American Pastor Accomplishes “Impossible” Task
An American pastor, William Devlin, shared how he and several partners successfully delivered 23 tons of rice to Christians in Gaza, who have been seeking refuge in churches amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas following the October 2023 attacks. Pastor Devlin, who is the missions pastor at Infinity Bible Church in the South Bronx, had faith that God would provide a way to help deliver the rice to Gaza’s Christian community.
Working alongside Samaritan’s Purse, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Hospitallers, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Devlin helped ensure the rice reached its destination. He explained that this effort began when he joined the Hospitallers in April, and they asked for his assistance in delivering rice to Gaza, knowing his prior experience in the region. The rice was initially sent to Ashdod, Israel, to assist Israelis displaced by Hezbollah’s attacks, but after the October 2023 Hamas invasion, the focus shifted to Gaza.
Despite challenges, including skepticism from over 30 nonprofit organizations that doubted the rice could reach Gaza, Devlin persisted. He eventually partnered with Samaritan’s Purse, which had connections with the IDF and the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). This collaboration made the delivery possible, and the rice arrived at two churches in northern Gaza, where over 225 families were sheltering.
Devlin credited the success of the mission to divine intervention, saying it was accomplished despite numerous doubts from others. The rice reached its intended destination without being looted, even though many feared it would be stolen in the conflict zone. Devlin emphasized that this achievement was a “God thing,” highlighting the power of faith and perseverance.