WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 4/26/2017

Priority Prayer Focus

“‘O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted…All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.  In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.  Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me, Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake…No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,’ says the LORD” (Isaiah 54:11-17).

Also from Avi & Chaya Mizrachi of Dugit Messianic Outreach Centre in Tel Aviv  www.dugit.org

This video was taken from the Dugit office as Monday was Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel. At 10:00 in the morning there was a siren that went off for two minutes. During the two minutes, everybody stopped what they were doing to remember the Holocaust and all of the innocent lives that were taken. Remember.

Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel
Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.

Our major focus this week, is of course, the Holocaust Memorial Day that took place in Israel two days ago.  We start with a short piece from David Lazarus of Beit Immanuel in Jaffa who writes, "I have often wondered why we spend so much time reliving these heartbreaking events? Surely the people who lived through these traumas do not need a day to remember, they live everyday with memories." Then he shares a poignant memory of his own of past memorials spent with his grandfather.

Martin Sarvis wades into the profound significance on the Jewish nation, a large percentage of whom suffered loss in either the Holocaust, or in the Israeli Independence Day that will be observed May 2nd. He notes that a euphemism for a Jewish survivor is taken straight from Zechariah 3:2, Ude Mutzal me’Esh—“A Brand Plucked from the Fire".

Martin writes, "Of the estimated 300,000 of those plucked from Hitler’s fires still alive today, an estimated 160,000 reside in Israel.  Ten years ago, one might occasionally notice in the check-out line of a grocery a man or woman with a tattooed number on their forearm, the identification number used in Nazi concentration camps. It is a much-rarer occurrence today.  It is estimated that 14,500 of these dear people pass away each year--around 50 a day, and of course, as the years pass the rate is accelerating."

The birth of Israel was to be a haven for the survivors of the Holocaust and their descendants. The term 'Never again!' a vow to educated the generations to follow so such a thing could not happen again. But, as Martin writes, "... we feel compelled to point out that those nations most at the heart of the ideology which spawned the Holocaust in the 1930’s, had for over 400 years been considered the center of Western civilized education, culture (and for much of that time, the Christian religion). One thing we should have learned from this is that secular Education will never, in and of itself, stem a rising tide of evil. "  Please read more of this enlightening article with prayer points inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

From Barry and Batya Segals' Jerusalem News Network a summary of the UK Independent article revealing that Allied Forces knew about the Holocaust two years before the discovery of concentration camps. 

It is a horrible revelation also noted by the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, who go on to speak about the genocides since that time, including those going on today against civilians in Darfur, Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and the Yazidis in Iraq and Syria. JIJ pleads, "Politicization and a general lack of political will should never be used to enable atrocity crimes such as genocide. International human rights advocacy, such as your generous support of JIJ, is a crucial tool in preventing atrocities in the future." inside the Weekly Summary attachment

Israel Pochtar gives us a praise report on the outreaches and special projects they have been involved with since Passover, including their youth camp in the desert and the Born to be Loved Women's Conference. See more inside the Weekly Summary attachment  

Asher Intrater writes, "Ultimately Eden will be restored, along with all creation, with Jerusalem at the center. The restoration of paradise, the glorification of Jerusalem, and the unification of heaven and earth all come together at the end of God's plan..." in Jerusalem and Eden One. |  Watch this video Dan Juster teaches in Korea during Passover | Read about Yeshua Chai TV an internet TV channel that broadcasts in Hebrew 24/7 Messianic content produced by different ministries from Israel | Watch and hear a worship song Kadosh Elohim - Esther Fast 2017

VIDEO | YAD HASHMONA FIRE THREAT | Yad Hashmona is a growing community (moshav) of believers in Yeshua (Jesus) set in the Judean Hills of Israel. Watch this video which describes how they are situated in one of the most dangerous locations in Israel vulnerable to the threat of forest fires set by Palestinian terrorists. They need help to develop resources for their own community fire response since it takes too much precious time for the professional fire fighters to reach their location. Let's come together and support the only Messianic Moshav in the world, Yad HaShmona. Donate  FYI Many of the Revive Israel ministry team live in the Yad Hashmona community.

Maoz Ministries shares about the next Israeli elections and asks prayer for their leaders in government. They share the hardships being faced by Israel's elderly, including Holocaust survivors, as well as young families because of the ridiculous cost of living in Israel.  

Their much-anticipated celebration of Dr. David Stern took place last night - we picked up one of the photos Martha Stern shared on Facebook so you all could see what a great evening of honoring Dr. Stern took place as his newly translated into Hebrew version of the Hebrew New Testament Commentary is now also available in Israel.  Dr. Stern's work has touched the Messianic community the world over and is now set to bless Israeli, as well. Thanks to Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram for this wonderful honoring of David Stern.  Read more from Maoz inside the Weekly Summary attachment      

After 22 years in Israel (16 years for Eddie), Lura and Eddie Beckford have announced that in one3 years time they will be moving back the U.S. Lura writes that at their ages - 70 & 73 - this is a huge move back to central Pennsylvania where they will do outreach. Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment    

From the HaMaayan congregation a prayer request for one of their families experiencing ill health and also impending stressful court proceedings with (as yet) unsaved family members. Read inside the Weekly Summary attachment           

Almost two decades ago (just a few years less than) I first became aware of religious persecution against believers when the brother-in-law of young believer family emailed me about his sister's family being threatened by a religious mob that surrounded their home. They were protesting false rumors that the young man had been trying to convert children which is illegal in Israel. Soon the young man was out of a job. Years later I became aware that the young man and his family were still being persecuted, this time in Arad where they were leading a congregation. This man was Yo-Yakim and the Hasdey Yeshua (Mercy of Yeshua) is led by a plurality of elders as Yo-Yakim has for several years devoted himself to the ministry of their young people.

