WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 5/20/2015

Arrows from Zion

Arrows from Zion May be copied for use in Prayer Gatherings

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

I am almost caught up to date with all the prayer letters that came in while I was sick and unable to work on the prayer summary.  Next week will surely see it up to date.  Also: Great report from the doctors that I am healing well and just need to avoid lifting or other such strenuous exercise that would interfere with the incisions.  Praise the Lord!

Priority Prayer Focus May 20, 2015

Living in Israel is a struggle financially, and how much more is that true of the estimated 20,000 Messianic believers and Arab Christians whose faith, which we share, in Yeshua-Jesus is not a popular stand with either the Jews or the Arabs.  Therefore, let us hold up these of like precious faith who are struggling just to pay the bills, many also deeply and actively involved in their congregations and ministries.  

In the Acts of the Apostles 11:28, a prophet from Jerusalem came with other believers to Antioch, and this prophet by the name of Agabus “stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)" 

What was the response of the Antioch Church?  “in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.…”

Let that sink in. The famine was going to impact the whole Roman Empire, but the believers in Antioch recognized that the ones who would be hurt the most by this lack would be the believers in Israel.  This remains true today.  Let’s pray for the saints in Israel, and also “in the proportion” of our means, determine to send contributions for the relief of the brethren in Israel.

Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.
Arrows from Zion Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel

In a few days Israel will be celebrating Shavuot, or Pentecost. An annual all night prayer meeting hosted by Revive Israel will begin Saturday May 23 10pm-6am Israel time.  You are invited to join in by logging into the live stream at reviveisrael.org during that time frame.  Believers from all over Israel will be gathered to worship, pray and intercede as we seek together God’s heart for all that lies ahead for us. The prayer meeting will be live streamed with translation. 

On the following day is the annual picnic for all the believers in Israel – a festive gathering in a location close to Jerusalem where usually at least 1,000 believers are in attendance.  It is a great time of continual worship and fellowship as believers who rarely have opportunity to get together come up to Jerusalem for this wonderful event.   Eddie Santoro of Ahavat Yeshua, Love of Yeshua in Jerusalem supplied these event details.  May the Lord bless both events more than all the previous years.

Santoro also speaks to the persecution that believers in Israel experience using the example of a sect that Christians do not generally consider Christian but which religious persecutors in Israel do not distinguish as anything but Christian.  “Israelis do not differentiate between the Pope, denominational Christians, cults and even, Messianic Jews. We are all people that are defined exclusively by our belief in Yeshua, the ‘enemy” of Israel’.”  The persecution that the Jehovah’s Witnesses faced I” Israelis do not differentiate between the Pope, denominational Christians, cults and even, Messianic Jews. We are all people that are defined exclusively by our belief in Yeshua, the “enemy” of Israel. “is the same as the Messianic community has faced many times and this just illustrates the fear and hatred the religious community feels towards the name of Yeshua.”  You can read the details of the organized massive upswell of anger that was launched against them and why inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Eddie also share a recent example of persecution from their own Ahavat Yeshua congregation, and writes, “We have had people who have been denied citizenship, denied housing, some have lost jobs and others have been persecuted at their workplace because of their faith. Israel is a free and democratic nation and thankfully, this type of discrimination is illegal. Please pray that we would have wisdom as to when to fight and when to turn the other cheek. Pray that the discrimination we face would be in response to a bold proclamation of the Gospel.  In the end, the Kingdom of God cannot be stopped. Israel will be saved and this nation of unbelievers will be the only nation on the earth that will be transformed into a nation of believers. We thank you for being a part of this wonderful process. Your friendship and faithfulness is greatly appreciated.”

The Hamaayan congregation in Kfar Saba led by Tony Sperandeo have been dedicating the 10 days leading up to Shavuot/Pentecost to wait upon the Lord with prayer and fasting, just as the first disciples did in Jerusalem in Acts.  The main liason and intercessory for the congregation, Sally Shiff share their list of prayer points which are under several main focuses: the Holy Spirit, Leaders, Worship & Prayer, Mighty Men, Finances, Healing, Salvation.  You can read the specific prayer points inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Guy Cohen who leads the Harvest of Asher congregation in Acco sends a short teaching on “A Heart to Give” that addresses why God wants the firstfruits of Shavuot brought up to Jerusalem to be laid on the altar to Him.  “What is it that God wants us to understand from all of this? He wants our first and He models this to us by giving us His first. He gave us Torah (the Word), Yeshua (the living word) and His Holy Spirit. He asks us to come with a heart of giving only that we may be positioned to receive in return.”

Among the prayer requests of the Acco congregation:  “We are grateful for the growth which has taken place over the last four years in the children's program. At the same time we have reached our limit space wise. There is an opportunity for us to purchase the third floor of the adjacent building giving us access from the sanctuary. A commitment for one third of the cost has been made on the basis of matching funds for the remaining two thirds of the purchase price. Please pray for God to once again open the floodgates.”

