Son Flowers in God's Garden
Over the
past several years we have marked the passing of a great many of the spiritual
giants in Messianic faith and in the leadership of the Israeli body of faith
specifically, like David Davis, Marc Chopinsky, Eddie Santoro and now Elihu Ben
Haim.
In my near two decades of doing Israel prayer summaries I also remember we have buried faithful servants of the Lord like Katya Morrison, Esther Ridings Moore, Tom Bender and Brookie Escott. Before I started Israel prayer there was the beloved uniter, Ilan Zamir and soon after I began the prayer letter was a pioneer of the faith in Israel, Albert Nessim. The youngest among them was Shai Kushnir a Messianic IDF soldier who lost his life in the 2014 war with Hamas in Gaza.
From the youngest, Shai, to the eldest Albert, we are always shocked when the lives in our community are cut off. Being in the roughly the same age group as the leaders first mentioned, I think we of that age group also probably consider them as lives that have been cut off prematurely. As Jackie Santoro wrote last week, "We are in a great end time battle and sadly as in any battle, there are casualties. But we have confidence that nothing is in vain and we as the Body of Messiah are going forward in greater strength each and every day."
We are like Son flowers in God's garden. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on the Revive Israel picture of the sunflower field that it would be the cover for Arrows this week. I didn't know how, but suddenly as I am writing this opening on Tuesday I see exactly why. I knew it was because even though we have buried many dearly beloved friends, servants of God, we are not like those in the world who have no hope. We know they are at the Father's side, with Yeshua in heavenly places. We also know that they are not the end of what they and we have set ourselves to do in our service to the King of Glory.
Sunflowers thrive in Texas like they do in Israel and one thing I know about sunflowers is they grow very tall and are profuse. When they die having lived out their life under a scorching sun, they leave such an abundance of seeds that are harvested for eating, and with many others falling into the ground and producing a profusion of new plants in the next growing season.
The Son Flowers of God's Garden are like that too. As I was looking through all the ministry letters that have come in over the past week, I was noticing how many new, young faces are represented today in Israel prayer. These are the seeds that have been produced by the leaders who have passed into eternity, and by all of those who remain - whom we pray live long, long lives for years to come.
Yeshua said in John 12:24, "Except a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit."
Eddie Santoro had faith for healing - not only his own, but he prayed for everyone he could through the whole time he was being treated and monitored for cancer. That he eventually died does not cause me to doubt that healing is the children's bread. It is for us and it is for us now. There is great spiritual resistance to the signs and wonders of the kingdom manifesting in Israel, and bringing in a harvest of souls just like it does everywhere else in the world when the power of God begins to manifest our inheritance in Yeshua.
This week, Jonathan Moore who is one of the young leaders in Ahavat Yeshua in Jerusalem wrote in Facebook, "Here's my prediction: Within 2 years we will be seeing lots of miraculous healings and salvations...in Jerusalem."
I believe Jonathan is right on the spiritual mark of the scripture I was getting all the past week. For like the natural sunflowers, the deaths of two of the Son's flowers in God's garden in Israel this month, two who were sowing mentoring of young leaders, evangelism, healing, teaching the nations of Israel's destiny, and intercession are sure to reproduce multi-fold even in the coming year. - Donna Diorio
In my near two decades of doing Israel prayer summaries I also remember we have buried faithful servants of the Lord like Katya Morrison, Esther Ridings Moore, Tom Bender and Brookie Escott. Before I started Israel prayer there was the beloved uniter, Ilan Zamir and soon after I began the prayer letter was a pioneer of the faith in Israel, Albert Nessim. The youngest among them was Shai Kushnir a Messianic IDF soldier who lost his life in the 2014 war with Hamas in Gaza.
From the youngest, Shai, to the eldest Albert, we are always shocked when the lives in our community are cut off. Being in the roughly the same age group as the leaders first mentioned, I think we of that age group also probably consider them as lives that have been cut off prematurely. As Jackie Santoro wrote last week, "We are in a great end time battle and sadly as in any battle, there are casualties. But we have confidence that nothing is in vain and we as the Body of Messiah are going forward in greater strength each and every day."
We are like Son flowers in God's garden. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on the Revive Israel picture of the sunflower field that it would be the cover for Arrows this week. I didn't know how, but suddenly as I am writing this opening on Tuesday I see exactly why. I knew it was because even though we have buried many dearly beloved friends, servants of God, we are not like those in the world who have no hope. We know they are at the Father's side, with Yeshua in heavenly places. We also know that they are not the end of what they and we have set ourselves to do in our service to the King of Glory.