Telling you all this because I was so delighted to read the congregational monthly prayer letter today where the vision that Yo-Yakim has for their young people and the congregation as a whole. He clarifies a point I never knew, and that is that the job he was run out of that I described above was as the manager of welfare shelter for children. He describes "the shortcomings of government-run boarding schools. Although these institutions offer some advantages, especially for troubled young people, ultimately the only real solution is spiritual, and that’s exactly what’s lacking."

Also he says, "I saw a significant number of kids from believing families whose difficult circumstances led the welfare authorities to take them from their homes and place them in large welfare boarding schools like the one pictured here. Life in a place like this is a struggle for survival, and most drift into the world during their teenage years."

Most of us cannot fathom the economic struggle in Israel, and the Messianic believers are not immune to it. Whenever there is economic struggle, there are many other struggles that compound the issues of life. That is a fact everywhere, and it is a fact even among the believers of Israel. Which is why the apostle Paul said in Romans that the Gentile believers were indebted to "the poor among the saints in Jerusalem." Romans 15:26-27, "For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings."

Indeed, it is on the basis of understanding this indebtedness that is the very foundation of the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries that I have published for the past 16 years.  I do hope that among the hundreds of these weekly summaries that have been sent to the four corners of the earth, that many have also received the understanding of our calling to come alongside with material support of the believers in Israel, who are strategic to purposes of God for not only Israel's salvation, but for the greatest worldwide harvest ever seen.

Please read about the vision laid out by Yo-Yakim and the Hasdey Yeshua congregation in Arad inside the Weekly Summary attachment       

Eddie Santoro writes from Jerusalem about the Spring Feasts, and add this important word about the Holocaust Remembrance Day, " ...yet as we look back at the horror of this history, we also see how God has redeemed this evil and raised up the nation of Israel. We remember the loss but rejoice in the eight million that are a part of this living nation today."  Eddie also writes about the "busy time" they are having in Jerusalem, read it inside the Weekly Summary attachment       

Orna Grinman's new blog post Hidden children is about "The fate of children who survived the holocaust as a result of being hidden in the homes of Christian families or in monasteries is a gloomy issue in Jewish history."

Finally, from the great resource KehilaNews.com -

Zvi Kalisher: Holocaust survivor, disciple of Yeshua | Karen Faulkner | Zvi Kalisher, born Henryk Weichert, was an extraordinary man of God who found comfort and joy in his Lord Jesus Christ after losing his entire family and surviving extreme horror during the Holocaust in Poland.

Terror attacks in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem on Holocaust Day | N. J. Schiavi | A Palestinian teen armed with wire-cutters wounded four people in a terror attack in Tel Aviv on Sunday and a Palestinian mother of nine stabbed a female soldier near Jerusalem early Monday morning as the country mourned victims of the Holocaust.

US Ambassador to UN: Security Council must focus on Iran, and its partner militia, Hezbollah, not Israel | Amir Tsarfati | The United States called on the United Nations Security Council to switch its obsession on Israel and focus on the “chief culprit” of conflict in the Middle East: Iran.

The Holocaust and knowing God | Howard Bass | Howard writes, "If we love our people, if we love the Jewish people and the nation of Israel, we will bring the truth of God and His Word to them, that the Holy Spirit would convict them of their sin of unbelief, so that they might seek God for His mercy to forgive."

VIDEO: Out of Zion - Stealing the Jew out of Jesus and more | Ron Cantor | GOD TV presents a daily devotional from Israel with Messianic pastor, Ron Cantor who helps viewers discover the Land of the Bible, its historic sites and explains scripture from a Jewish perspective.

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Urgent HEALING Needs
Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary to keep in prayer the Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs including the fight for their very lives: 

NEW REQUEST from the HaMaayan congregation, a request congregant Danny Meyuseff suffering poor health on several fronts | PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYER FOR for healing  David Davis, wounded soldier from Beer Sheva congregation, David B.,  Olga & Dov Bikas, Esther Ridings Moore,  Ruth Nessim,  Eddie Beckford | PRAY for RECOVERY of Patti Juster, Eddie Santoro, Gila in Arad, Cookie, Howard Bass, | LONG TERM BATTLES |  David Stern,  David, Leah and Ami,  Moshe M.;  the son of an Arab pastor, Ghazi, who is suffering from Leukemia. Michael E, Claude Ezagouri; Baruch & Karen Maayan, Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K; PLEASE PRAY ALSO for all the caretakers.

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Praying the Headlines

From Barry & Batya Segal Jerusalem JNN  -  Jerusalem News Network jnnnews.com | PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY DEFIES USA, WILL RAISE PAYMENTS TO SUICIDE BOMBERS' FAMILIES: In defiance of the USA, which is demanding that the Palestinian Authority completely stop financial rewards to families of terrorist “Martyrs” (Shahids), the PA is now raising the payments to the “Martyrs'” families. These PA payments include lifetime monthly allowances to families of suicide bombers, and other murderers who were killed during or after committing their crimes.

  Intercede that this defiant move on the part of the Palestinian Authority will be severely penalized by withdrawal of all financial aid that comes from Western governments and their taxpayers.

