An Ethiopian Jewish Journey to Messiah with David Safafa

An Ethiopian Jewish Journey to Messiah with David Safafa

Author: Gateway Center for Israel March 25, 2026 Duration: 33:53

What happens when an Ethiopian Jewish man, raised in deep tradition, encounters Yeshua (Jesus) in a dream that changes everything?

In this powerful episode of Covenant & Conflict, we sit down with David Safafa, an Ethiopian Jewish believer and leader in Israel, as he shares his incredible journey from growing up in a remote Jewish community in Gonder, Ethiopia, to immigrating to Israel during Operation Moses, and ultimately discovering the Messiah.

This is more than a story… It's a testimony of identity, sacrifice, calling, and revival in Israel today.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

  • Life as an Ethiopian Jew before modern connection to global Judaism
  • The shocking discovery of Jewish identity connections through DNA
  • The journey to Israel during Operation Moses
  • A life-changing dream encounter with Yeshua
  • The cost of following Messiah — rejection, loss, and perseverance
  • The birth of the Beresheet Congregation — the first Hebrew-speaking Ethiopian Messianic community
  • A growing revival among young people in Israel
  • Why believers around the world need to pray for Israel right now

Why This Story MattersGod is moving in Israel. From Ethiopian Jews to native-born Israelis, there is a rising hunger for truth and identity in the Messiah. David's story is a glimpse into a larger movement that connects the Jewish roots of the faith, the restoration of Israel, and the global Body of Messiah.

If you care about:

  • Israel
  • End times prophecy
  • The Jewish roots of Christianity
  • Revival among the nations

…this episode is for you.

00:00 Introduction – Ethiopian Jewish Believer from Israel03:47 Growing Up Jewish in Ethiopia06:53 Journey to Israel – Operation Moses & Aliyah Story10:12 Encountering Yeshua in a Dream (Radical Transformation)14:50 The Cost of Following Messiah (Rejection & Faith)16:08 Calling & Launching a Congregation in Israel24:04 A Hebrew-Speaking Revival Among Young Israelis26:48 What God Is Doing in Israel Right Now (End Times)30:11 How to Pray for Israel & Stand with the Body of Messiah

Get InvolvedDavid and the Beresheet Congregation are seeing a real revival in Israel, especially among the next generation.

Pray for:

  • Strength for leaders
  • Unity among Jewish and Gentile believers
  • Continued openness to the Gospel in Israel

Stand with Israel. Stand with the Body of Messiah.

Subscribe for MoreIf you're passionate about:

  • Biblical truth in modern issues
  • Israel and the Church
  • Real conversations that matter

Subscribe to Covenant & Conflict and join the conversation.


Hosted by Nic Lesmeister and David Blease, Covenant & Conflict is a production of the Gateway Center for Israel. This podcast engages directly with the tensions between timeless scriptural foundations and the pressing questions of our time. Conversations with various experts navigate complex terrain-from social ethics to geopolitical currents-always anchored in a covenantal framework. The aim isn't to sidestep difficulty but to enter into it thoughtfully, demonstrating how a rooted perspective can inform rather than inflame our dialogues. You'll hear nuanced explorations that resist easy answers, prioritizing depth and understanding over rhetorical point-scoring. It’s for those who suspect that ancient wisdom has urgent, practical things to say about modern conflicts and who appreciate dialogue that seeks clarity amidst complexity. Tune in for episodes that challenge assumptions and encourage a more considered engagement with the world, all through a lens that takes both text and context seriously. The result is a consistently thoughtful audio experience that stands apart in the realms of faith and culture.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Covenant & Conflict
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