Weekly devotion: Responding to people or situations ‘beyond hope’
Aviv Ministry, Israel
A street in south Tel Aviv.
Since 2005, Embrace partner Aviv Ministry has been reaching out into the hardest-hit areas of south Tel Aviv, where homelessness, drug addiction, prostitution and extreme poverty are deeply intertwined.
There are hundreds of people living rough, many of whom are undocumented or migrants who feel abandoned by public systems. The prevalence of cheap and highly addictive synthetic drugs, combined with mental health challenges, lack of stable shelter, and social isolation, means many slip through the cracks of support. Aviv Ministry’s day centre in Tel Aviv, open most days, provides for basic needs (food, clothing, a safe space), spiritual care, and, where needed, pathways into rehabilitation—helping people leave addiction, reconnect with families, and find dignity again.
Bible reading
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?’ “When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? “When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:35-40
Thought
The people Aviv Ministry serves are invisible to many. Their addictions, their vulnerabilities and their circumstances can feel overwhelming. Yet Christ’s call is clear: to see them, to act compassionately, to serve with dignity. Aviv’s work reminds us that restoration is not only about meeting needs, but about restoring identity, hope and relationships.
Ask yourself: What are the people or situations in my own community that feel “beyond hope” or invisible? How can I respond in a way that treats them with dignity rather than distance?
Prayer
God of mercy,
You see every person on the streets of south Tel Aviv—those who feel lost, ashamed, hopeless. Thank you for Aviv Ministry, for staff and volunteers who bring not only food and clothing but love, respect and Jesus’ healing. Grant them courage, patience and compassion.
We pray for those battling drug addiction: bring clarity where there is confusion, deliverance where there is enslavement, and hope where there is despair. May they know they are valued, seen, accepted.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
You may also be interested in:
Eduard’s story: From gangster to minister
The remarkable story of how Eduard turned his life around after an encounter with a Christian. He is now on the team of Embrace’s partner Aviv Ministry, providing shelter and support for Tel Aviv’s rough sleepers.
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