The Israeli Messianic Marketplace  Feature of the Week:

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Succat Hallel house of prayer in Jerusalem writes: We're excited to introduce you to The Voice of One Calling. It's a new Hebrew and Arabic worship recording, perhaps the first of its kind, with songs sung back and forth in both languages.  It's a sound that is growing all across the country, in different streams of the body, as Jews and Arabs of all ages are coming together to worship their King.  This new album is just one expression of this unity, coming from the hearts and mouths of the younger generation.  Now available for purchase and download click on album title.

We invite you now to hear Rick Ridings, from Jerusalem-based House of Prayer ministry, Succat Hallel, share about this sound of unity that is touching God's heart. Hear how this unique worship project got started and continues on: http://dorhaba.com/en/rick-ridings-interview/

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Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com 
 
If you appreciate the efforts of this ministry please pray about making a financial gift donation. 
                Make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio and mail to:
                Israel Prayer  P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 
                With PayPal, you can send money to anyone with an email address.
                Log in to www.PayPal.com Send donation to:  donna@israelprayer.com 
                I do not have tax exempt status. 

WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 4/19/2017

Priority Prayer Focus Apr 19, 2017

We want each of you to show the same diligence to the very end, so that your hope may be fully assured. Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:11-12

What a powerful example of this scripture in the last Israeli ministry letter we received before wrapping up this week's edition of the Weekly Summary. Imagine the faith and patience of the Morning Star Fellowship who bought a building in downtown Tiberias nine years ago and have finally been able to move into their congregation. Nine long years of bureaucratic opposition standing between the building they purchased and occupying it legally.  Please pray for this Galilee congregation to receive from the Lord's hand all the promises of their inheritance, and be encouraged in those promises you have also stood for a long time with faith and patience.

Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel
Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.

Now that Passover has ended, we are urged to continue to pray for all the spiritual seeds that were planted among family, friends and neighbors to spring up among all of the Jews in the nations, and be believe strategic prophetically, within the land of Israel. This is the season of the salvation of Israel, and in fact, in 50 days from today, it will be the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, the City of the Great King, to the nation of Israel. For those who are interested in watching prophetic signs, there may be few greater than the sign of the hour we are in.

Still there are many things that must unfold before we see Yeshua coming in the clouds. To learn about some of those things, including the intensification of anti-semitism to the fever pitch that will bring the Lion of the Tribe of Judah back to Jerusalem, I want to suggest this interview that Asher Intrater did with Korean filmmaker, Brad Kim of BradTV.  KehilaNews.com has also linked to articles on the same subject Asher discusees concerning the Ruth & Esther mantles in these things: Ruth ecclesiology and Esther eschatology (Part 1) and Ruth ecclesiology and Esther eschatology (Part 2)

Brad Kim (Kim Jong-cheol) is a wonderful Korean friend to the Israeli Messianic Jews and has done many, many interviews with the ministries in Israel. His is well known for his award winning documentary on Israeli believers called Restoration, and his broadcasts over Brad-TV (bradtv.co.kr) have been seen by people in 177 countries.  A couple of years ago I was also delighted to be interviewed by Brad Kim about the Weekly Summary of  Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries.  

Now, from Revive Israel an article, Jewish Roots Part III on Romans 11:11-15 makes it clear that our restoration to the olive tree, likened to a resurrection from the dead, is to be a great blessing of Gospel riches and reconciliation for all the nations. Also a video Who is Israel? | Ariel answers the question that's been discussed since the time of the first believers - "Who is Israel?". Finally, inside the Weekly Summary attachment is a call for transcribers of Revive teachings into English.

Messiah's Mandate is Ron Cantor's ministry (in addition to his Out of Zion programs on GOD TV). This week he has two teachings on Revival, Giving and the Tabernacle: In Part 1, we examine three reasons why people give as well as, why believers are hesitant to give to superficial causes. In the story of the Tabernacle, we see a supernatural grace to give.  In Part 2, Moses commands the people to stop giving. This spirit of generosity led to God's glory filling the tabernacle. Wherever we find supernatural giving, we'll find the blessing of God.                      

Maoz ministries continues its preparations for an evening to honor Dr. David H. Stern as they also celebrate the completion of publication his Jewish New Testament Commentary in Hebrew.  These books will be a great blessing to believers and to reach non-believing Israelis.  Please pray for the Maoz Hebrew books department, as well as all their media outreach departments to bless multiplied thousands in Israel.

Read about how a dream of Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram's came true recently as an Israeli-born believer is now leading the congregation Tiferet Yeshua in Tel Aviv, with a team of elders including Asher Intrater, Ron Cantor and Moti Cohen.  Among the news for the congregation is a renovation that will double the capacity of the main meeting hall.  Read all the news from Maoz inside the Weekly Summary attachment       

Orna Grinman of A Sign & An Example ministry has this new blog post this week: Sleeping Awake | Many traditions developed around Passover. One of them is the reading of Song of Songs throughout the week of the Feast. One can read this short book in many ways: as a love letter that God sent you personally, or His bride, or the nation of Israel.