Sunflowers thrive in Texas like they do in Israel and one thing I know about sunflowers is they grow very tall and are profuse. When they die having lived out their life under a scorching sun, they leave such an abundance of seeds that are harvested for eating, and with many others falling into the ground and producing a profusion of new plants in the next growing season.
The Son Flowers of God's Garden are like that too. As I was looking through all the ministry letters that have come in over the past week, I was noticing how many new, young faces are represented today in Israel prayer. These are the seeds that have been produced by the leaders who have passed into eternity, and by all of those who remain - whom we pray live long, long lives for years to come.
Yeshua said in John 12:24, "Except a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit."
Eddie Santoro had faith for healing - not only his own, but he prayed for everyone he could through the whole time he was being treated and monitored for cancer. That he eventually died does not cause me to doubt that healing is the children's bread. It is for us and it is for us now. There is great spiritual resistance to the signs and wonders of the kingdom manifesting in Israel, and bringing in a harvest of souls just like it does everywhere else in the world when the power of God begins to manifest our inheritance in Yeshua.
This week, Jonathan Moore who is one of the young leaders in Ahavat Yeshua in Jerusalem wrote in Facebook, "Here's my prediction: Within 2 years we will be seeing lots of miraculous healings and salvations...in Jerusalem."
I believe Jonathan is right on the spiritual mark of the scripture I was getting all the past week. For like the natural sunflowers, the deaths of two of the Son's flowers in God's garden in Israel this month, two who were sowing mentoring of young leaders, evangelism, healing, teaching the nations of Israel's destiny, and intercession are sure to reproduce multi-fold even in the coming year. - Donna Diorio
________________
Israeli Community of Faith Loses Another Faithful Servant-Ministry Leader Pre-maturely
Last week issued an urgent prayer request from
Intercessors for Israel Jerusalem Eliyahu Ben Haim, pictured here with his
wife, Hanna. While in Scotland teaching in a Prayer for Israel conference Ben
Haim had contracted a flesh-eating bacteria. The prayer alert went out as the
infection which spread rapidly had already forced an amputation of his leg
below the knee. Unfortunately we began to receive news from Israel only five days later that Eliyahu had succumbed to the bacteria. It is a great shock and a double blow to the Israeli Messianic community, following so closely after the death of Eddie Santoro.
Upon learning of the sad news, Chaya Mizrachi told me that she and husband Avi Mizrachi have known Eliyahu for 30 years, calling him a wonderful person. She said, "He taught the importance of praying for Israel and God's love for our land and people. He laid down his life praying and teaching people God's heart for the land. Working closely with Chuck Cohen (at IFI), he would counteract false information that was sent about Israel and explain why we are in the land. He was a strong Zionist."
Here are excerpts from the official statement from
Intercessors for Israel:
Chuck Cohen of Intercessors for Israel Jerusalem writes, "It has been my privilege and
joy to co-labor with Eliyahu here in Israel and in many other nations as well.
In God's grace we have been friends through the good times and the rough times.
He will be missed by many, yet his leadership and his tenacity to stand with
God's will for this nation will continue as we stand in the gap for God's
kingdom to come and His will to be done here in Israel – and globally – for the
sanctification of His Holy Name. A final thought. Billy Graham apparently had
said that when we read the report of his death, we were not to believe it –
because he would be more alive then than at any other time in his life!
Amen."
IFI Special Alert June 23rd, 2019 | Late yesterday, our brother and friend Eliyahu Ben Haim finished his race and was taken to his heavenly home by God his Father. While we are relieved that Eliyahu's pain and suffering have ended, we grieve with his family and friends who remain behind.
Please pray for: His wife
Hannah, and his children and grandchildren, to sense the supernatural comfort
from God as they go through the grieving process (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
For grace and divine guidance for all of
those involved with what must be dealt with as a result of Eliyahu's passing.
For the IFI leadership to hear when the
Lord Yeshua speaks to us and to continue in His grace and strength in this –
His ministry (John 10:27).
That the ultimate results of all of the
above will be that our God is glorified (John 12:26-28).
KehilaNews.allisrael.com has a wonderful tribute to Eliyahu, who was the
Chairman of Intercessors for Israel Jerusalem, Believers lose another giant in the faith: Israel
intercessor Eliyahu Ben-Haim
Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Jackie Santoro writes grateful for the
outpouring of love to her since Eddie has gone to be with the Lord. She wrote,
"Each letter was a blessing to read and each tribute written about Eddie
brought joy to my heart to know that he was so loved, appreciated and esteemed.
