Bombs Over Iran: Fear, Faith, and Hope at 35,000 Feet

What happens when global conflict suddenly becomes personal?

In this gripping episode of the Live Faith First Podcast, Elliot Sands sits down with Finny Abraham, Local Compassion Pastor at WestGate Church in Silicon Valley, to talk about a surreal moment: being on a commercial flight over Iranian airspace when bombs began dropping below.

What started as a routine flight quickly turned into a moment of reflection about fear, faith, and the fragile nature of our world.

Finny shares the emotional tension of that experience and what it revealed about trust in God when circumstances feel completely out of control. The conversation moves beyond the dramatic moment into a deeper discussion about compassion, faith in uncertain times, and how followers of Jesus can respond to global instability with courage and hope.

Finny also reflects on his work serving vulnerable communities in Silicon Valley and why compassion and action must remain central to the Christian life.

This episode is a powerful reminder that faith isn’t just theoretical — it’s forged in the moments when we realize we’re not in control.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• The moment Finny realized something serious was happening beneath his flight
• What goes through your mind when geopolitical conflict suddenly becomes real
• How faith anchors us when circumstances feel unstable
• Why compassion is a necessary response to a broken world
• Lessons from serving vulnerable communities in Silicon Valley
• Finding peace when the world feels uncertain

Finny Abraham is the Local Compassion Pastor at Westgate Church in Silicon Valley and the Executive Director of Coalition Alleviating Poverty – Silicon Valley (CAP-SV), a faith-based initiative mobilizing churches and organizations to serve vulnerable communities. He has spent years building partnerships between churches, nonprofits, and local governments to address poverty and community needs in the Bay Area. Through large-scale service initiatives and collaborative outreach efforts, Finny works to mobilize the church to serve both locally and globally.

Finny holds a Master of Social Work from St. Joseph’s College in Bangalore, a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Master of Sacred Theology from Boston University.

He and his wife Susan live in Silicon Valley and are passionate about helping the church live out the compassion of Jesus in practical ways.

Elliot Sands is the host of the Live Faith First podcast—a dynamic space where faith meets real-world challenges. With a rich background as a pastor, school principal, health-tech co-founder, and now Executive Director of Faith First, Elliot brings deep wisdom and practical insight to every conversation.  As a husband, father, and grandfather, he weaves personal experience with thoughtful discussion, tackling tough topics with clarity and compassion.

Live Faith First is all about bridging divides—whether in society or the church—encouraging listeners to step beyond echo chambers and build real, meaningful relationships across the aisle, the street, or the table.