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Letter from Our Executive Director
Shalom, dear friends,
I hope the freshness of the new year energises you and that you are as excited as I am about what God is doing in 2026. I hope to see many more Jewish people coming to faith in Yeshua as the day of His return draws closer.
Paul reminded the Roman believers,
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved. (Romans 11:25–26)
We know for sure a day is coming when our Jewish friends, coworkers, and relatives will turn to Yeshua—either at this present time or in the future. This passage implies, in my understanding, that one of the signs of His soon return will be an incremental increase in the number of Messianic Jews around the globe, especially in Israel, where we see the Messianic movement growing today.
At the end of chapter 11, Paul clearly explains to the Roman believers that he has a deep sense of certainty about the future of Jewish evangelism—because of God’s unbreakable covenants and unchanging character! He is and will be faithful to His chosen people. I am not implying that Jewish people can go to heaven without believing in Yeshua, but rather the day is coming when “all Israel will be saved”—by accepting Yeshua as their Saviour. This will happen at the very end of the last days, but I believe we will begin seeing this phenomenon of faith increase in the days approaching His return.
This end-time revival was the theme of our annual Simcha National Messianic Conference, “The Sound of Revival: From Israel to the Nations.” The conference was held in Melbourne over the last weekend of November 2025 and was attended by over 700 people from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia (that we know of!). Special guest speakers were Dr. Vladimir Pikman, Paul Cohen and myself, together with the SOLU worship team from Israel. You can listen to these sessions on our Celebrate Messiah YouTube channel at youtube.com/@CelebrateMessiah.
Celebrate Messiah, together with our ministry partner, Chosen People Global Ministries, have dozens of staff all over the world who are sharing the gospel on the streets, in homes, on campuses, teaching Bible studies, leading congregations, and hosting Israelis, making the good news of the Messiah known every day.
We will never give up because God’s promises for the full spiritual restoration of the Jewish people are plainly taught throughout Scripture . . . if you take His word as literally as I do.
Louise and I were able to see this phenomenon in real time during our visit to Budapest, Hungary for the Muchan conference. Louise and I helped start Muchan* (*Ready) as part of a vision to bring Messianic young adults together from around the world. This year’s conference was held for 6 days over the New Year period and was a tremendous success. Muchan Budapest was the 7th such conference and some folks are saying that it was the best Muchan ever.
What really encouraged us was not just that 110 young Messianic believers came from 10 countries around the world, but also the hunger and zeal we saw in these young people, on fire for the Lord. It gave us great hope that the next generation of Messianic believers are on their way to making a difference for the Lord in this world.
We also saw this same zeal for revival during the SOLU Down Under Tour in November. I’m filled with gratitude for what the Lord accomplished across Australia—fifteen concerts, more than 5,000 attendees across all concerts, joined together in the spirit of worship, unity, and hope. Bringing SOLU was about sharing a living testimony of what God is doing in Israel as increasing numbers of young Israelis have come to faith in Yeshua. We wanted to shed a new light on Israel after so much negativity in the news. Nizar Francis, singing in Arabic alongside SOLU, embodied the reconciliation we long to see: Jew and Arab made one in Messiah. The honest testimonies shared from the SOLU bandmembers reminded us that even in the midst of war, worship is a declaration of trust in the goodness of God’s sovereignty. For me, one of the most memorable moments came at the end of the tour in Melbourne, when Shiloh – the lead singer of SOLU – and I conducted several immersions of new Jewish believers. My prayer is that the Australian Church will carry a renewed confidence that God is restoring His people, uniting us here to stand with the Jewish people in our communities and with Israel.
I believe with my whole heart that the very next major event in human history will be the second coming of the Messiah Yeshua. We must preach the gospel today with the urgency of a certain tomorrow shaped by the promises of God. We know that the Lord is coming soon, and we now have the opportunity to point all people to a future hope promised by God through the mouths of His prophets. As Isaiah wrote in chapter 2 verses 1–3:
The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it will come about that in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
We must embrace the future as promised by God Himself.
