Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Strategic Golan | Arrows From Zion 7/1/2019


The Strategic Golan Heights by Donna Diorio

This issue focus has been planned for a week, but overnight it became even more important due to the special prayer alert from Pastor Dani Sayag of the Carmel Congregation north of Haifa near the Lebanon border. It was an urgent prayer request to pray Isaiah 19:23-25, "that God will fulfill His full purposes for this region."

As Sayag wrote, "Last night, the Israeli air force attacked at least 10 targets in Syria, belonging to Iran and Hizballah.  Since the Arab spring, over half a million people have been killed in Syria because of the civil war, and 4 million Syrians have become refugees.  During this time, Iran and Hizballah have been trying to establish terrorist bases in Syria, in order to create another front against Israel."

Although Israel did not comment on the attack, the
Times of Israel reported from a British-based group that Israel launched strikes on Iranian-linked bases near Homs, and at least 10 other targets near Damascus including a base where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces are headquartered and a weapons research center.

The Times also noted that the strikes came just hours after an Israeli satellite imagery analysis company said Syria's entire s-300 air defense system appeared to be operational indicating a greater threat to Israel's ability to conduct airstrikes against Iranian and pro-Iranian forces in the country. The strikes came less than a week after Israel, the US and Russia participated in a trilateral summit on Iran activities and presence in the region. Israel has threatened to destroy the Syrian s-300 defense system if it is used against Israeli fighter jets, regardless of potential blowback from Russia.

The Golan Heights, of course, is strategic to the Syrian border with Israel. Maoz Ministries'  Shira Sorko-Ram writing this month on The Golan Heights recalls, "When I first moved to Israel in October 1967, I visited a family living in a kibbutz at the foot of the Golan Heights. The father told me how he and his son were walking just outside their house when suddenly Syrian soldiers began shooting down at them from the slopes of the Golan Heights.
"They raced for their lives and reached the safety of their home. But, he said, for 19 years, since Israel’s Independence, they never knew when or where the next bullets would reach their kibbutz. Until the Six Day War changed everything. In June 1967, a horde of several hundred Syrian tanks came rolling down the Golan Heights." Fighting was intense in what became known as the Six Day War. (Click title link to read part 1 of Shira's Golan series more online)

"After 52 years," US President Trump tweeted on March 21, 2019, "it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!" Two days later the President signed official recognition of the Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in a ceremony with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel had longed for decades for such a powerful acknowledgement of their strategic necessity of holding on to the Golan Heights. So clearly it was a matter of Israel's security, even survival, but no other nation in the world and no other president in the United States had moved with such just clarity to recognize the obvious right of Israel to rule over the Golan Heights. Still, in the days and weeks that followed, both the US news media and the Israeli news media trivialized the move as merely political to help Netanyahu in Israel's elections.

Frankly, just a little under the first year anniversary of the US Embassy in Jerusalem, in my opinion it takes a lot of chutzpah for anyone to chalk it up to mere political moves, that Trump made both of these long-yearned for formal declarations of approval and support of Israel. And clearly God has had a say in these events. He is the mover of the hearts of kings, and other such rulers. He will have His way in all His plans for Israel, including the one Pastor Sayag referred us to pray over Israel at this time, from Isaiah 19:23-25:

"In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance." 


Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Yet another sad loss to report with the passing of Ye'shi Reinhardt of Hands of Mercy 

Ye'shi Reinhardt (L) with Yariv Goldman (R)

Yariv Goldman writes, Our dear friend and brother, Yeshi Reinhardt, the Founder and Director of Hands of Mercy, went to Glory on Thursday morning (6/27) in New Jersey while in preparation for a conference there and another summer-long speaking tour in the USA.


The Hands of Mercy team are devastated and heartbroken due to the sudden and unexpected loss of our Founder and Director, "the heart and soul" of our organization. We are determined to continue the wonderful work Yeshi has started and to keep his legacy alive, relying on the strength, grace and wisdom of our L-RD.

