Israel (MNN) — The events of October 7th shook the foundations of faith for many Israelis. Yet God is faithfully restoring hearts and renewing faith across the nation, bringing hope through stories like that of IDF soldiers.
Ilya Butolin from Beit Hallel Congregation says people lost hope in the army, the government, and even in their idea of God as a protector. “We had a big collapse of hope, and people had no hope to live,” he recalls.
The war deeply affected Butolin himself — a regular churchgoer with an active ministry who now serves in military uniform. “The first 5 months of the war, I wasn’t able to share the Gospel because I, myself, needed the Gospel,” he admits.
Israeli soldier in Jerusalem, Israel (photo courtesy of Levi Meir Clancy via Unsplash)
Butolin, his brother, and friends served in the army, often facing the horrors of war and the uncertainty of survival. The death of his friend David Ratner added to the grief.
“It wasn’t easy to see how your friend died, like my personal friend, and then many others,” he says.
After several months, Butolin’s faith in God was restored. He realized that as much as he needed hope, others around him needed it even more.
“We know what the only hope is — Jesus Christ — and He’s the only one who can bring us hope for a future and for a life, for eternal life,” he adds.
He shared that conversations with his unit and friends often centered on hope — how to restore it, show it, and bring it back to their families. As a church, they focused on practical ways to express that hope by organizing donations such as helmets, bulletproof vests, food, and even pizza nights for soldiers. Butolin would explain:
“It’s people from all around the world who are donating, praying, standing with you, and fighting with you, even though you don’t see them. And those are the Christian people who love you!”
Through this, they saw a growing bond between Jewish and Christian communities, and he believes that sharing hope has become the most powerful way to share the Gospel in these times.
Pray for the ministry of Beit Hallel Congregation and their efforts to share the Gospel with wounded hearts.
Photo courtesy of Joel Mott via Unsplash.
