19th Anniversary Issue
Honestly I don't know what I am more excited about — having completed 19 full years of summarizing weekly prayer and ministry letters from the Israeli ministries, or being
at the beginning of my 20th year of doing so! It is a great joy to continue on. ♥
My Journey with Israelprayer Summary & Arrows from Zion
by Donna Diorio
In mid-August 2001 I was going through major life changes. I was ending
my job with a Messianic ministry where I had hit a brick wall that was deeply
frustrating to me. One of the frustrations was that even though the ministry
brought multiple major tour groups to Israel, they did not connect them with
the believer ministries in Israel. I was just beginning to discover the Israeli
ministries, but already this seemed to me that it should be a major objective
not just to show Christians the ancient sites but to introduce them to the
Living Stones of the temple of the LORD in Israel.
My time working in that ministry was not a complete loss because I was able to
connect with the minister on the mutual desire to sound the alarm on how
America was being infiltrated with Islamists, especially Islamists connected
with terrorist groups like Hamas. We had one such outfit right in our Dallas
area raising funds so Hamas could buy good will and support from Palestinians
on the street...and of course freeing up money for their terrorist operations
against Israel. We had several meetings with the local Dallas newspaper that
was under protest from local Islamists because of one of their reporters
investigating the connection of the Holy Land Foundation to Hamas.
Nevertheless, the job was going to be a big dead end to me, so I decided to
move on. It was time to launch a new thing to carry out the growing drive
within me to do something toward making the body of Messiah in Israel
known to Christians. Two weeks after launching the Weekly Summary, Islamists
attacked the United States diving airplanes into the World Trade Center, the
Pentagon and into a field in Pennsylvania, missing its target because the
passengers fought back knowing they would die. Forever the labors of the Weekly
Summary and Arrows from Zion are tied together in my heart with 9/11. It is a
labor toward what I know is the will of God for the believers who are Jewish
and those who are Christian to be united, and it is also the fight
against the spiritual battle being waged by Islamists.
In 2001 I only knew a handful of believer ministries in Israel, so I started an
Israel prayer group in the Messianic congregation I was a member of, and began
to put out a weekly summary of the Israeli ministries I knew of. From the beginning
we did much prayer over the physical battle Israel had and still has from
terrorism. There was a major push undertaken by Israel after the 9/11 attack to
go into the Palestinian areas and destroy weaponry and free their political
prisoners many of whom were Christian Arabs. This is how I first learned of
David and Leah Ortiz because of how David connected with many Christian Arab
ministers. Later, in 2008, the Ortiz family would be targeted by a religious nationalist zealot who
nearly killed their 16 year old son by planting a Purim basket rigged to
detonate when opened.
Others we prayed for were the congregations in Arad, which is heavily populated
with ultra-Orthodox and Yad L'Achim activists. From the beginning of my weekly
summary we prayed over a couple in Arad, Lura and Eddie Beckford who operated
an outreach and also opened the doors of their home for the congregations in
Arad to meet for services. They had many harrowing incidents including one of
the activists trying to set fire to their outreach building while people
were in it playing chess! (See "Stop Doing Good! — A
Love Story" by Lura P. Maiman-Beckford and Priscilla G. Simmons featured
below)
They weren't the only ones targeted by religious persecution. Eitan Shishkoff's
Tents of Mercy congregation was firebombed in the night destroying everything
even before that. Howard Bass' Yeshua's Inheritance congregation has been
targeted many times, overrun with activists, disrupted services and threatened.
There were many other incidents over the years that we asked our subscribers to
pray about and we continue to ask prayers for those whose lives are endangered
even today, like the Beener's in Sderot at the City of the Living. They are
threatened on one side by terrorists in Gaza and on the other side by religious
Jewish zealots and activists. Israel Pochtar in Ashdod has on-going religious
persecution problems.
