Small Things Matter – A Day on the Streets of Tel Aviv

There’s something powerful about being called by your name.

And something painful when no one uses it anymore.

This week, I walked the streets of Tel Aviv again bringing food, water, and an open heart. The need out there is deep, but so is the humanity. These are people with stories, memories, losses, and dreams. People who’ve been pushed to the edges of society. But they are not invisible.

I met Raj, originally from India. He’s been robbed more than once and now lives on the street. He’s looking for work and safety two things many of us take for granted.

Then Johnny and Ira. Ira has been homeless for just three months. There’s still time for her to turn things around, and I’m praying she finds a way before things get worse.

I also spent time with Joy, Nadeer, and Shlomo. Shlomo is 60 years old. He told me he wants to enter rehab. That one sentence was full of quiet courage. I pray he has the strength to follow through.

Amiet, Johannes, and Shmoel shared a few moments too. Amiet has lost a lot her health, her stability, and her future as she once imagined it. But I could still see a flicker of hope.

Later I met Alex, Dov, and Noam. I didn’t get to hear their full stories, but they welcomed the food, conversation, and prayer.

These visits aren’t about preaching sermons or fixing lives in a day. Sometimes all we can do is sit down, listen, and remind someone: you still matter. That in itself is something holy.

Most of the people I met asked for prayer. That alone says a lot. They may be hurting, but their hearts are still open to God. Please join me in praying for them.

Would you pray with me?

• For Raj, to find work and a safe place to sleep.
• For Ira, to find a way off the streets before they swallow her up.
• For Shlomo, to enter rehab and begin again.
• For Amiet, for healing in body and heart.
• For every name mentioned and for the many I didn’t get to meet this time.

Alongside this street work, I also volunteer with Christian Friends of Israel (CFI), serving in other parts of the country—helping, listening, praying, and standing with people who often feel forgotten.

Whether it’s on the streets or in homes, I’ve come to believe this:

No one is invisible to God.

And we should never treat anyone as if they are.

Proverbs 31:8–9
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”