Children Are Hurting in Israel. How Can We Help?Children Are Hurting in Israel. How Can We Help?
The Call with Nancy Sabato
Dr Jeff Johnson talks with Nancy Sabato about supporting traumatised children in Israel through meals, counselling and education. The conversation highlights grief, faith in Jesus, and simple acts of care as ways to respond to ongoing suffering.
3:06•17 Oct 2026
Feeding Hope: Helping Hurting Children in Israel
Episode Overview
- Children in Israel affected by war are experiencing severe PTSD, including sleeplessness, rocking, crying and bedwetting.
- Israel Today Ministries has provided thousands of meals to children who have lost parents or siblings in the conflict.
- The Butterfly Project combines food support with counselling and education to care for traumatised children.
- Dr Jeff Johnson describes this work as a humbling responsibility and a practical way to share the love of Jesus.
- The audience is asked to at least pray for the children and those serving them, and to respond as they feel led.
“We are empowered to share the love of Jesus through this good deed of just simply feeding children, helping them with counseling and education and anything that we can do.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety and faith when children are suffering from war? This conversation on The Call with Nancy Sabato focuses on Dr Jeff Johnson and his work with Israel Today Ministries and the Butterfly Project, supporting children in Israel who are facing grief and trauma after losing family members. You'll hear Dr Johnson describe meeting Yarden Bibas, whose family has been deeply affected by the events of 7 October.
He refers to them as "the poster family of October 7", and shares how that encounter shaped his understanding of the long-term pain these children carry. The episode paints a raw picture of kids living with severe PTSD: they can't sleep, they rock themselves, they cry, they react to loud noises, and some wet the bed. It's heartbreaking, but it's not hopeless. Israel Today Ministries has provided thousands of meals to these children, alongside counselling and education support.
Dr Johnson calls this a "humbling and wonderful responsibility", showing how something as simple as feeding children can be an act of love that reflects Jesus' compassion. The tone is gentle yet honest, stressing that while no one can fix everything, small acts of care still matter.
For anyone in addiction or recovery who feels powerless when faced with global suffering, this episode offers a different kind of encouragement: you don't have to change the whole situation, but you can pray, learn, and respond as you're able. It's a reminder that healing and kindness are everyday choices, even in the shadow of war.
If you're looking for a faith-based story that connects trauma, practical help, and the hope found in Jesus, this one might stay with you long after it ends. How might your own journey of recovery and faith include simple acts of care for others?
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