WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 3/16/2016

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

Priority Prayer Focus Mar 16, 2016

After facing great opposition to the Gospel in several cities in Turkey, Acts 14 says the apostles Barnabas and Paul nevertheless "made many disciples" and they revisited those cities "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

Let us continue to hear these words of encouragement even in times of opposition and hardships so we may also enter the kingdom of God in our time.

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.

In the past we have seen several Christian communities in the nations attempt to live communally in an Acts Pattern but eventually all of them petered out. Perhaps it is because the pattern in Acts is a pattern that was meant to be re-established in the place where it was first established - Jerusalem - in an appointed time before spreading again outward in the nations. It is a thought I had that you might stash in the back of your mind as you read Asher Intrater's article, Acts Pattern.

One of the prayer requests in the Revive Israel ministry letter last Friday was for the premier in Tel Aviv last night of a movie produced by Israeli evangelist, Jacob Damkani called "The Messenger".  Today on Facebook Jacob has posted how thrilled he was with the premier and promised to give more detail soon. To read more about this movie read the article from KehilaNews.com which is included inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary and also online at KehilaNews: "The Messenger": A New Movie about the Life of Jacob Damkani

Speaking of Facebook, if you are on FB you really should follow Revive Israel.  Right now for example, they are sharing short video clips from the spiritual gathering they are doing right now in Jerusalem with Gateways Beyond-Cyprus and the Tikkun-US nonprofit Board, plus other ministry partners. Have to tell you, I have been greatly blessed from the clips so far.

Also from Revive Israel: This audio message from Egyptian-Christian David Demian, The Family of God, who shares some of his life journey, and about God's heart and desire for us as the global ekklesia to walk as a family.

Evan Levine of the HaTikva Project in Jerusalem opens his monthly ministry letter with a prayer request about the terror attacks: "Over the last several months the terror attacks on our nation have not ceased. We seem to be in the very center of chaos as we live and work in the Jerusalem area where most of the attacks are occurring. Last week a security guard whom we know personally was savagely attacked with an axe and left for dead in our shopping mall down the street from our home. He is still hospitalized and fighting for his life. Today as I write this I drove past the scene of another attack involving a firearm on my way to our clinic. Please pray for the Lord to strengthen our resolve, surround us with His angels, and put an end to these attacks!"

Evan also shares about the financial aid they are giving to the leaders of a small Messianic congregation in Jerusalem, Tree of Life, after the husband was involved in a serious car accident. The man was hospitalized for 3 weeks, has undergone 2 operations and undergoing treatments. Unable to work, loss of income has the family in financial crisis and the congregation they lead does not generate enough income for them to live off of.  The idea of HaTikva Project is to step in to lend the helping hand that many of the believers have in Israel. They also do outreach to unbelievers but most people in the nations do not really have a good grasp of how helping the believers as this ministry does is such a vital ministry within Israel.  Read more about the ministry and its future vision inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Ben Juster, who is the Operations Director for Tikkun International in Jerusalem, sends us prayer requests for Israel - "wisdom for our leaders and spiritual revival for the Jewish people. We also pray for those innocent Palestinians and Arabs who are caught up in this horrible cycle of violence and repression resulting from these terrorists."

On the Tikkun-related ministries and leaders, Ben writes: "... the Tikkun US nonprofit Board will be meeting in Israel along with the leaders of Tikkun International, Tents of Mercy, and Revive Israel.  More than simply fulfilling the requirements for financial reporting and accountability, these meetings are intentional periods of seeking the Lord together, receiving new insights for Kingdom vision and strategy, and strengthening bonds of relationship ... many of which have spanned over 35 years!  Please join with us in prayer for these important gatherings and for God to release abundant wisdom and clarity for this season."  See other requests inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Ruth Nessim in Nahariya has a health update inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary in the Urgent Healing Needs (a good report, although she says she has lost her hair). Despite her fighting cancer and in treatment these last months, Ruth continues on spreading a good witness to those in her path of the LORD she serves with such cheer and openness to all. To read her full ministry report see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary and please remember this dear lady in your prayers - that she would be fully healed and cancer would not rise up a second time.

Avi Mizrachi has a great report on the money raised for their congregational building campaign inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary. Commercial real estate in Tel Aviv has gone up 20% in the last year, so the original facility they had their eye on has exceeded their budget - so they are looking for God's best and ask prayers for that.  While they are seeking, they are focusing on their Distribution Center where they do outreach to the poor and needy families in Tel Aviv. They now have a full time person and a larger space to operate from.  Please read the report of how they are also placing a priority on helping Holocaust survivors in Israel. Some 220,000 remain in Israel, and you would be surprised to hear how Messianic ministries are truly making a large impact across the nation to so many of them.