I feel as though I have been walking on a thick carpet of grace during this
time of transition. And I can hear Eddie's voice encouraging me to pick up the
mantle and to keep moving forward. "
Jackie will travel to Kingston, NY on Thursday
with her son Evan and granddaughter Lia to meet with Eddie's twin sister and
take part in a memorial service for 6/30 at their former congregation. The memorial will be held
Sunday 6/30 at 4:30 pm at Fountain of Life Church in Lake Katrine, NY.
Daniel Juster, another of Eddie Santoro's
ministry associates in Tikkun, writes this tribute: Those Rare Individuals Who Are Not of This World | I have known three men who are with the Lord who
were so filled with God that they seemed not of this world. . . .The third, we
have just lost, a messenger of the love of God, Eddie Santoro, the first senior
pastor of our congregation in Jerusalem, Ahavat Yeshua.
Rachel and Gilad Netanel are busy laboring in
the harvest of the Lord, primarily in Ein Karim (Jslm) and Zukim (Negev). There
is a strong anointing on this couple who Israelis are strongly drawn to spend
time listening to their living faith. Their ministry letter is some of the most
encouraging reading we see - so they are not without great opposition! A lot of
it comes from the Waqf, the Islamic Trust that controls the Al-Aqsa Mosque and
the Dome of the Rock and properties in the Ein Karem neighbourhood in southwest
Jerusalem.
Since the threat of violence is great, I am including all these
prayer requests this month, so you see the importance of this work going on:
1. On the holiday of Shavuot, the Waqf came and started to yell at me and curse me. They were actually taping me to try to get evidence against me. They threatened us and told us that they are going to take our house away and scare away any people who come to visit us. They actually frightened me. In their graveyard outside our gates, there had grown a lot of very tall and dry weeds and I was concerned that they might set fire to them and thus to our house. So we hired a machine and some people to come and cut down all of the weeds. There was about 1000 meters to clean up which is the property of the Waqf. Please pray for our protection!
1. On the holiday of Shavuot, the Waqf came and started to yell at me and curse me. They were actually taping me to try to get evidence against me. They threatened us and told us that they are going to take our house away and scare away any people who come to visit us. They actually frightened me. In their graveyard outside our gates, there had grown a lot of very tall and dry weeds and I was concerned that they might set fire to them and thus to our house. So we hired a machine and some people to come and cut down all of the weeds. There was about 1000 meters to clean up which is the property of the Waqf. Please pray for our protection!
2.
Please pray for our health. The other day, we had three groups coming to the
house one after the other and it was exhausting. I looked over at Gilad and saw that he could
hardly breath. I took him straight to the doctor who checked his lungs and his
heart. All is okay but it did scare me. Then this week, I became so sick that I
could not speak and I had to cancel an event.
I am fine now but please pray for our health.
3.
Please pray for our finances as we paid the lawyer 35000 NIS to start the legal
process all over again with Waqf. The
renovations at Zukim are also still underway.
4.
Please pray for physical help for us as we are managing both houses. Gilad is
doing the renovations, himself. We still need to finish the electrical work and
we want to fix the very large garden (yard) up before the Feast of Tabernacles
this year so that we can have a large celebration in Zukim.
The weekly prayer letter from Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram's Maoz ministry gives tribute to Eddie Santoro, who was an important founding minister in the Tiferet Yeshua congregation. They also ask for prayers over the Israeli elections now 3 months away: "Israelis are hoping this time around our politicians will talk about real issues that concern the people - high cost of living, education, healthcare, transportation, security, etc. - instead of making their entire campaign about Netanyahu and his legal problems again. If anything, March elections showed people care about things affecting their own lives, voting for Netanyahu in spite of probable indictments. In any case, all we can do is keep praying for the Lord's mercy and control. And yes, He IS in control!"
In Kfar Saba, the Hamaayan
congregation led by Tony and Orna Sperandeo, just celebrated their 30th
Anniversary. "Throughout the
years, we have watched innumerable lives being impacted by the Gospel and
changed radically. We have seen children grow up to become true disciples,
positively impacting our nation with the Gospel. We were able to send out some
of our members to plant new congregations in different cities in Israel. We have watched tragedies of wars and
intifadas that have impacted our congregation in a personal way. Through these
challenges, God has used us to bring healing and reconciliation in ways we
could have never imagined." Mazal tov to you all! Read more of this
ministry letter here
Sally Shiff is an intercessor and liaison for
the Hamaayan congregation, and planning a fall US speaking tour. Recovering
from knee/leg issues, she writes: My goal is to be 100% by Oct 10 when I come
to the United States to speak at various churches. ... I covet your prayers and
financial support." Sally also
writes about the 3rd straight year a group of Messianic pastors and Arab
pastors gathered together to work together as one to see our nation come to
know our Messiah. Called Kingdom First.