Yet, many believers seem to shy away from this future hope, absorbed mostly by their present circumstances. These days, there seem to be fewer books, conferences, sermons, and personal Bible study about the Second Coming. When our focus on the Second Coming is diminished, our deep-seated desire to reach the Jewish people—and all people—for Yeshua seems to wane.
Our Biblical Future
Learning more for ourselves and teaching others about the coming kingdom is one of our duties as disciples of Yeshua. We are not only part of God’s kingdom today, but we also have starring roles in His forever-story! We must discover what He has planned to the best of our ability and allow the future to shape the way we live and serve in the present.
This is precisely why He addressed the future in His Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20). What we do today in obedience to Yeshua only makes sense considering the future that awaits us. We recognize that our days are numbered and that life as we know it will soon end. We also believe that the time is short to let the world know about salvation, the abundant life, and God’s plan for the future.
If we are not telling people about the events of the end of the age, then we are not doing what Yeshua instructed us to do. It is the recognition of our temporal nature and of our few remaining days on earth that compels us to devote our lives to fulfilling His Great Commission. It was the hope of His coming and the reminder of what He has planned for us that motivated His disciples to carry out this holy commission.
The day is coming when we will run out of time to fulfill the commission He has given us, and it is for this reason that Yeshua linked the Great Commission to the future that He planned before the foundations of the earth. That future includes the salvation of the Jewish people through embracing Yeshua as Messiah and Saviour.
The end is near, dear friends, and we have a great role to play in this drama of redemption. We must remember that the Jewish people also have a prophetic role in the end times, so let us pray and work toward the salvation of Israel. I hope you will take up the mantle of Jewish evangelism and allow God to use you to bring the message of hope to your Jewish friends and family.
Your Mission to the Jewish People has many ways we can help you take up the mantle of making Jewish people jealous (Romans 11:11). We offer numerous videos, books, training opportunities for hosting Israelis in your homes, and so much more. I would especially urge you to review our online courses through the Messianic Training Centre. Our vision for the MTC is to train, equip, and empower believers in Jewish evangelism and Scripture from a Messianic Jewish perspective. We provide online courses in the Bible, Jewish life, biblical languages, Jewish history, and spiritual growth. All courses are held over live Zoom webinars on a weekly basis each term, or can be purchased after the course completes for a discounted price. You can purchase live or past courses on our website at celebratemessiah.com.au/mtc.
Dear friends, we need your prayers, encouragement, participation, and partnership. We value your support of the ministry of Celebrate Messiah. Join hands with us and walk with boldness toward the future God has prepared for all, especially for those who love Him.
Your Brother,
Lawrence Hirsch
Executive Director of Celebrate Messiah
From Our Outreach Workers:
Coming-to-Faith Testimonies of the Jewish People
Our missionaries evangelize Jewish people all over the world in obedience to the Word of God, which says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19), and as a mission to the Jewish people, we pay careful attention to the inspired words of the apostle Paul who wrote, “the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Our missionaries share the good news of Messiah around the world with both Jewish people and Gentiles.
Here are some first-hand accounts from our staff, recounting the stories of some who have come to faith in Yeshua as their Messiah, two of whom are Israeli travelers from Japan and one from the United States.
Since October 7, 2023, the people of Israel and the State of Israel have been going through one of the most painful and difficult periods since the Holocaust. In these days, the wars with Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and the Houthis have deeply affected not only the nation itself but the hearts of an entire generation.
Many young Israelis who had long since completed their mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces were called back into reserve duty. They spent long months on the front lines—both in the south and in the north of Israel—defending their people and their country. After completing this intense and exhausting service, many of them seek to get as far away as possible from the tensions of the Middle East so they can physically and emotionally rest and recover.
As a result, staff at the Chosen People Ministries guest houses—including me—are increasingly meeting young Israelis who take a break of several months to a year and travel around the world. Some of them make it all the way to Japan. During their travels, a number of them stay here with my team in Tokyo and Hokkaido. We spend hours with them, enjoying their company and talking to them about the love of Jesus the Messiah. While many may appear outwardly energetic and joyful, they often arrive emotionally and physically drained.
