Israel's Messianic Soldiers Sharing Their Faith is the "New Normal" 

News Staff : Mar 3, 2016
Kehila News – Charisma

For three decades and more, Messianic Israelis have demonstrated that they can and do serve their country, not in spite of, but because of their faith in Yeshua.

(Israel)—Kehila News Israel (KNI) brings you its first published survey online of Messianic Jews serving in the Israeli army or IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). (Photo: Kehila News Israel/via Charisma News)

KNI conducted the survey in cooperation with several local ministries that organize conferences and Bible studies on weekends for hundreds of Messianic soldiers currently serving in the IDF. All Israelis, men aged 18 to 21 and women aged 18 to 20, are required to do some form of military or community service.

This means that thousands of Messianic Israelis—Jewish and non-Jewish, men and women—have shared in the Israeli army experience at one time or another. We are especially proud of our soldiers who are facing the challenges of today, which are more complex than ever before.

From the survey results, it is clear that openness about Yeshua (Jesus) in the Israeli army is indeed the new "normal." Of those Messianic soldiers asked by KNI, a remarkable 96 percent say that their fellow soldiers know of their belief in Yeshua as the Messiah. Possibly even more remarkable is that 78 percent of their commanders or officers know of their belief in Yeshua. This is certainly a generation that is bolder than ever in sharing and living their faith.

Equally encouraging feedback from the survey results is a largely supportive and pluralistic reaction from their fellow soldiers and officers with 64 percent of them having a "positive" response, 22 percent having an "indifferent" response and only 14 percent expressing a "negative" response upon hearing about faith in Yeshua.

Contrary to what older Israeli Believers remember of their army experience, very few Messianic soldiers today face...

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