If Jesus were to return to the places He knew as a child and as an adult, what would He do and say? Would He tear down the concrete and wire fortifications that separate communities, just as He chased the sellers and money changers from the temple? Would He walk along the shores of Galilee, talking to the people who dared to follow Him? Would anyone dare follow Him today, in the face of car bombs and suicide bombers?

Among the Lowly

Jesus sought out the lowly, the meek, the searching. He healed the sick, the blind, the hurting. If Jesus walked in His homeland today, He would seek out those who need His love, His tender touch, His encouragement.

Perhaps He would climb the stairs of a clean white building, knock on the door, and be ushered into a crowded hall where Romanian believers would welcome Him. Perhaps He would walk down the street to a storefront, where Filipino believers gather to worship. Or perhaps He would slip into the West Bank or Gaza, walk up a hill, and knock on the door of a simple stone house. He would find just a handful of believers worshiping in a simple living room.

If Jesus were to return to Israel, He would find believers. But He would not find Adventist churches. He would find congregations dotting the cities, towns, and villages, but He would not find signs to direct Him to their places of worship.

There are no church buildings. Congregations meet in halls, in storefronts, in homes. But in spite of their humble meeting places, Adventist believers do not go unnoticed in Israel. Recently a full-page article appeared in the weekend edition of the largest newspaper in Israel, featuring Adventist believers and their faith.

Most of the Adventists in Israel are immigrants who have come to work and earn money for their families in poor countries around the world. Many are Romanians, Filipinos, and Africans. These people work hard and send their earnings back home to their families, keeping only enough to survive on. They cannot afford to build a church for themselves or those who follow them.

Growing Rapidly

After decades of near-stagnant numbers, the Adventist Church in Israel is growing rapidly today. Most of the growth is among the immigrants who share their faith with fellow workers and with their Jewish employers.

As part of a strategic plan to enable the Adventist Church in Israel to grow, leaders have set out to establish new congregations throughout the country, in both Jewish and Arabic regions. In addition, two young congregations that have just been established will be strengthened through the funds given on Thirteenth Sabbath.

If we help, many dreams will become reality. East Jerusalem and Nazareth will have Palestinian congregations, and the Ethiopian Jews of Rehovot will have a place to meet. Jews of Nazareth, Tiberias, and Tel Aviv will have churches. Several ethnic and multi-national congregations will at last have places to meet.

If Jesus were to return to His birthplace, would He find faith? That answer depends, at least in part, on you and on me. Do we care enough to support the work in Jesus’ homeland? Do we care enough to give generously this Thirteenth Sabbath—March 27—to make thousands of people’s dreams for a church in which to worship a reality?

Charlotte Ishkanian is editor of Mission.