There are many other incidents and the Israeli ministries barely even mention
the extent of it all. The idea is not to make you hate the religious
persecutors but to ask you for prayers for God's help for the ministries and
salvation for the persecutors. I try to keep a focus on how the Israeli
ministries are building the kingdom of God in Israel and not focus entirely on
the many ways they are doing that in the face of religious persecution. Most
Israelis, I think, are not religious, so when the believers come under
persecution and it is seen by non-religious Israelis, they are drawn near to
see what it is about believers that drives the religious so crazy. God uses it
all and Israel is being saved. More and more are seeking the peace that only
relationship in Messiah can bring.
Many Christians do not realize that some very well meaning Christians who
support Israel donate to unbeliever humanitarian and project-oriented groups
who ACTIVELY oppose and persecute the 20,000+ Messianic Jews of Israel. That is
why I started this ministry email list and why I hope to continue doing it to
the end of my days. It is my life's work and the weekly highlight of each and
every one of the 950 issues I have prepared over the past 19 years.
If you are able to send a gift in support of my ministry on this 19th Anniversary, it would be a great blessing. PayPal donna@israelprayer.com Or by postal mail make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 | I do not have tax exempt status.
Arrows from Zion
Summarized
from the Weekly
Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Avi & Chaya Mizrachi of the Dugit Messianic Outreach in Tel Aviv (& Adonai Roi congregation) write that "What has just happened was impossible until just a few months ago. It is a milestone, a miracle, an answer to decades of prayer! But then our miracle happened! Our new channel—Shelanu TV—began broadcasting Christian programming around the clock to homes across Israel in the Hebrew language! For several weeks Shelanu TV was walking on the water, doing the impossible. But then enemies of the Gospel rose up against us. Due to pressure from the Religious Rabbis, the Minister of Communications took us off the air, though they had no legal right to do that. False accusations were made against us, but we were clearly operating within Israel’s free speech laws. We were slandered in international media, even though we had spoken evil of no one. We were only sharing the pure Gospel in Hebrew. And even though the law was on our side, Shelanu TV was taken off the air. We were heartbroken. But that is when the next miracle happened. We had received so much attention in the media, interest in Shelanu TV was greater than ever before. We could not have afforded to pay for the level of free advertising we received by being slandered by news outlets, celebrities, and government officials. Now everyone knew about us! So we re-launched the channel digitally, just days ago, now able to reach even more people.
Avi writes, I am honored to be the chairman of the board for Shelanu TV, which is a collaboration of different local ministries who work together to proclaim Yeshua as Messiah to the people of Israel. In addition to my leadership role, I will do some of the preaching and teaching on the channel. Also, I will be involved in creating other productions such as evangelistic programs in Arabic with Hebrew subtitles that will feature the testimonies of ex-Muslims who have found Yeshua as their Savior. Your gift today will help us share the good news with Israelis one-on-one through our various outreaches, it will help us feed strangers, orphans, and Holocaust survivors, and it will help us do something that has never been done before—24 hours a day of Yeshua-honoring programming to the people of Israel in the Hebrew language.
Israel Pochtar proclaims that Yeshua is Still Walking in the Galilee, Touching Hearts. Their recent youth discipleship camp was powerful proof of that. He shares testimonies of strong spiritual breakthroughs by young people in the camp, click the title to read more. Israel, who pastors the Ashdod Beit Hallel congregation and Voice of Judah ministries also sent this 2 min video Our New Humanitarian Center is Taking Shape, and 3 short articles including their 6 major prayer points, Back-to-School Project Praise Report and Discipling Leaders where Yeshua Discipled — Capernaum
Rania Sayegh, the Christian Arab in Nazareth's House of Prayer & Exploits (HOPE), sends an update on their upcoming 10th Women's Conference 9/25&26 in Magdala. They are moving in faith because of the restrictions of coronavirus by inviting 50-60 women leaders from 23 Arab churches in the land as well as some Jewish Messianic women leaders. Rania shares a video from the wife of a Christian Arab pastor with a spirit filled and dynamic church in northern Israel, (with English sub-titles). Her testimony about the conferences will give you a taste of things you probably had no idea were going on! Please pray for the conference, that it will be possible, that all who are meant to be there will be there and that the finances needed will be forthcoming, in the name of Yeshua!
Avner Boskey of David's Tent has written Sapphire foundations about rightly interpreting scripture making the wise observation that "for those who aspire to greater accuracy in interpreting the Scriptures" a starting place is the challenge of Christians to come to terms with the "Chosen People" seeing how "95% of the Bible...focuses on the Jewish people." Avner points out what many ignore, that "Paul adamantly emphasizes that this calling has not been done away with, nor has it been morphed into something different (Romans 11:28-29). The original conditions of the Jewish people’s calling remain steadfast (Galatians 3:15-18). It remains a holy covenant between two clearly defined parties – the God of Abraham and His nation Israel." You can read his article in full by clicking the title above.
Even thought the date has passed, you should take note of this from the HaCarmel congregation: " Due to urgent maintenance work taking place in the worship center, the Aug 25th 2pm Intercessory Worship Watch was cancelled but HaCarmel looks forward to seeing you next Tuesday, Sept. 1, as we resume our weekly live-streamed 2pm worship watches."
Chuck Cohen of the Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem has another powerful prayer point in the Friday Prayer Points 8/21/2020 on the Israel-UAE peace treaty which is being called the "Abraham Accord". As always, there is much dispute and controversy over the accord, but Cohen points out several major points that ought not to be overlooked: "Lord, thank You that this treaty destroyed the global lie from 1967, that Israel must trade land for peace and create a Palestinian State or there cannot be peace between Israel and other Arab nations. We bless You for this seemingly genuine warm peace between Israel and UAE's citizens (Ex. 33:4). Abba, as the UAE is willing to bless Israel, send revival to its shores in exchange (Num. 24:9). ... Since this accord has infuriated the Palestinians, the Iranians and Turkey's leaders, this plan must be way better than it first appears (Psa. 109:29)!... Thank You that more Arabs are openly saying the reason for a lack of peace is not the Jewish State – but the Palestinians (Psa. 120:7)....While the US is committed to keep Israel's QME, qualitative military edge, over all other nations in this region, a sale like this could throw that edge into question.] Regardless, we are so grateful to know that You are Israel's QME (Psa. 20:7-9; 44:4-6)....Deal with the settler leaders who were against Trump's plan because of a potential Palestinian State, who are now furious with Bibi for suspending [annexation]....Please make this "suspension" last only as long as You decree (Psa. 33:10).... God of Israel, Jared Kushner seems to always halt the Trump administration from allowing Israel to possess its biblical possessions (Obad. 1:17). If this is indeed true, deal with him or remove him. If fear of a Biden presidency reinstating US support for the Iran nuclear deal was a major factor in the UAE's decision – allow other Arab nations to quickly follow the UAE (Jer. 51:54).
From Avi Tekle of Tents of Mercy in northern Israel a word of encouragement to ask for the same thing King Solomon asked God for: “a listening heart.” He writes, "A listening heart equals a heart of wisdom and discernment. When we open our heart to listen, God will grant us wisdom and discernment. Solomon needed it then, as he took over the leadership of his father's kingdom. We need that same heart, now more than ever." They are currently preparing food baskets for our Rosh Hashanah outreach. As funds become available we are ordering the food items. We are 80% there and need just a bit more to reach our goal. The daunting task ahead is how to distribute effectively in this season. We are mobilising volunteers and the home front command through our community and city officials. Your prayers for us will be greatly appreciated. Please give today. They have also added English translation option to their online Shabbat worship and a teaching from the Word. Subscribe to the Tents of Mercy YouTube Channel A new recording is uploaded each Saturday morning at 10:30am (Israel time).
From Asher Intrater's Revive Israel an article about Humility and Spiritual Warfare. VIDEO Global Broadcast for 8/18/20 Worship and receive a powerful message from our Revive Israel team today. In August, Revive Israel began an intensive, fulltime, 14-hour-a-day, 40-day training program to strengthen and invest in young Israelis who yearn to grow closer to God, connect with the Holy Spirit, grow in character and become more like Yeshua. We are calling it 40 Days of Fire! Partner with us - it is not too late.
This week I have 2 emails of weekly prayer point from Maoz and wish I
could share the entire excerpts I pulled for the Weekly Summary. First on the Israel-UAE peace treaty, "Since,
Israel’s rebirth only two nations—Egypt and Jordan—have made peace agreements
with Israel, and that after a war with each. These peace agreements are
relatively cold ones and are more strategic in nature than cooperative (and
Israelis are often warned not to vacation there). A peace treaty with the
UAE is not happening because either nation has ever been at war, but rather
because both nations value modernization and stability in the region, and
recognize the Iranian threat. The treaty has been dubbed the Abraham
Accords—recognizing the historical kinship of Arabs with Jews—and offering
legitimacy to the return of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland. Second,
God’s Chosen | The word chosen sparks a lot of emotions both among Jews
and non-Jews. Non-Jews may feel awe, jealousy or exclusion, while Jews may feel
pride, purpose, or fear. Regardless of how it makes us feel, being chosen
carries with it responsibility.... Father, You chose Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob—and ultimately Israel to represent You.... We will give You no rest until
You make Jerusalem a praise among the nations. Third, the Harvest | Over
the past seven decades, Israel’s desert land has been transformed —through
blood, sweat, and innovation—into fruitful, agricultural land. Thousands of
acres have become a solid food source for Israelis as well as for nations who
receive Israeli exports. Sadly, during the past several years Hamas has flown
kites and balloons strapped with live flames over the Gaza border.... For
farmers, the loss of a harvest is financially crippling, but the continued
threat of loss, year after year, is beyond disheartening. Father, we thank You
for the land You chose to give to Israel....Please restore the burned down
wildlife havens quickly, and replenish the animal population that has been
devastated. When the two women in the Bible were fighting over the baby,
Solomon identified the true mother by the one who truly cared for it. We ask
that You use this situation to open the eyes of Christians who think the
Palestinian agenda has something to do with love for this land when it is
ultimately a mission to remove Israel and their God from the land.
Fourth, and finally, Concerning the
Overton Window | If you’ve never heard this term, it’s used to describe a
strategy used to change culture on a large scale. If for instance, the cultural
norm is center and activists want to see it moved slightly left or right of
center, a campaign is created that promotes an extreme version of what they
want. The result, as expected, creates an uproar during which the activists
present a less extreme version of what they want. The opposition concedes to
the lesser extreme version and feels they have thwarted the evil effort, while
in fact, they have just allowed a new norm to be established. Do this a few
times over a period of time and what would’ve been unthinkable decades before
is the starting point of the debate today. You will find this dynamic very
evident in a variety of drastic shifts of mainstream culture over the past 10
years, though ultimately what has been attacked is the foundational framework
that has held society together for thousands of years—the family unit.
It’s the incubator for creating generation after generation of emotionally,
mentally, and even spiritually healthy humans. I’ve heard activist leaders
admit it in interviews, but if you look up the ambition to see the “destruction
of the traditional marriage and nuclear family” online you’ll find versions of
this quote with pretty backgrounds to post and share. How else will they be
able to get to the kids before the parents do?
Last just as we were about to mail out the Summary and Arrows, we received an urgent request from prayer from the congregation in Sderot, led by Michael and Dina Beener, City of the Living. This congregation gets its name in direct counter to the name Hamas calls its nearest Israeli city — Sderot 'the City of the Dead'. Their battle is taking place on 3 fronts (not even counting the renewed attacks from Gaza!!). The first is personal against the Beener family by the religious who are lying, slandering and threatening them (“these missionaries should be set on fire and they should be burned to death”.) Please pray for this family with small children. Because of the threats they have contacted a lawyer to represent them in the best way possible to keep their family from violent attacks...for this they need funds. The second front is in municipal permits which are being used as weapons to hold up their ministry operations even thought they are in compliance. Third is the immediate need to upgrade their anti-fire system which they need $9,000 immediately to start. Please keep this ministry in Sderot in your prayers and if you can help them as they sacrifice to minister to the poor and shell shocked in Sderot, please help.
Ron Cantor of Messiah's Mandate writes about Obama vs. Trump in Foreign Policy. Also Trump: I moved the embassy to Jerusalem ‘for the evangelicals’ noting Trump's comment , “You know, it’s amazing with that — the evangelicals are more excited by that than [American] Jewish people,” he said. “That’s right, it’s incredible.”
Ron also addresses a very important point in his article What about the Gentiles?, part 3 in a series on Jewish and Gentile relations, specifically, "Do Jews have authority over Gentiles? | Recently a leader seeking to discredit some of the brothers with whom I walk, claimed that we in Tikkun Global believe that the relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers is like that of a husband and a wife and that we see Jewish believers as having authority over Gentiles. To be clear: that is ridiculous and complete nonsense!" He writes as Paul did about Gentiles not being arrogant against the Jews, but honoring them where honor is due: "For being the nation that gave the other nations Yeshua, the Bible, the concept of one God, and let’s not minimize the price Jews have paid to be that people, having suffered through 52 attempted genocides including the Holocaust, and it is not over! The Antichrist is going to target Israel (Romans 16:16, Zech 14:1-2). So yes, it does seem that God expects some sort of deference towards Israel, but not idolizing Israel or Jewish believers, as we have sometimes seen.
Here are two worthy articles from Kehila News Israel: Tuvia Pollack's Messianic congregations in Israel collect donations for Lebanon ("Israel offered aid to Lebanon through UN channels. The Lebanese government refused Israel's offer. Yet, what the government couldn't do, Messianic congregations can – through unofficial channels.") and Beer Sheva pastor Howard Bass of Yeshua's Inheritance writes on Daniel 9:1-23 — Daniel’s Prayer
Director of the Aliyah Return Center, Chaim Malespin sends the VIDEO Episode
11 of our What is
Aliyah Series | Rahab in Jericho. Another video in The
BOBCAT Project. And did you know Chaim writes music? Click to visit his website
with all his songs and listen to his new single here: Mefuar
(Glorious)
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
Pray for Sally Shiff who has one surgery for skin cancer which she says went perfectly...sounds like more surgery to come. | A prayer request for Naomi, for a dear family that is a part of Israel Pochtar's pastoral team, who was diagnosed recently with colon cancer. "Despite what this battle entails, we are confident in God’s unfailing Word and promises." Read in her own words| Ronit Bender whose cardiologist told her that her irregular heartbeat is SEVERE, and is suggesting further tests. Please intercede for Ronit: No weapon formed against her shall prosper! | Olga Bikas severe back pain has kept her in "quarantine" for the past 4 years or so! Olga’s health. She went through several checkups that showed new findings and the doctors believe that an operation should improve her condition. Different doctors, however, propose different kinds of operations, and we need God’s guidance and wisdom to make the decision. | | Please continue to pray for Jacob Damkani for the LORD's mercies over Jacob and his dear wife, Elisheva | Continue please to pray for Ruth Nessim who at last report was losing her eyesight. I have heard nothing from her in months and she may be in nursing home care now. If anyone knows more please write me...and pray for Ruth. | Prayer for one of Yariv Goldman's daughters, married with possible endometrioses.
Stop
Doing Good! A Love Story
True adventures in
Israel with the Ultra-orthodox, the Muslims, the secular Israelis, the
Messianics, and Yeshua, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.
Stop Doing Good! A love story.
by Lura P. Maiman-Beckford and Priscilla G. Simmons
A true love story of love in spite of opposition.
Love of one another.
Love of people.
Love of enemies.
Love of Israel.
Overcoming firebombing, house arrest, physical attacks, slander, false arrests, constant harassment at home and the chess club.
Love conquers all!
available on Amazon
NOTE: As I wrote earlier, from the beginning of my
weekly summary we prayed over a couple in Arad, Lura and Eddie Beckford who
operated an outreach and also opened the doors of their homes for the
congregations in Arad to meet for services. They had many harrowing incidents
including one of the activists trying to set fire to their outreach building while
people were in it playing chess!
Donna Diorio
donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
THANK YOU to those who support this
ministry with donations. ♥
Donations
appreciated | on PayPal donna@israelprayer.com
Or by postal mail make
donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 | I do
not have tax exempt status.
