WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 11/25/2015

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

For the past 14 1/2 years of weekly publishing these prayer requests from Israel I have endeavored to keep requests for donations to an absolute minimum. At times when I have made requests in crisis, I am so grateful for those who have responded with donations.  Today there is not a crisis but there is a real need for financial support at this time.  If you are grateful for this ministry and can afford to make a donation at this time, I would be thankful to receive it.

Priority Prayer Focus Nov 25, 2015

Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed. O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. . . .By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas; Who established the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power; You who still the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples. Psalm 65:1-2, 5-7

Happy Thanksgiving to all our fellow North Americans.

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

Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.

This week we begin our Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries with the report of a dear lady, Ruth Nessim, who lives in the far north of Israel near the Lebanon border.  Ruth's report this month is brimming with accounts of her one-on-one ministry to Arabs and Muslims that God puts in her path. She is like so many of the Israeli ministries we report on here who have a heart not just for their fellow Jewish countrymen, but also a deeply felt heart for the Arabs.  Ruth's reports are always an inspiration to us as she is so open to those she meets, they respond in kind.  Truly she is loving people into the kingdom of the LORD.

One true story that Ruth opens this week is about the Muslim mayor of Nazareth. She writes, "Greetings and shalom to you all from a very troubled land, with continuing daily stabbings, shootings, firebombs and demonstrations. What has amazed us in this land is the response of so many Israeli Arabs and Moslems: The Moslem Mayor of Nazareth arrived by car at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Nazareth, led by the head of the Israeli Arab List in the Israeli Parliament, and literally ordered him to leave Nazareth, as he was ruining co-existence in the town!" 

In the nations we pretty much only hear about the 'bad news' of conflict with Arabs and Israel, but be encouraged that many Israeli ministries, like Ruth, do outreach among the Arabs including in the Syrian refugee camps, as well as supporting the underground ministries in Palestinian controlled areas like Gaza.  We don't often get to mention anything about these ministries because obviously their lives are on the line and we cannot give any details that would get them killed by fundamentalist Muslims.  Please pray for protection of Christian Arabs against the acts produced by the indoctrination of political Islamic hatred across Palestinian society.

Ruth also writes, "While we are talking about the Arab world, we have good news for you from another direction. We have been talking and praying for months about the “Home for Christian (Arab) soldiers”. After months of praying, we received two gifts which covered the remaining costs of setting up the home, paving the grounds, putting on a roof, fixing a kitchen and connecting up to water and electricity. ... So to those of you who have prayed and/ or contributed for this home which will be a refuge for Arab young people serving in the Israeli Army, a big thank you and praise the Lord with us!"

Read more from Ruth's report inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary and also her prayer requests as she begins biological and chemo treatments over the next many months for cancer of the Lymph glands.

Eddie Santoro of the Ahavat Yeshua congregation in Tel Aviv (who is also on our prayer list as he finishes up his final chemo and radiation treatments after a cancerous tumor was removed from his brain) sends us a poignant report on a terrorist attack that hit 'close to home' for his family last week. The attack occurred in the same building that his son is located in. We are hearing many stories like this from the believers in Israel, and they are not immune to becoming victims of the murderous attacks. Please keep your prayers up for all of the believers in Israel and their families - that God will keep them from harm. We know from the Second Intifada that these prayers are effective!

Eddie also comments on the "growing worldwide deception of Israel as an apartheid state. What is the truth? Israel is the only nation in the entire Middle East that allows all people groups to share in the blessings of the nation together. It is certainly not an apartheid state. . . . The worst horrors and the greatest oppression of people occur in every nation of the Middle East except Israel. Christians are being forced by persecution and terrorism to flee their homes in every other Middle East nation. . . . Prime Minister Netanyahu summed up the situation when he commented on yesterday's attacks in Israel. 'Behind these terrorist attacks stands radical Islam, which seeks to destroy us, the same radical Islam that struck in Paris and threatens all of Europe. Whoever condemned the attack in France needs to condemn the attacks in Israel. It's the same terror. Whoever does not recognize this is a hypocrite and blind."   To read more of Eddie's report see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

From Restoration from Zion, the new ministry name of Dr. Daniel Juster, we received a wrap up of things going on in the Tikkun Ministry leaders' lives including tremendous favor in the tavels of their teams in Europe, Asia and the US.  There is a report and request for prayer for Eddie Santoro, as well as Dan's wife Patty who is recovering from a serious back surgery (and just wants to get on with her life!). 

For Eitan Shishkoff, they write, "The Fields of Wheat Project. Over 1/3 of the funds needed for the purchase of the land and initial structures has been donated! Please pray for continued support for the purchase of this 14-acre property to be used for the body of Messiah in Israel. At the end of October, Eitan hosted three days of prayer and strategic planning.  The participants came from decades of experience in real estate, finance, hotel management, and corporate planning ... as well as those of us who have invested decades in Israeli Messianic pioneering. As a result, clear goals and action steps were formulated to move Fields of Wheat forward in a responsible and realistic way.  Please pray for God to provide high-level administrators to manage the project and for the logistics to be completed that will lead to a ratified contract."

