Journey To Israel: A Nova Festival Survivor's Story of Faith, Courage, and Choosing Life

In this powerful interview episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards sits down with Haji, a survivor of the October 7 Nova Festival attack, to hear his remarkable story of survival, faith, intuition, and choosing life after unimaginable trauma. Recorded on location during the Ambassadors Summit in Israel, Haji shares his journey—from his background in Israeli media and government, his experience of the Nova Festival attack, to the moments where his instincts, quick decisions, and what he credits as God's guidance helped save his life. In this emotional and deeply human conversation, you'll hear about: • How Haji felt something was "off" even before the festival began • The moment the morning sky filled with rockets • Why he left a shelter just minutes before it became a tragic site • How hundreds of people escaped together across open fields • What survival mode feels like in real life • The long road of healing, grief, and processing trauma • Why he chose to travel the world sharing his story instead of staying silent • How he learned to live with gratitude, embrace uncertainty, and choose life every day Haji also speaks honestly about survivor's guilt, the emotional toll on many who lived through October 7, and why movement, purpose, and telling the story have been central to his healing journey. This is not a political episode. It is a human story, a testimony of survival, and a conversation about faith, resilience, and hope in the aftermath of trauma. This episode is especially important for: • Youth pastors and ministry leaders • Christian educators and student leaders • Parents walking with students through anxiety, fear, and trauma • Anyone helping young people process suffering, grief, and faith ✨ Sometimes the most powerful lessons we can offer students don't come from a stage—but from a true life story. _________________________________________________________________________________ 📬 Stay connected: Email: [email protected] Rate ★★★★★ & share with youth workers who dream big for the Kingdom. Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book "Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook" here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: [email protected] Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House _________________________________________________________________________________ Youth Ministry, Student Ministry, Youth Pastor, Christian Leadership, Faith and Trauma, Testimony, Nova Festival Survivor, Journey to Israel, Ambassadors Summit, Christian Educators, Next Gen Ministry, Youth Worker On Fire, Faith and Resilience, Choosing Life, Christian Parenting