Wednesday, February 26, 2014

WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 2/26/2014

Arrows from Zion
Serving the Body of Messiah in Israel since August 2001
 
& Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel
Donations: PayPal acct is donna@israelprayer.com
or make check to Donna Diorio PO Box 111302 Carrollton TX 75006
I do not have tax exempt status. 

A Short Statement
on a recent controversy involving me.
There has been some resolution in the defamation of my name and reputation on a U.K. blog. It is not entirely to my liking because it continues to use my name in the title of their post saying that I have issued an expression of regret to terror victim, Kay Wilson. My regret is for the misunderstanding, not for having a difference of opinion from these bloggers.

The bloggers cannot lay any claim to having forced me into making this statement. Peacemaking came entirely within the Israeli community of leaders. The bloggers, in fact, made things much worse through their demands that I make an admission of fault.

I am extremely aware that web-based beat-downs of a person to silence that person has become the new normal. Because I do a lot of posting and commentary on politics in the USA, I see this all the time.
George, Bush, Sarah Palin, Herman Cain, currently Mark Steyn and Charles Krauthammer. Steve Emerson has been beat down relentlessly by CAIR.

Not a one of those people have bowed down to the silence demanded by their opposition but most have suffered personally for the loss of reputation. From my point of view, how much more is it imperative that we believers are able to stand against a campaign meant to silence our voice, our position?

The bloggers have taken down their offending blog posts, but the specific accusation against my name lives on in Google Search where results of MANY websites descriptions are carrying the repeated accusation that "Donna Diorio defamed a Jewish terror victim".

So the schmutz is still smearing my reputation even though the original blog post is gone. I guess I am going to have to live with that, but I am not happy about it.

Having talked to a handful of Israeli ministry leaders over this firestorm, I understand that this has caused much distress among you. For that, I am very sorry, and for the ripple effect of it that is feared.

I did not and do not believe it was advisable for me to cry out "Mea culpa!" bowing to the pressure to fall in line with a view that is probably a majority view among you.

When there is no respect for the thoughtful, sincere position of another believer, this is a major violation of the dignity that God gives us all - the free will to choose our own path and thinking. That's where I make my stand.   – Donna Diorio, Feb 26, 2014

Contact information for all the ministries is included inside the attached Weekly Summary.
Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel

Many Israeli congregational and ministry leaders will come together for a 12-hour Esther Fast & Prayer on Thursday March 13 (6 AM to 6 PM Israel Time).  They will be live streaming the prayer event from Yad Hashmonah, and even though it is conducted in Hebrew, in the past years of this gathering we have found it a blessing to join in as the Israeli Messianics pray in one accord “asking God to turn back the tide of evil and bring deliverance to the Jewish people.”  Keep watching here for the prayer topics, schedules and streaming links when they are provided by Revive Israel.

Howard Bass of Yeshua’s Inheritance congregation in Beer Sheva, notes that he received invitations to participate in both the Esther Fast, and the Christ at the Checkpoint conference which will be going on simultaneously.  Bass will be leading the final prayer session for the Esther Fast, declining the CatC participation.  Within the Israeli Body of Messiah there is controversy over Messianic participation in the CatC annual conference, that is because there are differences of opinion; there is not a consensus.  Please respect those leaders who have chosen to engage the leadership of the Christ at the Checkpoint conference.  No one has the right to defame their choice to do so.  We are not talking about a wing-nut group of men like
Nutrei Carta!  A little respect is in order.


Asher Intrater of Revive Israel asks prayers for IHOP-Kansas City, and in particular for Mike Bickle, who is currently being targeted for bitter attacks as a cult.  Bickle is one of the few American prophets that has long recognized God’s intentions to restore Israel and the need of the Church to connect with the Jewish BELIEVERS as one new man.  Please be very alert to attacks (about other issues) that rise up against those Christians who have linked up in substantial commitment to Messianic Israel. 


Israel Pochtar of Beit Hallel congregation says that in the last few months they have seen attendance in their congregation grow by 30%.  Praise the Lord!  Out of the persecution they are increasing, not decreasing!  In March they will begin a discipling course for all the new believers teaching the foundations of the faith, and getting to know each more personally.  Pray for this congregation which is being blessed of God in all they put their hands to.