Howard Bass writes about the Yeshua's Inheritance congregation in Beer Sheva joint Passover -Resurrection service with the Flowers of the Negev Congregation, pastored by Dov Bikas and Rudy Kroeker.  (You might recall that Bikas also runs a ministry to addicts called the Aviv Ministry). Read more inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Howard also writes about the soon coming Holocaust Remembrance Day, explaining the "word 'holocaust' comes from a Greek word meaning 'a whole burnt offering'. In Hebrew this word is 'olah', and is the name of one of the offerings written about by Moses, even from the time before the Law was given.  The whole animal was consumed on the altar in sacrifice by the offerer unto God. Countless animals were thus sacrificed as a general offering to acknowledge that our life is entirely accountable to Him.  Jesus offered Himself as a whole burnt offering -- in His life and in His death -- to God His Father, so that He might be our Redeemer and Savior. He suffered a "holocaust"....read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment

In other news, Howard and Randi celebrated their 37th anniversary; there is news of their family; and an invitation to give a special offering for their upgrade of a room purposed for the use of their teens.

Rachel and Gilad Netanel, whose Ein Kerem home is a 'tourist attraction" - only the sightseers are fellow Israelis drawn to the home that is built in a style that would be similar to the times of Yeshua in a cave.  Ein Kerem is also thought to be the village of John the Baptist.  Rachel is from the family of Rabbi Kabbetz (He is a famous rabbi who wrote the Jewish sedur—prayer book). So there is a little something to appeal to many Israelis - seculars, religious and those interested is this couple who are generously gifted with hospitality feeding visitors both delicious meals and spiritual food as they share their faith with all who come. Please read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment   

From Avner and Rachel Bosky's David's Tent ministry in Beer Sheva, one new prophetic article One day, one battle, one Lord, one name and one brand new book Jews, Arabs and the Middle East - A Messianic Perspective - both written by Avner Boskey. It is a book which brings biblical clarity, historical sanity and spiritual balance to Middle East events. The author is a Messianic Jew who has lived in Israel over the past forty years. He embraces God’s priority call on the Jewish people. As well, he cherishes the heart of the ‘God who hears’ for Arabs and the Arabic speaking world.

This is the ministry referred to in the Priority Prayer Focus this week, Claude and Michelle Ezagouri, whose Morning Star Fellowship has stood faithfully while trying to get the renovations and meeting all the requirements for the final certifications they needed on a building they bought 9 years ago to house the congregation. We have reported on all the challenges over the past 9 years here in Israelprayer, but honestly it did not sink in HOW LONG this has been going on! We rejoice with our brothers and sisters in the Morning Star Fellowship in downtown Tiberias, and for the fulfillment of the vision of promise this facility holds for their ministry in a deeply religious area of northern Israel. Where there has been great opposition, we expect God will reward their faithful tenacity in a great spiritual release among them. Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment              

Finally, here are several items that caught our eye in many issues of KehilaNews.com this month so far. Their vision is to connect the millions of Christians around the world who love Israel with the Messianic community in Israel.

Russian video news agency publishes fake news piece claiming “hundreds of Jews occupy Al-Aqsa” | Amir Tsarfati | The Russian video news agency “Ruptly” published a fake news piece claiming that that hundreds of Israeli Jews occupied the Temple Mount by force, publishing video of hundreds of Jews praying at the Western Wall.

In curious move, Russia recognizes West Jerusalem as Israel's capital | Kehila News Israel Staff | In a surprise move that left many people questioning its motives and the timing of the statement, the Kremlin announced last week that it recognizes West Jewish as Israel’s capital.

New life in Nazareth | by Eitan Shishkoff | Eitan writes, "On a vibrantly beautiful Shabbat spring morning I am greeted at Netzer HaGalil Congregation with warm smiles and loving hugs. This fellowship was planted in Nazareth in 2004 by our own daughter congregation in Haifa, Shavei Tzion (Return to Zion)."

VIDEO: The Germans that help Jews make aliyah | by Hananya Naftali | This is a very special story of Germans that are helping Jews come back to their ancestral land - to Israel.

Possible Israeli-Palestinian peace summit in DC this summer | Kehila News Israel Staff | During their first official meeting at the White House on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi discussed a possible Israeli-Palestinian peace summit to be held in Washington in a few months.

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Urgent HEALING Needs
Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please keep in prayer the Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs including the fight for their very lives:  There are no changes in the health prayer requests made this week. See detailed list inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

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Praying the Headlines:
The Inside Story of Pastor Brunson Imprisoned in Turkey

By Martin Sarvis in Jerusalem

Andrew Brunson is an American minister who has worked for 23 years as a missionary in Turkey, where he is current pastor of a congregation in Izmir (ancient Smyrna). For some time Succat Hallel (a 24/7 prayer and intercession ministry in Jerusalem of which the writers are a part) has been in association with a house of prayer in that city which is sponsored by Pastor Brunson’s church. Teams from Jerusalem, including leaders and musicians have visited this house of prayer, networking with the brothers and sisters there, teaching, taking part in seminars on the setting up of houses of prayer in the region. At one point the Jerusalem leaders sensed the Lord leading them to transfer the menorah from the House of Prayer at Succat Hallel to the House in Izmir (There have been a number of separate prophetic words to the effect that the Lord was restoring a Lampstand in Izmir (Smyrna) which will shine into that part of Turkey and throughout the Middle East region). Several of the leaders from Succat Hallel have become warmly acquainted with Pastor Andrew and his wife Norine.

