Shalom dear friends!
Warm greetings to you from Nazareth. I want to share both an encouraging update and a word the Lord has placed on my heart.
I am very thankful to tell you that we have begun our second branch in Haifa.
This step did not come easily, and it certainly did not happen alone. Many of you have prayed, supported, and encouraged us along the way, and I am deeply grateful. Some may say, “There are already humanitarian centers in Haifa,” and that is true. But what the Lord has called us to do there is different.
We are not only serving practical needs—we are also sharing the Good News. As an Arab pastor speaking with Jewish people, there is something deeply meaningful about saying, “These are your Scriptures. This is your Messiah.” To serve in this way, with humility and love, is a great privilege. I am amazed by what God is already doing, and I trust Him fully for what lies ahead.
Alongside this update, I want to share a devotional from the Word of God, from the book of Judges. It is the story of Samson—a man no enemy could defeat, yet a man who was ultimately overcome by sin.
Even his name carries a powerful irony. Samson means “sunrise.” His life began with great promise and light. He was born into a godly family. His father’s name, Manoah, means “comfort.” His parents sought the Lord and asked how to raise this child whom God had chosen. Like the story of Abraham and Sarah, Samson’s birth itself was a miracle.
His beginning was strong. He walked with God. He was set apart.
There were clear boundaries for his life, and God’s power rested upon him. But later, Samson made choices that led him away from the calling God had placed on him. Delilah was not the first woman who led him astray—she was the third. Still, he did not learn. He gave away what was sacred, and the result was devastating. He lost his freedom, his strength, and his purpose.
Samson’s life reminds us that starting well is not enough. Anyone can begin the race. The true strength is found in those who remain faithful to God until the end, walking in obedience to His Word.
I sometimes imagine a conversation between Samson and Joseph. If Joseph asked Samson, “Where are you going?” Samson might answer, “I am leaving the land. I am choosing comfort over calling.” But if Samson asked Joseph the same question, Joseph would reply, “I am running away from sin so that I do not fail God.” And because of that choice, God raised Joseph up and used him mightily.
So today, I want to ask you a simple but important question: Where are you going?
Obedience is not just a word. It is a daily choice to follow God’s ways instead of our own plans. It requires faith, strength, and prayer—but it always leads to life.
Here at Home of Jesus the King Church, we desire to walk in God’s plan wherever He leads us—whether in Nazareth, Haifa, or beyond. We trust that as we obey Him, He will bring fruit. Every gift you give is used for His glory: to serve the homeless in Haifa, to support families in need, and to care for Ukrainian and Russian refugees with dignity and compassion.
Thank you for walking with us, praying with us, and standing alongside us. I invite you to stay connected through our weekly newsletter, our website, and our Telegram channel, where we regularly share devotionals and testimonies of what God is doing.
Remember, the choice is still before us: Samson or Joseph. May we choose faithfulness.
God bless you,
Pastor Saleem Shalash