The Friends of Israel in Action Sep/Oct 2025
Mr. Wein’s Decision
Ty Perry, The Friends of Israel’s (FOI’s) director of Field Ministries, shares his memory of his last moments with his friend Mr. Wein.
Mr. Wein suffered from mild dementia and lived in a nursing home. That’s where I visited him each week.
Those visits were brief. He could hardly hold a conversation, so we usually talked about the weather and paged through his family photo album while he nibbled on the chocolate chip cookies my wife, Lissy, baked specially for him.
During every visit, I steered our conversation toward spiritual matters. Mr. Wein was not raised in a religiously observant Jewish home, so his knowledge of God and Scripture was minimal. But he sometimes asked questions about heaven, hell, and the nature of God.
When I visited him in March, he could do no more than lie in bed, struggling not to fall asleep mid-conversation. Knowing his time was short, I asked Mr. Wein about eternal things.
“You’re in hospice,” I said. “So, you won’t be here forever. Do you know where you will be after you die?”
“No,” he said.
“Do you want to know?” I asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
I shared with him that the wages of his sin is death (Rom. 6:23), an eternal separation from God in hell. Then, I told him the Good News—that God sent His Son, Jesus, the Messiah of Mr. Wein’s people, to take his sin upon Himself. If Mr. Wein would trust in Jesus’ atoning blood sacrifice, he would be forgiven and could know with certainty he soon would be in the presence of Jesus.
“Do you believe that’s true?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said.
“Do you believe that you are a sinner?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah who died to take the penalty for your sins?”
“Yes.”
“Then, Mr. Wein, why don’t you tell God what you believe—that you accept Jesus’ payment for your sins?”
I then led him in a prayer of confession, in which he affirmed his belief in Jesus and in Jesus’ sacrifice on his behalf. When I visited Mr. Wein the next day, he reaffirmed that he truly believed Jesus died for his sins. Three days later, Mr. Wein passed away, entering eternity.
One difficulty in sharing the Good News is that we don’t know another person’s heart. Is it possible that, in the fog of dementia, Mr. Wein was simply saying “yes” to everything I said? Is it possible that he did not truly trust in Jesus? Of course.
But, Scripture makes it clear that salvation comes by hearing the Word of the Messiah, believing it, and trusting in the finished work He accomplished on the cross—calling on the name of the Lord (10:9–13).
If Mr. Wein truly trusted in that simple but precious message, then today he is in the presence of the One who loved him and gave Himself up for him (Gal. 2:20).
You can support FOI’s North American Ministries today. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
Turning Physical Needs Into Spiritual Hope
On a recent trip to Argentina, a team of workers from our ministry’s U.S. headquarters visited FOI’s medical clinic, located between two Jewish quarters in Buenos Aires. The clinic’s hallmark is its free medical care, round-the-clock ambulance service, and testing provided by Drs. Alfredo and Asunta Espinoza; their son, Dr. Juan Carlos; and his wife, Cintia. Alfredo and Juan are cardiologists, Asunta is a dermatologist, and Cintia is a nurse.
Our visiting team witnessed firsthand many of the Espinozas’ avenues for serving the Lord in Argentina. The clinic trains nurses and holds a graduation ceremony at the end of each course. The American team participated in the ceremony, which saw approximately 25 graduates earn certificates.
The Espinozas also invite their patients to return to the clinic for Bible reunion classes. During the class the American team attended, Juan Carlos taught a Bible lesson about the end-times that included a discussion of Daniel’s 70 weeks and the Rapture of the church. The 25 attendees heard the gospel and received instruction from God’s Word about yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecy—all from a medical doctor with a gift for teaching the Bible.
God has greatly expanded the Argentinian team’s ministry far from its downtown Buenos Aires facility into more remote areas of the country. In the interior town of Rafaela, clinic workers provide free medical checkups and testing at a local Bible-believing church. More than 150 people lined up to receive treatment from the FOI doctors over the course of two days.
During its trip to Rafaela, the American team, along with some clinic workers, visited nearby Moisés Ville (village of Moses), Argentina’s first Jewish community, which developed in the late 19th century. The Argentinian team’s strong relationships with the Jewish people there demonstrate its commitment to loving and blessing God’s Chosen People both near and far from home.
Yet, it is the clinic in Buenos Aires that remains the heart and soul of The Friends of Israel’s ministry in Argentina. Our workers never turn away any of the many Jewish and Gentile people who come for help. The Espinozas have a special talent for turning questions about physical health into conversations about spiritual help. Wherever they go, the gospel of Messiah Jesus goes. We praise God that many are coming to faith through this unique and cherished medical ministry.
You can support FOI’s Argentinian team or other ministries around the world today. Thank you for your prayers and financial support!