The Morning Star Fellowship in Tiberias led by Claude Ezagouri are thanking God for new families who have recently joined their fellowship, some who have just made aliyah.  This is often not an easy transition to settle into the land, finding apartment to fit their budget, getting decent jobs and the one hundred and one other issues new immigrants face.  Pray for these new members as the congregation seeks to minister to them in home and teaching groups especially for them.

Ezagouri asks that we continue to pray for them as they are in the final stages of being able to occupy the new congregational home, which has had the usual bureaucratic battles throughout the renovation upgrade process.  We will not go into details on the prayer request publically, but you can find out more specific information for prayer and also for material support to get them into the new Morning Star congregational building.

Ezagouri also supplies several points of prayer for the nation, especially having to do with the recent changes in government.  He also noted that surveys have shown that Haifa is the second most polluted city in Israel after Ashdod in the south.  “It is reported that most of the children cancers in that city were caused by air pollution. The Haifa population has been battling against the local municipality that allowed heavy polluting industry to develop in the city bay. In the last two decades numerous messianic fellowship have settled in Haifa and its surroundings.”  PLEASE make this a point of prayer.

Rick Ridings of the 24/7 House of Praise, Succat Hallel, is making a special appeal for donations this Shauvot Pentecost to help support their Messianic Jewish and Christian Arab staff at Succatt Hallel.  This is a very important thing for Succat Hallel, which recently began transitioning volunteer staff from mostly the U.S. to drawing staff from the land of Israel.  The staff from the U.S. could raise their own support to come volunteer, but the staff from Israel cannot do that. There is not enough support base to supply their needs. Which is where we in the nations come in.  Not only is it important for us to become the support base for these young ministers, but it is also that these Israelis are key to reaching their own people.  They have more opportunity and credibility to do so than any volunteers from the nations.  To read Ridings appeal inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Hallelujah! Ronit Bender has relocated to a new apartment and one that it settled between a Kabala centre on one side and a nursing home on the other.  If you read Ronit’s prayer letters then you already know it is the truth what she wrote in her opening line of the prayer letter:  “There is nothing more exciting for me then leading people to their Messiah.”  She saw many apartments, but new this one with such strategic placement by those in need was the one for her.    You can open the attached DOCX Weekly Summary to hear more of Ronit’s life in Israel as a “Living Letter” from the Lord to His people.

Howard Bass shares several links in his two most recent ministry letters – one is an article about a member of their congregation who appeared on TV in the Israeli TV show Undercover Boss.  Here is an article posted on kehila.com, the international platform website featuring Messianic/Christian ministries in Israel from Israel. 

He also shares the recent survey of their congregation, along with their Vision and Mission statement, which you will find enlightening  inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary.  Howard also has written articles about the strong demonstrations by the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel against racism and discrimination.  “I brought a teaching (practical and applicable!) to the congregation last Shabbat about the sinfulness of racism, including what cannot be equated with racism or with discrimination.  For us who are Jews, we need to first judge ourselves and get the plank out of our own eyes if we are going to morally be of any help to others on this matter.  You can read a short "news" item here and the fuller teaching here.”

Rachel Scapa is a delightful believer that I have corresponded with for many years not, a member of the Hamayaan congregation, and the head of an online radio station called Radio hadashot mi-Israel or Good News from Israel, (24/7) broadcasting songs and Bible teachings.  Originally from Brazil, some of the programming Rachely broadcasts from Israel is in Portuguese as she reaches out to Christians in Brazil and Portugal who have a deep love for Israel and the Jewish people, as well as a hunger to know the Lord.

Rachel and her husband have a 3 year son, both working and participating in their local congregation and she speaks poignantly in this letter about the struggles to make ends meet, but their gratefulness to God for His provision.  It is truly our privilege to be called by God to stand with Israeli believers like Rachel and the others we write about each week in this prayer summary.  As the apostle Paul said it, because we have partaken of their spiritual things, it is our duty to minister to their material need.  This is how God works it so we will complete the circular plan of salvation – first to the Jews, then to the nations, then the nations returning to complete the spiritual harvest among the Jews by helping our fellow believers, the Messianic Jews of Israel, to carry out their ministries in the Land.  We are necessary to this endeavor.  Read more about Rachel Scapa and Good News from Israel inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Ron Cantor pastors the Tel Aviv Tiferet Yeshua congregation which has set out to do a Coffee House / Prayer Center outreach in Tel Aviv.  They have a $35,000 matching funds campaign and so far have received $19,390 toward the building.  This is an outreach that will be used to reach Israelis and if you are interested in learning more, go to: www.roncan.net/35match.

