Israel

Answer to Prayer

Globally, there is a significant response to the gospel among the 14.5 million Jews. Even the more conservative estimates indicate an unprecedented response, and some of the more optimistic claims exceed 100,000 said to be linked with Messianic congregations. Most of these believers are in North America as well as Russia, Ukraine and the UK. A much larger number have integrated into mainstream Christian churches.

Challenge for Prayer

Israeli-Arab conflict in the Holy Land moved to a new level over a century ago, intensifying since 1948. Resolution is elusive due to competing claims and agendas. Both sides lay claim to the land, and all human efforts to resolve this conflict have failed. Pray that both sides will find true reconciliation and genuine Shalom through Jesus the Messiah.

a) The threat of violence and war from outside persists. Between the 2005 withdrawal of settlers and soldiers from Gaza and the controversial 2009 invasion, over 3,500 rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza. Hezbollah’s growing strength, Al Qaeda’s threats and Iran’s increasingly strident rhetoric all point to potential trouble on the horizon.

b) The as-yet-unfinished security barrier is planned to effectively separate Palestinian and Jewish areas, making movement and access very difficult and exacerbating tensions. Pray that it would not unduly restrict free movement of Palestinian citizens of Israel. Pray that Jesus, who destroyed the wall of separation of hostility between God and man, might also bring reconciliation between Israeli Jew and Palestinian Arab.

     For an additional 8 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.