"It never ceases to amaze me to hear stories of faith and salvation within
the different cultures that cannot be shared as they would cause certain death
if revealed. God, despite what is reported in the news, is moving across this
nation. . . .God is raising up an army of intercessors to ask God to forgive
our sins, heal the land and save the nation of Israel."
Ye'shi Reinhardt heads the humanitarian
organization in S'derot called Hands of Mercy.
In his ministry update, Ye'shi relates how the ministry received
"tons" of quality used clothing donated to the ministry throughout pre-Passover
cleaning. They gave 1 ton a week to
struggling local families but still had a huge amount left over. Ye'shi writes,
"Through a series of miracles as a result of your prayers, we met Machmud,
a simple Gaza businessman who requested we help his large, struggling family,
by giving and/or selling him some of our excess clothing. After prayers, we
were led to contact a Baptist Pastor who was delighted by our desire to send
him tons of quality used clothing as well... delivered directly to his church
outreach center in Gaza by Machmud! What seemed to be such a 'Burden and
Problem', our Almighty G-D turned it into an enormous blessing for many needy
Christian and Islamic (including Hamas-supporting terrorist!) families across
our nearby border! "Love your
enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for
those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your
Father in heaven." (Matt 5:44)
Evan Levine heads up HaTikva project that in
several powerfully impacting ways is bringing hope to the needy in Israel -
including Messianic Jewish needy -in the name of Yeshua. One means of great
blessing are their HaTikva dental offices in Jerusalem and Haifa which offers
quality, low cost dental to the believers in Israel and also as an outreach to the
needy of the community. In May they took
care of 332 dental patients. Here is VIDEO of the
next big step in expansion - click here to help. There are also Dental Sponsorships. Other areas of
impact they are making is in services for adoption & fostering children and
financial aid. Read more here
Fields of Wheat is the ministry that Joel
Jelski is serving in under the leadership of Eitan Shishkoff in northern Israel
which is focused on "equipping for the harvest". What that means is
Joel is working in several different areas at once, from the leadership of
Katzir youth camps to the discipleship programs which this fall will expand to discipleship
programs for Jewish and Arab young men and women. The focus will be on teaching
and empowering, but retain the vision of agricultural work in the form of 3
hours of daily agricultural work. As part of the program, we will go on
outreach to two different foreign locations. Pray for the growth and refining
of the vision, also for the tax authority that is blocking an approval needed
for us to be able to operate as an organization (believed to be because of
their religious belief). This is a
common ploy to suppress Messianic Jewish
ministries in Israel. Pray for breakthrough for them all!
Fresh from an intl conference in Jesualem, Ron
Cantor of Messiah's Mandate shares, "I was stunned at how many people came
up to me and encouraged me about these blogs and the videos we produce. The
truth is, sometimes you wonder if anyone is listening." (That is
T-R-U-E!!) In his latest Middle East Update of 6/20/19 he has reports and
comments on these current events: Trump’s latest piece of real estate is in Israel on
the Golan Heights | Humanitarian aid arrives in Gaza | Despite agreements, calm, fire balloons plague and
occasional rockets southern Israel
Avner's latest Article: Jewish roots -
authentic identity in the midst of broken branches | One of the main deliberations in the Messianic
Jewish movement today is, “What is true Jewish identity, and what is authentic
Messianic Jewish identity?” Some Gentiles who are interested in things Jewish
ask a similar question: “What are the Jewish roots of our faith, and how can
Gentile believers embrace those Jewish aspects which are kosher/acceptable in
God’s sight?”
Israel Pochtar in Ashdod reports a great Aleph
Outreach weekend where God showed up strongly and 20 people got saved - 8 from
Ashdod and 12 from Ashkelon! Praise the Lord!
Pochtar also was a speaker at the retreat for Jewish and Arab pastors
& their families organized by Tom Hess this week. Israel asks, "Please
pray for the Jewish - Arab Pastor's retreat, for deeper bonds to be created,
for strengthened relationships and unity as never before between us."
Also: "Pray for the people who got saved last week during our Aleph
Outreach Weekend, that they may keep growing in the knowledge of God and His
word, and for them to find their place and calling at Beit Hallel."
Asher Intrater's Revive Israel ministry shares
its vision Revival in the Nations about adopting the nations in order to bless them
and how a gathering in the fall of 2019 will help push this forward. Read more and watch
VIDEO.
Also Cody Archer with Michael Karem VIDEO New Hope on the Isaiah 19 Highway | New
VIDEO SERIES Learn from My Mistakes | Can Love Change People? | Daniel Juster thought he could just love people
and they would be transformed by Yeshua's love. But what do you do when people
are not ready to change? | Help Revive Israel make a difference in Israel. Give today to help continue to reach and disciple
Israelis.
