Arrows from Zion 8/22/2018

Priority Prayer Focus

Book Cover of Asher Intrater's 2015 book,
Heroines | Women in the Bible Who Changed the World

It was pretty clear as soon as I began to compile all the emails from Israeli Ministries over the past week that the priority thread this week was women impacting the ministry in Israel. The cover art for Asher's  book, Heroines, struck me as a perfect graphic representation.

The women in the Bible are not at all different from the women today who are quietly making major impact through their ministries and prayers. We can see that in the prayer and ministry letters this week - and many of you are part of that dynamic as women have always been God's secret weapon in the secret place of prayer.

Be attuned in the prayer requests this week from and about the women in ministry and those they are ministering to from the women who are mothers in Zion to those who are keep a vigil of faith at sickbed of loved ones...even those in need of healing themselves.  We focus mostly each week on all the men in ministry in Israel, but the women are no less a critical spiritual impact. Let's lift our prayers toward them this week. 

It was Yeshua who raised women to equality, not the women's movement which has defiled and contaminated the dignity and equality of our gender identity. Our true equality can only be found in our identity in Him. You may also enjoy this short video about Women who Prophesied.

Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com

It is heartening to see Elisheva Damkani's posts on Facebook about Jacob which are overflowing with love for Jacob, and faith plus trust in the goodness of God. Jacob continues to sleep but with encouraging signs of his body re-booting slowly, slowly. Continue to pray for our brother that he will emerge from this battle and that God will answer Jacob's prayer from years ago, 'Before I die, I want to see Israel saved.'  Follow Elisheva on Facebook for most current updates of Jacob's situation, or read her latest in the Weekly Summary, which is by subscription only.

Rania Sayegh is a Christian Arab in Nazareth who leads the House of Prayer & Exploits (HOPE) ministry, often putting on conferences for woman that draws international women ministers to strengthen the Christian Arab women. This week Rania opens with a prophetic dream she had at the beginning of the summer which she has interpreted as, "I believe the Lord is calling me to begin to gather the mothers into the house of prayer to pray and to intercede on behalf of the hungry children that are around.  In my journey of working with women, the Lord has shown me many revelations about the significant role mothers play in the land.  I believe this is a critical time to be united corporately to strengthen each other in the Lord as well as in intercession." She writes that she believes we are in a stratgic season as things are shifting and accelerating.

At HOPE they are in need of a ministry assistant to join their team, and also prayers for their Sept 2-day training conference about alignment of our spirit, soul, and body with the Lord, the conference in Nazareth. The speakers for the conference will be Lilo Keller from Switzerland, Elin Fagerbakke from Norway, Rania and a few other women from the nations as a ministry team from Switzerland and the U.S.A. along with local Jewish and Arab mothers from the Land.  We are expecting around 12-15 women coming to join the ministry team. We are glad that Ruth Fazal will be able to be with us in this gathering to lead worship. We are expecting 90-120 Arab women to attend each day. (You can access Rania's report about the conference last year here.)

It is the conviction of this prayer summary that if we are praying for Israel's salvation, we must also pray for the salvation of Arabs, because the Gospel has gone around the world heading west from Jerusalem until it returns to Jerusalem from the east. That means revival will sweep through the Arab Middle East as it is returning to break out in Israel. This should open hearts in God's people to see the Arab people rescued from the death cult of Islamism. All human beings were created in the image of God and are so loved by Him that He gave Yeshua as sacrifice for their sins.

Marianna Gol, Streams in the Desert in Omer, gives an follow up on their youth summer camp this year which ministered to 55 kids with 46 staff. She reports that the "kids were engaged from the start with the teaching and worship, and in their groups. Awakening to relationship with the Lord was happening throughout the week." She writes, The ethnic and language diversity of kids and staff was extreme, from Sudanese refugees to recent immigrants from mid-west USA, and the majority who live close to Israel's border with Gaza - of whom many had spent recent nights and days in bomb shelters. The counselors cared for each individual with an amazing anointing of the Lord's heart, and brought the kids together relationally by being so giving of themselves personally. . . . Many of the kids began their own personal relationship with the Lord. Many of the ones who have a relationship rededicated themselves. Many of both categories received spiritual gifts from the Lord. It was glorious!"