David Lazarus who leads the Beit Immanuel congregation in Jaffa writes about a young man he met one evening 15 years ago in Tel Aviv.  “Alone, sitting on a park bench he explained how he had run away from Egypt because of the violence.  "I just always thought that Israel would be a safe place for me," he told me. But now he was not sure what to do.  He was a refugee. He was without country, family or friends. He had been forced to forfeit his Egyptian citizenship when he escaped, but Israel would not give him citizenship fearing that he might be a secret agent.”

Today the young man is a “beloved part of our Messianic community.” He has become a master carpenter, married a lovely Christian Arab woman and they now have a young son who was recently dedicated to the Lord on Shabbat.  You are not going to hear stories like this from Israel on your nightly news!  Read more of David’s article inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Israel Pochtar reports that they were able to assist more than 150 Ukrainian refugee families in Israel  last week through the generosity of gifts from the nations.  He writes, “These dear ones, whom you are so generously helping, are Jewish refugees who've fled the war-torn Ukraine in search of a better life here in their ancient homeland, Israel. Your donations are helping them to establish a suitable living environment for them and their children.”  Read more inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

We haven’t heard from Ruth Nessim in Nahariya for a couple of months and now we know why: she has been extremely ill and the doctor is now insisting on serious medical tests to discover the cause. Read more on how to pray for Ruth below in Urgent Healing Needs.  You can read other of Ruth’s prayer requests for their congregation and individuals she ministers to inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Orna Greenman of A Sign & A Wonder Ministry is currently on tour in the U.S., but she writes to say, “Something about my last update (concerning the way the Israeli government is treating Holocaust survivors) stirred some of you, who offered to adopt a survivor financially on a regular basis. What an awesome idea!  I am definitely going in this direction. Being a daughter of a survivor and growing up in this land, I sure do have an extra soft spot for them and a lot of compassion, but somehow it never occurred to me to make this a part of the ministry of Ot OoMofet. So thank you for helping God open my eyes. Obviously, taking care of these elderly, broken part is a crucial part of the restoration of the widowhood of Israel, and I had to repent for not being open to this venue until now.”  Learn more how you can be involved inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

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: 

Pray for Ruth Nessim in Nahariya:  …although I did write an update for March, I was too sick to send it! And such has been the case for the last two months beginning with Flu, and moving onto frequent bouts of Fever, day-long vomiting, five infusions, and then a heavy cold and hacking cough, in addition to night-sweats resulting in the necessity to change my bed every day. All this accompanied by weakness and lack of desire to eat or even drink at times. I lost 8 pounds over the last month. Finally the doctor decided that I should do some serious medical tests, and so I am now undergoing this too, a little late but better late than never. I shall keep you posted!

Pray for “Esther”, a 9-year old girl at the midway point in her fight against bone cancer.  She is the niece of a 2^nd generation Messianic ministry family in northern Israel. Pray for God’s healing power and for her family to see the salvation of the LORD.

Teaching Articles

Strive for Unity by Asher Intrater  |  Unity is always a priority for the kingdom of God (Zechariah 14:9). Working for unity is never easy. It involves overcoming opposition, going against the stream, bridging differences between people, fighting against the devil (Luke 11:16-17). It is painful, because it involves getting close to people who have hurt us. Yet unity is necessary for the good of everyone.  We must strive for unity. Here are a few...
   READ MORE

Baruch HaBa Tour  |  Last week we had the pleasure of hosting the Baruch Haba tour. The group was made up of over 100 believers from 11 different countries, who came to Israel to receive teaching from national leaders, travel the land, meet local believers, visit congregations, tour biblical sites and release prophetic prayer and intercession from strategic locations within Israel.

     To WATCH one of the messages Asher shared with the group, click here

Praying the Headlines

THE NEW GOVERNMENT | Martin Sarvis |  Benyamin Netanyahu’s 20-minister government was finally sworn in late Thursday night, following a razor-sharp approval vote (61-59) by the Knesset.

The following short article, taken from the 17 May 2015 online bulletin of the International Christian Zionist Center, and written by its director Jan Willem van der Hoeven, we find to be a clear and succinct assessment of “where we are now” following the contentious storm surrounding the recent elections and formation of Israel’s 20th Knesset.  Please pray that it survive in the form that God ordains for this next season.    Read inside inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Heartcry is a half an hour film where Benjamin Netanyahu and myself (Jan Willem van der Hoeven) speak up for Israel. I believe it is one of the best tools we have to make known the love and compassion God has for His own people. Use it not just for your own viewing but share it as much as possible with others also. People all over the world have been deeply moved through this film! Here is where you can find it: https://vimeo.com/15210104

Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
If your weekly Arrows from Zion email does not come in,
check online each Wednesday at Israel Prayer Dot Com  |  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. 

Inside the subscription only 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