Ronit Bender returns to the Carmel area after a blessed time in her former home of Perth, Australia. Everywhere this lady goes she is ministering the Good News of Messiah to the people she meets - whether the homeless man on the street or the young women in the hairdressing salon she visited. Now she is back in northern Israel preparing again to join the outreaches on the streets of Tel Aviv with drug addicts and prostitutes.  Read more of Ronit's running with God inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Howard Bass has a glowing report of the ministry time in Kenya, which he found "... that God has already been working among the Kenyans while men sleep." Howard writes, "We met with church leaders in the three cities of Nairobi, Nakuru, and Mombasa. They were all open to the message, and challenged to work together towards its fruitfulness. We were very encouraged by the responses, and the questions were thoughtful, and they sought clarity on some key issues regarding identity, and of theological matters regarding Israel and the Church. I was a bit of a novelty for many of them: they had never met a Jew before, not to mention a Jew who believes in Jesus! I realized that I do not represent myself only, but rather the Lord, my people, my nation; and whatever impressions of me would reflect attitudes towards other Jews in general, and Messianic Jews in particular."  Isn't it true!

Howard also asked prayer "for the upcoming SAYF (Sitting at Yeshua's Feet) leadership prayer retreat, which takes place at Maagan on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, from Mar 29-31. Jewish, Arab, and other brothers serving the Lord together will gather in the truth of our reconciliation to God and to one another through the cross. The tensions between us are there, but the love of God motivates us."

The Chief Administrative Officer at the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, Lydia, writes about the JIJ Lone Soldiers outreach they have done for the past seven years in Jerusalem.  She writes, "When they are not on base, they rest uncomfortably, in a dormitory-setting with as many as six soldiers in a small room. They must pay for their own food and necessities. Separated unwillingly from their families, they have no relatives to call and maybe, cry with after a hard day, week and month. As for holidays, they can only hope someone will care enough to invite them into their home. My heart breaks for those serving in Israel without family."  These are our children, she says.  To read more see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Israel Pochtar of the Beit Hallel congregation in Ashdod and the Voice of Judah outreaches gives a list of the various outreaches they are doing during the festival of Purim which begins in the evening of March 23rd.  This ministry is always reaching outward in their community among Russian Jewish immigrants of which there are many across Israel. Please take time to see the inventive ways you can be involved with planting seeds among this community in Israel inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

We have a great report in from the HaCarmel congregation in Haifa - as two in their leadership become first time grandparents - Mazal tov to Dani and LuAnne, and also to Peter and Rita.  Let the grandchild 'spoiling' begin!

Also David and Karen Davis report on their time in Mexico where David was treated for cancer at a Christian alternative treatment hospital called Oasis of Hope for seven weeks.  I was especially touched by Karen's reflections on becoming her husband's caretaker during his time of crisis.  Having experienced this too, I appreciated the things she spoke of for it is another level of becoming "a living sacrifice for the Lord, when every action, every simple act of service, becomes our worship unto Him." Amen! very touching. Read more inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary where you can also find the prayer requests for this ministry where Elijah called down the fire of God upon the sacrifice on the altar.

Pray that each of the Israeli ministry leaders who have been stricken with cancers and other life threatening diseases, that they will continue to be healed, raised up to continue their race.

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:  Rick Ridings pregnant daughter, Esther Moore; David O., Eddie Beckford, Polly Siglium; David Davis; an unnamed forefather of Messianic Judaism; Ruth Nessim; Eddie Santoro;  Evan Levine; Rachel Slater; Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K; Moshe Morrison;  Shelly wife of pastor Eitan; Claude Ezagouri; Patti, wife of Dan Juster; Baruch and Karen Maayan; Michael E (see update below) and unnamed Israel-related ministers.  Pray also for Ghazi, the son of an Arab pastor, who is suffering from Leukemia. Tal Bass.

We have new updates on Rick Ridings daughter, Ruth Nessim and Patty Juster:  inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Praying the Headlines

KehilaNews.com

"The Messenger": A New Movie about the Life of Jacob Damkani

It happened last August 5, during his daily habit of going for an early morning swim. About a kilometer away from the shore of Tel Aviv, Jacob Damkani felt a strong, agonizingly sharp pain in his chest that lasted for around 10 seconds. For another minute he felt an increasingly strong pain taking over his left leg. Jacob fought for his life and by some miracle (literally speaking), with the last of his strength, he succeeded in reaching the shore and the operating room at Ichilov Hospital. He was suffering from a rupture of his aorta. During the eight-hour surgery, they sawed his chest open and repaired this major blood vessel over his heart.

All this happened after Jacob had finished work on his new film, “The Messenger” (“Ha-Mevaser” in Hebrew).

“I don’t make a connection between the operation I underwent and the film I produced,” said Jacob. “I just sing praises to God that He decided to keep me alive. I heard that 95% of those experiencing this medical emergency die from it – and in my case it even happened out at sea! He spared my life because I have not yet completed my mission.“  Read more online

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