It is no small thing the investment in the youth that the believers in Israel are committed to 'from Dan to Beer Sheva'. For the coming awakening of Israel to the Messiah of Israel, every person from the youngest to the eldest will be as "living letters" (2 Cor 3:3). They will not only be useable by God when they grow up and become adults, but are testifying to the reality of the Messiah in their lives even as children. The difference of walking in Him shows in contrast to the lost sheep of Israel. Let us pray for all who are investing in even the youngest to walk like Samuel, "The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground."

The Maoz ministry of Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram has been a groundbreaker of Messianic ministry in Israel for the past 42 years.  They partner with both Jewish and Arab ministries in the Land to reach everyone with the Good News. Katy Smith who writes the weekly prayer letter for Maoz writes, "Regularly praying for Israel is God's desire for all who know and love Him.  It is also His desire for you to regularly pray for this and other ministries working on the ground to reach our nation with the Good News of Messiah Yeshua. It is impossible to recount all the times when we know YOUR prayers made a huge difference. "
We are all surely partnered with God and each other as we petition His throne for an awakening to Yeshua, as well as assisting them in the vision of their outreaches and congregations. See more from Maoz ministries in the Weekly Summary, including how they are helping young believers with continuing education via Maoz, istandwithisrael.com Advancing Israeli's Messianic Community through Education

Kobi and Shani (Sorko-Ram) Ferguson have spent the summer in the USA with thier kids, trying to visit as many states as possible - "we have managed 16 states and ministered in a good two dozen services." Enjoy these articles 7 Ways Israel Has Impacted Your World (Part 1) and (Part 2)

Patricia Juster is the main writer for the August personal ministry letter for her and Dan Juster's Restoration from Zion, speaking to the issue of how hard it often is to measure spiritual fruit; their recent ministry events in the U.S. and in Brazil. Of Sao Paulo, Brazil Patty writes, "Sao Paulo, Brazil. This was one of the greatest ministry ventures for me as I had a chance to preach to over 1,200 people on Saturday night and then speak at a Bible camp of a couple of hundred people the following week for five straight days.  Each meeting I unpacked my life message, which was a message about choosing life. It has been years since I felt this kind of liberty preaching and during these times when I was speaking I felt new life flow through me and renewing my youth like the eagle.  Many, even Dan, said that they were deeply moved by my messages."   

Patty also writes a moving tribute to Esther Ridings Moore, the daughter of Rick and Patty Ridings, and she delves into their own personal  loss  many years ago, "This battle for Esther’s life reminded us so much of that battle Dan and I fought (Rick and Patti were with us when this took place) when we had world-wide prayer for our son, Samuel, who died as a result of a house fire 20 years ago.  Yet, despite the prayers of faithful warriors, he died after two days of being on life support.  There are never any satisfying answers as to the question of “why?” And though God’s grace is sufficient, empowering us as believers to travel this road of sorrows, losing a loved one is an indescribable pain." You can read Patricia Juster's book, Refined by Fire ...and you can subscribing to their directly, or read the fuller current prayer letter Weekly Summary.

Israel Pochtar of Beit Hallel Family Network writes about their annual 21-days of Prayer congregational campaign, the final preparations on the AWAKE Youth conference -"There are about 30 young people with no means that we are trying to raise scholarships for, so they can participate fully in this conference." And Pochtar shares one of the testimonies from their Women's meeting. He writes also, "She is Jewish, and her husband is Ukranian. Despite the common belief that it's more difficult for a Jewish person to come to faith in Yeshua than a non-Jewish one, this sister is a great example of the contrary. She has encountered God in such a real and powerful way at Beit Hallel, that now she is asking us all to pray for her husband to come to Yeshua."