Yeshi founded Hands of Mercy in 1992 for the purpose of providing comfort and support for the many injured soldiers and victims of terror in Israel. Initially based in Jerusalem, Hands of Mercy was assisting victim families throughout the country during events of suicide terrorism and war, including the horrific events of the "Second Intifada". As a pioneer with a heart to always stay on the "front lines", Yeshi decided to move Hands of Mercy's headquarters to the small rocket-ridden community of Sde’rot during the Gaza war in 2009.

Yeshi served the US during the Vietnam War, an experience that marked him in many ways for the rest of his life. As a war veteran, he has shown an example to us all through his strength in overcoming personal trauma, trial, and suffering and his determination in turning the tragedies he has experienced into strength for doing good. Instead of living a life of victimhood, he chose to work tirelessly to help those who experienced similar traumas of war that he went through.

Yeshi lived his life like there was NO tomorrow, putting 110% of himself in every situation. A single man for his entire life, Hands of Mercy was his “child” in which to do good and leave a legacy of purpose. He put all he had in it. After nearly 30 years of running a successful charity, he was still sleeping in his office — the bomb shelter of the crowded and modest charity headquarters in Sderot.

Yeshi didn't know life apart from work and only rested on the weekly Holy Shabbat. Due to his high workload and the pressures of running a charity on the front lines and living under relentless rocket fire from the Gaza strip, Yeshi was planning to retire and he has appointed a new director and successor before he went on his yearly speaking tour in the US.

Yeshi had travelled to the US with joy and peace in his heart, looking forward to starting his yearly speaking tour and his approaching well-deserved retirement in this beautiful "Promised Land" of pain and redemption. His team at the Hands of Mercy headquarters were shocked and heartbroken to learn that he will never return to his precious "Covenant Land" and the people he so loved.

Through our pain and heartache, we thank God for Yeshi’s life, legacy and obedience, as he is now blessed with a “final” rest in which he connects with his Father and Creator and he no longer has to gear for another week of trauma and pressure that started for him at the end of each Shabbat. Despite our own indescribable loss and sorrow, we rejoice in knowing that Yeshi now experiences a full and eternal Shabbat rest with his beloved Yeshua.

We THANK-YOU so much for your love, faithful prayers and support for Hands of Mercy through this painful and challenging time... enabling us to continue Yeshi's work and uphold his wonderful legacy. We will keep you updated on Facebook about the date and place of Yeshi's funeral in Grand Rapids, Michigan, US, and his memorial service in Israel. There is also a memorial ceremony for the residents of Sderot, the city he loved so much, on the 30th of June. - Yariv Goldman, is the new head of Hands of Mercy in S'derot, Israel                  


For an excellent tribute to Ye'shi Reinhardt, please see KehilaNews' Ye’shi Reinhardt, tireless minister to Israeli trauma victims, suddenly passes away.  Including the following:

"Just before he left for America, in the last two weeks, Reinhardt legalized Goldman’s status to take over Hands of Mercy should anything happen to him. “It was as if he knew, like he felt maybe he wasn’t returning, Goldman said. “He prepared everything and handed over the reins to put me as the head of the organization. He even organized his office, which he never does, right before he left.”

Goldman worried about joining, saying his evangelistic approach could upset people Reinhardt had built solid relationships with over the years. “Before I agreed to take over I said this could cause you problems because you have good relations with the religious people in Sderot,” Goldman recalled. “I’m all for works of mercy … but I do it in the name of Yeshua. … He told me, on the contrary, he wants to see more fruit, he wanted something more evangelistic.”


Arrows from Zion urges you to consider SPECIAL DONATION TO HANDS OF MERCY ministry.  Ye'shi was cut off from completing important connections with new and old financial supporters this summer.

