Christians are banding together to help Israelis in southern Negev

Last Thursday, Dec. 7, Dr. Daniel Layish and Keith Dvorchik hosted a meeting with a group from CityServe Israel. The discussion was about how the Christian and Jewish communities can help the moshavs and kibbutzim in the southern Negev region that was attacked by Hamas.

A spokesman from Moshav Ein Habesor, Dr. Yftach Gepner, who has lived in Orlando and now lives in Ein Habesor, shared his experience on Oct. 7. Ein Habesor is about 4 miles east of Gaza. On that fateful Simchat Torah, he woke to sounds of rockets and gunfire. His brother, who had an M16 rifle, checked the front gate and locked it. Within 2 minutes, 20 Hamas terrorists were at the gate shooting at him. He sustained a shoulder wound and called Gepner to take him to the hospital, which was 2 hours away. Gepner, who was defending the "Big" gate on the other side of the village with only a rock, received a call from his brother who said he needed to go to the hospital. Gepner and his brother drove through the Big gate. Looking to his left, he did not see anyone. As they turned to the right, about 30 terrorists were right in front of them and started shooting with machine guns at the car. Gepner drove in reverse at top speed to escape. They succeeded, but his brother was shot again. This time in the hip and belly.

They were the first to arrive at the hospital. Within two hours, there were over 600 casualties needing medical attention.

While he was at the hospital with his brother, Gepner's two daughters and his wife were in their safe room where they remained for 17 hours until it was safe to come out.

Four rifles and a rock

Why did Gepner use a rock for defense? The IDF had only provided their defense unit with four rifles. He did not have a rifle. "We have to defend the village in any way we can," Gepner told Mike Huckabee in an interview. "It was a well-operated, well-organized force that came in," Gepner shared. "It was a miracle that no one was killed."

With the defense of only four M16s and a rock, the defense unit was able to save Ein Habesor.

Because he is a doctor, Gepner was away from his family for two weeks helping at the hospitals. Although his moshav was miraculously saved from harm, the residents were evacuated with all the others to Eilat. Now they are looking to the future.

Responsibility for the future

Maitland resident and former owner of Tourico Travel, Uri Argov, was among those who saw the devastation of the southern Negev after the Oct. 7 massacre. He witnessed the massacred bodies at Nir Oz. He has no sympathy for Hamas or the Gazan people.

"There are 2.5 million people in Gaza and no humanitarians," he stated in a quiet voice to the group gathered at this meeting.

Then with more conviction he said, "We have to be apologetic for what we are doing in Gaza with a tweezer! Six million Jews could have fought the Nazis [but did not] and we still apologize to the world! We can't do it anymore!"

He sees that the spirit of the Israel people is broken. Some go to 60 funerals in a short time. "They can't close their eyes in the shower," he said, speaking of the effect this has had on so many.

"The government doesn't do anything for the communities," he stated emphatically. "[The country] is managed by the civilians," he said, explaining that the people will have to rebuild their own future.

"It will take time to heal and recover," Argov said. "We will win, no question, but without rebuilding this region, we will lose the war."

The Christian community is "giving a hand up"

Because Ein Habesor was "lucky enough" not to be harmed, they won't receive any funding from the government. However, Gepner recognized the need to help the surrounding communities. But how? How would they manage the ingathering of crops and the planting on new crops? Sixty percent of the produce for the country comes from this region. More than 600 Thai workers were called back to Thailand. Homes need to be rebuilt, safe rooms need to be safer, and practical needs must be met.

Local Pastor Todd Lamphere and neurosurgeon Dr. John Jenkins immediately went to Israel as representatives of CityServe to see how they could help. CityServ.com is a Christian organization that serves as a resource for churches to help communities around the world. Currently, they are working with families in Maui and the Ukraine. Now they have added Israel to their list. In Israel they met with Uri Steinberg, the executive director of CityServe Israel who introduced them to Dr. Gepner.

"Christians have a mandate to stand with Israel," Lamphere stated. Knowing that CityServe can't help everyone in Israel, he likened Israel to a pie. "We must take a piece of the pie. And we chose Ein Habesor."

CityServe's goal is to help the families get on their feet and be a resource to revive the region. "This is not a hand out," Lamphere stated. "The reality is the communities here have lost their workers and need workers. They want to help save a season's worth of crops."

The families in the affected regions get $400 per family from the government. CityServe has started an 'adopt a family' program to financial help individual families. They will supply washers and dryers and school supplies while the families live in Eilat (there are only three washers for 700 people at the moment!).

Because Ein Habesor is intact, the community has offered 240 lots in Ein Habesor to Nir Oz, Be'eri and other communities near them where they can build temporary housing and be close enough to tend their fields.

CityServe is working to bring groups of college students from the United States to work in the fields. Monies raised will help enhance security with making safe rooms safer – bullet-proof doors that are intact so smoke and fire cannot get through

The group has traveled to Nashville, Dallas, Phoenix and here sharing their goal to help bring security and safety to these communities. The response has been tremendous. CityServe has set aside $150,000 to match gifts for Ein Habesor and the Christian community has been very responsive. Lamphere shared the story of one little 12-year-old girl in Nashville who had saved $1500 walking dogs to buy a car. She gave it all to help the Israelis. She inspired others, and CityServe raised $124,000 in that one meeting.