INCREDIBLY GOOD REPORT FROM EDDIE SANTORO! "The MRI showed that the size of the tumor in my brain had decreased 'significantly' in the words of the doctor. We are so very encouraged and feel a new strength to continue to move forward believing God for total healing and restoration of my brain. If God is for us, who can stand against us? By his stripes I am healed!"

In the Weekly Summary subscription, Eddie also shares about how they continue to minister to those at the hospital who are also awaiting cancer treatments. The openness of those they are meeting and praying for is a great encouragement. Remember, we are praying over specific life-threatening medical situations among the ministers of Israel. Those are the individual battles, but the war is against God's plan to restore healing to the ministry in Israel. We bear that in mind as we pray.

From Asher Intrater's Revive Israel: a very important article 1 Timothy Prayers for the Middle East | by Asher Intrater | The situation in the Middle East is so complex that often one is not sure just exactly what to pray for. Many well-meaning believers get so caught up in one aspect of the conflict or another that they miss the overall picture. Sometimes, with misdirected zeal, we can even be found praying contrary to God’s will. | Also this video from Revive's Sarah S Awakening Africa and the Middle East

Messiah's Mandate, the personal ministry of Ron Cantor has this important article: Yeshua is God: Biblical Proof God did not waste any time in revealing His triune nature to us. It can be seen in the very first chapter of Genesis. The first person to point this out to me was actually an ultra-Orthodox rabbi. The first person to point this out to me was actually an ultra-Orthodox rabbi. His name was Yankel Kranz, and he was the leader of the Lubavitch community in Richmond, VA. The Lubavitcher rebbe or ‘pope’ died in 1994, amidst claims that he was the Messiah. Also this article by Moti Cohen Going to the Death Camps with my Kids and Maintaining my Sanity

Orna Grinman gives us Part 6 of her series Back to Beit Lehem” The Jordan Journey, Falling in Love with a Region  "As we headed up north, crossed Aman and traveled through the mountains of Gilead, I fell in love."

Intercessors for Israel (IFI), Ofer Amitai, Eliyahu Ben-Haim and Chuck Cohen, cover many important issues in Israel right now:  the US Peace Plan, Israel's government & possible early elections, local city elections (new mayors across Israel will dictate the peace of the cities!); young adults from the nations coming to serve in the IDF - prayer for these lone soldiers making aliyah; the body of Messiah in Israel;  and the ministry of IFI in the nations. Read the prayer points in the Weekly Summary, or sign up to receive the prayer letter directly from them.

Dan Juster has an important article in the Tikkun monthly mailing, The Authority Of The Hebrew Bible. "We are dealing with a significant problem in theology. Much of the theology is being taught to believers by preaching media stars and church leaders whom I would call low information preachers. They may have charisma, and they can hold a crowd well, but sometimes they say outlandish and even heretical things."

Also from Tikkun, Asher Intrater's Fortresses Of The Mind, Ron Cantor's Trusting God - and a book by Ron Cantor, The Jerusalem Secret,  that highlights the biblical study of a dozen women "who paved the way for all of us who walk by faith. . . .[who] serve as models of faith and love, and we can all follow with them."

From KehilaNews.com - a few selections from the last week:

False prophets and false teachers | To stone or not to stone | by Ron Cantor with contributions from Dan Juster, Ariel Blumenthal and Asher Intrater | Is someone who prophesies mistakenly a “false prophet”? Is someone who teaches in error a “false teacher”?

The Israeli connection: The relationship between Gentile and Jew | by FIRM staff and from the perspective of Elsa Koppell, Jerusalem Encounter Participant | Before we, as Gentile Christians, can step up to our role in the Jews’ restoration, we must understand our relationship with them.

VIDEO: Brad Show interview David Schiller “Jewish ministries and common misconceptions” | Brad TV | Brad Kim speaks with David Schiller, Messianic Rabbi of Eitz Chaim congregation. How did Rabbi David meet Yeshua, whom he had rejected for so long? What kind of misunderstandings does the church have about Messianic Jews? And how can we pray for the continued growth of Messianic believers?

