Friday, August 15, 2025

Arrows 2025 Aug 15 The Prayer Assignment Against Terrorism is Spiritual!

 The Prayer Assignment
Against Terrorism is Spiritual!

by Donna Diorio
Reviewing the 24th Anniversary of the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

I am sitting here contemplating what to say about the 24th year of producing the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries. Later I launched Arrows from Zion in 2005 after my second trip to Israel. Wanting to get it right, I searched my Word files trying to find the first summary I put together for a super small team of intercessors at a Messianic synagogue. My first issues are mysteriously missing from my files, but I did find many memory refreshers from 2002. 
     The first Israel Prayer meeting was on Thursday, August 21, 2001. We were to pray exclusively for the believer citizen Israeli ministries. It was often a struggle to keep intercessors on that narrow focus because people want to pray for other things. My goal was to be a support to those in Israel who were sharing the Gospel among their people.
     There were probably only 4 or 5 of us present for the first meeting and for a long while. Even though we had fluctuations of people attending off and on, we never drew more than 8 to 10 praying for Israeli ministries. It was quite disheartening to me that even in a Messianic congregation this was true. It made me wonder how in the world I could ever expect Christians to be drawn to pray for the Israeli ministries if so few in a Messianic synagogue would. We have to develop perseverance to stand for the salvation of    all Israel which is coming through the body of Messiah in Israel.
     Then al Qaeda attacked the United States within a few short weeks after our first meeting. God had already focused my eyes on Islamist terrorism before 1993, but in February that year when I read the FBI admission that they knew Hamas was fund raising in the USA, I began to pay even more attention.  I knew it meant what we (the U.S.) were sowing in allowing Hamas to fund raise meant: it meant we would reap as we what we been sowing against Israel: Terrorism.
     When the day of terrorist horror hit the Twin Towers in New York it had only been a month that our group had begun to pray for the ministries there. We were already hearing many testimonies of believers being spared close calls with suicide attackers over the next months. I believe it was Wayne Hilsden (Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries) and his wife who out walking enjoying an anniversary when one block away suicide bombers blew up a packed disco in Tel Aviv. Reuven Doron, I believe it was reported his wife was also within a block of a bus suicide bombing. And there was a young believing student riding a bus who suddenly had a blinding migraine that forced him to depart the bus one block before another bomb detonated on that bus. Prayer to counter terrorism was part of our Israel Prayer DNA from the beginning. It still is.
     Before the 9/11 terror attack I was working for Zola Levitt Ministries in Dallas. Zola and I gave much effort in the Spring and Summer of 2001 trying to get the Dallas Morning News not to cop-out with political correctness because they were being intimidated over a reporter’s coverage of the Holy Land Foundation.  The Council on American- Islamic Relations (CAIR) had been stirring local Islamist protests against DMN’s reporter poking around in their business. Both of the groups were well documented Hamas fronts but it was an exercise in futility for Zola and myself. The newspaper went full tilt into covering for Islamism in America, as did all the news media in the months to follow 9/11.
     Zola had drawn me in to his discussions with the paper’s editors after discovering I knew a bit about Israel’s terrorists enemies. I appreciated getting to do something more substantial and in line with my writing and researching abilities. Maybe that is why God led me to pay attention to the Islamist terrorist groups that plagued Israel. Truthfully, I always felt out of step with other believers because of my interest in Islamist terrorism. It was not a “spiritual” interest per se, but as I sit here today I have no doubt God stirred my interest. After all God had stirred an interest in the Jewish people even when I returned to my childhood faith in 1983.
     As for the HLF “charity,” it turns out that after 9/11 President Bush would finally give the long needed approval to shut down the Holy Land Foundation and bring charges against their leaders. But it was not until 2007 before they would stand trial in the federal court in Dallas. Then the details of evidence the U.S. had on what Hamas affiliates were doing even prior to 1993 came tumbling out in the court room.