Last October 7th Pastor Andrew was summoned to the police station in Izmir. He went, anticipating that he might finally be receiving a long-awaited “permanent residence” status in the land. Instead, he was told that he was being deported because of being a “threat to national security.” Yet instead of deportation, he was held in detention for 63 days (part of the time in solitary confinement), his cell phone, glasses, Bible and watch were confiscated, and he was granted no access to his Turkish attorney. On December 8th in the middle of the night he was taken to a counter terrorism center, and from there on to a court where he was charged with “membership in a terrorist organization.” It seems significant that the very charging documents themselves state that no evidence has been gathered against him. Pastor Andrew has remained incarcerated ever since.

Almost immediately, voices began being raised on his behalf. In late December, Oklahoma Senator James Lankford traveled to Ankara to inquire into the situation, where, as reported to Fox News, he was met by Turkish authorities who claimed Brunson assisted Kurdish refugees and falsely claimed he had attended a conference in America by Islamic leader Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish government accuses  Gulen of having been behind last year’s coup attempt. Some have speculated whether Turkey may be holding the pastor for use as a bargaining chip to try and coerce the United States into deporting Gulen.

There have been other attempts to bring Bruson’s plight before the public. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) launched a “Free Pastor Andrew” petition on their website, which as of this writing has reached 262,254 signatures. It concludes,  "Turkey—our NATO ally, has begun increased crackdowns on Christians. If convicted, Pastor Andrew could face years in prison based on extremely serious—and false—charges.  At the ACLJ, we’re representing the family, mobilizing our international resources—including our offices in the region—demanding Pastor Andrew’s freedom. Take action with us before it’s too late." If you would like to add your name to the petition, you may do so at the site: https://aclj.org/

Three weeks ago (March 28th), Pastor Andrew submitted an appeal through the U.S. Embassy in Turkey to President Trump:

Will the Turkish government face no consequence for stubbornly continuing to hold an American citizen as a political prisoner? Even though I have a long public track record as a church pastor, they falsely accuse me of being a member of an Islamist terrorist group. I have been imprisoned since October 7, 2016.  During this time the Turkish government has produced no proof and has rebuffed numerous attempts by the American government to secure my return to the United States. In fact, they are treating the U.S. government with contempt and paying no price for it.

I plead with my government—with the Trump Administration—to fight for me. I ask the State Department to impose sanctions. I appeal to President Trump: please help me. Let the Turkish government know that you will not cooperate with them in any way until they release me. Please do not leave me here in prison.

Yesterday, in a highly-contested referendum, Turkey passed legislation by all appearances designed to grant unprecedented powers to its President Recep Erdogan. This morning President Trump called Erdogan, considered a US ally, who strongly supported the President’s recent strike on a Syrian airfield from which poison gas attacks had been launched, congratulating him on his victory. Let us hope and pray that this “friendly” position between the two leaders will allow an appeal on behalf of the innocent American citizen the Islamist regime currently holds captive

Meanwhile, Pastor Andrew remains in jail. We have received word that at times his cell is occupied by 15 other inmates in a space meant to accommodate four.  His cellmates are Muslim who are constantly attempting to convert him to their faith.   He is being prayed for by many around the world—in our own Prayer Room in Jerusalem we have seen times of corporate intercession intensify during the past week.
                See Martin's prayer points inside the Weekly Summary attachment              

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Israeli Ministries on Tours  |  BOOKING meetings now (See open dates)  Inside the attached Weekly Summary are itineraries and open dates for

Avi & Chaya Mizrachi of the Tel Aviv Dugit Coffeehouse and Kehilat Adonai Roi invite you to be their guest and Experience Life in Israel | Dugit started the Living Stones Tour out of a desire that Chaya and I had to spend quality time in Israel with friends and supporters from around the world.  Every year, many Christians from many different countries come to visit Israel to see the historical sites but few actually connect with the community of local believers in the land.  The goal of this tour is to provide an opportunity for visitors to not only experience the dead stones, but the living stones as well!

Did you know that the believing community in Israel makes up less than 1% of the total population of Israel?  It is our goal to immerse each traveler in the reality of living as a believer in the land of Israel. 

    Ten days on the ground in Israel with breakfast and dinner included

    Fellowship, worship, and pray with the Mizrachi family, the Dugit team, and other local believers.

    Guided tour through inspiring historical destinations from a local believers perspective.

For more information see inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

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The Israeli Messianic Marketplace  Feature of the Week:

Galilee Getaway | Come and take in the Shalom of the Galilee region!  The latest trend in international travel is not to limit yourself to a tourist's eye view, but to experience your foreign destination with a native's eye view. That can work for you in Israel too as you choose our beautiful vacation apartments, owned and operated by Messianic believers.

If you are exploring Israel for biblical sites, our location gives you a super hub to base out of for your days in northern Israel. Within a half an hour drive one can visit many different historical sites where Yeshua ministered: Capernaum, Mt Beatitude, Beit Saida, Magdala, Jordan River, fish and loaves- and Legions traditional site.   There are also various beautiful hikes in our neighborhood as well as the Hamat Gader- and the Tiberias hot springs.

Our apartments are located in a serene Galilean village with a breathtaking view to the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan Valley, the Golan Heights and the Gilead mountains. Both apartments do have complete privacy with a separate entrance!   More details inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

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Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
If you appreciate the efforts of this ministry to share both the  challenges and the great things God is doing among the Israeli indigenous ministries, please pray about making a financial gift donation. 

Make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio and mail to:
Israel Prayer  P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 
With PayPal, you can send money to anyone with an email address.
Log in to www.PayPal.com Send donation to:  donna@israelprayer.com 
I do not have tax exempt status. 

WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 4/12/2017

Priority Prayer Focus Apr 12, 2017

For our priority focus, I am borrowing this recommendation with a promise from Marc Chopinsky in northern Israel:  "For those who think they know Passover, I recommend reading Exodus 1 - 12 during the week. You will see new things."

Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel
Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.

As reported last week, Eddie Santoro has received another cancer-free MRI report. Keep praying with him as he gets screened  every 4 months. Every woman who gets regular pap smears understands how waiting for the results is an anxiety producing situation.  Pray for Eddie's peace in those times... meanwhile, he also reports that out of his life and death ordeal with cancers that God has made him greatly zealous to pray for healing for others. He also gives a follow up report on Patti Juster  Read inside the Weekly Summary attachment      

See also Eddie's comments on the Passover celebration

Kerem-El, which means, God's Vineyard, is a daughter congregation of the Carmel Congregation in northern Israel. It is pastored by Dani Sayag (who is also the Senior Pastor at Carmel), with the help of his young ministry pastoral team Yonatan Arnold and Stefan Silver.  This congregation has a strong family and evangelistic focus and they are seeing many miraculous healings.  One of the issues they face in their congregation - and which many of the congregations if not all - deal with, is the debt and  financial strain among their members.  Please pray with them and with all the Israeli Messianic and Christian Arab congregations for God to prosper their people in every sense of Biblical prosperity. Read more inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Ben Juster is the Operations Director for Tikkun Int'l, the umbrella organization that covers many ministries raised up under the 30+ years of the connected ministries of Dan Juster, Asher Intrater and Eitan Shishkoff. What is happening in this network is greatly encouraging because weekly we see the emergence of their next gen Israeli Messianic ministers - apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists.  Inside the Weekly Summary attachment, Benjamin, son of Daniel, gives a praise report about the recent ministry trips by their next gen leadership, which Ben himself is among those. 

Also a report on the continued re-shaping of this network in their annual Tikkun-affliated ministry leaders last month. Ben writes, "There was a noted sense of humility and unity, committing to walk even more strategically and intentionally for the future. The leaders made several key agreements and decisions together that will help to set our course for the future. We will be communicating more in the coming weeks and months." For all the Tikkun priorities and prayer request see more inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

               

Israel Pochtar is a quite dynamic spiritual leader of the Voice of Judah Ministries and Beit Hallel congregation in Ashdod. His primary ministry is to the great many immigrants from Russia who are not Israelis.  Pochtar leads many outreaches to minister to the needs of these people and in this letter he speaks about their 3-day youth retreat in the desert, the "Born to be Loved" Women's Conference and their traditional Passover Seders. The congregation has grown so much that this year they could not hold a congregational Seder because they have had to go to two service times each week to minister to all the people. It is a great problem to have which they settled short term by holding family-style Seders in private homes for everyone. Long term they are about to renovate their new building that will provide all the space they need.  Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment  

While on the subject of Russian immigrants, please read my special report below about hearing a great message last Shabbat from Jonathan Bernis, who back in the 1990's went to Russia to minister and saw thousands and thousands of Soviet Jews come to faith.  He delivered a much needed message for today and the message link is provided below in My Word.

Rick Ridings who pioneered 24/7 prayer and praise in Jerusalem at Succat Hallel, and has helped establish the same in many nations of the Arab Middle East, writes about the preparations for Passover. But he also writes about something that I believe may be a concerning issue of many of the ministries in Israel at the moment:  "We are currently facing one of the largest financial challenges we have faced in our twelve years of continuous 24/7 worship and prayer in Jerusalem.  If you have received our updates for any length of time, you know we rarely mention finances, saving that only for urgent moments. Any gift, large or small, will be deeply appreciated."  Get contact information  inside the Weekly Summary attachment       

For whatever reason, I believe that there is a slowdown of giving to the Israeli ministries right now and I urge international Christians to respond to the need.  That is a DEFINITE part of our mandate from God to uphold the Israeli ministries not only in prayer but in material support.  This is a call to share the burden of what God is doing among them, not only for the salvation of Israel, but for the release Israel's salvation brings to harvest in the nations.

The Maoz Ministry of Ari and Shira Sorko Ram also writes this week about the Pesach, Passover that millions of Jewish families have just celebrated.  Their prayer of course is for the salvation of Israel.  You can read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment   including their thoughts on Syria.  It is important to know that the Israeli ministries have been doing outreach and humanitarian aid to the Syrian refugees.  You don't often hear about it because it is a work that has to be done mostly in secret due to safety issues. 

As a nation, Israel also has:  "Ever since the civil war began, Israel has been treating wounded Syrians in our hospitals, sending humanitarian and medical aid to fighting zones (secretly, of course), and reaching out to refugees.  Maoz has taken a big part in providing necessary supplies to these refugees who fled to Jordan, Cyprus, and Turkey through a local Arab minister. Our hearts and prayers go out to the children and the adults caught up in this war.  Many of these children do not know another reality since they were born into the war.  They have no concept of “peace.” Find their prayer requests for Syria inside the Weekly Summary attachment    

Shira Sorko-Ram has also written Anti-Semitism: Where Did It Come From? for their April Maoz Israel Report

From Asher Intrater's Revive Israel, ARTICLE Jewish Roots Part II by Ariel Blumenthal | Revive Israel in the Nations – Update and Recap | Thank you for your prayers for Tal and Roni in the Czech Republic this past week and for Cody and Andrew throughout their time in Japan! Asher and Betty will also soon be traveling to Hong Kong for a Chinese leader's conference. Together, through your prayers, we are advancing the kingdom of Yeshua all over the world! Also, check out this recap video of Cody and Andrew's time in Japan. and VIDEO Yigdal adonai - Esther fast worship | Listen to a song by the youth worship team from the Esther fast at Revive Israel.

