Dear Prayer Partners,
Shalom! It seems Syria has dodged the bullet, so to speak, for now regarding its use of chemical weapons against its civilians in late August. President Obama has not authorized an American attack on the regime in exchange for Syria’s complete cooperation to hand over its entire arsenal of chemical weapons to the UN. The regime cannot be trusted, nor can Russia, who is a longtime ally of Syria, who is overseeing the transfer. Time will tell if this agreement will be upheld.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will finish his US visit the first week of October. He spoke at the UN and met with President Obama. The two discussed the Iranian threat and the situation in Syria. Since the US Government was on the verge of total shutdown, the meeting was short and to the point. Sadly, Netanyahu was met with protesters shouting anti-Israel slogans when he arrived at the White House.
The High Holy Days passed relatively quietly in Israel. While there were some escalations of violence against Jewish Israelis, and two soldiers sadly were killed, overall, the season was mostly peaceful. As the turmoil continues around Israel, however, we are in need of your prayers!
Please join us in interceding on behalf of Israel for:
Syria: The civil war continues, and the opposition to Bashar Assad’s dictatorship is becoming more and more Islamist in its character. The rebels have strong ties to Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. One city in northern Syria has become completely taken over by Sharia law, and leaders have threatened to behead anyone who disrespects the Prophet Muhammad. Russia has taken a key role in preventing an American strike on Syria, and is now overseeing the handing over of the regime’s chemical weapons arsenal. Recently, Syrian officials have been talking about “reclaiming” the Golan Heights from Israel by force, which has put Israel on higher alert for attacks from Syria. Please continue to pray for God’s wisdom for Israel and the USA regarding Syria, as well as clarity to see the situation with open eyes. Please also pray for the many innocent civilians being affected by the conflict there, that they would experience the peace and comfort of God. Furthermore, please intercede for Israel’s safety and that chemical weapons would not successfully be used against her. Lastly, please pray that Israel would see that it is God who ultimately defends her more than any army in the world can.
Iran: The new Iranian president, Rouhani, is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and he is working overtime to deceive the world into believing Iran has no nuclear weapon ambitions. He just went on a PR trip in the USA at the UN, lying about his country’s intentions and bemoaning the dire economic situation in Iran due to the stringent economic sanctions. While there is no doubt the people of Iran are suffering from the sanctions, it is because of the regime’s stubborn refusal to be open about its nuclear ambitions. A nuclear-armed Iran cannot and must not exist! But as the world continues to “talk”, Iran presses on towards its goal of obtaining a nuclear weapon. Israel is keeping a watchful eye on the situation and has made it clear that it will attack Iran before that happens. Please continue to intercede on behalf of Israel where Iran is concerned. We know that the end days will bring much suffering, and we pray for God’s hand of mercy over Israel, as her enemies are becoming more brazen about her destruction. Please also pray that if Israel does attack Iran, that the USA and other nations will stand behind her!
“Peace” Process: Secretary of State John Kerry has made numerous visits to Israel to continue the “peace” talks. He continues to strongly pressure Israel to make painful concessions for “peace” but the Palestinians are not being held to the same standard, it seems. Israel has already met some of the preconditions for restarting the talks, but the Palestinians have so far done nothing. The situation in Syria has put this process on the backburner for now, but it is still very much alive on Kerry’s agenda. Please continue to pray for God’s wisdom in this situation, as the last time such a push for “peace” was made, violent Palestinian suicide bombings and terror attacks took the lives of hundreds of Israelis. Please also pray that America would see the truth of God’s Word, where He promises judgment on those who divide His Land (Joel 3).
Israel’s Enemies: Please intercede for the salvation of all who stand against Israel, especially the Arab nations surrounding her. Please pray for a mighty harvest amongst the people of these nations; pray that they will receive supernatural revelation of Yeshua, their Messiah, and that they will boldly stand on the principles of the Word as new creations in Messiah.
Israel’s Water Supply: Israel has already received rain this year! This is quite amazing, as it’s an early rainfall, and what fell was a good amount. Please continue to pray for God’s mercy on Israel this rainy season! Please pray that we will have a plentiful season of rain and for our water supply to continue to rise.
