Prayer for Community News
Israel is a nation of immigrants as Jews from nations all over the world have made their way back to the ancient Jewish homeland; many driven by increasing anti-Semitism in their nations. That is a prayer point unto itself, but this week we are highlighting Israeli Russian or Ethiopian ministries who minister specifically within respective immigrant communities. It is probably safe to say that donations coming from English-speaking nations generally flow to English-speaking ministries. That leaves Israeli Russian or Ethiopian ministries likely much less funded by those from their native lands. Please pray for greater recognition and support of all faithful ministries among all the Israeli immigrant communities. (Jeremiah 3:14-15) ‘Return, O faithless sons,’ declares the LORD; ‘For I am a master to you, And I will take you one from a city and two from a family, And I will bring you to Zion.’ “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.”
This week, on February 1, a new ministry initiative will be officially launched as HaTikva and other Israeli ministries join forces to encourage believers to answer the need for adoptive and foster parenting for orphans and at risk children from believing families. In Israel, the Messianic Jewish believers are not usually permitted to adopt or foster children. However, there are still cases among the community of faith that arise for orphans and at risk children, some from immigrant families and the need is greater than one might suspect. Please pray for this ministry to help children go forward with great effectiveness. (Psalm 68:6) “God sets the desolate in families”
Please continue to pray for those Israeli Messianic Jews who are being discriminated against from issues of citizenship to bureaucratic slow-walking necessary permits on congregational facilities, even to outright protest and harassment just for meeting together. Please pray for God’s favor in the cases now in the legal system. (Matthew 23:39) “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”
Please pray for Netivah Youth Ministry and Matan Ohana who is leading a group of five recently-released soldiers on a “after army trip” to New Zealand. Most Israelis travel abroad after being released from their mandatory IDF (Israeli Defense Force) duty. Please pray for these five Israelis to be refreshed, both physically and spiritually, as they volunteer in New Zealand and go through a discipleship program.
Please pray for HaTikva Project as it has opened its second dental clinic in Haifa this week serving those in need. The first client is located in Jerusalem. Visit www.hatikvadental.co.il to learn more about this unique Messianic-run dental clinic.
Prayer for Israel News
We believe that uniting Christians worldwide to stand with Israel lays the groundwork for their government leaders to have the courage to do the same. An excellent observation was made by Tomas Sandell at the recent European Coalition for Israel (ECI) conference where European Christians were urged to speak up on Israel’s behalf. Sandell predicted that in this Israel’s 70th anniversary year, there will likely be an increased clash of historical narratives. Sandell said, “In order to win the battle for the minds and hearts of people we need to know the history of Israel and its legal foundations.” Pray that European Christians would stir themselves up to stand for the truth about Israel and that their government leaders would take notice and gather courage to do the same. (Genesis 12:3, Joel 3:2, Psalm 9:8)
While U.S. Vice President Mike Pence was in Israel, he used the opportunity to announce US pledge of $110 million to assist “Christian and other religious minorities across the wider Middle East” who have been victimized by terrorism, war and persecution. This is an important commitment which Pence urged on other allies across the world to join in. In fact, many Israeli Messianic and Christian Arab ministries have been quietly doing outreach among the Christian refugees in surrounding Middle East nations. In these days, the enemy is persecuting Christians in the Middle East even more than Israel Jews who are not as easily accessible to them – and few Western governments are acknowledging the plight of Christian Arabs. Please pray for the family of God who are being persecuted – wherever they are and whoever they are. (Psalm 72:14) “He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, And their blood will be precious in his sight”
Despite many difficult issues that still exist between Israeli Messianic Jews and Christian Arabs, it is wonderful to see reports on dialogue and fellowship. Reconciliation is a key word in many of the exchanges between the two. Recently, for the 4th year in a row the Lausanne Congress on Reconciliation held a forum on the island of Cyprus for the Israeli Messianic Jews and Christian Arabs. Please pray for these important exchanges to advance the reality of unity in the spiritual family, and for reconciliation to become true cooperation with the community of faith. (Ephesians 2:14) “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation”