Dear Prayer Partners,
Summer is in the air! Students of all ages began summer vacation at the end of June. Unfortunately, the end of year was slightly interrupted by a teachers’ union strike, but at least the children were able to finish the year in the end. The contract dispute is still unsolved at the time of writing, but we are hopeful that there will be progress over the summer months. The hot and arid weather in Israel is prime breeding ground for wildfires, which we have had in the Jerusalem area. In the past few years, many of these fires have been results of arson/terror, so we pray for protection from any further incidents. There is always much to be in prayer for, and we ask that you intercede on behalf of Israel and Hope for Israel this coming month.
PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR:
Israeli Government
The biggest news in Israel right now is that Prime Minister Bennett called to dissolve the current Knesset (parliament) at the end of June, which sent shockwaves throughout the country. His ruling coalition lost its narrow majority and he understood there was no chance at effectively governing under such circumstances. While Bennett’s proposal still needs to pass certain legal venues, all signs point to elections taking place in late October/early November. These will be Israel’s 5th elections in 3 ½ years. This comes at a time when Israel faces certain internal and external threats.
Please pray for:
- the next government to be one that seeks the good of the Israeli people and not their own political ambitions
- strength & wisdom for Israelis who are quite tired from the political instability
- practical ways to help Israelis to recover from the pandemic,
- building more diplomatic ties with Muslim nations in the region,
- establishing an equitable system of checks and balances to keep the government from overreaching,
- lowering the extremely high cost of living in Israel, and getting more families out of poverty.
Israel's Security
Concern remains very high regarding Iran. Israel has struck certain Iranian military targets in the region, which has increased tensions with the Iranian regime. Iranian-backed militia groups that can easily attack Israel from just over the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza continue to be of concern. Iranian-backed Hamas continues to be an imminent threat to Israel. Israel also faces security concerns from within. An Iranian plot to kidnap Israelis vacationing in Turkey was unfoiled last month. Israeli officials initiated a strong travel warning against traveling to Turkey. That has since been downgraded to a concern after Foreign Minister Lapid traveled to Turkey to seek cooperation with Turkish officials.
Please pray for:
- the Lord's wisdom for Israeli military officials if diplomacy fails and a military attack on Iran becomes necessary,
- preparation for possible conflict with Hamas at any time, and for the protection of civilians in both Israel and Gaza,
- protection over Israel's soldiers who protect God's Land and people every single day,
- revival in the hearts of all Israel's enemies, that they would see they are fighting the God of Israel and come to know Him through Messiah Yeshua
BDS
General Mills is the latest global company to divest from Israeli contracts. The company has been under pressure from BDS (Boycott, Divestment, & Sanctions) activists to stop working in Israel since 2002. Unfortunately, BDS continues to make headway in getting companies, universities, and musical artists to stop all collaboration with Israeli entities, which only further divides people and does nothing for the Palestinian people. In fact, closing factories where Palestinians are employed hurts them, which will be the case when General Mills closes its factory in the Israeli settlement of Atarot.
Please pray for:
- jobs for those who will be laid off as a result of the factory’s closure
- the lie of BDS to be revealed and for people to see that it actually does the opposite of its supposedly intended goal, which is to help the Palestinian people
- a blessing on companies, universities, and artists who refuse to cave to BDS and choose to work with Israeli entities
Israeli Youth
Concern for Israeli youth continues to grow. More and more youth are engaging in destructive and dangerous behavior throughout the country. The general level of uncertainty that Israelis face is quite high, and many youth are struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness, and other mental health disorders.
Please continue to pray for:
- increased access to mental health wellness professionals for the youth
- higher level of parental involvement in the lives of their children
- wisdom for school administrators and teachers who are overwhelmed by the situation
- a breakthrough in the lives of Israel’s youth
Summer Vacation
More and more Israelis are traveling this summer, despite the current COVID wave sweeping the country. After two years of little to no traveling, many are happy to have the much-needed break from the palpable stress in the country. However, there are real security concerns for Israelis traveling to certain areas of the world considering Iran’s failed attempts at kidnapping Israelis abroad.
