Nazareth has always carried a question: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
As someone who was born and raised here, I’ve carried that question in my heart my whole life. For generations, people have looked at Nazareth — small, simple, and often overlooked — and wondered whether anything significant could come from it.
But every time I see what God is doing through His people, I can’t help but smile. Because the answer remains the same: “Come and see.”
A few days ago, I had the privilege of being invited as a guest speaker to a large evangelistic event here in my hometown, organized by our dear friends from Beit Hallel Congregation. It was a day I will never forget.
More than 700 Israelis filled the hall — Jewish families from cities all across the nation, along with Ukrainian and Russian refugees who have faced immense hardship in their homelands due to the war there. Most of the people in attendance had never heard the Gospel before. To see so many people from different walks of life gathered together in the city of Jesus to hear a message of hope and salvation was truly a miracle in itself.
Sharing the Heart of Nazareth
When it was my turn to speak, I shared about the heart of Home of Jesus the King Church — the ministry God has called us to build here in Nazareth.
I shared that the heart of our calling at Home of Jesus the King Church is to build bridges of peace and reconciliation between Jews and Arabs — to show that in Jesus, there is no division, only one family united by His love. Every act of kindness we do is meant to reflect His heart — the heart of the One who heals the wounds of our nation and restores hope where there has been pain.
I then told them how the Lord is using our church to put that love into action — to bless both Jewish and Arab families in need, providing food, clothing, and practical help to those struggling to rebuild their lives. I spoke about our work with Holocaust survivors, refugees, and single mothers, and how we come alongside people who have lost hope — sharing the Gospel message with them and reminding them that they are seen, loved, and never forgotten by God.
Through this, we long to shine the love and living reality of Jesus throughout Israel — showing that His light still shines from Nazareth today, just as it did two thousand years ago.
Afterwards, many came to speak with me, deeply moved. Some said through tears, “We never imagined that such love and unity could exist in Israel.” And I could only tell them the truth — it isn’t our doing. It’s Jesus Himself, the King of kings, changing hearts and drawing people to His peace.
One Family in His Love
As the event came to a close, I watched something remarkable unfold. People who had never met before — and who, just hours earlier, might never have spoken to one another — were now hugging, praying, and rejoicing together. Strangers were becoming friends, and hearts once closed were opening to the love of God.
It was more than a gathering; it was a glimpse of heaven.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.”
Psalm 133:1
That day in Nazareth reminded me once again of what God desires for this land — Jews and Arabs standing together in love, discovering the same Messiah, and finding peace in Him alone.
Dear friends, this is why we do what we do. Every act of compassion, every food box given, every prayer said — it all points back to Jesus. And every time you pray, give, or stand with us, you become part of this story of reconciliation and redemption.
Together, we are helping the light of Jesus shine a little brighter — from Nazareth, the hometown of our Savior, to the very ends of the earth.
With love and gratitude,
Pastor Saleem Shalash