Two new babies in the Messianic community announced in the past week.  Evan and Elisa Glasser Levine announced the birth of their second son born Jan 29th two weeks late; and David and Martha Stern have a new granddaughter – four weeks overdue on Feb 23rd – born to their daughter Miriam.  Both of these babies are doing fine and their families are happy to finally see them.  Mazal tov to all!



Speaking of Evan Levine of the HaTikva Project, Evan writes that they are slowly but surely making their way towards the required funds to launch their dental clinic outreach.  He writes:  “ I recently had two pledges of consequence: One from a dental company willing to donate our equipment and the second from a manufacturer of dentures who is willing to make ours for free. I feel that God is putting the pieces together. Your gift is critical to giving us the final push! May you be blessed as you give.” 

This dental clinic will offer a much needed break to Israeli believers on dental work – which has been a great need Israelprayer has noted for many years.  It will also be an outreach offering dental work at discounted prices to the general public.  The clinic will be openly Messianic.  There is no telling how many believers and non-believers will be blessed in the years to come by this dental clinic to be set up in Jerusalem.



Read more about how the HaTikva Project, which is under the auspices of Promise Keepers in the U.S., is blessing the needy from the household of faith in Israel, and others.



Ron Cantor is back in Israel after a physically demanding travel schedule in recent months.  He is happy to be back with the team at Tiferet Yeshua congregation in Tel Aviv, and just today is back on the air with his delightfully entertaining and informative PodCast from Tel Aviv.



Ron, whose ministry path took him through a period of work in the Ukraine, asks ongoing prayers for the revolution that is going on in that country that Russian Validmir Putin wants to absorb in a reintegration of the former Soviet Union.  Ron writes: “Ukraine is a significant country of 45 million people. Many Israelis are from Ukraine and Kiev hosts the largest Messianic congregation in the world!  Please pray for God’s will to be done there and for all the believers to be protected. May the Lord continue to pour out the Spirit of revival in this great nation.”



In Arad, the Hasdey Yeshua congregation has formerly commissioned its former pastor, Yo-Yakim, to labor now among the children and youth as he has felt called.  The congregation continue under a plurality of elders, which remain unnamed because of intensity of the religious harassment that has been visited upon Messianic Jewish leaders in Arad for the past decade.



The congregation has been involved over the past several years with ministry to the children of a nearby Bedouin village.  The poverty is so great, so the kindergarten outreach to their village is so appreciated, not only by the kids but by the mothers whose lives are lived in quiet desperation.  As the Hasdey Yeshua prayer stated in the beginning of their report on this, we must love our neighbors:  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18



Dov Bikas is the head of three ministries – a Tel Aviv outreach to drug addicts, prostitutes and the homeless;  a Haifa rehab for substance abuse; and a Beer Sheva rehab for drug abuse -  as well as a Messianic congregation in Beer Sheva that ministers among Russian-Israelis.  You can read more about the things going on in this high quality ministry outreach to the hurting lost sheep of Israel.  Yeshua said these are who He came to lift up from the pit, to set them on a solid foundation in relationship with the Father.



Eitan Shishkoff from the Tents of Mercy network of congregations announces that they were able to open the long awaited Coffee House and Soup Kitchen operation last week.  He asks, “As these ministries open, please intercede for strong anointing on the outreach conversations over coffee, and for grace to be extended with every hot meal.”



The 5-congregation Tents of Mercy network recently held a Marriage Seminar which 51 couples participated in receiving superb, systematic, practical, biblically-based coaching on how to grow together as covenant lovers in marriage.  Eitan adds, “To our distress, there remain couples whose marriages are in crisis.  I am asking you to pray intently with me for true repentance, deep healing, and lasting restoration for these husbands and wives.”

Continuing with news from the prayer letter last week from Arni and Yonit Klein, we quote:  “The pressures in the Land are increasing exponentially.  The rifts between brethren and congregations need to be healed.  We have long believed that in order to really know one another we need to spend time outside our usual functionally-oriented ministry activities. “  To that end, the Kleins are going to be opening their home recreational facilities for day-trip events for Israeli ministries to use for ‘Play Days’ for groups to come for a day of relaxation and fun.  They see this as an excellent opportunity for relationship building events, and response from the community of believers has been good. 

