WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 5/3/2017

Priority Prayer Focus Israel Independence Day 2017

I do not know of any greater sign from God of His faithfulness than the sign of the modern state of Israel on its 69th anniversary of declaring itself a state.

Against overwhelming odds and international resistance to God's return of the Jewish people to their homeland, Israel is about to complete a biblical generation as the revived state of Israel. I use that word "revived" purposefully because I don't believe God just wanted to return the Jews to their ancient homeland, the Promised Land, but because I believe it is in that place that God intends one of His most unexpected miracles yet, that miracle which the prophet Ezekiel prophesied of, the revival of the dry bones.
 
I thank God that He has allowed me to peer into His purposes in the scripture for Israel because there are many in the Church who still cannot see even an inkling of what God is doing through Israel. I believe we are on the precipice of these great things unfolding, a mighty salvation. Happy birthday, Israel. God is with you for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

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.

Israel Pochtar of the Ashdod Beit Hallel congregation also brought Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones to remembrance as Israel celebrated its 69th birthday yesterday. He writes, "Israel is alive because of God's promises. We celebrate the miraculous rebirth of the nation of Israel 69 years ago, and as believers we fully trust God will bring the rest of the prophecy to fulfillment, which is: "...put my Spirit in you and you will live." This is what Pochtar's vision obviously revolves around because his reports are always full of the diversity of outreaches they do in their city and among the surrounding Negev believer community.

Read more about their upcoming major evangelism outreach inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries as well as a progress report on the renovations underway at their congregational facility. As Pochtar notes, "... there are too many sources in our city that do not want to see us prosper in building a gathering place for believers, and they actively oppose it. We've had threats and criticisms in the local press calling to stop us and our work. Which is why we need your prayers for protection over this project, God's favor and grace, as well as His provision."

From Avishalom who now leads the Tents of Mercy (Ohalai Rachamim) congregation in Kiryat Yam, a report on their congregation in the midst of the high activity Spring holiday season. Read about it inside the Weekly Summary attachment. Now on the countdown from Passover to First Fruits and Shavuot, they are asking for our prayers, "It feels like a very fast track of growth as a community. . . . Growth also brings some pain because change and accommodation for expansion needs to happen. Honestly, we are new to this stage. We feel a strange combination of stamina and uncertainty. . . . Our role as we see it now is to move forward with vision and inspire many to join in. We are very grateful for the many young couples and gifted Millennials whose hearts beat with this sense of being on the cusp of revival days. So we are moving strong and fast!!! Lord Have Mercy ;-). We truly covet your prayers and support at this critical season in our ministry.     

Maoz, the ministry of Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram in Tel Aviv, send a super report on their evening to honor Dr. David H. Stern at the launch of his Hebrew translation of the Hebrew New Testament Commentary. What a blessing for the Israeli believers and also for outreach! But this night was to honor Dr. Stern for his deep impact on the whole international body of Messianic Jewish believers. Read Katy Smith's report inside the Weekly Summary attachment             

Asking prayer for the nation at its 69th birthday, Maoz also writes, "The body of Messiah is growing, and a revival is coming to the cities of this land.  The Spirit of God is moving, stirring up hearts, preparing more harvesters and setting up events that will put this part of His plan in motion for the salvation of ALL Israel." Please pray for them along these lines.

Dov Bikas of the Aviv Ministry among drug addicts and sexual abuse in Tel Aviv (as well as a Russian-speaking congregation in Beer Sheva) sends the testimonies of a couple of the men they are currently working with in rehab. He writes also, "Recently the police closed the central gathering location of the addicts which resulted in them scattering around the city. Nevertheless, the attendance of our center did not drop, and many addicts keep coming – even from afar – especially at night. (Recently we bought more mattresses and the addicts can sleep on the second floor of the center). At present, each month the soup kitchen of Aviv Center serves about 1,000 meals and six to eight street people decide to start a rehab program at one of Israeli Christian rehabilitation centers."

To read their prayer requests, including a report on his wife, Olga's health need, read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment       

From Revive Israel and invitation to the Shavuot 2017 Livestream; an article by Mati Shoshani, Our Part in the Kingdom of God; VIDEO Dan Juster teaches in Korea #2 during a Passover conference. [English teaching with Korean translation]; and VIDEO Revive Israel in Czech Republic: Recap | Tal and Roni share about their recent trip to the Czech Republic.

Sally Shiff, prayer coordinator and as a native English-speaker, the 'Liaison to the western world' for the Kfar Saba congregation HaMaayan (Wellspring), answers the question, "Just what do you do in Israel?"   Sally tells us what she does ministry-wise - at least those things that are not too-sensitive to share.

Too sensitive to share is something that anyone who is interceding for the Israeli Messianic and Arab Christian ministries needs to be comfortable with. #1 we cannot have exact information on everything because there are safety issues involved that are life and death. Sometimes we cannot even know the names because the safety issues are too critical. That is why it is good to get comfortable with not knowing every detail, and praying in faith especially for these people and situations that must remain under the radar. God knows the details.

You turned my mourning into dancing | New Blog Post by Orna Grinman of A Sign and an Example ministry on the current holiday season

From the Kerem-El (God's Vineyard) congregation also catch us up with their holiday gatherings. During Passover, they write, "We had several immigrant families from the former Soviet Union, who had never celebrated the Passover Seder before, so it was a very special time, indeed.  There was also the blessing of an unbelieving family member who remarked, "There is something special here...it's the Spirit of God."

