Those who have been to Israel with me likely remember Misgav Am, the kibbutz and military outpost on the Lebanese border, surrounded on three sides by Lebanon. (See photo to the right. Misgav Am is north of Kiryat Shmona, in the very tip of the inlet into Lebanon.) It is always a tour highlight in which guests often say, “I can’t believe we got to do that!”

When you arrive at Misgav Am, a large sign greets you: “Welcome to Misgav Am, the Fortress of the People. Our site represents the strong bond between Christians and the people of the kibbutz.” It is an out-of-the-way place rarely visited by tour groups. We are always warmly greeted, sometimes by soldiers in tanks!

At Misgav Am, one can actually walk up to a sturdy, heavy-duty wire fence and literally reach into Lebanon! Situated just beyond the fence is a Hezbollah-infested Lebanese village built to shelter missiles and rockets! (See center photo.) The IDF has always been aware, but all was calm and the action suppressed…until October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah joined Hamas in attacking Israel. (Today, that Lebanese village is no more!)

In the righthand photo above, taken from the overlook, a snaking fence draws the boundary between Israel and Lebanon. From that viewpoint, the Israeli settlement of Metula is situated to the right and Kfar Kela, a Lebanese village, lies to the left. When we were there, a keen eye could see the remnants of a destroyed Hezbollah terror tunnel built to infiltrate Metula and kidnap Israelis.

The last time I was physically at Misgav Am was February 2023. My, how things have changed. The IDF has successfully blown up the nice neighborhoods seen in the center photo above, along with Kfar Kela and every other Hezbollah stronghold in the area. However, prior to the ceasefire in Lebanon, Hezbollah managed to launch a missile that hit Misgav Am.

(If you are on Facebook, you can see videos of Lebanese villages being blown up and a video of the inside of the overlook following the missile strike. If you’ve been there, you will be heartbroken by the devastation.)

Today, Misgav Am is rebuilding. Hezbollah has been driven back away from the border and there is a ceasefire in Lebanon. Hezbollah is virtually incapacitated, and God will undoubtedly redeem Misgav Am.

As you know, I’m taking a small group to Israel soon to participate in service projects and to engage the people of Israel to let them know Christians stand with them. Misgav Am is a unique place that captures your heart, but is unfortunately currently closed to all civilians. Lord willing, though, we hope to serve in other places up north, helping in whatever ways we can.

Please pray for us…and stay tuned as I share more about our preparation and our trip to Israel in February 2025!