From the Galilee, Heart of God ministries,
Carolyn & Richard Hyde's family continues to grow in Israel as they have
just welcomed another new grandson. Mazal tov! Also they share about a 'close
encounter' in Mea She'arim when transporting a couple of Uganda intercessors to
a conference at Succat Hallel in Jerusalem. Making a mistake of driving through
an open gate into the religious stronghold neighborhood of ultra-Orthodox during
Shavuot, they were set upon three times by extremely hostile men blocking their
way. The intercessors from Uganda said "this was surely from the L-rd!
They had heard of the vitriolic hatred of the Haredim but to experience it
firsthand was actually positive. They said they will carry these people in
their hearts and share with all the Intercessors for Uganda so they can pray
strategically for their healing, deliverance and salvation so now I can't wait
to see how the L-rd will answer their prayers!" Resources from the ministry | Worship Music from Israel | Booklets | Living Stones in Israel
________________
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 is awaiting results from her heart echo test results
although she has she feels so much better - but has had a persistent cough for
months now. She will have to go to a lungs doctor...and the heart valve is
still leaking. Please continue to pray for Ronit. She has been released to
travel to Australia in Oct, and Holland in Nov despite the outstanding issues.|
Martin Sarvis has undergone
arthroscopic surgery and is now in the healing process. Surgery was successful
and now will have physiotherapy for a couple of months. | Shlomy Abramov of Awake Israel, because
of a condition where blood does not flow to his legs as it should, he 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 several health issues, one of the most critical is her EYES which has sent
her to the hospital many times. 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. | Albert a Messianic leader from southern Israel, has had a
successful surgery and an amazing recovery but keep praying for total
restoration | Rania
Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and complete
healing.
This Just In
What does a Messianic Israeli Human Rights attorney & pastor think
of the Trump Peace Plan? It's fantastic! Hear what Calev Myers has to say for
yourself - plus it is a great explanation of what the plan entails. Click
Thank you so much for responding to my
call for donations
I
can't thank those of you who sent donations in response to me cry for help a
few weeks ago. It really made the difference in this month. I have a lot on my
heart to say about the critical needs within the ministries of all the
believers in Israel. The enemy would like to strangle off donations to the
point the ministries can do nothing to reach in ministry to their people.
There is so much in the New Testament about how the churches in the nations are to be contributing to the ministries of Israel for the sake of not only the salvation of Israel, but for the worldwide revival it will unleash. This is what is behind the demonic resistance the Israeli ministries are facing - with cutbacks in mission funding, with aging past supporters no long to able to contribute as they once did, and with a new generation of Christians who have been persuaded that social justice demands they back the Palestinians rather than the Israelis.
My entrance into being an Israel related ministry, and not just Israel related, but primarily to be an advocate for the LORD's body of believers in Israel is from having a revelation in about 1992. I saw the impact of what Paul was telling us in Romans 15 as he took up donations for the believers in Israel from all the churches.
Romans 15:26-27 "For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings."
This was not a one-off donation collection. The apostle to the Gentiles as Paul is known, was modeling the way churches were going to have to contribute to the body in Israel for "all Israel" to be saved. This is not begging for money! This is facing the spiritual truth of what has to happen to release the ministries of Israel into their full potential. What's in it for the rest of us is the release of a massive worldwide revival. — Donna Diorio
There is so much in the New Testament about how the churches in the nations are to be contributing to the ministries of Israel for the sake of not only the salvation of Israel, but for the worldwide revival it will unleash. This is what is behind the demonic resistance the Israeli ministries are facing - with cutbacks in mission funding, with aging past supporters no long to able to contribute as they once did, and with a new generation of Christians who have been persuaded that social justice demands they back the Palestinians rather than the Israelis.
My entrance into being an Israel related ministry, and not just Israel related, but primarily to be an advocate for the LORD's body of believers in Israel is from having a revelation in about 1992. I saw the impact of what Paul was telling us in Romans 15 as he took up donations for the believers in Israel from all the churches.
Romans 15:26-27 "For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings."
This was not a one-off donation collection. The apostle to the Gentiles as Paul is known, was modeling the way churches were going to have to contribute to the body in Israel for "all Israel" to be saved. This is not begging for money! This is facing the spiritual truth of what has to happen to release the ministries of Israel into their full potential. What's in it for the rest of us is the release of a massive worldwide revival. — Donna Diorio
donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
THANK YOU to those who have considered this ministry worthy of financial support.
Donations appreciated | paypal.me/DonnaDiorio
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.