The congregation in northern Israel also reports on their young adults 'Passover Hike' to the Golan; the Holocaust Memorial Day among them; and a seminar they held recently for married couples. See the congregational prayer requests inside the Weekly Summary attachment   

Ron Cantor of Messiah's Mandate and Congregation Tiferet Yeshua sends us this article by Moti Cohen who is the associate pastor of Tiferet Yeshua. Read it online Israel Turns 69, and She’s Looking Good!

Howard Bass of the Nachalat Yeshua (Yeshua's Inheritance) congregation in Beer Sheva notes that, " "Many Jewish people, many Christians, and most of the nations, still do not know whether this is of God or not." Read his article, Israel - Of God, or Not of God? 

Howard shares great news of the return to the worship team of thier IDF soldier who has been on our prayer list for a while after having his hand blown up when a pipe bomb was thrown at him while serving his military duty guarding Joseph's Tomb. His second finger was dangling but all the nerves and tendons remained intact.  Doctors wanted to amputate - David said 'no', and they said he would need knuckle replacement. The most important thing to David was being able to return to his guitar to lead worship. He did this last week and now the doctors say he may not need to have the knuckle replaced that he lost. Please continue to pray over David's complete recovery and for the other prayer requests shared by Beer Sheva congregation.

For those in the Tamworth, England area, Howard and Randi will be part of the Prayer for Israel conference upcoming June 3-11.

Ruth Nessim of the Light of Galilee congregation in Nahariya sends us a catch-up ministry letter detailing her busy life - "We have been run off our feet" - at the ripe old age of 80! What an inspiration Ruth is.  She writes about her contacts with both unbeliever Muslims and Jews who cannot help but fall in love with the spirit of this dear lady. She is still pressing in to run the race well, and studying Arabic in order to better communicate with those she has been given a heart to reach out to.  Listen, if you want to be encouraged to run your race full blast to the finish line, just read Ruth's ministry letters. This one inside the Weekly Summary attachment              

CLARIFICATION from the Hasdey Yeshua (Mercy of Yeshua) congregation: When they spoke of the vision for the youth village, they want to clarify that it is not a separate entity to the congregation, but part of the long term vision for the use of the property they hope to buy. Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment - also there is clarification on the warehouse mentioned in an earlier newsletter.               

Avi and Chaya Mizrachi send greetings and a short update about Israel at 69. Read their statics inside the Weekly Summary attachment       

The Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem, Ofer Amitai, Eliyahu Ben-Haim and Chuck Cohen, include notice of the report that US President Trump will come for a 1-day visit to Jerusalem "in May very close to Jerusalem Day, when Israel will celebrate 50 years of the reunification of this city. Also, there are hints that he will announce the moving of the US Embassy to Jerusalem during that time."  Read their suggestions on how to pray for this inside the Weekly Summary attachment     

Our eyes caught notice of a report in the Caspari Media review of an article about the anti-missionary group Yad L'Achim - and I am glad God brought our attention to this because at the end of the translated summary the newspaper noted claims that, "there are seventeen 'active missionary centers' in Jerusalem’s Clal Building, including what appears to be a neutral events hall. The article included a call to the owners of the building '…to consult with the department for combating missionary work regarding the ones to whom they are giving their ancestors’ inheritance.”

 Since we know many if not most of the Messianic ministries that occupy the Jerusalem Clal Building, please pray that no weapon formed against them shall prosper and every tongue that rises to condemn them, we bring a verdict against now according to our inheritance in Yeshua!

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: 

HaMaayan 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.

Two updates: See Dov Bikas request for continued prayer for his wife, Olga, in his prayer letter in the Weekly Summary. She is improving, but still mostly incapacitated by back pain. See also Howard Bass' good report on their wounded soldier, David, who has improved enough to have returned to lead worship on guitar despite the serious had wound he had. Please keep praying for both to make a full and complete recovery.

Praying the Headlines

Being anti-Israel is anti-Texas, says Gov. Greg Abbott

Signs anti-BDS Texas House Bill 89, which got bipartisan legislative support

WHAT IS J STREET - WHO ARE ITS FINANCIAL BACKERS? J Street was established in 2008 as the first-ever federal political action committee (PAC) which describes itself as “the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans,” promoting American leadership to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. J Street is in fact, a virulently anti-Israel and anti-Zionist propaganda machine, founded by Jeremy Ben-Ami with money from virulently...Read More

Gorka: Casualty of a Jewish civil war | by David P Goldman Times of Israel | "Dr. Sebastian Gorka, a senior White House official, is one of the few gentile victims of a Jewish civil war. Dr. Gorka, long a Fox News commentator on counter-terrorism, will speak at the Jerusalem Post’s annual New York conference in May and at this year’s Zionist Organization of America Gala. But a left-leaning Jewish website, the Forward, has published 39 articles alleging that Gorka has neo-Nazi ties in Hungary, the country of his parents’ birth where he was active in politics during the 2000s." Read more online

For the second year in a row Christians are the most persecuted group in the world.

State Dept issues Travel Alert amid terrorism threats 'throughout Europe'

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The Israeli Messianic Feature of the Week:

Coming soon to the USA on tour AMAZING Israeli band Miqedem performing PSALM 150 in HEBREW!
Watch here and we will try to get an itinerary from these Israeli Messianic worshippers to share soon.

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Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
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