Wilhelm, Israel/ Palestine

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Wilhelm, Israel/ Palestine

Manager of a Jesus-centred rehab centre, spending time with and discipling rehabilitants.

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I am the manager of a Christian rehab centre, where I help addicts come off drugs and work towards returning to normal life and to their families, serving and being a blessing to others.

Instead of starting their day with a needle, our rehabilitants can start and end their day with Bible reading and prayer. They go through discipleship training and gradually overcome their addictions – a true miracle.

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Wilhelm’s story

In Israel today, very few people are open to the gospel. For drug addicts, however, it’s a different story. Living on the streets and seeing others like them die every day, they understand their hopeless condition and are open to the good news of salvation and deliverance. We believe that these people have great potential to become strong Christians who will breathe new life into local churches and even become their future leaders.

Many of those on our rehab programme come to us through our drop-in centre in south Tel Aviv. Aviv Centre is open seven days a week and meets the basic needs of hundreds of addicts every month. We offer food, clean clothes and first aid. We know that only Jesus can bring healing and real change, so we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, who came to this earth to save sinners – including those who seemed totally hopeless.

Of the addicts who pass through our drop-in centre, there are plenty who we don’t see again. But for those who are ready, we offer places at one of our Christian rehab centres. Over time, many people not only leave drugs and fully restore their lives, but also start serving others. Most volunteers at the Aviv Centre are former addicts who want to help current addicts meet Jesus and find peace with God.

Wilhelm is a Jew from Georgia, who came to Israel in 1994. After becoming an addict in 2000, he lost everything and ended up on the streets. In 2008, he went to a Christian homeless shelter, where he became a Christian in 2009. God freed him from drugs and changed his life completely. He started serving in the church, married a fellow Christian and got a good job at a factory.

Now a mature Christian, Wilhelm is an elder and preacher in the local church and has been connected with the rehab centre for a few years, visiting to hold Bible studies and getting to know the rehabilitants. The rehabilitants like and respect Wilhelm, and the head of the organisation believes Wilhelm is going to be a great blessing to them in their respective journeys.

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