Weaverville – Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville took their Wednesday midweek service (Oct. 25th) and used it to raise money to help Magen David Adom (MDA), the Israeli equivalent of our emergency medical services. Before 11 pm that night, the church, with the help of other churches throughout the Southeast, raised almost $310,000. The church was filled with more than 1,100 people, some from local churches who had moved their services to be at the event, “A Night For Israel.” There were also members of the MDA present, including Yonathan Yagodovsky,MDA Paramedic, International Relations, Jerusalem, Israel, was at the event.
Pastor Emeritus Ralph Sexton Jr., head of Ralph Sexton Ministries, who had partnered with Trinity for the event, told those gathered that MDS had used four years of medical supplies during the first week of the war. He also said that $120,000 would buy a medical ambulance and that $140,000 would buy an intensive care ambulance.
“It’s a joy for us to be able to stand with Israel,” Sexton told the Tribune. “Our family has been involved with Israel since 1951…my dad, after he saw the war films of what happened in the Second World War in the death camps. He wanted to go stand with the people of Israel.” Sexton talked about his dad’s journey and how he had to carry a white flag in one hand and his suitcase in the other as he crossed from one part of Jerusalem to the other in what was then a divided city.
“So, since that time, our family has been there trying to help both of Abraham’s sons, Ishmael and Isaac, and it’s just been a door God has continued to open for us by me taking teaching tours,” explained Sexton, who was on his 58th tour just three weeks ago and left four days before Hamas attacked Israel and caused what has come to be known as Israel’s 9/11.
Pastor Winston Parish told the Tribune, “We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and love for Israel. Over $300,000 was raised in just a few hours, all of it benefiting the Emergency Medical Services in Israel. The money will be used to buy multiple ambulances, a medical first response unit, and medical supplies. Israel used over four years of reserves of those supplies in one day, on October 7th. It’s our privilege and our responsibility as Bible believers to stand and support our brothers and sisters in Israel. Efforts are ongoing. If anyone would like to participate in giving, log on to RalphSexton.com or call (828)-820-5759.”
Church Becomes Target?
According to local Facebook-based news outlet Skyline News, Trinity has become a target for a pro-Hamas group.
“A Greensboro communist group called WHOA has publicly targeted churches and organizations supporting Israel in NC. WHOA is not only communist but proclaims to be pro-terrorist and in line with Hamas,” posted Skyline on Facebook. “They want someone to vandalize a building, intimidate employees, or physically hurt people.”
A pro-Palestine rally was held in downtown Asheville on Friday night (Oct. 27) and drew a sizeable crowd. It is unknown if this group had any connection to the Greensboro group.
As for precautions being taken by the church, “Some of the men are coming by and pulling shifts…” Parish told the Tribune. He also said law enforcement is also watching. “We’re doing what we can and leaving the rest with the Lord.”