In times of conflict and uncertainty, the Lord continues to work through His people to bring both help and hope. In Israel, where many Russian-speaking families—including refugees from Ukraine—are facing rising hardship, SGA-supported congregations are faithfully serving on the front lines.

Through SGA-supported Compassion Ministry, local believers are providing food and medicine to those struggling to survive. Yet even more, they are sharing the Gospel—trusting God to work through every act of kindness.

What follows is a report shared directly from a church in Israel. We are grateful to offer this firsthand glimpse into the reality many families are facing today—and how God is at work in the midst of it.

Dear brothers and sisters,

I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your compassion and for standing with us in our time of need. So many people here are living in truly heartbreaking and devastating circumstances. And that is even without taking into account the suffering caused by the last two wars. The most recent one, in particular, has been especially terrifying and destructive. To help you better understand the reality many families are facing, I want to share with you the story of one woman exactly as it was written to me. I have not edited her letter in any way.

“I, Natalia, live permanently in Israel in a rented apartment. My mother, Anna, a refugee from Ukraine, has been living with me since December 20, 2022.

Israel does not grant refugee status in her case, so there is no government assistance available. My mother is an elderly woman, 85 years old. She can hardly walk and suffers from serious health problems, including dementia. Her Ukrainian pension is only $100 per month, which is far below the minimum needed for basic living expenses. At her age and in her physical condition, my mother is unable to work or provide for herself while living in Israel. In addition, she does not have citizenship, nor does she qualify for repatriation. I am a pensioner myself. Under different circumstances, I could still work a little—perhaps two or three hours a day—to earn some additional income. But I cannot leave my mother alone, and she is not eligible for a social worker because she is not an Israeli citizen. Because of this, I was forced to leave my job in order to care for her. Life in Israel was already very expensive even before the war. But after the two Iranian wars, prices have risen dramatically—almost one and a half times higher. Our family is now standing on the edge of hunger and poverty.”

There are many other stories that are no less tragic than this one. Right now, however, it is difficult

for me to speak about them in detail. Whenever I begin describing these situations more fully, I feel myself emotionally drawn into the pain and hardship these families are living through. It becomes very heavy on my heart. In time, I will share with you about other families as well—families who are also living on the very edge of survival. Thank you again for your love, your prayers, and your willingness to care for those who are suffering. Your kindness brings hope into places where despair is trying to take hold.

Of course, as we distribute food packages, we also seek to share the Gospel. We sow the Seed and water it with prayer. The Lord gives the growth.

Thank you so very much for everything.