The Israeli ministries - all of them - have been suffering for more than 2 years with a marked downturn in financial support from the believers in the nations. Please step up with a special donation towards this humanitarian outreach. Also in relation to this, Kehila News reports new govt cuts in humanitarian aid: Can Messianic humanitarian orgs aid Israelis as budgets slashed by $1.2 billion?
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From the Weekly prayer letter from Maoz ministries notes that most Israelis do not want another election because it will "cost an astronomical amount of money that could go to solving real problems, and the results are probably going to be very similar." The Knesset Chairman is researching options but it will take a 2/3rds majority to skip elections in Spet. Whichever way it goes, Maoz is asking for prayers for the current political confusion Israel is trapped in. Pray for God's will to prevail over the situation.

Also, just overnight we have seen a new threat emerge with civil unrest across Israel after an 18-yr old Ethiopian-Israeli man was fatally shot by an off-duty police officer. After violent protests, with over 100 officers  injured and over 136 arrests, the Public Security chief warned that protesters have the right to protest but Israel "will not tolerate anarchy". This is the third day of rioting. 

Last week we shared the Ein Karem portion of the ministry that Rachel and Gilad Netanel are engaged in as the break bread and share faith in a way that opens the hearts of Israelis to hear and receive Yeshua. This week is concentrated on their Zukim house. This is a greatly effective evangelistic ministry: by Israelis for Israelis. Pray for their ongoing legal battles with the Islamic Trust (Waqf) attempts to shut them down in Ein Karem, pray for health as the work is quite exhausting, for funding for all aspects of what they are doing, pray that no weapon formed against them shall prosper as the Waqf also cursed them and the threat of arson violence is not out of the question at this point. Pray a ring of protection around their properties and lives.

In Arad, the Hasdey Yeshua encourages us to keep praying for our prodigals with a couple of great reports of young prodigals they've been praying for returning to their faith. Hallelujah! Also they give good reports on on their Door-to-Door outreach which is bearing fruit, as it the outreach among the Bedouin women.  As they share, "So many people in the Western world are under the mistaken conception that Islam is one of the three major monotheistic religions and should be considered of equal value in all things, no matter how bizarre and demonic its beliefs and no matter how barbaric its customs." In their teaching of Bedouin women - who know better about Islam - the report is that the Bible truth is "turning their world upside down." That is what the Good News does!

Among the Arad congregation's prayer requests:
 "for our continued search for a permanent meeting place. For the Messianic summer camps which will be starting soon. Many kids come to faith or deepen their faith at these camps. And for continued fruitful outreach into our community"

Ron Cantor's 6/27 Middle East Update was right on the money of what news was leading to. He wrote: "The biggest news in Israel is Iran. Even overshadowing the economic summit in Bahrain is the desperate and reckless behavior of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran funds terrorism throughout the Middle East, even to the point of neglecting their own citizens. They must understand that as long as they continue on their belligerent path, they will not be accepted among the nations. Thank God the US is standing strong, even as Europe trembles."


Israel Pochtar sends a report on the Jewish and Arab Pastor's Retreat that Tom Hess blesses Israeli ministers with each year. It was held on the Sea of Galilee and was a time of fellowship, prayer, worship and sharing for pastors and their families serving in the Land of Israel. Pochtar writes that it is "Absolutely priceless to see how with each passing year, the friendships and bonds are only growing stronger.... Being a pastor in Israel is not an easy task. Not only is it not exactly prestigious, but it is also unpopular and considered odd to most people in the land. It is also very challenging because of the continuous pressure, criticism and persecutions. We always return from the retreat encouraged, refreshed and ready to continue carrying out the task God has entrusted them. Despite the difficult time of growing challenges, problems and conflicts in our cultures, we continue to spend time together, Jew and Arab, reflecting the unity and the love we have for one another in the Lord."

