If I ever get around to writing my book on the
believers in Israel, I think it is going to have to be titled, Learning Curve. Just looking at the
photo file of my first visit to Israel in 2003, two years after starting the Israelprayer mailing list highlighted to
me the early stages of that learning curve. It's a learning curve that awaits the international church to transition
through. In God's due time, of course which I believe is now.
Coming alongside the believers in Israel is not
only a sign of the final maturing of the church, but it will cause even greater
maturing of the whole body of the LORD in the earth as it begins to unfold as
God has planned in "one new man".
Several years ago I wrote: Israel Prayer ministry was born only month before the Islamist attack on America on 9/11. The Spring and Summer of 2001 I was working with Zola Levitt on a project to urge the Dallas Morning News not to back off of their investigative probing into the Hamas charity, the Holy Land Foundation, because of the intimidation of CAIR and local Islamist groups accusing the newspaper of religious bias.
If it had not been for my long time 'Israel watching' I wouldn't have had a clue how Middle Eastern terror groups used charities to gain support and to boost their street credibility. But I did know how Palestinian terror groups operated, and the discovery of their operation in my backyard - or even in my nation - was nothing that I could ever be silent on again.
When the attacks on America took place that Tuesday in September, Israel was in the middle of the Second Intifada. We came together with a strong sense of God's calling to learn how to pray in faith even under a constant barrage of real bombs and bullets threatening those you know and love.
We came together aware that because America chose to allow several Islamist terror groups to network in the United States, to raise "charity" funds to aid terrorism against Israel, that America would surely have to ultimately deal with terrorism against her own citizens. Appeasement never works. Only rising to the challenge of the fight before us works.
My personal stand is with Israel against the enemy of radical Islam and even though the United States has often made bad choices regarding how it attempts to juggle its own interests against radical Islam and Israel, I'm also fully dedicated to our own struggle in the war on terror.
September 11th will always be about Israel Prayer to me. It is as if history has entwined us together forever. 9/11 will always be about the call of God to war for Israel and America against a devious and treacherous foe - radical Islam.
Learning Curve #1
The
Priority is not Primarily Defensive Prayers, but Advancing the Kingdom
Prayers
We spent the first three years or so, from 2001 to 2003 praying defensive prayers for Israel and for the Israeli Ministries, and we did see many miraculous times God protected believers in the Second Intifada. When I went to Israel for the first time in 2003, we made a point of going to the sites of recent suicide bomb attacks, a way of saying we would not be scared off by terrorism. That's why we went to the Sabarro Pizza that was suicide bombed in August 2001 with 15 civilians killed including 7 children and a pregnant woman. 130 were wounded in the attack.
We went to several such terror attack sites including the Café Hillel that had been bombed only a few weeks prior to our trip. 50 were injured in that attack and 7 killed including an ER doctor who had treated many terrorism victims. We met a young man who lived in that German Colony neighborhood who said he was still very shaken up by the terror attack. We told him we were Christians who love Israel. He responded that mostly what he encountered were Christians who loved the Palestinians and not the Israelis, but that he was comforted by our love for Israelis.
I still believe we are to be aware of the battle
for ourselves and for Israel regarding the dangerous foe of radical Islam, but
this was one of the earliest transitions that the Lord led me in my learning
curve of praying for Israel: We are to
pray for defense of Israel against enemies, but God's first priority for us is
to pray for the believers in Israel who are advancing the kingdom of our LORD
one salvation at a time.
We didn't only visit terror attack sites in my first Israel visit. The major goal was to meet with as many of the Israeli ministries we could. This was the first time I met Eddie and Jackie Santoro, also Howard Bass. We went to the Mizrachi's Dugit Ministries outreach and there we met a Palestinian Christian "by chance" who we had prayed for as he was imprisoned the in last city that Israeli soldiers liberated from jail where prisoners of faith were being held, some killed and many tortured in 2002. The prayer requests for those Christian prisoners in Palestinian jails came from Jewish pastors in Ariel. We visited Eitan Shishkoff at Tents of Mercy in their new building, bigger and better than their facility which was firebombed by religious opposition.
