Episode 133 - From the Bomb Shelter Capital of the World (featuring Michael Beener)
Helping Christians make sense of their roots. Helping the Jewish community make sense of Jesus. Together, we are restoring the Jewishness of the gospel.
On October 7, 2023, the city of Sderot became one of the first places Hamas unleashed its brutal assault. But right there - in a city riddled with bullet holes, bomb shelters on every corner, and stories of terrorized children - there’s something unexpected: life.
In this gripping and emotional episode, we sit down with Pastor Michael, leader of City of Life Ministries, just steps from the rubble where terrorists stormed and slaughtered innocent police officers on that Shabbat morning.
He takes us into the chaos of those early hours, the miracle that spared his apartment building, and what it’s like to raise a family under rocket fire - with just 15 seconds to run for cover.
But this isn’t just a story of survival. It’s a story of spiritual resistance. Of staying. Of blessing. Of building a community that not only endures, but proclaims hope in Yeshua despite pressure, persecution, and war.
This episode reveals what the global headlines miss: how God is still writing His story in the land of Israel - even when the world wants to erase it.
Key Takeaways:
The October 7 Attack in Sderot: Pastor Michael recounts how Hamas deliberately targeted the local police station - killing friends and neighbors - while miraculously sparing nearby residents.
Raising Families Under Fire: For over two decades, families in Sderot have lived under constant rocket threat. Bomb shelters aren’t just safety - they’re part of daily life.
A Ministry of Life in a City of Death: City of Life Ministries feeds the hungry, counsels the traumatized, shelters the displaced, and proclaims the eternal hope found in Yeshua - right in the heart of a war zone.Opposition from Within: While Hamas wages war outside, ultra-Orthodox communities protest against Messianic Jews inside. Pastor Michael shares the spiritual and legal battles they’ve faced and how they keep loving their enemies.
The Bigger Picture: What if this war is stirring both Jews and Christians toward a deeper prophetic return - to the land, to the Scriptures, and to one another? Pastor Michael unpacks a theopolitical vision of what God might be doing in our time.
Chapter Markers:
[00:00] – Standing on Ground Zero: The site of the police station massacre
[04:00] – 15 Seconds to Live: Life under rocket fire in Sderot
[06:30] – October 7th: The timeline of terror and miracle
[10:00] – Displacement and Fear: What it meant to flee their home for 9 months
[14:00] – Teaching Children Not to Fear, but to Bless
[16:00] – Why “City of Life”? Naming a congregation in a war zone
[17:00] – Serving the City: From food to therapy to field trips
[19:00] – Why Proclaiming Yeshua Still Draws Fire in Israel
[24:00] – Theopolitical Lens: What God might be doing in this war
[27:00] – A Desert That Will Bloom: Fulfillment of prophecy in the Negev
[31:00] – The Coming Aliyah and a Messianic Movement Rising
Support City of Life Ministries
City of Life is doing the real work - providing food, diapers, trauma counseling, and the hope of Yeshua to those surrounded by war. Learn more or support their work at: clm-israel.org
Join The Jewish Road Community
If you want to stand with Israel, rediscover the Jewish roots of your faith, and walk the narrow road with us - join The Few. We’re not the majority, but we’re faithful. Learn more and support the work at: thejewishroad.com
Thank you to Joshua Royal, for writing our closer song now running seven seasons straight. Listen to him at Joshua Royal Music.
Connect with us on social!