Pochtar also shared about their Men's conference which seeks to strengthen men in the deeper things of God, and how he is also participating in the Messiah conference going on now in Harrisburg, PA. Get info on the LIVE STREAMING schedule 

Dov Bikas Aviv Ministry writes about a new Women's Shelter project that they are planning to launch in Beer Sheva soon, which compliments their outreaches to drug addicts and victims of sexual abuse in Tel Aviv, as well as their men's rehab in Beer Sheva. The Women & Children in Crisis outreach will help those trapped in domestic violence, prostitution, human trafficking and extreme financial difficulties (because of husband in prison, lack of rights and/or citizenship, health issues, etc.). Dov and Olga are seeing pieces of this vision taking shape as the key personnel for helping these women and children are already to get started.  A few more pieces of the puzzle need to come together: please pray and consider helping with financial support. Dov writes, "Needless to say that like all our projects this one is going to be Christ centered and will not just pursue humanitarian goals. Only the Lord Jesus can truly heal and restore these women and their families. We also believe that this ministry can be a great evangelistic tool to show God’s love and care not only to those we will be helping but also to many people around them – relatives, social workers, judges, etc. We also hope that eventually these women and children will join our local churches and will become a testimony and a blessing for them and for our society in general."

From Asher Intrater, Revive Israel - some practical keys in family relationships, Part one of Parental Transfer.  It is not just that the sins of the fathers show up in the next four generations, but also that He will bless to a thousand generations when we reverse the curse.  Also from Revive Live: Cody Archer with Grant Berry Yeshua Won’t Come Back Until This Happens | and Cody's Learn From My Mistakes Quality over Quantity . See also Ahavat Yeshua (Love of Yeshua) congregation in the heart of Jerusalem.

Dan Juster's book  Dynamics of Spiritual Deception sounds exciting to me!  If you have ever been in a congregational situation that went off the rails - and I sure have! - then you will want to know the "principles involved in their deception will prevent the same thing from occurring elsewhere. May those who read this learn to guard themselves against the Dynamics of Spiritual Deception."


Cody Archer is one of the young ministry leaders, along with his wife Liat, who have begun to emerge in recent years as the 'Next-Gen' Israeli Messianic leaders. I am glad to see these new young leaders begin to send out their own ministry letters, as it is important to begin to let young Christians in the nations see their counterparts in Israel stepping into leadership positions. One of the things that is lacking in the younger generation of Christians following in their parent's footsteps of Israel support is because these young Christians are not exposed enough to the young Israeli Messianic ministry leaders and what they are doing. I believe it is very important for the younger generations of ministry leadership in Israel to see the engagement they can have through regular ministry email letters is part of beckoning young international Christians to awaken to what God is doing in Israel concerns them too.  

Recently Cody was responsible for the Shavuot/Pentecost live-stream event from Jerusalem. You can watch the full broadcast here. I thought the worship and prayer time was wonderful (especially the dancing before the Lord in the last hour)...and it was geared to a younger audience as the older forms of worship moved to another space after the first hour of worship together.

After a long absence from my prayer list, Danny and Tammy Meyuseff have returned after walking for a few years through the fires of trials, they want us to know that they never stopped their ministry labors and continue on today. (Those fires included losing both their moms, legal battles with an estranged & lost family member, and Danny had a heart attack with several heart catheterizations & a lengthy period of recovery!) 

In some circles, when believers experience troubles like this, suspicions arise that their faith is not strong, or they must be in sin. THOSE ARE NOT THE CIRCLES I WANT TO BE IN!  I have seen enough to know that if attacks come to a believer - and I think all the Israeli believer-ministries have endured major attacks - that it means the enemy is coming at them with everything to stop what God is doing in and through their lives. So I say: Welcome back Danny and Tammy Meyuseff. 

May God prosper the things that you put your hands to working with widows and orphans, sharing the Gospel with Israelis including Holocaust survivors, counseling women in pregnancy crisis, and helping the poor and needy. May He also prosper everything He has placed in your heart, like the vision to build a model of the Tabernacle in the Jerusalem area.  God bless you as you continue forward...and you are welcome here.

