A few months ago, I went out to film for our So Be It! YouTube channel, expecting a normal day of talking with Jewish people about Jesus on the streets. As it often happens, when a good conversation gets going, more people stop and listen. That day, a group of Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews) gathered around us, listening carefully as we talked about Yeshua, the Scriptures and the hope we have in the Messiah. These are all topics the Haredim are curious about – though these same topics can also bring out their anger.

There was one man in the group who stood out. He was in his late twenties and dressed in the standard black suit with long sidelocks of the Haredim. But while most people will eventually shake their heads and walk away, this guy stayed the whole time and paid attention. He even pulled out a little notebook and took notes. When the main conversation eventually wrapped up and most of the crowd left, he stayed behind with a few others who were asking more questions.

I didn't think I'd ever see him again after that day, but he really stuck out in my mind, you know?

Then, about a month later, I went out to Jerusalem to film. That day, I ran into my good friend and former So Be It! co-host, Jeff Morgan (now the host of Highway 53 on YouTube), and another friend, Golan Broshi, from the ministry One for Israel. Somehow, we all ended up in the same place at the same time filming and talking with people from the Haredi community. And the response we were getting was amazing! A small crowd of Haredim were listening and engaging with the three of us, going from one conversation to another.

The day couldn’t get much better – until I saw another familiar face: It was the Haredi man from a month ago!

We recognised each other immediately and said hello. What happened next surprised me even more: This guy knew our names – not just mine, but Jeff’s and Golan’s too – even though they had never met. He knew who we were; he knew our videos; he knew the conversations. And he was excited to see us in person.

He stayed there for hours listening as we talked about Yeshua with others. He was locked in, absorbing everything, staying close but trying not to stand out. It made me think he wasn’t just curious. He was spiritually hungry. But that didn’t mean that he was ready for further connection.

At one point, I asked if we could exchange contact information to stay in touch. He answered that, sadly, it wasn’t possible. I understand the risk for him: In the Haredi community, showing interest in Yeshua can lead to serious personal consequences. Taking that kind of step could come at a high price.

That was a sad moment for me. Here was a man who had invested hours watching our videos in secret, obviously wanting to know more about Yeshua, but the cost of being found out was still too high.

I can’t say for sure what is happening in his heart. But I believe God is at work, drawing him to Yeshua. And that one Haredi man on the street is a powerful sign of a larger work God is doing. He’s drawing our people to Himself. More Haredim are becoming curious and even watching our videos in secret; they may be afraid of being caught showing interest in Yeshua, but they're still watching.

When a young Haredi guy recognises me, Jeff and Golan on the street and sticks around for hours listening to conversations about Yeshua, that stands out. To me, it points to a deeper work God is doing behind the scenes, beyond anything we can see, track or measure.

So, please pray. Pray for endurance and effectiveness for us and our colleagues from other ministries doing similar work. Pray that the seeds planted in this young Haredi man would continue to grow, truth would take root deeply, and God would give him clarity, courage and protection. Pray for a deeper revelation of Yeshua as Messiah. And pray for the many others like him who are secretly searching and counting the cost.

We don’t always know who is watching. But God does. And He is at work.

Photo:  Elisha Lazarus, Co-Host of the So Be It! YouTube channel, interviewing a Haredi man in Jerusalem (face blurred to protect privacy)