ABOUT KNOWN BY NAME ISRAEL
Our Story
Known By Name Israel began with a simple conviction: people who are often overlooked should be seen, known, and treated with dignity. What began on the streets of Tel Aviv grew into a Christian ministry shaped by relationships, compassion, and the belief that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.
Elias’s story began with questions of identity and belonging. His father was Arab and his mother Jewish, but he did not learn of his Jewish heritage until later. At two years old he was placed in an orphanage, and later moved to another in Ramallah. The first was run by Christians, while he attended a Muslim school. Years later, his Israeli military service revealed more of his background and began a difficult period involving war, addiction, and spiritual darkness.
After years of struggle, Elias encountered the Gospel. His change was not instant; faith began a long process that gradually turned his attention toward people also living through addiction and hardship. He began sitting with them and sharing food with people on the streets of Tel Aviv.
Elias and Antoinette met in Jerusalem on 19 May 2025. In June, they began their first street outreach in Tel Aviv together. Elias suggested they go, and they both understood it as the next step. They packed 30 sandwiches and 40 Tropit drinks and set out into the streets. They hoped to reach people’s souls, beginning with their hearts: helping people know they are loved and cared for, and giving trust time to grow.
That beginning was small, and the work still asks for patience. Many people are not ready to leave the street, and trust cannot be rushed. There is a God-given gap between being ready to offer help and someone being ready to accept it. At times people step away or return to the street. KBN keeps coming back, so care remains available if they are ready to take another step.
WHAT THE NAME MEANS
Every Name Has a Story.
We believe every person is created in God’s image and deserves to be treated with dignity. On the streets of Tel Aviv, many people have grown accustomed to being overlooked. We begin by learning their names, listening to their stories, and reminding them that they have not been forgotten.
FAITH IN PRACTICE
Faith That Moves Us to Serve
Our faith in Jesus Christ is the reason we serve. Whether sharing a meal, offering practical help, listening, or praying with someone, we want His love to be seen in everything we do. And when people are willing to listen, we share the hope we have found in the Gospel.
“Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
1 John 3:18 (ESV)
Where KBN serves.
Our faith in Jesus is at the heart of KBN Israel. We put that faith into practice through service, prayer, and open conversations about Christ with people who want to hear.
