing these relationships and reminding fellow believers that they are not alone.
And we are grateful for friends like you, whose prayers and generosity help extend that same encouragement across the miles.
Because sometimes the greatest gift we can give those who spend their lives caring for others is the assurance that someone is standing beside them, too.