Pastor in northern Israel stays and serves as Hezbollah rockets fall

As rocket fire continues to threaten communities along Israel’s northern border, one pastor has made a deliberate decision to remain and serve rather than evacuate.

In this episode of the "Inside the Epicenter" podcast, Joel Rosenberg, co-founder of The Joshua Fund and editor-in-chief of ALL ISRAEL NEWS, traveled to the northernmost congregation in Israel, near the Lebanon border, to sit down with Pastor Israel Illuz and explore what it means to serve faithfully while living under the constant threat of rocket fire, with more than 20,000 rockets launched at their community in recent months.

Pastor Israel Illuz leads a small Messianic congregation in Kiryat Shmona, a city that has faced sustained attacks during the current conflict. While much of the population has left, a smaller group has stayed behind, including Illuz and members of his congregation.

“We are in the hand of God,” Illuz said. “Our life is not in the hand of Hezbollah or Iran. Our life is in God’s hand. He’s holding us.” 

The region has absorbed thousands of rockets since fighting intensified. Despite the danger, Illuz said his congregation has focused on meeting practical needs in the community.

“The best thing to deal with pressure is to serve,” he said. 

The congregation has prepared meals for Israeli soldiers operating near the Lebanon border and provided food and supplies to residents who remain in the city, including elderly individuals and Holocaust survivors.

Some of those efforts have drawn recognition from soldiers returning for multiple rounds of reserve duty.

“They said, ‘I remember those guys. They cooked for us,’” Illuz said. 

The congregation’s visibility has also led to moments of tension. During one gathering, a local religious man entered and protested the presence of a Messianic congregation in the city. The incident gained attention online, but the response from the broader community was largely supportive of the congregation's work. The man later issued an apology.

Local residents pointed to the group’s consistent service during the war. “Those people were here serving, feeding the people,” Illuz said, describing the public reaction. 

He believes the ongoing conflict is prompting many Israelis to reconsider spiritual questions.

“When people are pressed, they turn to God,” he said. “Pray that this turning will be sincere, to seek Him in this time.” 

Although a ceasefire has brought periods of relative quiet, the situation remains uncertain. For now, Illuz said his decision is unchanged.

“We are here to serve,” he said. “We will stand here until there will be no need to serve.” 

Pastor Illuz also shares how his congregation remains resilient and committed to serving others. He also recounts his remarkable spiritual journey from an Orthodox Jewish background to faith in Yeshua (Jesus), and how this transformation fuels his courage and hope amid ongoing conflict.

Click below to watch the full interview.