One such guest was a young man in his early 30s named Nathan.* He served as a reserve medic in the Israel Defense Forces. Nathan received professional medical training and, despite his young age, treated hundreds of wounded Israeli soldiers as well as Arab civilians injured in terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas. While caring for others, he himself suffered deep emotional wounds because of the trauma of war.
Nathan came to Japan for several months in search of inner peace. He attempted to find that peace through meditation, hoping to quiet the pain and anxiety in his heart. During one of these meditation sessions, he learned from another Israeli about our Israeli guest house and decided to stay with us. Remarkably, at the same time, I also traveled from Tokyo to Hokkaido, which allowed us to spend several evenings together. During this time, we had meaningful conversations about the peace that can only be found in the Prince of Peace. We studied how the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) were fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus). In time, Nathan opened his heart and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Messiah.
Along with the rest of our team, I praise God for how He is working through Chosen People Ministries volunteers in Japan. Through the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the love of Yeshua, hearts are being opened, and hope is being restored—something clearly visible in the eyes of these young men and women. I can testify with confidence that today, more than at any time in the past two thousand years, Israelis are open to the gospel. We are grateful to be God’s hands in this field.
Let me also tell you about Eran,* a young Israeli who completed his military service in the Israel Defense Forces and came to Japan to pursue his studies. Soon after he arrived, he met me and others who are also part of the Chosen People Ministries outreach team in Japan. He first enrolled in a Japanese language program, and his plan was to continue his studies in Japan at a music college.
Even before arriving in Japan, Eran was somewhat familiar with Japanese culture and had a basic knowledge of the language. However, after relocating, he shared with me that he struggled with loneliness and a deep sense of separation from his family and friends in Israel. Living in a completely different cultural and linguistic environment, he found it challenging to adjust to life in Japan.
Like many Israelis, Eran had been following my social media content related to Japan. He reached out to me through Instagram, and I invited him to attend one of our evangelistic worship services at the Chosen People Ministries Center in Tokyo.
At the service, Eran was overjoyed to meet other Israelis. The atmosphere of love, acceptance, and fellowship deeply touched his heart. At the end of the evening, he came to me and said, “I have been following you on social media for a long time. Now, I was finally able to visit in person. I still have much to learn, but I feel love in this place, and I want to be part of this community.”
These words opened the door to deep and meaningful conversations. During one of the meetings between Eran and I, we opened the Scriptures together and studied Isaiah 53. Through this powerful passage from the Old Testament, I was able to clearly present the gospel message of the Messiah’s sinless life, His sacrificial death for our sins, and His glorious resurrection.
Since Eran is living in Japan on a student visa, the two of us have had the opportunity to continue meeting and regularly study the Bible together. We examined Isaiah 53 more deeply using the biblical explanations taught by Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries, in his book Isaiah 53 Explained. Over time, Eran came to understand that faith in Yeshua does not contradict Judaism but rather fulfills the messianic promises given through the prophets of Israel.
By God’s grace, Eran placed his faith in Jesus as his Lord and Messiah. We also discussed the meaning of water baptism, and shortly afterward, Eran was baptized, publicly declaring his faith and new life in Messiah. Please continue to pray for Eran—that the seed of God’s Word would take deep root in his heart, that it would bear fruit, and that the Lord would guide his steps.
We at the Chosen People Ministries center in Japan are deeply encouraged to see how God is drawing young Israelis to Himself, even here.
The Sabbath is one of my favorite times of the week. In my neighborhood, people close up shop early and rush home to prepare a big family meal, because the Sabbath is coming! The Friday evening Sabbath meal provides a wonderful opportunity to sit across a table with people from all backgrounds and stages of their faith.
One night, a few of us on staff at a Chosen People Ministries center in the United States hosted an evening Sabbath meal. Surprisingly, one of our Jewish guests responded to our Scripture reading and asked if Jesus can really hear us as we pray. We affirmed that the Messiah is in the midst of us, and we do not need to have formal words to pray—rather, we can simply open our hearts and speak with Him. This individual desperately wanted to believe in Him, but was afraid to acknowledge this because it went against everything they had been taught growing up. Our friend asked how to pray and what to say, and if perhaps they could try praying right then and there. Someone from our group prayed first; then our Jewish friend took a deep breath, and after a long moment of silence, began to pray: “God, I don’t even know if you can hear me, but if Yeshua is the Messiah, show me.” It was a holy moment, and an emotional one for all.