We made the Beit Immanuel hotel in Jaffa our hub entering and departing Israel, getting to attend the services then led by David and Michaella Lazarus.
Later, in the north we went to the annual fellowship picnic for the Jewish and Christian Arab believers in the Lavi Forest outside Tiberias. I got goosebumps even in the Israeli heat as we walked into that campground. It was like prophetic history to me.
Being able to connect with ministries and meeting so many of the ministry leaders on that first trip moved me to the next level of focus for this prayer list. This is why I so encourage every Christian who goes to Israel not to just sightsee, but go to meet a few of the ministries there. If you can, lend a hand in helping them in what they are doing.
In 1948 there were only 29 documented Jews believers in Yeshua in Israel. Today the estimated number is more like 20,000 and growing day by day. Even in the past eighteen years of Israel prayer, mighty changes are everywhere. We see reports more and more about positive media coverage of Messianics in Israel and new openness among Israelis to learn more about the faith than ever before. That is why this prayer list focuses primarily on communicating the prayer needs of the Israeli ministries who are reaching the Israeli people with the Gospel.
That was a lesson we began to learn about three years into the prayer list, to shift the focus from defensive prayers to advancing the kingdom prayers. For example the following was written at the 3rd anniversary of the weekly summary:
"We have
learned many lessons over the past three years of weekly praying in agreement
with the ministries in Israel. By
staying within that container of agreement with those on the front lines of the
battle, the Lord has taught us much about how to intercede even for an
embattled remnant within the most embattled nation in the world.
"He imparts dreams and
visions to His ministry leaders in Israel, they translate their visions to the
congregations and to the intercessors, and together we labor for what God wills
to release for His people. (While we
began thinking we would be praying primarily over the politics and the
terrorists, we have found that God has a much longer list of priorities to
speak to than just those things!)
"Those on the battlefront
have considerably more pertinent input than those with less invested who are
viewing the war from faraway places.
"The important thing is
not things, it is people. What makes for a decrease in the ability to share the
gospel is not what God asks us to pray for. We pray for the things that make
sharing the gospel more possible.
"Terrorists do not scare
God. They scare people, but not God who over the past three years has
demonstrated to us ten times over how able He is to answer our prayers for
Israel's protection against enemies.
(When you have weekly contact with the Israeli ministries, you have a
steady stream of praise reports of answered prayers of protection against
terrorists.)"
I think we can apply that last statement to religious persecutors too. We pray from the place of trusting God, just like we prayed from that place during the Second Intifada.
It looks like I really do need to write Learning Curve because there is no way to share in one short article about all we have learned in the past 18 years of reading the week-in, week-out ministry letters from the Israeli ministries.
This is one thing I know: God's will for the international Church is to pray for and materially support the BELIEVERS of Israel who are advancing the Kingdom of our Lord among Israelis until "all Israel is saved." Like all of God's mandates for us, doing it will multiply blessing back to the international church beyond what we imagine. — Donna Diorio
Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Orna Grinman, whose ministry to "widows and orphans" has a new blog post on the 9th of Av, which is the traditional Judaism fast day noting the destruction of the first and second temple, Tisha B’Av and the Aaronic Blessing. Orna has great insights which she also shares in-depth in other articles One Day She Will Remember Her Shame No More and Faces or a Mask?, as well as her book His Faces.Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
It occurs to me that in Israel there are several ministries like Orna's that are ministering directly to the "widows and orphans" which the apostle James said, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." I may just be out of the loop, but I do not recall seeing much emphasis in the USA on ministry to widows and orphans except in the context of foreign missions work. This is a good work and I am glad to see Israeli ministries specific to this need which also includes ministry to single mothers and at-risk children. Very important.