Please pray for:
- safety of Israelis traveling abroad
- refreshing time for families and individuals whether at home or abroad
- successful summer camps & daycare programs for elementary-aged children
HFI Prayer requests:
We continue to prayerfully seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance to implement a renewed vision. Please join us in praying for:
Moran
Moran and his family are in the USA this month on a ministry trip. It will be their first family trip outside of Israel in three years. They are all looking forward to some time with family, friends, and ministry partners! Moran has a robust teaching/speaking schedule in CA, TX, LA, and OH.
Please pray for:
- wisdom regarding all areas of the ministry, that he would receive clear direction in making important decisions
- a fruitful and renewing summer trip for he and his family
- health, rest, and renewal for him, his wife, and children in their travels
- sustainance for studying & writing his weekly Scripture commentaries while on the road
HFI Board Members & Staff
Please pray:
- for a blessing over our board members and staff who devote much time and energy to executing our vision for the ministry,
- for protection over their families while they serve,
- for two of our board members who have lost their wives this past year, for comfort and strength
- for wisdom for the board members as they will make decisions that impact the ministry in tangible ways,
- for Sappir, our Jerusalem office manager, who is set to give birth any day!
- for Bill Katz, our U.S. representative, for health & traveling mercies; for protection over his wife and daughter while he is traveling; for fruitful meetings and speaking engagements
- for God to bring us an Operations Manager in our Jerusalem office to oversee the daily operations of the ministry in Israel
Threefold Vision for Empowering the Future Generation of Believers
Please pray for:
- wisdom for the staff as they plan & implement the summer schedule
- wisdom for planning next year’s program, which begins in September
- unity in the hearts of the team
- volunteer counselors for next year’s program
NerYah Youth Group:
The youth group is on summer hiatus, but there will be summer activities.
- fruitful fellowship for the youth over the summer
- opportunities for the youth to minister to one another and avoid boredom over the break
- a time of deep rest after this challenging year
Believing Soldiers:
- Spiritual, physical, and mental protection for our soldiers who are at various bases in the country
- Wisdom for the soldiers' coordinators to know how we can streamline our monthly meetings.
- That God will encourage the soldiers and speak to them even while they are at the base detached from any believing framework.
Post-Military & University Students:
- for grace and strength for the students as they write final papers and take final exams
- for Anavah, our coordinator for the students, for wisdom and focus as she works on developing workshops and lectures that will give the students tools to deal with real life issues that are relevant to them,
- for young professionals to influence their workplaces and enter very important places of influence in the country such as organizations, government ministries, and more.
- For wisdom for the coordinators as we are changing the scholarship format for next year.
HFI Media Projects
Our various media projects - visual, written, or otherwise - not only keep people connected to HFI, but also help educate people about Israel's spiritual and historical significance. In a day and age where many people oppose Israel, we see advocating for both Israel and what the Word of God says about Israel as top priorities.
Please pray for:
- wisdom for Elad, Moran, Nate, Lior, & Melissa as they seek to produce innovative and creative material for social media and the website,
- increased engagement with our target audience on various social media platforms
- increased engagement & greater exposure for videos, especially our "Beyond the Headlines" project,
- a video crew that we can work with in Israel to generate new content
- creating a grassroots movement of Israel advocacy via YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram,
- informative & interesting articles and other original material that will educate our audience and encourage their spiritual development,
- updating our website and messaging.
Tours
One of the main objectives of our tour operation is to cover ministry overhead, so that a higher percentage of donations can go to projects. We are so grateful that Israel is fully opened to all travelers, regardless of vaccination status!
Please pray for:
- wisdom for Moran as he continues to make challenging decisions regarding the tour operations,
- BJ for wisdom, flexibility, and patience as she handles the complex coordination of these tours from the USA
- a strong candidate to fill the position of Tour Coordinator in our Israel office,
- continued provision to sustain the tour operations in 2022, if it is God's will
- for the Pastors’ Solidarity Tour in Feb 2023 & Experience Israel Tour in March 2023 to fill up
Ministry Finances
God has been so faithful in providing for the ministry's operating and project costs! We ask that you pray that He will continue to do so in 2022, and that we will be able to bless more Israelis than ever this coming year!
In His Service,
The Hope for Israel Prayer Team