Our ministry is at serious risk of being closed
We want to thank you for your support and prayers, and for always being aware of our complicated judicial situation because of our faith in the Messiah Yeshua in Israel.
As you know, we have been through difficult times where our faith was tested as our ministry and distribution center is in danger of being closed by the authorities and in a new turn of events our situation has changed again.
Thanks to your faithful prayers and, without a doubt, to the effort and dedication of our team of lawyers,
After our last court hearing, where already we could have been given a closure order on the use of the building (it could be for the duration of the proceedings), by the grace of God, this has not yet happened.
Our lawyer stated bluntly that these people are Messianic Jews and the essence of the matter is more ideological than technical. After listening to the details and understanding the picture of what was happening (as it seemed to us), the judge noted that so far the Sderot City Hall had never filed a complaint with the court regarding the inconsistency in the use of buildings in the industrial zone (of which there are dozens in our industrial zone). Thus, emphasizing that this is a discriminatory approach (or a policy of double standards).
The judge was positive and decided to give us time to appeal to the regional council the decision of the city council, which they made last week, denying us permission to use the building as a prayer house.
Summary of the meeting:
• We have not yet been banned from using the building.
• We have six months to appeal and try to settle the issue with the City Hall. The next court hearing is scheduled for September 7
The next stage is for the Regional Commission (technical) to appeal the case, which will most likely take place in the coming months.
Despite all that our ministry represents and the help it provides to the community, we receive discriminatory treatment from the authorities who, harshly influenced and pressured by the radical religious sector of the city, try in every possible way to close our distribution center.
Although we are sure of our calling and we stand firm on "the Rock" that is our Lord, the persecution that we have experienced in recent years has been multiplying, beyond threats, protests and complaint filings, reaching a decisive point where our building and distribution center (and home of our congregation) in which we have invested so much resources, effort and dedication is on the verge of being closed, leaving so many families without support or hope.
The radical religious representatives of the local government exhaustively search for legal loopholes (there are a large number in Israeli law) and their different possible interpretations to stop our activities even for the long period of judicial investigation that can extend from a few months to a few years.
Even if the outcome of the court comes out in our favor, it will take time for a decision to be made by the court, and it is their intention to cease our ministry activity in the meantime. But their real wish is that, as they had threatened us in the protests they carried out outside our building, that the court rule against us and throw us out of the city.
Despite having everything in order and having contracted the services of a team of experts who advise us and provide legal help, what would otherwise be a simple procedure in our case has turned into a war in which they mercilessly refuse to even give us more time to find a solution but have unfairly and brazenly sent us to court as they were dealing with "criminals".
The real cause of all this is already known: the open proclamation of our faith in the Messiah Yeshua and our attempt to make his name known.
It is possible to experience a temporary suspension of activities in our building as a meeting place and messianic congregation during the court process until the court evaluates the case or until we reach an agreement with the local council authorities.
Although we feel a lot of pain in our souls, we remain confident knowing that "He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion".
We are believing that this is a process and that there will really be a breakthrough in our city, a new time with even greater challenges and that is why we wholeheartedly ask our friends and partners to join us and rise up in war spiritual against our adversary, the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy, since in this difficult time your prayers interceding for us are highly appreciated.
Expected cost of the next SECOND STAGE to protect our rights in court: €20,200
1. Lawyers
Second stage
We have hired the services of a recognized lawyer with good experience in similar cases having worked successfully with other messianic ministries in Israel.
He and his team will need a maximum of 20 hours for studying the case in depht in order to be able to build a strategy for a succesfully result, this procedure has a cost of €6,500.
After the lawyers are able to properly study the case, they will give a price for the following stage.
2. Architects and surveys
Second stage
Obtaining a specific list of consultants at the request of the municipality and hiring their services and/or additional paperwork by the architect.
Therefore, for today, at the start of stage 2, we need support:
Lawyer €6,500.
Architect €8,150
Surveyor €5,550
The amount required for the SECOND stage: €20,200
If you are guided by the Holy Spirit to contribute monetarily and join us in this spiritual battle, have no doubt that whatever the amount it will be a blessing from heaven for us in this difficult situation.
A History Of Successful Community Outreach
"City Of Life" is a ministry that reflects the love of the Messiah for his people in Israel, actively providing support and help to the most needy families in the most dangerous region of the country, on the border with Gaza, from where Islamic militias and the organization Hamas maintains a constant terrorism stalk against the Israeli civilian population by launching rockets, building infiltration tunnels and launching explosive balloons that cause dangerous fires.
This situation of insecurity has serious consequences in our city Sderot and its surroundings, weakening the economy and bussines development contributing to unemployment and the lack of opportunities for hundreds of families who also experience high levels of pressure, post-traumatic stress, fears, phobias and other psychological disorders related to the hostile environment they face day after day, with sirens sounding warning of new rocket attacks and having only 15 seconds to get to safety in a bomb shelter.
Precisely Sderot is known as the "bomb shelter capital of the world" for having these in many of the houses, buildings, bus stops, train stations, schools, synagogues and all public places and wherever a rocket attack can take the citizens by surprise.
For this reason our messianic ministry and congregation stand as a beacon of light to proclaim that this city is a "City of Life" bringing hope, relief and consolation and helping through a variety of important projects that impact the lives of hundreds of families who depend on our compassion filling their hearts with love and drawing them closer to the Father.
Are you going to remain quiet about it? Stand with us today!
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."
Matthew 5:11
In "City Of Life" we are very sure of the call we have and where the Lord brought us, he will not abandon us to our fate but we believe that we will continue to see his hand and protection so we will continue to bring relief to the afflicted and help those in need, impacting lives in our region.