A Vision of Heaven Reveals a Calling to Israel
“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him. –1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
“God has given me such a deep love for the Jewish nation—so deep that many times I simply weep. At first, I couldn’t understand why I felt such compassion, but then I realized my concern came from heaven. Confirming my calling, several people gave me independent prophetic words, describing the same picture I’d seen in a vision: airplanes traveling back and forth between Germany and Israel, and the span between the two opposing countries eventually becoming a solid stone bridge. God was speaking to us. He wanted something more permanent than us simply traveling back and forth in ministry. God was building a bridge of blessing between my country, Germany, and Israel.
“In southwest Germany, I came to the Lord at the age of twenty-three. God clearly called me to ministry. I had a powerful vision of a golden door to heaven, similar to Jesus’ description to ‘enter through the narrow gate’ (Matthew 7:13–14). Another spiritually defining moment happened in 1995 when I visited Times Square Church in New York City. I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and experienced a vision of heaven that forever changed my life."
Discovering God’s Heart for Israel
“I saw heaven with multitudes of people from every nation. Their bodies were filled with the light of God, and His love flowed through them. There was no pain, no sickness, no heaviness—everyone celebrating with incredible joy. I only saw it for a few seconds. Afterward, I collapsed into my chair and wept for thirty minutes because it was so wonderful. That encounter opened my heart to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Having grown up in traditions that were cautious about spiritual gifts, God gently led me into a deeper understanding of His presence and power.
“In 2012, I became a full-time pastor, and today, I serve as an associate pastor at a church near Stuttgart, Germany. Our congregation includes people from 120 nations, and every service is translated live into 16 languages. It is a beautiful picture of God’s kingdom.
“It was years later that God began the work in my heart about Israel. The first time I stood on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem, I experienced what I can only describe as a divine download. Revelation poured into my spirit. Suddenly the Bible came alive. I could understand the stories of Jesus, Jerusalem, and God’s heart for the Jewish people in a completely new way. It was life-changing and ignited a deep love for Israel that has only grown stronger. I have traveled there many times, and each visit confirms God’s calling."
Healing Trauma in Israel
“At first we did not understand exactly what the stone bridge from the prophetic words and my vision would become, but the Lord started to reveal how He would build an overpass from Germany to Israel. For years we have ministered to hurting people through prophetic counseling—helping people with emotional pain, trauma, and deep wounds. We try to bring people back to their painful memories with the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus stands outside of time. As people encounter Him entering their pain, lives begin to change. We see tremendous inner healing.
“Again and again, we have watched God restore people through His presence. Then, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly: ‘What you’re doing in Stuttgart, I want you to do in Israel.’ The need is enormous. Many Israelis—50% of the population, 5 million children, adults, and seniors—carry deep trauma from war, terrorism, loss, and generations of suffering. So many are emotionally wounded. They need healing, and God has given us a healing anointing through prophetic counseling.
“In August 2025, our calling became reality with the launch of the ministry, Light Through the Break, known in Hebrew as Or HaShever. The Hebrew name carries two meanings: ‘Light of the Breakthrough’ and ‘Light in the Brokenness.’ When people experience trauma, they often feel trapped in a pit. They cannot climb out by themselves. King David understood trauma, writing, ‘He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand’ (Psalm 40:2 NIV)."
Confirming the Calling
“An unforgettable experience confirmed our calling. I was invited to baptize an elderly Jewish woman in the Jordan River. She was a Holocaust survivor from Ukraine who had immigrated to Israel. Others had tried to baptize her several times before, but every attempt had somehow fallen through. As we drove to the Jordan River, she spent the entire journey crying. When we arrived, I discovered why.
“The last time she had heard the German language was during the Holocaust. But now God had brought a German pastor to baptize her. For her it was as though God was reversing a curse into a blessing. When she came out of the water, she was crying and dancing at the same time. Her face was transformed. It was far more than a baptism. It was a prophetic act of healing.
“Another powerful confirmation came while I was in Jerusalem. A pastor asked me to pray for his wife, who had suffered severe trauma and depression for more than ten years and had found little relief despite years of treatment. I prayed a simple prayer before we began. I said, ‘Jesus, I cannot help this lady but You can.’ For more than an hour she encountered the Lord in profound ways. Her face changed. Her eyes changed. She said, ‘I can see the light. I can see Jesus. The darkness is gone.’