If you have ever been in the pressure cooker that is Israel, you will know that this is a great need a place to let your hair down and just have fun.  Pray that all would fall into place.  



Arni also wrote a short warning about The Heart of Darkness – “HaSatan,” which means ‘the accuser’.  .”  In actuality his name reflects who he is and what he does.  He could have been named many other things...’the liar’...for example.  But the Holy Spirit chose ‘the accuser.’  According to what is written in Revelation 12:10, it is the very casting down of the accuser that precedes the coming of the Kingdom of God.  Could the crucial need to understand this possibly be more simple and clear???”  Indeed.


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

Please keep in prayer the Israeli believers who are fighting for their lives or other urgent health needs: 


  • Shlomy Abramov of AwakeIsrael asks prayer for his wife who went in for a surgery, there was a complication and she almost died.  She is home but Shlomy had to hire a 24/7 nurse. Miriam is very weak, anemic needing an infusion of iron to help in producing the blood.  Doctors expect a month before recovery.  They need a miracle.
  • Arni & Yonit Klein of Emmaus Way request prayers for staff in the U.S. (Becky and Keith) and in Germany (Hannah).  We reported the extremely serious injuries of Keith and of Hannah months ago, now in caretaking Becky is also suffering physical strain and pain.  Keith is beginning to be able to move both legs a bit, but Hannah is still in intense physical therapy with pain spreading.  They would appreciate prayers.
  • Howard Bass at Nachalat Yeshua asks prayers for German (pronounced with hard 'g'), who suffered a stroke a couple of weeks ago.  German is 83 yrs old, but has been in excellent health.
  • Brian Slater’s wife Racheli has suffered a broken hip/Femural Neck Fracture from a fall in their home. She will be on crutches for two months. Appreciate prayers.
  • Four elder ministry leaders in Israel, are dealing with Parkinson’s which is a neurological syndrome.  Since they have not shared this information, I will just ask for you to please pray for them each to be able to continue to live normal lives, and for the hand of the LORD to bless them with healing.
  • Harvest of Asher   Elena is in need of continued prayer. The tests for the cancer all came out good. However she is still receiving chemo and experiencing extreme side effects. Please pray for a 11-yr old autistic boy who functions at a high level, but has declined emotionally with a change in schools this year.  Pray for Marina & her daughter suffering from a genetic hearing disease.
  • Please pray for the wife of Ariel Ben David, who leads an Eilat Congregation, and also for his worship leader, both of whom were recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
  • Pray for Ami Ortiz for ongoing issues from the 2008 bomb blast – and that he would win the appeal for government recognition that he is a terror victim.  It would mean benefits for the continuing surgeries and legal expenses.  See Leah’s report on their website of the latest round of laser surgeries on Ami’s scarring in this issue.
Inside the attachment of the
Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Arrows from Zion can be shared freely.  Just copy and paste this email into a Word document to make it easy to print.  However, we ask the Weekly Summaries not be forwarded or information republished without consent of the specific ministries. The Weekly Summary is by subscription only, write arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com

Teaching Articles


By Asher Intrater Revive Israel  & Dan Juster Tikkun Ministries



In reading through the Torah, we cannot help but notice that there are several social institutions described that never seem to achieve their fullness in Israel’s history. . . . we can read the Torah in a “prophetic” way, with a future fulfillment yet to come   Full article inside the attached Weekly Summary.



Israeli Ministries on Tours
BOOKING meetings now (See open dates)  Inside the attached Weekly Summary are itineraries and open dates for   Orna Greenman of A Sign & A Wonder;  Brian Slater of Yeshua’s Fresh Bread in Israel; and Joel Jelski of Succat Hallel.



 Israel Watcher – A Second Opinion   Mostly political or current events commentary
|
Fruit of the Fig Tree   Spiritual insights 

If you appreciate the efforts of this ministry to share both the  challenges and the great things God is doing among the Israeli indigenous ministries, please pray about making a financial gift donation.  Make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio and mail to:
Israel Prayer  P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
Or click on the PayPal account:
 donna@israelprayer.com
I do not have tax exempt status.