As the evening went on, we sang songs of worship, and there was great joy throughout the house. The Holy Spirit was moving in our friend’s heart. As we all said goodbye, one of our staff walked this person out, and while in the foyer of the building, the Lord brought our friend to tears as they were moved to place their faith in Jesus right there. They prayed, wept, and rejoiced! This individual is now a passionate disciple of Yeshua and eager to share the good news with their community.
These testimonies are evidence that God is actively working among the Jewish people! The work of Jewish evangelism that began in the New Testament times in Israel has not ended and is ongoing to this day. May these testimonies of Jewish people coming to faith in our Messiah Jesus from our missionaries encourage us to continue the work of Jewish evangelism that God has commanded us. We can trust that the Lord will grow fruit from the seeds we plant as we spread the gospel among His chosen people.
*Names changed for privacy.
SOLU Down Under Tour 2025
Inspired by the biblical significance of seeing Jewish people in Israel come to faith in Yeshua, and the spiritual revival that began to take place in Israel, Celebrate Messiah was thrilled to bring SOLU—a vibrant and dynamic young worship band from Israel—on their first tour of Australia this last November to bless the body of Messiah on our shores. As part of their “Down Under Tour 2025”, SOLU performed in and around Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne. To date, SOLU is the first worship team from Israel that has toured Australia. Attended by over 5,000 people across fifteen concerts, the SOLU tour became a memorable expression of worship, unity, and hope.
In recent years, many young Israelis have come to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. This remarkable revival inspired a wave of new worship music that blessed believers worldwide. SOLU’s journey began in Jerusalem at Succat Hallel, a 24/7 house of prayer. There, spiritually hungry teenagers gathered weekly to worship and cry out to God. From these humble beginnings, their ministry expanded from prayer rooms to the streets of Jerusalem, and then spread to nations worldwide. SOLU was a band that brought a spiritual depth to their worship—one that reflected the prayer that undergirded their ministry. Their music and ministry were lively and engaging, full of life and joy, helping pave a highway to prepare the way of the Lord.
For too long, media narratives portrayed Israelis in a negative light. Through SOLU, we sought to share the true heart of Israeli believers in Yeshua with the church in Australia, giving a glimpse of what the future of Israel could look like as the number of Israelis believing in Yeshua continued to increase. Bands like SOLU are a sign that God is fulfilling His word to the Jewish people by restoring them to the land and giving them a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 36–37). He is uniting Jew and Gentile, Israeli and Arab, in worship of the God of Israel and the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).
That joy was especially evident in the spontaneous response of the Australian audiences. Across the tour, people danced—many for the first time in their lives. SOLU made worship accessible and inviting, creating an atmosphere where people felt free to respond physically to the presence of God. At the conclusion of one of the events, Pastor Stu from the Grainery Church in Newcastle remarked that he had never seen dancing like that in Newcastle before—a testament to the joy and freedom that marked the concerts.
Nizar Francis joined SOLU for their Down Under Tour 2025. A Christian Arab Israeli from Haifa, Nizar brought a powerful dimension to the worship by singing SOLU songs in Arabic alongside their Hebrew and English verses. Once a well-known singer in Israel, Nizar experienced deep emptiness despite his success, until he encountered the Lord in 2005 and his life was radically transformed. In 2014, he fully devoted his life to serving Jesus, embracing his calling to praise God through worship and to be a bridge between Jews and Arabs—proclaiming that true peace is only found in and through Jesus Christ.
One striking feature of the tour was how far people were willing to travel to be part of the gatherings. At the Gold Coast event, one attendee had flown over from New Zealand specifically to be there. In Taree, several people drove six hours from Dubbo, while others travelled down from Brisbane after the Brisbane event sold out. These journeys reflected a deep hunger to worship, connect, and be part of what God was doing through the tour.