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

Please keep in prayer these Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs

EDDIE SANTORO Following a 2nd brain surgery and biological chemo, doctors report Eddie is that the tumor has decreased "significantly"! Praise the Name of the LORD! Keep praying and CONTINUED URGENT PRAYER FOR JACOB DAMKANI | and Albert a Messianic leader from southern Israel, who was taken to a hospital with a severe headache while on a trip abroad two days ago.  The doctors found a brain tumor and he had surgery 8/15 to remove it.  Please pray for a successful surgery and a complete recovery |  Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and complete healing.| Rachel Netanel took a fall and has broken her leg. Pray for quick healing. In April she learned she had a polyp on her vocal cords. Please pray for complete healing for this evangelist in Israel.  | Olga Bikas continues to suffer from chronic, acute back pain. She is getting medication and physiotherapeutic treatments but without any substantial improvement | Ruth Nessim appears to be on the repair and currently out of the country with her son after suffering from severe Gastro-Enteritis which she had 5 attacks of within a 2-month period. Con't prayers |  

                Sensitive Information I cannot share names of several who have asked for prayers for the last several months for certain of their grandchildren who are afflicted, even tormented. The enemy not only strikes at us through our children, but also our through our grandchildren. Please pray for these Israeli grandmothers crying out to God silently for their grandchildren.

                Pray also for Israel intercessors/supporters in other nations with urgent health needs:  Jeurgen at ICEJ, Karen and Yonit in Israel.  Also for Israel intercessors:  Cecelia Toth, Arlene Stucki, Una Gere, Mo Murray, also from our friend Steve in the UK for his wife Elizabeth. A special appeal for prayers for Israel intercessor Debra Koen Abernethy  (see last week Summary for Debra's urgent prayer need)

Praying the Headlines

I want to bring your attention to how the Israeli newspapers - as liberal in viewpoint as journalists we have anywhere else in the world - are promoting a liberal point of view as much as those in US journalism. A fine example of this the Times of Israel article about CNN news anchor Jake Tapper. Included in the cheerleading for Tapper as an example of great journalism was this bit of Tapper accepting narrative without bothering to personally check the facts :

"Tapper’s first foray into journalism came in high school, when he edited for the school paper. His first big story was on the Jews for Jesus movement.

"Attending a Jewish high school in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, known then as Akiba Hebrew Academy, he wrote about an alumnus who started the Anti-Missionary Coalition, a group that opposed the proselytizing of Jews — particularly of the Jews for Jesus variety.

“The accusation was that they were hoodwinking Jews and getting them to reacquaint themselves with Judaism by secretly convincing them that they could be Jews and Christians at the same time,” Tapper said. “Of course, by definition you can’t believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and be Jewish. This is kind of an inherent conflict.”

I would have loved to comment on this article and tried twice, but like the Jerusalem Post, they have me technologically-banned from posting comments. In one of the two attempts to post a comment I wrote:

Worst thing to be true about a journalist is when they make a habit of heeding the narrative instead of testing the facts personally. This is exactly what Tapper did from the get-go in his wrong assumption that one cannot be Jewish and be a believer in Yeshua of Nazareth. There are upwards of 15,000 believing Jewish in Israel alone & over a million worldwide. They are just as Jewish as the day they were born. Their faith did not change that.

Israeli Ministries on Tours  |  BOOKING meetings now (See open dates) 

Avner & Rachel Boskey Beer Sheva  David’s Tent psalm67@netvision.net.il  http://www.davidstent.org/

The Boskey's are putting together a ministry trip to the western USA for November 2018 and February 2019. We will be sharing about the significance of recent and upcoming events in Israel. Are you interested in having us share with your community, in receiving a spiritual deposit? Do you want to make a contribution and support our ministry goals? If so, then get in touch with us now. We are in the initial stages of planning our itinerary, so strike while the iron is hot!
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Donna Diorio 
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