Avner Boskey has also written an important word about the destruction of the Temple and on the Fast of the 9th of Av remembering it in Double trouble and double blessing. Before we (Israel-supporting Christians) get swept up in this rabbinic-called fast, Avner takes us on a tour of related scriptures so we can know what God says. More important. Avner wraps up by giving us 4 points on how to pray once we see what God has said.
Yariv Goldman, the hand-picked successor to Yeshi Reinhardt's
humanitarian organizations, Hands of Mercy and Tents of Victory, sends an
update on how they are proceeding ahead in the work and also expanding to reach
more Israelis with material help and also the gospel. One way they are
stretching forth is in helping former Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jews adapt to
life having left their extremely confined former lives in Bnei Brak and
Jerusalem. Maybe you have seen some of the documentaries like One
of Us or Leaving the
ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem - Documentary, Off The Derech,
GOTDS. It is not easy because they are unequipped for life outside of their
sect. Many Christians idealize the ultra-religious Judiasm sects, but frankly I
am thrilled to see a Messianic ministry helping those who choose to come out to
adapt to life outside...and that is exactly what Yeshua wants to give them:
life abundant. For more of Yariv's news contact via email
The August Maoz Israel Report features Shira Sorko-Ram's The Golan Heights Part 3: A Summer and Winter Wonderland (Read Part 1 | Read Part 2) | Also IstandwithIsrael.com: A Seamstress in Need Received! and Host Israeli Backpackers in Your Home. This is a "time of transition from the leadership of Ari and Shira to Kobi and Shani, together we are able to combine experience with fresh new perspectives, skills and passion, enhancing Maoz' ability to reach the lost and help make believers strong in Israel.... No matter how many nations rise up against Israel, God continues to be faithful to His promises - to protect Israel and never uproot her again. (Amos 9:15) Maoz Israel exists because of God's promises - that All Israel will be saved. This is our heart's desire, and we pray it is yours, too."
Jackie Santoro writes about the difficult summer of sudden deaths of good friends, even as she has been adjusting to having lost Eddie. Jackie is finding her way, which in many ways is continuing in the ministries she and Eddie loved to labor in together, the "Third Season Gatherings" and home meetings. She is also discovering God opening doors to her with neighbors, people they met in the hospital fighting cancer and other. I appreciate how Jackie has taken up the writing which Eddie was so gifted in expressing what was going on with them in Israel, in news events, congregational events and their spiritual lives. Jackie has surely an anointing to continue blessing with her writing. She concludes her ministry letter by saying, "Lastly, I thank you from the depths of my heart for your faithful support in finances and prayer. Walking through this time has been an incredible experience and my heart is filled with gratitude for the love of God that lives in His people and has been poured out on me. Although I am missing Eddie more than words can say, I am also so excited about the days we are living in and expect to see great and marvelous things as the Kingdom of God is advanced in Israel and throughout the world. To God be the Glory, now and forever."
Eli Ben-Moshe, the son of Marc and Leah Chopinsky shares, "This coming October will be 1 year since my father, Marc Chopinsky, passed away. This year has been difficult, presenting many challenges for my mother, Leah (Joan) and also for myself and my family. However, this year has also been a time of learning to lean on God's promises and seeing the new season He is calling us into." Of his mother, Eli writes, "My mother has been walking in her calling of discipleship and teaching, meeting with believers all over Israel and allowing God to use her to breathe life and understanding of who they are in Messiah Yeshua – all this while dealing with the bereavement of losing her husband of 34 years and the fallout of having to deal with numerous financial and legal issues as a result of his sudden passing."
Eli is very much following in the footsteps of his father, Marc (of Israel's Hope) even producing Israeli Messianic artists and worship leaders (free of charge) in the Future Vision recording studio his father built. Eli's production company Ashira (I will sing) has so far produced 5 albums, 8 singles for 9 artists, with more planned and much interest from artists from all over Israel. He is also a worship leader and pastor in the congregation where he attends with his wife Vanessa and 4 children. There are a lot of details about the changes that Eli and his mom Leah have been going through in this past year. I want to extend to you the same he extended in his ministry letter, to learn more contact him via email or Facebook.
