Although tensions abound in the region, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel reports a significant growth rate. Three new worship and witness centers were dedicated in Tel Aviv in December, adding to the 14 already in existence in Israel, a major increase from the five congregations just three years ago.

Following a Friday evening dedication service for a Romanian congregation in Tel Aviv on Saturday [Sabbath], December 9, a worship center was dedicated for the Ghanian believers, and another one for the Romanian congregation in Petach Tikva. “This was a very special Shabbat,” says Pastor Richard Elofer, president of the Adventist Church in Israel.

“During the past 10 years there has been a mass migration of Jews from Africa and the countries of Euro-Asia,” explains Peter Roennfeldt, Ministerial Association secretary and Global Mission coordinator for the Trans-European region of the church, of which Israel is a part.

“More than 1 million Jews from Russia alone have arrived in Israel, and more are expected to arrive soon,” Roennfeldt says. “Many of these Jewish people from the countries of Euro-Asia and Africa had contact with Seventh-day Adventists before leaving their countries of birth. The members and pastors are learning to relate the gospel while keeping in mind the cultural backgrounds of the people.”

“The Russian Jews are the segment of the Jewish population that is most open to the gospel,” says Matthew Bediako, secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide. Bediako, a Ghanian, participated in the church dedications. “Adventists in Israel are continuing to work among Russian immigrants as well as planning outreach activities among Ethiopian immigrants.”

Meeting with the Romanian churches was of special interest to Adrian Bocaneanu, president of the Adventist Church in Romania. “It was a real joy to meet 400 Romanian-speaking Seventh-day Adventists formerly from Romania and Moldova. We met in a movie theater in Tel Aviv, and it was overcrowded. This truly was a special spiritual convocation,” says Bocaneanu.

“The church leadership is very active in training and motivating church members to witness in a way which is sensitive to the spiritual heritage of Israel and faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Bocaneanu comments. “They are leading Adventists in Israel in a bold church planting program.”

There are currently some 600 church members, but church attendance is more than 1,000. “The church in Israel is growing,” says Elofer, “and we believe that 20 to 25 new prayer and worship centers will be established during the next five years.”