Following are some ministry requests for Hope for Israel:
Moran – Moran is entering a busy season with various tour groups in the country. He will be dividing his time between home, the office, and the tours. He will also be preparing for his trip to the USA in November. Please pray for strength and wisdom for he and Melissa during this busy season. Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment for Moran as he leads the ministry that God has entrusted to him. Please also pray that God would protect his and his family’s health in the coming winter season. Finally, please pray that God would put His hedge of protection around them all and give Moran and Melissa great wisdom as the raise their three young children.
HFI Board – “S”, the son of one of our board members who was in the coma is making slow but steady progress in healing. He still has a long way to go, but he is in God’s hands and has a very supportive family behind him. Please continue to intercede for his health and a complete restoration of his mind and body. Please also continue to pray for the Board as they make some important decisions for the ministry. Please keep their families in your prayers as well, that the arrows of the enemy will not penetrate, but that the LORD will shield them.
HFI Staff – Please continue to intercede for our staff members, board members, and ministry partners & their loved ones; please pray that we will walk in the victory that Yeshua has given us over illness and disease. Please continue to pray for His protection over our children’s hearts & minds as well. Please also pray for the entire staff in our work, that the LORD would inspire and work through us to bring Himself glory in Israel.
Website – we have had some glitches with our website and our team is working overtime to fix them and get the site running as best as possible. Please pray for the LORD’s wisdom for the website team, protection from the enemy’s arrows, and the ability to fix the problems at hand.
Big Transition – the ministry is undergoing a significant transition that we cannot speak of at the moment, but we do ask for prayer. Please pray that the process will be peaceful, honoring to the LORD, and that channels of communication will be open and clear. Most importantly, please pray that the end result will be honoring and glorifying to the LORD and His Kingdom!
Office space – We are in our new office in Jerusalem! The office is approximately double the size of the previous one and, while we still have many loose ends to tie up, it’s already proving to be very helpful in facilitating the various activities of the ministry. Please continue to pray for us during this phase of our office upgrade, that we will be at peace and not stressed or anxious. Please pray for continued favor from the Lord with our new landlord during the entire process. Please continue to pray for gracious provision of funds that we will eventually be able to purchase an office space, so that we are not at the mercy of a landlord.
Ner Yah Youth Group –The group will commence its meetings this month! After a long summer and high holy day break, everyone is really excited to start up again. Please continue to pray that the youth will continue to be rooted in the Lord through a deep relationship with Yeshua. Additionally, continue to pray for David and Sappir as they lead the youth into becoming disciples of the Messiah. Lastly, please pray for God to prepare those who will be entering the army and strengthen them for the time ahead.
Ner Yah Leaders –Please continue to pray for the staff and student leadership team as they prepare for the next year. Please pray that God would give them wisdom as they seek to do His will with the youth.
Moms’ Group: The group had a wonderful “Mom’s Only” breakfast last month. The mothers were really blessed by the gracious provision of such a nice meal; it was a great time of fellowship and encouragement. The group will begin the regular meetings this month. Please pray for Melissa as she is in much prayer about planning the discussions for the upcoming year, that she would hear clearly from the LORD and present topics that are relevant and encouraging to the mothers. Please continue to pray for the mothers’ personal relationship with the LORD, that they will not neglect their first love in the busyness of every day life. Lastly, please pray that the mothers will be encouraged to take care of themselves – body, mind, & soul – in order to better care for their families.
Tour Department – One of the ways that Hope for Israel is able to supplement the ministry’s income is by organizing and leading tours to Israel. The tours also carry a strong ministry component, as tour participants often have opportunities to bless Israel via tangible acts of service. As the situation in Israel continues to heat up, it is more important than ever for followers of Messiah to show their support by physically coming to Israel. Please continue to pray that the LORD will bless this aspect of the ministry and that He would bring more and more people to witness of His love on these tours.
Lastly, please continue to pray for the salvation of Israel & the Jewish people throughout the world; we long for the day when all Israel will recognize her Messiah and bless Him… this is the key to unlocking the great spiritual blessing for the entire human race: “For if their rejection [of Yeshua] is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” Romans 11:15
In His Service,
The Hope for Israel Prayer Team
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