Covenant & Conflict

Gateway Center for Israel
  • 5.0 (12)
  • RELIGION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

"Covenant & Conflict" is a thought-provoking podcast produced by the “Gateway Center for Israel” and hosted by Nic Lesmeister and David Blease, where ancient biblical truths meet contemporary issues head-on. Each episode offers a deep dive into complex and often divisive topics with subject matter experts, aiming to explore the intersection of covenantal values and modern debates. Instead of fostering division, this podcast seeks to model respectful engagement and peaceful discourse amidst conflict.

  1. 1D AGO

    Hollywood Actor Finds Jesus & Stands with Israel with Nathaniel Buzolic

    In this powerful conversation, David Blease sits down with Nathaniel Buzolic (known to many as “Nate Buzz”) to trace his extraordinary journey from Hollywood fame to radical faith, and from personal brokenness to becoming one of the most outspoken Christian advocates for Israel today. After moving to the United States in his early twenties, years of rejection in Hollywood finally led to a breakout role on The Vampire Diaries, but success did not bring peace. Choosing to follow Jesus publicly strained his career, complicated relationships on set, and forced him to confront what it truly means to surrender everything to God. After experiencing deep betrayal and heartache, Nathaniel desired to give up on life, left Hollywood, and traveled to Iraq during the Syrian civil war, volunteering with humanitarian efforts on the ground. In a moment of total surrender, he gave his life fully to God, leading him to read the entire Bible in 28 days and igniting a life-altering calling tied directly to Israel. Since then, Nathaniel has led countless believers through the Holy Land, helping Christians understand the Jewish foundations of their faith. After the October 7 Hamas attacks, he returned to Israel to document survivor stories, stand with the Jewish people, and speak truth in the midst of global confusion. In May 2024, Nathaniel made history as the first non-Israeli, non-Jewish person ever invited to light the torch at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony, exactly seven years after his first visit to the land. This episode also tackles: God’s covenant with IsraelWhy replacement theology fails biblicallyThe rebirth of Israel in 1948 fulfilled prophecyWhy Christians cannot understand Scripture without IsraelWhat it means to live out “promise made, promise kept.”Whether you’re wrestling with faith, Israel, end-times theology, or what it truly costs to follow Jesus, this episode will challenge and inspire you. 0:00 – From Poverty to Hollywood 8:35 – Landing Vampire Diaries 14:15 – The Moment Jesus Became Real 22:11 – Betrayal & Rock Bottom 25:29 – Iraq, ISIS & Surrender 32:28 – Reading the Bible in 28 Days 34:39 – God Said “Go” to Israel 43:10 – October 7th & The Spiritual War 48:34 – Lighting Israel’s Independence Torch

    1h 21m

  2. FEB 4

    Heartcry of David: Prophetic Worship Connecting Israel and the Church

    What does biblical unity between Jewish and Gentile believers actually look like in practice, not just theology, but lived relationships? In this episode, Micah and Abby Mahoney of Heartcry of David share their powerful journey into a ministry centered on reconciliation, worship, and covenantal unity. With backgrounds spanning Christian, Pentecostal, and Messianic Jewish spaces, they describe how God led them to confront a deep disconnect within the Body of Messiah and to pursue a vision rooted in Scripture, humility, and love. Heartcry of David was born out of a conviction that King David understood something profound about the Messiah and Jew-Gentile unity, and that this revelation still matters today. What began in 2015–2016 as an audacious, underfunded international worship project has since grown into multiple collaborative efforts across Israel, the UK, and Italy, bringing believers together through worship, Scripture, and shared spiritual inheritance. Rather than transactional encounters or one-directional ministry, Micah and Abby emphasize genuine, bilateral relationships; recognizing that Israeli believers are not just recipients of ministry, but are also called to minister to the nations. Throughout the conversation, they offer practical wisdom for believers who want to engage God’s heart for Israel in a healthy, biblical way: through prayer, teaching, and real relationships. This episode is a compelling invitation to rethink unity, calling, and what it means to walk faithfully in God’s redemptive story. Learn more about Heart Cry of David:  https://heartcryvedavid.comFind them on YouTube & Spotify

    36 min

  3. JAN 21

    The Inquisition and the Jewish People: Faith, Persecution, and Survival

    In this gripping episode of the Covenant & Conflict Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Matheus Guimarães, a Messianic Jewish leader from Brazil, to uncover one of the most tragic, and least told chapters of Jewish history: the Sephardic Jews and the Spanish & Portuguese Inquisition.Through his own family’s astonishing testimony, Rabbi Matheus reveals how millions of Jews were forcibly converted, hunted, silenced, and yet somehow survived, preserving Jewish faith, identity, and memory in secret. We explore the rise of Messianic Judaism in Brazil and the creation of a groundbreaking museum housing 500 years of preserved documents, artifacts, and testimonies that expose how Jews carried their faith underground and across the Atlantic. In this episode, we explore: The roots of the Sephardic Jewish Communities in Spain & PortugalThe “Golden Age” of Jewish learning—and how it fueled the European RenaissanceWhy Portugal’s forced conversions were even more brutal than Spain’sThe Inquisition’s relentless targeting of the Anusim (the forced-ones)The expulsions of 1492 and the forced baptisms of 1497How Jewish families escaped to Brazil and rebuilt their faith in secretThe explosive growth of Messianic Jewish congregations in Brazil todayWhy understanding our Jewish foundation is essential for the ChurchHow modern antisemitism mirrors Spain, Portugal, and pre-WWII EuropeThis conversation is historical, prophetic, and deeply personal, a sobering reminder that the past is never truly past, and that Jewish identity has always endured, even in the darkest hours.If you care about Jewish history, the Inquisition, Sephardic Jews, Messianic Judaism, Jewish-Christian relations, Brazil’s hidden Jewish roots, or the rise of antisemitism today, this episode is essential viewing.