From Howard and Randi Bass of the Yeshua's Inheritance congregation in Beer Sheva, Howard is ahppy to have Randi home from the USA, and also both sons Evan and Tal. They enjoyed a full house for the family reunion. Howard was also speaking about the last days and the things that must be fulfilled before the return of the Lord. In the congregation they are at Genesis 10, the history and roots of our origins as races, languages, nations and ethnic groups. 

Bass also writes, "This month from the 15th - 18th we will be conducting our own children's camp in the congregation.  There are so many believers in the country now that the existing camps cannot accommodate everyone, and it is difficult to register quickly enough when the time comes.  So, along with others around the country, we will do our own, thanks to the love of our children's ministry leader.  It will be a three-day camp, with outings during the day.  This is added work for "A", and those helping her, but her heart is for the children and that they should not be deprived just because of lack of space at more organized and national camps for the believing families." Pray for this and all the camps going on for the children and teens.


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.


People have always complained that I express myself too strongly, too adamantly.
So in recognition of the need for humility of opinions & interpretations, here's

My 

Christians whose hearts are stirred by God toward Israel can be so vulnerable to be led astray from Jews of faith in Jesus, to Jewish unbelievers who have set leading Christians AWAY from Jews of faith in Jesus, to a simple fascination with Judaism.

Why would I want to sit at the feet of an unbeliever Israeli Jew, even if he were a rabbi? I wouldn't. That person has nothing to offer me but to dazzle me with Jewish lore. I want only what has been given to an Israeli person of faith, downloaded from God in Heaven into the redeemed spirit of a Jewish disciple of Jesus! But some think they are bridging the gap between Jews and Christians. How can that be when they ignore the Messianic Jews of faith and latch on to the hem of the garment of some Israeli Jew who behind their back spits at the name of Jesus?

I know a lot of Christians ignore Jews of faith because they say, 'We don't need to go to them, they've already been saved. We need to make the ones who haven't been saved "jealous" of our faith by befriending them (and showing them how sweet we are).' Uh-no. That is not working for you because they are not going to be impressed with how you are willing to throw Messianic Jews under the bus in order to be friends with them.

Why should they be jealous of the faith of Christians who treat Jews who believe in Jesus as it they are insignificant and less important than the Christian being able to befriend unsaved Jews?

Others seek out unbeliever Jews for teachings. They like to financially support unbeliever Jewish Israel- projects rather financially supporting the Israeli Messianic believers carrying the Gospel in Israel. Why? Why is it so hard to get Israel-supporting Christians to see that supporting the Gospel to Israel is greater than all the other endeavors together? Why do Christians make Israel the ONLY exception to that understanding in a lost world?

I am not against being friendly to unsaved Jews, quite the opposite. But I am not going to financially support ANY projects in Israel that are led by unbeliever Jews, and I am sure not going to go to them for spiritual enlightenment. Wake up. This is so wrong, how can you honestly be fooled by such situations?

It would be the same thing as Christians flocking to the Sanhedrin in the book of Acts, as the Sanhedrin was actively seeking to persecute, jail and put to death the Apostles and the followers of Yeshua in the first century of faith. Absolutely the same thing, same situation today with Christians falling all over themselves to make Israel jealous of our faith when it is the Israeli Messianics who are winning souls and making disciples.

If you want to make Israel jealous of our faith, you will support Israeli Messianic ministries ONLY. You will get spiritual understanding from those Israeli Jews who are actually filled with the Spirit of Jesus, not from those who are trying to drive all those believer Jews out of Israel. Again, I say: Wake up! It doesn't mean you can't reach out to unsaved Jews, but if you don't have inclination to the Israeli community of faith high in your priorities, I question if you really get God's plan for Israel. That's my 2¢ —Donna Diorio

Photo: Ashdod pastor Israel Pochtar standing in front of anti-Messianic posters targeting him and his ministry staff at Voice of Judah.





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. 



Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Son Flowers in God's Garden Arrows from Zion 6/26/19


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
________________

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
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!
     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
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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




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.