     Back to our little Israel Prayer meetings on Thursday nights, on 9/11/2001 Israel was still in the grip of the Second Intifada (9/28/2000 through 2/8/2005). Suicide attacks were happening frequently throughout that time but when 9/11 targeted the US, an outpouring of horror and sympathy was poured out to the US from all over the world. The downside of that is that this is empathy is normal when Western nations experience big Islamist terror attacks, but when is the target they don’t get empathy they get blame. I have been around long enough to see it repeatedly.
     Another downside is how quickly Western nation revert to P.C. coddling of Islamists with their resolve to beat the terrorists evaporating quickly. Politicians and citizens reverting back to the “religious freedom” defense of Islamists. By the way, it is not so hard to determine the Muslims who hold radical dominionist views from those that would much rather live in a peaceful democracy. Accepting all of Islam is a suicide pact we do not have to make to grant non-violent Muslims to live among us. The majority pouring into the West though are radical Islamists.
     Months after 9/11, Israel made a decision to launch Operation Defensive Shield on 3/29/2002 after a suicide bombing in Netanya resulted in 30 Israeli causalities. Systematically the IDF entered into Palestinian towns known to harbor much terrorist activity. They went city by city taking out bomb-making facilities, weapons storages, and cleaning out terrorist nests. In every one of those cities they also freed Christian Arabs being held, tortured and some murdered in Palestinian jails. The operation lasted until May 2002. And we were able to pray for the IDF and for the Christian Arabs held and tortured in Palestinian territory jails – even to the last city of the operation when a Christian Arab named Saeed we had been praying for was freed by the IDF. One year later amazingly enough I met him at the Dugit Outreach Bookstore when we dropped into at Dugit on the spur of the moment.
     Back during my time at Zola Levitt’s ministry I made learned of a Christian pastor who was greatly involved with Christian Arabs in northern Israel. He and his Jewish wife Leah supplied us with plenty to pray over in those first months of our first year of Israel prayer. They were the ones that had us praying for Saeed.
     Before starting Arrows from Zion, one of the faithful prayer group, Dana Barnae brought me a copy of   Facts & Myths About Messianic Congregations in Israel 1998-1999. This book made it possible for me to discover and research contact information for the Israeli Messianic ministries the Caspari Center authors had compiled information about.  As they note about their book, "Controversy arose primarily from the fact that some people felt exposed by the publication of the book, as they would have preferred to have remained under the radar. There were other people, however, who found the detailed research helpful, and expressed gratitude for it."
     I was one of those and I have shared the same experience myself. When I first emailed each ministry to ask permission to share excerpts from their prayer letters
to intercessors for Israel, one ministry head wrote me back demanding, “Who ARE you?! Don’t you know this is Israel?” Over time he understood that I had no intention of exposing the Israeli ministries to the religious persecutors within Israel. We became friends by email and though he passed away many years ago, I will never forget how upset he was with me. That left a big impression on me to be on guard with the information I collected.
     There have been a few stumbles on my part in the past 24 years when I have disclosed what I should not, but I have lived with an acute awareness of how highly motivated some who mean the Jewish believers in Jesus harm cannot have missed what I have been doing all these years. That’s why I have turned down many who wanted to subscribe to my list, but didn’t want to give me any information for security purposes. There were other requests that I just sensed I could not trust.
     The flip side of that is I have also seen an increase of boldness among the ministry leadership too. As several have told me over the years, “We’re not hiding.” This is an indication of spiritual growth. We are not foolhardy but we are not hiding either. As Acts 17:28 says, “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.”
    