For Asher Intrater, who has taken over primary leadership as the International Director for the Tikkun-related family of ministries in Israel, there are tremendous pressures on his time.  Please pray for wisdom for what God is calling him to - that all may be in God's perfect will for him in impacting the Kingdom. Pray for continuing development of a solid team of leaders, administrators, and ministers to support Asher in the work. Pray for continued physical and spiritual renewal for Asher personally and for his family.  Pray for Tikkun ministries that all the relationships in the Israeli ministries and the international body to be strengthened, spiritually healthy and knit together in bonds of mutual brotherly love.

Howard Bass of the Yeshua's Inheritance congregation sends Thanksgiving greetings to all the Americans and tells us about the tradition they started in Israel in 1999 to give international medical program students at Soroka Hospital/Ben-Gurion Univ of the Negev a little taste of 'home'.  Howard writes, "There were a number of American students far from home during that special family and national day, so we began what became a wonderful 'tradition'. Last year we missed it, being out of the country, but this year, with our friends, the Chapmans, we will rejoice with Thanksgiving at God's 'more abundant life' for those who know the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. All praise and glory to Him!"

Beer Sheva has several other colleges, as Howard shares. He writes, "Israel is unique in having Jews and Arabs freely studying and preparing for life together in a way that can be extremely powerful in proclaiming the gospel as the truth for genuine peace and social acceptance. At B-GU, there are a fair number of believers, most of the Israeli ones are Arab. Yeshua's Inheritance Cong has a few Arab believers who attend occasionally, and we want all of us to know that we are all Yeshua's Inheritance together by the gospel which we have believed."  Read more from Howard's prayer letter  plus prayer requests inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary .  Kehilanews.com has a short piece from Howard about the Israeli cabinet plan to build 5 more cities in the Negev!

The Return to Zion ministry in Haifa is led by Leon Mazin and this month he is highlighting two projects they have among many - (1) their Rainbow of Sounds Music School established in 2010 "with only a few instruments and a vision to offer affordable, quality musical education to children from different backgrounds.  with only a few instruments and a vision to offer affordable, quality musical education to children from different backgrounds. . . . In 2012 we started a new program to assist children from financially challenged families that cannot afford the monthly tuition fee of $130. . . . If you would like to sponsor music lessons for a child from a financially challenged background, see details inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

The other is the Eagle Project created for Messianic congregations in Israel to serve young adults who have completed their service in the Israel Defense Forces.  This program also aims to help establish relationships and build bridges between believers in Israel and Norway."  If you don't know, it is traditional that Israeli young people travel internationally after their IDF service. The Eagle Project seeks to keep the young believers moving in a path of deeper relationship with God even as they get a taste of the world outside Israel. Learn more inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Dov Bikas sends a "Thank you!" for prayers made for the woman whose story they shared last week:  "Thank you very much for your care and prayers for Irena! She still has body aches and strong craving for drugs she is seriously fighting, but in general she feels much better both physically and emotionally. We do fill God is working in her heart! She has become calmer and kinder, and much more open to the Lord.  Every blessing to you all!"

The Hebrew congregation in Arad, Hasdey Yeshua (Mercy of Yeshua) is thankful for the abundant rains that have been pouring in southern Israel.  "Let’s pray that in the same way the Lord will pour out His Spirit on His people Israel and also on the other children of Abraham, the Bedouin who live all around us."  They have been making great inroads with their outreach to a local Bedouin tribe.  This is an exciting report which I am not going to give any more details in this publicly published forum, but please read more inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary and pray for the work of the Lord that is going on among them.

They also send a praise report on the request last month for an open house event at the Fountain of Tears.  "It was part of a city-wide festival featuring the works of many different artists.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Fountain, you can click here for a short introductory video.

"The response was overwhelming!  During the three-day open house many ordinary Aradnikim (affectionate name for people of Arad) came. There were teachers of the Holocaust who exclaimed, “We have to bring our classes here!” Others were excited to view this hidden treasure for the first time and were heard to say things like, “This (the Fountain) is OURS! It belongs here in Arad!” Members of the city government ventured in, one man in particular more than once. Also in attendance was the woman who writes a local website advising people what to do here in Arad. She posted an excellent article, which includes pictures like these: Here’s the link to the article.  For more information and prayer requests see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

From Revive Israel:  Blindness among Western Political Leaders  | VIDEO | Brother Rashid |  Many political leaders do not see the connection between terrorism and Islamic doctrine. Please see this short video in which Brother Rashid addresses this very issue and explains how Jihadist groups like ISIS are essentially Islamic.  AND Ambassadors of the Kingdom | LISTEN  | In this message Cody teaches on our identity and calling as ambassadors of our King - Yeshua.