“Six months later her husband contacted me. He told me his wife was completely transformed. She had regained joy, strength, and hope. It confirmed once again that the Holy Spirit can accomplish in one hour what people sometimes search for over many years."
A Future of Trauma Care or Preparing for the Future
“Our ministry approaches trauma care with great sensitivity, especially when working among Jewish people. We train our counselors to understand the history between Christians and Jews. For Messianic Jewish believers, we freely minister through prophetic counseling and prayer. For secular or religious Jews, we often begin with trauma-informed counseling methods.
“Our first agenda is not to argue theology. Isaiah says, ‘Comfort, comfort My people’ (Isaiah 40:1 NIV), so we begin by bringing comfort. If people ask questions about what they are experiencing, then the door opens naturally. Everything depends upon the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people are healed simply by entering the room because God’s presence is so strong.
“The long-term vision continues to grow. Initially, we plan to minister online from Germany. Then we hope to send trained counselors into Israel for extended periods. Eventually, we dream of establishing a permanent healing center where Israelis can receive trauma care. I believe God wants this bridge to become something permanent—strong and lasting. One day I hope we’ll have a lasting place where people can experience healing.
“Another dream is to invite those with severe trauma to Germany for intensive care. We want people to come for a week completely free of charge. They could leave their painful surroundings, receive ministry, experience rest, and encounter God’s healing love. In preparation, we are training counselors.
“Our first two-week intensive Trauma and Resilience training course at Hebrew University was amazing, featuring specialists from Herzog Medical Center’s Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma (METIV), one of Israel’s leading and most established trauma and resilience organizations, recognized internationally for its clinical work, research, and professional training. In the Trauma and Resilience course, there are eighteen people from ten nations learning how to counsel broken people."
“God has also unexpectedly connected this vision with The King’s University. For more than twenty years, I had wondered whether I should pursue a Doctor of Ministry degree, but every time I prayed, the Holy Spirit simply said, ‘Not yet.’ But everything changed when my family attended Gateway Church’s Global Pastor Conference in 2022. While visiting Southlake, Texas, we went for a drive and somehow ended up in the parking lot of The King’s. I was fascinated by the name. It touched my heart. This is not the normal university because it’s about the King; you know, it’s about Jesus.
“When Jesus is the king of a university, it’s special. As we sat in the parking spot, my family and I prayed, ‘Lord, if You have a plan for us here, open the door.’ It wasn't long before one of the Gateway pastors introduced me to Dr. David Rudolph, and I began the Messianic Jewish Studies Doctor of Ministry program. My dissertation focuses on The Impact of Prophetic Counseling at the Gospel Forum Stuttgart—bringing together everything God has been teaching me for years.
“Throughout the program I have experienced God’s supernatural grace. It is a requirement to learn Hebrew, and as I was reading the words, it was like I knew them already, but I had never heard them before. The Holy Spirit helped me learn biblical Hebrew. Whenever I read, the words felt strangely familiar. God gave me strength, favor, and friendships every step of the way.
“One of the greatest blessings has been the friendships formed through Gateway Church. I found real family. God connected us with people who opened their home to us and cared for us with incredible generosity. Only God can create relationships like that."
His Story, God’s Purpose
“Looking back, every piece now fits together: the vision of heaven, the revelation on the Mount of Olives, the prophetic picture of the stone bridge, the ministry of healing in Germany, the call to Israel, the doctoral studies, the friendships through Gateway. Together, they reveal God’s larger purpose.
“Everything I do is because of His grace. God’s prayer remains simple for us: ‘I want people to see what I’m doing!’ Testimonies are powerful. Sometimes a testimony carries more power than a sermon because it shows what Jesus is still doing today. Our lives should honor God. He has been so faithful to us!”
–Pastor Stefan, partner of the Gateway family
Additional Resources
Learn More About Gateway Center for Israel.
Learn More About Care and Counseling at Gateway.
Learn More About Small Groups at Gateway.