Rania Sayegh is the Christian Arab woman in Nazareth of the House of Prayer & Exploits who has been going great groundbreaking work with a growing number of the Israeli Messianic Jewish women leaders. Together they are forging deep heart connections between Jewish and Arab believer "mothers" in Israel. This is what they did a few months ago in April at the Deborah's Clan Women's Gathering. If you would really like to be encouraged by what is happening, then by all means take my recommendation to subscribe to Rania's ministry letter (which goes out about quarterly at this point). That way you can read in full detail the amazing things God is doing among them. It just takes a heart open to love each other as God first loved us, to being to dismantle the ancient walls of suspicion and dislike that have separated us apart from Yeshua. Orna Grinman, Chaya Mizrachi, Norma Sarvis, Terri Morey, Sandra Teplinksy are all Messianic Jews who are involved in what Rania is doing. Rania also shares about the upcoming Arab Deborah's Arise Conference (Sep 6-7). There is far more in Rania's ministry letter than I could even share in the extended Weekly Summary, so please consider contacting her directly for a subscription.
From Asher Intrater's Revive Israel Hebraic Roots of the Scriptures (Part 2) Asher writes, " Because of the historic split between Judaism and Christianity, the consistency of the biblical plan has often been missed." Videos: Big Error in Apostolic & Prophetic Ministry and Sharing Too Much. also learn more about the Nesher (Eagle) Project that through discipleship, training and hands on experience is raising up the next generation of leaders in Israel.
The Beit Hallel congregation has started their 21-Days of Prayer, writes pastor Israel Pochtar. he also writes about the current projects they are working on getting Back to School benevolence for hundreds of children with backpacks loaded with school supplies Children's Benevolence Project VIDEO also the "AWAKE" Youth Conference. Pray over these items plus, "We also really need your prayers for our ongoing battle to get our final occupancy permit, we're experiencing severe opposition, we know it's a spiritual battle and we need all the prayer warriors we can get."
The Joseph Project sends its activities update in this email. Two items is how "Joseph Project serves those in need regardless of race, religion, or creed. So it should come as no surprise that we also support our Arab and Muslim partners living in the West Bank. Just last month, a Bethlehem-based organization reached out to us requesting urgent aid for an Egyptian family serving as missionaries within the local Muslim population. They were harassed for their faith and soon found themselves in a dangerous predicament that required swift work to extract them to safety. In haste, the family was moved to a new home in Bethlehem without any of their belongs. Thanks to speedy teamwork, and by the grace of God, Joseph Project was able to completely furnish this family's new and safe home out of harm's way."
Also, this acknowledgment to Jim Schutz, under shoe leadership I began to include the Joseph Project in this summary (mostly I have focused on straight up Messianic Jewish or Christian Arab ministries, rather than humanitarian outreaches. Many will respond to humanitarian projects, but the Weekly Summary & Arrows primary goal is to raise support for those who are proclaiming the Gospel.) Anyway, Jim Schutz is the reason I began to include Joseph Project in this summary. I do highly respect and value his efforts and leadership. I am glad to see Joseph Project make this acknowledgement of his good work: " As some of our partners and supporters already know, Jim is no longer serving at Joseph Project. During his years of leadership here, Jim has been an inspiration in his regard for the Joseph Project's vision, his heart for people and charity, and his genuine walk of faith. We wish Jim the very best in all his future endeavors and thank him for his service!"
Arni Klein wrote a short note to me this week about the battle for Arad that has been going on. He writes, "This is an important issue. It's not by chance that the Gurries [Hassidic Gur sect] have set their sights on Arad. The new agers know that Arad is a spiritual portal. Some of the believers also know this. It holds a draw for artists and musicians. It is the oldest running music festival in the Land, since 1982...."As Yeshua noted, the children of this world understand some spiritual things better than the children of the kingdom."