    56 min

  4. JAN 7

    What Does It Mean to Be the House of God? A Messianic Worship Perspective

    In this powerful episode of the Covenant & Conflict Podcast, we sit down with Shilo Ben Hod, founder of SOLU Israel, for a deeply moving conversation about worship, identity, obedience, and the move of God unfolding in Israel today.Shilo shares his extraordinary journey of encountering Yeshua, surrendering his life, and stepping into a calling that would lead him into Hebrew worship, desert gatherings, and full-time ministry in the Judean Desert. From prophetic confirmation to learning how to live in God’s presence, not performance, this testimony will stir anyone longing to walk faithfully in their God-given calling.We explore the heart behind Hebrew worship, the story of the Hebrew Gospels, and what it means to truly live in alignment with the name and identity God gives you. Shilo opens up about hearing God’s voice, resisting comparison and fear, and saying “yes” when obedience costs everything.If you’re passionate about Israel, worship, biblical identity, prophetic calling, or Messianic Jewish testimony, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and encourage you to walk boldly in obedience.– Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of Scripture, Israel, and the gospel. – Share this episode with someone seeking clarity in their calling.

    38 min

  5. 12/17/2025

    God's Name Explained: YHWH, Yahweh, Jehovah, Yehova

    What is the true name of God? In this episode of the Covenant & Conflict Podcast, Nehemia Gordon explores the history, meaning, and pronunciation of YHWH, including Yahweh vs Jehovah, through ancient Hebrew manuscripts, the Talmud, Dead Sea Scrolls, and early Christian sources. We discuss why God’s name appears over 6,800 times in the Hebrew Bible, why it stopped being spoken, how Jewish and Christian traditions diverged, and how Jesus and the New Testament reference the divine name. This conversation breaks down common misconceptions and examines what the name actually means: He was, He is, and He will be. If you’re interested in biblical Hebrew, the name of God, YHWH pronunciation, Jesus’ Hebrew roots, or Scripture’s original context, this episode is for you.

    1h 10m

  6. 12/03/2025

    Reject Replacement Theology & Embrace Revival with David Blease & Joakim Lundquvist

    In this episode of the Covenant and Conflict Podcast, we sit down with Pastor Joakim Lundqvist to explore his powerful journey of faith, the unique story of his church in Sweden, and his deep heart for Israel and the Jewish people.Pastor Joakim shares how revival first broke out in his life as a teenager, how he helped build a church movement that now impacts nations across Europe and Asia, and how a prophetic word prepared his church for an unexpected wave of Middle Eastern refugees who would ultimately encounter Jesus.Together, we talk about the biblical foundation for blessing Israel, the dangers of replacement theology, the call of both Jews and Gentiles in God’s redemptive plan, and the modern tensions surrounding Israel today. Pastor Joakim also shares compelling stories from Israel, insights on reaching the next generation, and why experiencing the Land firsthand transforms how believers read the Bible.If you’re seeking clarity on Israel, the Middle East, or how to stand with a biblical worldview, this conversation will encourage and equip you.

    1h 4m

  7. 11/19/2025

    Israel and the Nations: The Battle for Judeo-Christian Values with Israeli Knesset Member, Ohad Tal

    In this episode of Covenant and Conflict, Pastor Ryan Warren sits down with Israeli Knesset member Ohad Tal for a deep and honest conversation about faith, identity, and Israel’s role in today’s world. Ohad shares his journey into politics, the importance of Jewish and Christian partnership, and how Israel is working with Muslim leaders throughout the Middle East. He addresses common misconceptions about Zionism, apartheid, and colonialism, while explaining why the Israel–America alliance is strategically and spiritually significant.They also discuss the cultural and spiritual challenges facing both nations, the need to protect Judeo-Christian values, and how genuine dialogue can bridge division in an increasingly polarized world. If you’re seeking clarity on Israel, the Middle East, or the purpose behind the growing unity between Jews and Christians, this episode offers valuable insight.

    36 min

  8. 11/05/2025

    Torah-Observant Jewish Man Finds Yeshua Through The Chosen | David Blease & Rocket Rudolph

    In this profoundly moving episode of the Covenant & Conflict Podcast, host David Blease sits down with Rocket Rudolph, a Torah-observant Jewish follower of Yeshua, to share his remarkable journey of faith from Orthodox Judaism to a life-changing encounter with the Living God sparked by the television series "The Chosen." In this episode, Rocket shares his experience growing up Jewish, his early encounters with Jesus-believers, and years of faithful Torah observance, living immersed in Orthodox Judaism in London and New York. Rocket shares his pain, loss, and spiritual emptiness that led him to a breaking point in Brazil. His journey took an unexpected turn when he was encouraged to watch "The Chosen," and his life mirrored a scene between a man and Yeshua (Jesus). Hear how Rocket now interprets living a Torah-Observant life as a Jewish Man following Yeshua Messiah. This is an incredible story of identity, redemption, and restoration, which is proof that God still meets us in the most unexpected places. Subscribe for more conversations on faith, Israel, and the unity of Jew and Gentile in Messiah.

    49 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

"Covenant & Conflict" is a thought-provoking podcast produced by the “Gateway Center for Israel” and hosted by Nic Lesmeister and David Blease, where ancient biblical truths meet contemporary issues head-on. Each episode offers a deep dive into complex and often divisive topics with subject matter experts, aiming to explore the intersection of covenantal values and modern debates. Instead of fostering division, this podcast seeks to model respectful engagement and peaceful discourse amidst conflict.

Information

  • Creator
    Gateway Center for Israel
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Gateway Center for Israel
  • Show Website
    Covenant & Conflict