Arni Klein shares his thoughts on the Passover, " The whole event was about more than just bringing them out of Egypt.  He arranged their bondage and Exodus so He could bring them into the land (Deut.6:23) in order to cleanse it to be His dwelling place. We need to get this right.  It is foundational to our understanding of God, His ways, His purposes, His plans, and our individual and corporate callings."

Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment       

You would think that Israelis have traveled all around the country to visit the tourist sites of Biblical renown, but that is not how real life works.  (Just think about how many tourist sites you have visited in your own country or state).  Which is why I truly enjoyed Ronit Bender's account of the tourist trip that her son who lives in Australia took her on to many sites around Israel - some she would never have dared to visit herself.  If you have ever or never been to Israel, you will enjoy reading Ronit's account inside the Weekly Summary attachment               

Last week Christianity Today gave a platform to two anti-Messianic rabbis to present a case for telling Christians they should quit letting Messianic Jews teach them the Hebrew Roots of the Faith and the primary example was their denial that the "Lord's Supper" was a Passover Seder.  The fact of the matter it was the Passover Seder Jesus and His disciples observed and the foreshadowing of the Messiah is written throughout it. Obviously, anti-Yeshua rabbis don't want Jews or Christians seeing those foreshadows clearly and that is what this article was all about.

Ron Cantor of Messiah's Mandate has written a MUST READ response to this and Christians everywhere need the huge amount of insights Cantor shares in Ron's Response to the Rabbis: Was the Last Supper a Passover Seder? Christianity Today: Listen up!

From Orna Grinman whose ministry is to orphans, widows and single parents in the body of Messiah in Israel  (A Sign & An Example, Ot Oo’Mofet)  two new blog articles:

“Don’t leave before you say these three” | Orna Grinman of Otoomofet (A Sign & an Example) | “Wait! Stay in your chair!” my friend rebuked both his sons, who were sitting at the Passover table. The two wanted to get up and sit elsewhere with their phones as they got tired of reading the Haggadah (the story of the exodus out of Egypt, compiled by rabbis centuries ago, depicting their arguments concerning the customs Click Title to Read Online

Who passed over? | by Orna Grinman of Otoomofet | Who led the children of Israel out of Egypt, all the way to the promised land? Moses? Sure. But he had no idea if they're to turn left or right when they hit a junction. Whom did he follow? God? Right, that would be the common answer. But can you please be a bit more Click Title to Read Online

From the excellent Israeli Messianic resource KehilaNews.com, here are just a few selections from one of the updates they put out in the past week. There is much more where this came from!

Afikoman: The ultimate Passover question | By Hannah Weiss | Hannah writes, "Rabbis expound on its name, purpose and traditions, but they never explain why the Haggadah historically surrounded the Afikoman with silence, except for one contradictory statement..."

Celebrating Passover as a prophetic intercessory act | By Sandra Teplinsky | Sandra writes, "At Passover we recount and personally engage with the bittersweet story of the biblical exodus. We re-live the event, especially through the seder. For a week we eat unleavened bread, as did our ancestors when freed from bondage."

Ethiopian Haggadah connects the generations | By Karen Faulkner | The Bnei Akiva religious Zionist organization has created a Passover Haggadah written in both Hebrew and Amharic designed to help Israel-born children of Ethiopian immigrants connect with their parents’ history and their journey from Ethiopia to the Promised Land.

Netanyahu on US strikes in Syria: Israel fully supports President Trump’s decision | By Amir Tsarfati | PM Netanyahu expressed Israel’s support for the United States strikes carried out in Syria Friday, stating “In both word and action, President Trump sent a strong and clear message today that the use and spread of chemical weapons will not be tolerated..."
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Urgent HEALING Needs
Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary to keep in prayer the Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs including the fight for their very lives: 

Juster, Daniel Juster's wife, had heart valve replacement and has now been released to home recovery with no complications, infection. Please pray for continued daily healing. | Eddie Santoro's latest MRI brain cancer screening was again clean, praise the Lord! | David B. from Howard Bass' congregation was wounded by a pipe bomb during his military duty is recovering at home but still waiting on an eventual procedure to restore his finger and hand. Please pray for his full restoration. | Olga & Dov Bikas have been suffering from severe backaches. Please pray for their healing | David Davis continues to suffer weakness and a new small growth in the area of the previous cancerous tumor. Please continue to pray for David to be fully healed. | Gila, the first graduate from the Ark of the Negev’s discipleship training, after many delays finally had a successful surgery. She's been living in extreme pain for years.  Please pray for complete healing, restored mobility, and freedom from pain.| Hand operations on both Cookie and also Howard Bass' went well. Please pray for swift recovery.| Continued prayers for  Rick Ridings' daughter Esther Moore victory over cancer |   Ruth Nessim  According to the blood tests, all is well with the cancer of the lymphatic system,  "But I am blind in one eye, with much reduced sight in the other. I would value prayer." | Eddie Beckford has a toxic level of aluminum in his body and it has affected his health.  This is very likely the underlying cause of his thyroid & diabetes problems.  He is undergoing a protocol to remove the aluminum and he has not been well for some time.  |  David Stern Please continue pray for David's health and also for Martha, as his caretaker |  David O., Ami (unhealed wounds);  Long term disease battles:  Leah; an unnamed forefather of Messianic Judaism; Moshe M.;  the son of an Arab pastor, Ghazi, who is suffering from Leukemia. Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K; Carolyn Hyde, Claude Ezagouri; Baruch and Karen Maayan; Michael E and unnamed Israel-related ministers.  Ronen a congregant & faithful volunteer in the Tiferet Yeshua Tel Aviv congregation.  PLEASE PRAY ALSO for all the caretakers. If you have ever been one, you know that it stretches us to our limits in an very emotional time. Pray for God to strengthen and uphold them all.