Before SOLU returned to Israel, the tour concluded with a deeply meaningful and intimate moment in Melbourne. Shilo Ben Hod, the lead singer of SOLU, had the privilege of assisting Lawrence Hirsch, Executive Director of Celebrate Messiah, as new Jewish believers were immersed in water in a pool—publicly declaring their faith in Yeshua. This mitzvah marked a sacred and joyful milestone for those taking this step of obedience, affirming both repentance and new life in the Messiah.
During the performances, Shilo Ben Hod and Levi Davis shared moving personal testimonies from their lives in Israel during the Israel–Hamas War. Shilo spoke of how his family clung to faith in the midst of bombing attacks over their home, describing moments of praying and worshipping with his son in a bomb shelter and entrusting their safety to the Lord. Levi shared his experience serving in the IDF in Gaza in October 2025, where several of his comrades were killed in battle with Hamas. He spoke candidly about wrestling with survivors’ guilt, but came to realise through prayer that it was not for him to understand but simply to trust that the Lord still had work for him to do. These and other testimonies ultimately reminded the audience that only the Lord knows His purposes, and that even in suffering, believers are called to trust that God’s plans are good.
During the tour, Nizar Francis and Shilo Ben Hod were interviewed by a number of Christian radio stations, including the 20Twenty show on Vision Christian Radio, which was broadcast throughout eastern Australia. Nizar and Shilo shared candidly about the heart behind the SOLU tour and the message they hoped to bring to Australia. Speaking about worship that transcends politics and division, Nizar emphasised unity in the Messiah, saying, “We are not here to make any political statement… we just want to show the people that Jews and Arabs, that we can be one in Messiah, no matter if you’re Jewish or Arab or whatever. The Lord has made us one in Him.” Shilo also went on to say, “I think we were never as united as we are now in worship as Jews and Arabs in the country of Israel.”
Nizar also reflected on the power of worship to change hearts, noting that “worship is a uniting experience… it’s about giving our hearts to God, and letting God do what He wants.” Shilo echoed this vision, sharing his hope for the Australian church and the wider region that the war could be opportunity to spread the good news of Yeshua. Together, their interview reinforced that the tour was not simply about music, but about bearing witness to reconciliation, hope, and faith in Yeshua—“bringing the truth to all the people that the body of Messiah in the land is united,” as Nizar expressed it—at a time when such a message is both costly and deeply needed.
This conviction was one of the key reasons Celebrate Messiah took a significant leap of faith in bringing SOLU to Australia and organising the tour. The vision was to help believers in Australia—and beyond—shift their focus from media narratives about Israel and the Middle East to what God Himself is doing in the land. The tour was the fruit of two years of planning, prayer, and preparation, involving a substantial step of faith and financial commitment from Celebrate Messiah. Rabbi Lawrence Hirsch, the Executive Director of Celebrate Messiah, feels this mission was accomplished: “This tour marked a historic first for Australia—the very first time a worship team from Israel has toured our nation—bringing the sound of a new generation of believers from the Land of Israel to hearts across our country.” We are deeply grateful to all who supported the tour, including the many prayer groups across the country, our Gold Sponsors of Olive Tree Travel, ICEJ, Khor + Burr Lawyers, and Vision Christian Media, as well as the individuals who generously stood with us.
What we hope remains in Australia is more than a memory of concerts—it is the assurance that God is moving among both Jews and Arabs in Israel. Even amid war, uncertainty, and tension across Israel and the surrounding nations, God is at work among His people. These are the quiet stirrings of the sound of revival—the work of God as He restores His people. This was the sound of God’s Spirit at work. The SOLU tour offered a glimpse of what God is doing in Israel and what He desires to do among His people everywhere: uniting His body, renewing faith, and releasing a sound that prepares the way of the Lord.
To listen to SOLU’s music, pick up merchandise from the tour, and learn more about Celebrate Messiah, go to: celebratemessiah.com.au.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Celebrate Messiah and its ministries. We are passionately committed to sharing the hope of Yeshua with the Jewish people, both in Australia and worldwide.
Your donation empowers evangelism, discipleship, and hospitality outreach across the country. Partner with us today—every gift helps bring the good news of Messiah!
To donate, go to: celebratemessiah.com.au/donate
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