Israel Pochtar of the Beit Hallel congregation and voice of Juday Israel Ministries reports on two historic events for their ministry this week: One, their biggest gospel outreach ever (details inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary) and the signing of the contract on their own congregational building purchase.  This is big news for the ministry which you should read about in the Weekly Summary so we don't give any sensitive details away here.  There are also several pointed prayer requests Pochtar would love for you to pray with them over. 

One prayer request:  "We're going through very difficult times here in the Land, with very real security threats, with terrorist attacks happening here on daily basis. Please pray this even will go smooth, with God's hand over the people."

Lastly, we get the report from the Yuval Messianic Worship Center for Music and the Arts in Jerusalem, who write, " This morning, as we were writing these newsletter lines, another terror attack struck us in Jerusalem. This time it was closer than ever, on Jaffa street, just 2 minutes away from the Clal building where the "Yuval" center is located. In light of Israel's difficult reality in the last months - fear in the streets, dangers from outside and now from within, threats and increasing terror – we are overwhelmed by the real unity that is lived out in "Yuval".  Arab students learning guitar together with Jewish students; A Jewish teacher teaches an Arab student piano; Jewish and Arab mothers praying together while their daughters are in dance class; little children from both Jewish and Arab families playing Lego and Soccer together in the lobby… It is truly the Word of God coming to life according to Ephesians 2, "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity…"

"In October, nearly 2 months ago, we opened a new year in "Yuval" in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Over 180 students signed up, and together with 20 teachers (several new) – everyone was excited to see each other again and continue learning together! Quite a lot of the students this year are new, and a significant sum of them – from an Arab background. What a thrill to walk around "Yuval" and hear so many different languages, and know that in contrast with the tower of Babel – everyone came here to be equipped in worshiping The One true King!"  Read more about their school year ahead, and also learn how you can stand with them in both prayer and financial support, inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

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

Please see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary to keep in prayer the Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs including the fight for their very lives: 

Ruth Nessim, Eddie Santoro,  Evan Levine, Marike Veldman, Michael E and unnamed Israel-related ministers, Jacob Damkani, Rachel Slater, Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K, Moshe Morrison, an unnamed forefather of Messianic Judaism, Shelly wife of pastor Eitan, Claude Ezagouri, Patti, wife of Dan Juster, Baruch and Karen Maayan.  Pray for Ghazi, the son of an Arab pastor, who is suffering from Leukemia.

Ruth Nessim:  My health has not been too great. I am very tired lately and find I lack patience, so please pray for me, I start my treatment on 23rd November, a combo of Biological, Chemo and steroids, and am not really looking forward to it!  Each treatment lasts a week. There are two days in the Hospital, and five days Steroids, and then three weeks free. This is repeated 6 times. So I cannot travel anywhere until end of April.

Praying the Headlines

What if You're Not a Prophet? by Shira Sorko-Ram   |  www.MAOZisrael.org |  You don’t have to be a prophet to know what’s going on in the world and what the future holds. You will most likely understand more than 99% of society if you regularly read the Bible.  Read more at KehilaNews.com here

Barry & Batya Segal jnnnews.com  32,658 PEOPLE KILLED BY TERRORISTS AROUND THE WORLD IN 2014 and USA PILOTS: OBAMA BLOCKS 75% OF ISIS STRIKES  inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Teaching Articles

Light in the Midst of Darkness by Asher Intrater  | EXCERPTS  |  "There is no difference between terror against French people and terror against Jews. The victims of terror and murder are never to be blamed for the attacks–the terrorists are. Israel is not to be blamed any more than France or Russia. We grieve with compassion for all victims — whether Arabic, African, Russian, French or Israeli.

". . . .In some ways, the term “terrorist” is outdated. These are Jihadists. They are part of the apocalyptic scheme of Islamic extremism to kill Jews, Christians and all “blasphemers;” to destroy Western civilization and conquer the world."  Read more

Israeli Ministries on Tours  |  BOOKING meetings now (See open dates)  Inside the attached Weekly Summary are itineraries and open dates for

Carolyn & Richard Hyde of Heart of God Ministries in Nov from Florida to the Texas Gulf Coast. See website schedule for dates and times hydefamilyisrael@gmail.com

The Israeli Messianic Marketplace  Feature of the Week:

Praise to Our God

Revive Israel: We want to recommend a new Messianic Worship CD that was recorded live in Jerusalem. It contains 15 songs that were chosen from hundreds of new songs written by local worship leaders. The songs are in Hebrew, but the music videos have English subtitles.

LISTEN and BUY here

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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. 

Inside the subscription only Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries
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