""Numbers 21:1-3 recounts a battle between Israel and the King of Arad. From a study some years ago I understood that this was the first that Israel actually fought in the Land. Jericho was a year later. " This is a good place to study the nature of the battle for Arad. After God gave victory over Arad, he named it Hormah, or Devoted. That is what is at stake there. Also the battle for Arad made news again a few days ago Clashes erupt in Arad after police raid building that was turned into synagogue
In a similar vein, translated summaries from the Hebrew-press from the Caspari Media Review under the category of Anti-Missionary Activity cover some of the opposition to friends of ours in Tel Aviv-Rishon LeZion area. PLEASE PRAY for our brothers and sisters in Israel who are targeted by religious opposition to the Gospel of the Kingdom being shared with Israelis. Remember, as the apostle Paul, who was one of the most zealous of the religious opposition of the believers in the first century said in Romans 11:28, "From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers."
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
CONTINUE to PRAY for the urgent healing needs of Jacob Damkani | Ronit Bender sends this update: My cough is gone mostly, my heart valve is still leaking but my lungs are fine. I totally have peace about my health, although it is far from great. I still appreciate prayer, as I need it. I am very grateful they let me travel in October and November both to Australia and Holland. Please continue to pray for Ronit | Shlomy Abramov of Awake Israel, because of a condition where blood does not flow to his legs as it should, was advised by a specialist in case of injuries, he could lose his leg because of the blood flow issues. Shlomy has to wrap his legs daily because of the blood flow issues. Please pray for Shlomy | Ruth Nessim has recovered from a strong 2-month bout with Sciatica, but her most critical prayer need which she says may required an operation. Please pray for Ruth in Nahariya| Olga Bikas’s health condition that seems to have become chronic, with no hope from the doctors for any improvement in the future. This, no doubt, puts an additional emotional and physical burden on our family. Please pray for her acute back pain. | Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and complete healing.
Blessing Israel from the Nations
Some noteworthy things came across my eyes this week, developments in far flung places as Christians are rising up to be more of a blessing to the Jewish people. As God continues to call the Jews to make Aliyah, these are surely "fishers" in the nations that will help open many Jewish ears to hear God's call home to Israel.
Here in Dallas-Fort Worth, from two sources of great blessing to the Israeli believers over many years, comes the news from the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, that their vision for "The Gateway Center for Israel" is pave a new future in modeling a healthy, biblical way to love and reach the Jewish people--one that would bring greater education to pastors with this calling, advancing the Romans 1:16 mandate of taking the Gospel “to the Jew first” and to bring greater understanding in the Church that "we also are called to proclaim the Jewish Messiah to the Church, teaching church leaders the riches of their Jewish roots, but more importantly, the treasure of loving the Jewish people with the Gospel." Part of the vision to serve the Messianic community will be showing international pastors how to start Jewish services in their churches, hosting outreaches to their local Jewish communities, and supporting Messianic ministries. You can learn more about the vision here. We pray it will be a super gateway for the Israeli community of faith.
Sent to me by South African friends, Michael and Hannah lee Kaiser is about is a Broadway style musical - Daniel The Musical - which will have its world premiere in the heart of Jerusalem at the iconic Jerusalem Theatre. A production from South Africa to bless the people of Israel and the nations. From its soaring African voices to the thundering of the drums, Daniel The Musical is a tour de force. A musical production of epic proportions that will bring to life this gripping story of heroic faith, with the flair and passion of Africa. This full scale stage English production is a largely South African cast and produced specifically to open in Israel as part of the Sukkot celebrations. It is the Old Testament story of Daniel told with a colourful dash of African flair. The heart behind it is to show support for Israel from South Africa and to celebrate what we have in common. We are receiving wonderful support from our Jewish friends, secular and religious alike and we look forward to a once in a lifetime experience in Jerusalem. Hope you get to see the show! See more information here and here, including how you can sponsor a ticket for a guest - Holocaust survivor, orphans and other Israelis who cannot afford a ticket.
From the music snippet the Kaiser's sent me, this musical is brilliant!
donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
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P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
I do not have tax exempt status.
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