At a recent Jewish community gathering, I spoke with a secular woman, an Orthodox man and a Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) man. When I mentioned working for Jews for Jesus, the Orthodox man accused me of subtle deception, and the conversation quickly became tense. Despite my attempts to respond calmly, he continued pressing with accusations. The Haredi man intervened to defend me and later apologised for the interaction before inviting me to continue talking elsewhere. We had a thoughtful conversation and exchanged contact details. Afterwards, several others approached me to say they were aware of my work and not concerned – one even openly questioned the criticism. Despite tension, the encounter opened doors for respectful connection and further conversation. Please pray that these relationships will deepen and for hearts to be receptive to the good news of Messiah.
*Name changed to protect identity.