WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 10/29/2014

Arrows from Zion
Serving the Body of Messiah in Israel since August 2001 
& Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel

Arrows from Zion May be copied for use in Prayer Gatherings

Priority Prayer Focus Oct 29, 2014

There is often a similar thread that runs through the Israeli ministry prayer letters that I receive within a week's time. When that happens I realize it is the Priority Prayer Focus the Holy Spirit is pointing out. 

The thread this week is undeniably a rising tide of Christian communities internationally that are connecting with the Israeli believers.  The prayer letters this week are brimming over with the blessings of the nations coming to connect with the believers of Israel including China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Australia, Arabic Christians, Canada, Indigenous/First Nations, Germany.  

Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel

Fresh off a ministry trip down under, Howard Bass of the Yeshua’s Inheritance congregation writes this week about hitting the ground running with the annual Negev conference that brought about 250 Negev area believers out for messages and worship at Tel Arad.  Howard writes, “The essential message that came through regarding these end times is that both Israel and the Church are headed for difficult times, with God purifying His people and the Bride of the Lamb.”  But also “In the meantime, there is much evangelism still to be done, as well.”

Here is a link to a key teaching of mine some years back, Howard writes, which highlights what we believe to be 'gospel truth'

They have many special guests coming to Beer Sheva for the commemoration of the victory in Beer Sheva on Oct 31, 1917 by the Allied forces, and forever memorialized by the Charge of the Light Brigade. 

“To give a little glimpse into Yeshua's Inheritance Congregation, as we seek to let the Lord accomplish His miraculous work among us to make us truly 'one', as He only fully understands:  there are currently five men who teach/preach/exhort in our services.  Three are Jews; two are Gentiles.  The three Jews have three mother tongues:  English, Hebrew, Ukranian.  The two Gentiles have two more mother tongues:  Spanish, Dutch,” Bass writes.  Here is a link to a YouTube video that we did a while ago giving some background to Yeshua's Inheritance.

Eddie Santoro of the Love of Yeshua congregation writes about their 17 years of serving since immigrating to Israel, first at the Tiferet Yeshua congregation in Tel Aviv, now at Ahavat Yeshua in Jerusalem.  Santoro writes, “We so appreciate your ongoing prayer for this work in Jerusalem. God has blessed us with an incredible team of both young and older leaders. Dan Juster will soon be set in as a local elder. Last night he met with five young men who are interested in increasing their skill in preaching.”

“Jonathan, one of our young leaders who was recently set in as a deacon,” he writes, “is overseeing a young adults group that is committed to investing in and impacting the life of the congregation. Yoel, a young Israeli brother along with Ariel and Cody and their wives have raised up a dynamic and thriving teenage group. … Evan, another young deacon oversees the entire worship department. We are meeting this week with Rachel and Gilad, a mature couple in the Lord and gifted evangelists to plan and develop evangelistic strategy in the congregation. 

“Please keep praying! The warfare is fierce in Jerusalem and ground is never taken from the enemy without overcoming great resistance. Pray for the unique blending of the older and younger leaders in our congregation. The relational interaction of these two groups is vital for all that God desires to accomplish in Ahavat Yeshua.”

At this juncture, they are also asking for prayers for the increasing violence in Jerusalem which many are calling a third intifada.  Santoro writes, “Pray against the spirit of jihad that is provoking another intifada and pray that calm would return.” 

From Claude Ezagouri at the Morning Star Fellowship in Tiberias are ministering in an area where there is a high concentration of religious opposition to believers.  We share their information sparingly not because they don’t need prayer, but in order to protect the sensitive information of their ministry.  This is the case with ministries all over Israel and even though there is a great new openness within the Israeli public to their message, there is also strong opposition that comes with it.  Inside inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary we share specific points you can pray for this Or B’Darki ministry.

Ezagouri also writes about a recent meeting of pastors and elders with Arab leaders from the Bethlehem Bible College:  “Every two years the BBC organizes a conference called "Christ at the Checkpoint" to draw Christians' attention to the Palestinians and their suffering but always blaming Israel. Lately the BBC posted some slandering articles and video clips in which Israel is accused of genocide. Please pray for the pastors in Israel to know how to deal with our Palestinian Arab brothers and sisters in this situation. Some of us have sons and daughters in the army and words like "genocide" are resented as untrue and unacceptable.”

Many of you would appreciate Claude Ezagouri’s book "Israel the land in controversy". It is an excellent tool to help people who are very confused about the theme of Israel.  It is an excellent tool to help people understand this theme today. Do not hesitate to buy a copy for somebody you know who may be open and seeking the truth about this crucial theme for the Church today.

Evan Levine of the Jerusalem HaTikva Project makes a great announcement this week about the Messianic Jewish Jerusalem Dental Clinic he has been working on for the past year.  It seems the pieces are finally in place and they are ready to establish the clinic, interview & hire candidates, and a shipment of donated dental  equipment is already on its way to Israel from abroad.  This is a huge answer to prayer for many in the Messianic community in Israel, and it will also be a blessing as an outreach.  If you would like to be a sponsor of this project – or any of the other ways HaTikva is a blessing in Israel – you can learn more inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

In Hong Kong for a 50-hours of continuous worship even aboard a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark on Ma Wah Island in the Hong Kong Harbor, Arni and Yonit Klein of Emmaus Way believe it was a “kairos” moment.  Arni writes, “Towards the end of the 50 hours, on the afternoon of October 28, the “Occupy Central” protest movement took to the streets of Hong Kong, paralyzing much of the city.  Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with the politics and methods of the protestors, we take the size and duration of the demonstrations as an indication of a deep discontent among the youth, such that they are willing to go against the tide and leave their comfort zone for something they believe in.  We pray that the churches in Hong Kong will see beyond the surface issues and reach out to them in a way that connects to their heart cry, as the righteousness they truly seek can only be found in the Kingdom of God through Yeshua.”

The event brought together “15 from Israel, 23 from Taiwan, 10 from Mainland China, members of 8 prayer houses and churches from Hong Kong, and a team of 15 from IHOP in Kansas City.  We were also joined from a distance by some 25 other prayer houses from around the globe.” 

Arni writes, “In addition to the planned worship time, we visited and worshiped with other groups in the city.  We were encouraged by how deeply the perspectives and insights we shared were received. It would be appropriate to add just a few words about the Body in China.  Growing as they have under Communist oppression has produced a Body of believers that have paid a high price for their faith.…this is a Body that understands what it means to be a living sacrifice...and there are over one hundred million of them.  We stand ready to do whatever we can to help our Chinese brethren lay hold of their destiny with Israel.”

Arni also writes about how since beginning in 2003, for ten years ministry in Germany occupied at least 50% of our life.  A network of like-minded German brethren with passion and gifting is evolving with a vision to gather, equip, and send teams from Germany and the nations into the Land to worship and minister to the Lord.  The first Galilee Worship Tour, made up of brethren from all over Germany, will take place at the end of November. 

And, “During Succot, a group of nine Indigenous leaders from the South Pacific Islands paid us a visit.  They came for morning coffee and left after dinner…nine hours later.  They have since informed us that they are ready to begin sending teams to worship in the Galilee starting early next year.  We ask you to stand with us in prayer for God to reveal the next step.”

Finally Arni writes about Canada, “Some years back there was a movement that gathered the Body across Canada together, walking through repentance and reconciliation between the English and French- speaking parts, whites and Natives, and Gentiles and Jews.  Few question that the current Prime Minister’s vocal stand for Israel is a product of all that was sown then.  Personally, we have felt there was yet to come a wave out of Canada that would affect the spiritual climate over Israel.  It now appears to be breaking on our shores.”  Read more inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

From Asher Intrater’s Revive Israel we have two reports on breakthroughs with the nations: First, the Chinese breakthrough with their “back to Jerusalem” and the preparations for the 822 Call Gathering that beings Nov 10-13.  “During recent conferences and meetings, several Chinese leaders have expressed that they see this almost 100-year old vision beginning to come to pass.”