Praying the Headlines

4/7/17  Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem
Ofer Amitai, Eliyahu Ben-Haim and Chuck Cohen
http://www.ifi.org.il/  Friday Prayer Points  P.O. Box 28368  Jerusalem 91281  Israel

We awoke this morning to the "exciting" news that America had struck a Syrian airbase, just north of Israel's border, with 60 Tomahawk missiles – as a response to the chemical weapons attack that took many Syrian lives this past week. While most of the world accused Assad of this evil deed, he pointed the finger at Israel! So we prayed for Israel to be on high alert over this weekend to all attacks – especially from Syria or Hizbullah. We trust in Your many promises to defend this nation (Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 121:4)

    Lord, as both the chemical attack and the US' response did not take You by surprise, we ask for You to reveal to Israel any hidden dangers that are lurking on the horizon (Psalm 139:11-12). Abba, please hedge in the tongues of Israel's politicians from saying unnecessary things (Psalm 141:3). Impart Your wisdom to Israel's government in relation to this current situation. Help the IDF to be super alert at this time – especially along Israel's Syrian and Lebanese borders. We specifically ask for angelic protection to be with the IDF (2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 35:4-6)

Security concerns are always heightened during all of Israel's feasts, so we prayed for Israel's protection throughout this land. He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd keeps his flock. Jeremiah 31:10  While we do not trust in "chariots and horses" (Psalm 20:7), we do thank You for providing the IDF with its various "chariots and horses" that help to protect Your nation today.    Lord, we ask for Your counsel to prevail in the minds of Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Liberman and IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot – and also bring them into one accord (Proverbs 19:21; 21:1). We continue to intercede for PM Bibi Netanyahu, and we continue to ask God to show us how to pray for who is to lead after Bibi.

Teaching Articles 

4/8/17 Avner & Rachel Boskey Beer Sheva  David’s Tent
psalm67@netvision.net.il  http://www.davidstent.org/
Donations: Final Frontier Ministries Box 121971 Nashville TN 37212-1971 USA
Also via PayPal: www.davidstent.org

Syria – Ancient Promises, Ancient Curses | By Avner Boskey

As the Passover season of deliverance approaches, the world focuses on the Middle East. Chemical warfare near Idlib targeted civilians, causing the gruesome death of nearly 100 (including lots of children) and the injury of more than 500. The cruelty and carnage shake the souls of all who see video footage of the casualties. Syrian fighter-bombers involved in that incident (and operating under a protective Russian military umbrella) were destroyed a few days later by an American onslaught of 59 Tomahawk missiles. Click Title to Read Online
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My Word

With all the noise out there spiritually, I have to say that it was a great delight yesterday (4/8) to hear Jonathan Bernis of Jewish Voice Ministries speak at Baruch HaShem Messianic in Dallas. I have heard Bernis speak before, but never have I heard such a crystal clear message. It was pure, uncluttered and unbiased call to both Christians and to the Messianic community to extricate ourselves from the peripheral issues that keep us from accepting each other and unifying for reaching all Israel and all nations.

I especially appreciated him and Marty Waldman revisiting their long history together, especially a meeting they called where 10 Jewish believers came together for 3 days of prayer for breakthrough in the Messianic movement.

The 10 were an "odd" group of Messianic leaders - some, in fact, diametrically opposite of each other, like Art Katz and Bob Weiner. Bernis' comments on this were hilarious to me but even more so I heard his spiritual point loud and clear: even when people who are as far apart as it is possible to be in spiritual streams, when they agree to come together in a unity for the greater good of seeing God's purposes fulfilled, God responds robustly with answers.

For Bernis it was immediately prior to his renowned evangelism among the Jews in Russia. For Marty it was the imparting of the vision of Toward Jerusalem Council 2, a vision that I heard Marty relate the very first time to the BHS congregation, when it was just a tiny part of the now huge BHS building. For Art Katz it was the raising of funds he needed to publish a book which his diametric opposite Bob Weiner stood up and collected from among the minion of Jewish leaders who had met to pray for breakthrough in the Messianic movement.

I get what Jonathan Bernis is preaching: the time for radical willingness for unity among the Messianic movement and also among the Church who see the significance in God's plan of salvation of the Jews rippling out with salvation around the world is NOW.

I urge you to listen carefully to this message of Jonathan Bernis. It begins with Ari Waldman introducing Troy Wallace of Jewish Voice Ministries who I was also delighted to see after many years. Troy is the son of my good friend Holly Christmas Wallace who has served Asher Intrater of Revive Israel for decades.  This is a strong point to mention because many of us have had decades of connection. We have history together as all families do - some pleasant, some not so pleasant, but the family connection remains.  God is waiting for us to put His purposes above our unpleasant memories or reactions to others in the family, and to act in unity as the family of God in Messiah.  - Donna Diorio

               

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