Second is the divine link between Israel and the Philipines, with Alberto Fernandez recounting the historic ties God has orchestrated – 1939, 1947, 1973. What must God have in mind for the future?!  Read inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary or online here.

The Hebrew congregation in Arad, Hasdy Yeshua (Mercy of Yeshua) reports a wonderful time of their “little sukkah in the forest” Sukkot service this year.  “Believers in Messiah from the four corners of the world were in attendance. Most amazing of all were the representatives from the two people groups who have been among the most vehement enemies of the Jewish people in modern history, Germans and Arabs. Through Yeshua the enmity has been removed and replaced by genuine love.  Two Arab pastors also told their stories that day. We can’t show their pictures or share identifying details of their testimonies lest we endanger them or their families.”

They write, “In a touching gesture, the Syrian pastor, who himself loves Israel, prayed over our congregation’s children and blessed them.  Please pray… that the believers in Syria will remain strong in the face of great pressures. Some have seen their children slaughtered and have suffered through unbelievable trials themselves. The Lord knows who they are and has promised never to leave them or forsake them.”

Also, “An Israeli Arab pastor then told the story of his son who voluntarily joined the IDF (Israeli army). While visiting his son one day he overheard one of the young men telling the others in his unit that he was there for revenge. A couple of his friends had been killed in Operation Protective Edge this past summer and he was “out for Arab blood.” The pastor then gently informed this young soldier that he and his son are Arabs who love Israel because they love the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The other soldiers, who were listening to this exchange quickly realized that this Arab man knew more about “their” Scriptures than they did and now they look forward to his visits so they can learn from him.”

Read more about the outreach of the Arad congregation, and also hear more about Debbie Figuera’s new album which is about ready to be released.  You can listen to samples of all the songs by clicking here.

Finally, we have the report of Beit Tiferet Isfiya, a prayer and worship ministry in Carmel that is steeped in artistic expressions of praising God.   “Beit Tiferet is hosting people from a variety of nations who come here to worship and praise, and the LORD is blessing this house with much good celebration of His Name.  Several people are now living here on a more long-term basis, and these people are bringing much richness of mercy and grace into these walls.”   You can read more inside the attached Weekly Summary. To protect this small ministry, we are refraining from sharing their ministry report outside of subscribers.

Do you see the thread, as I did? How the believers in the nations are awakening to the believers in Israel?

"Yes, many peoples and strong nations

Shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem,

And to pray before the LORD.’

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” 
Zechariah  8:22-23

Shall we go up to Jerusalem and to Israel as believers of Jesus from the ends of the earth, and not go to seek out our spiritual Israeli brothers, who also follow after Yeshua?

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

Indoctrination vs. Discipleship
by Daniel Juster

Historically, the meaning of these two words has often coincided, but in today's usage they are very different. Understanding that difference can help us analyze why so many young people in the Western world have been lost to our faith, and can assist in preparing a new generation to be valiant in faith, commitment and effective Kingdom life.  Read more online here

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; and Marc Chopinsky of Future Vision Studios

The Israeli Messianic Marketplace  Feature of the Week:

Connie Kind Shishkoff (shown above with hubby, Eitan)loved to draw and paint from childhood and into her early 20's. Subsequently, however, full-time artistry took a back seat to raising 4 children and making aliyah to Israel in 1992.

In 2009, shortly before her youngest child entered the Israeli Defense Forces, Connie finally felt released to passionately dive back into art. Since then she has been prolifically exploring the land and the people of Israel with brush and canvas.

If you want to connect with Connie, she can be reached eckspaint@gmail.com.  You can order the calendar which will be shipped from Israel at that email address. The cost is $14.00 per calendar POST-paid.  If you want five or more, the price comes down to $12.00 per calendar.   

To enjoy more of Connie's artwork, visit her Facebook page "Ckspaint".

 

Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
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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.