Doing this ministry has never been as easy ride. Sometimes I questioned whether I should even be doing it because it has required a lot from me to do it right. Also, it never fulfilled American Christian ‘wisdom’ that if a ministry was of God, it would fully support itself. Whenever I was in that doubt on that count, I would look at so many Israeli ministries struggling financially then I knew the American Church measure of a ministry was missing the truth by a mile. It is not how much financial support a ministry gets that makes it significant, it is whether they are doing what God sent them to do. 
     Every once in a while we have to pause and take stock. Anniversaries like this are a good time to do that. I am as convinced today as I ever was, that my part to play in these end times events is to continue to press in to provide what Christians really need to know about the Israeli Messianic Ministries and God’s purpose for them and for us in standing with them. There is key spiritual understanding about Islamist terrorism that international Christians can only find among the Israeli Ministries, or those informed by them. This will continue to become a critical area of prayer intercession all over the world.
     I have learned more in the past 24 years from reading the prayer letters of Israeli ministries than I think I could have learned anywhere else. It is not just news from one or two ministries, but an overview of about 50 Messianic Jewish or Christian Arab ministries all over Israel. That is a different view of all the things going on in Israeli ministries. Those who read the Weekly Summary and Arrows will learn a lot too.



Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries

Such a heartening testimony from Sergey, the Asst Dirctor of the Aviv Center in Tel Aviv! As they began their outreach to handout food and to bandage wounds on the streets “two young Israeli men approached us. They looked to be around 25 years old, dressed in army shirts marked with unit insignias – likely reservists called up for extended duty. Their posture, their gaze – everything about them showed seriousness and strength. These were the kind of young men often seen as part of Israel’s elite. They stopped in front of our team. “Can we speak with you?” one asked. “Of course. How can we help?" Then they said something that moved us deeply: “We live nearby. We see you out here almost every day. We see what you do for the people on the street. And… we just wanted to thank you.”
     “We’re Christians,” someone from our team replied. “This is our ministry to God.”
 They nodded. “We know. We’ve seen you pray, talk with people, clean their wounds. Sometimes we watch from our windows. And we want you to know – we really appreciate it.”
     “. . . .
what they saw touched their hearts – a glimpse of the love of Christ in action. In Israeli society, believers like us often face rejection, suspicion, even mockery. And yet these strong, confident young men came with words of kindness and gratitude. It felt like a glass of cold water in a dry and weary land. Please pray for these men, and for all the Israelis who see our outreach – that they would seek and find the One their hearts are longing for: the Messiah of Israel.” Partner with the Aviv Center
     The Aviv ministry is led by Dov Bikas and he sends:  We are
Breaking New Ground: VIDEO | First Christian Rehab Specifically for Israeli Arabs | YouTube testimony from Artyom: “You have delivered my soul from death…”  | Please pray over our other news: “potential staff member for the Israeli Arab Christian rehab |Guidance in seeking a larger location for the Aviv Center | Updating going on at the Women’s Shelter in Beer Sheva and God sending women who truly need the open spaces we have now.
Follow the Aviv Ministry on Facebook

Israel Pochtar who leads the Beit Hallel congregation & Voice of Judah ministries, reminds us “of the incredible privilege we have—not only to believe in Yeshua, but to walk daily in His presence and purpose. In the midst of everything happening around us, both in Israel and globally, we remain steadfast in our calling: to shine His light, preach His Word, and extend His love to those in need. In their news, Preparing Israel for Revival  Help us renovate Beit Hallel's New Evangelism & Discipleship Center |VIDEO |It’s going to be a working hub for outreach, discipleship, and meaningful ministry. A place where people meet God, grow together, and step out to make a difference.

     Building the Future of Faith in Israel, One Heart at a Time! VIDEO Testimony How this Project Changed Anna and Her Kid’s Story and Watch what our Back to School Project is doing to help children of new immigrants starting over from scratch. It is making a huge difference in the name of Yeshua. | Also VIDEO Now Israeli Teens Encountering God Like Never BeforeTestimony Mark’s Story When Pain Met the Presence of God and Olga’s Journey from Pain to Peace 

From
Tikkun Global ARTICLE: Crossing the Kidron by Asher Intrater | BOOK: Prosperity What the Bible Really Says by Daniel Juster, THD |  8/7 GLOBAL BROADCAST WATCH The Two Great Conditions for Yeshua’s Return  by Ariel Blumenthal |ARTICLE by Moti Cohen of Tiferet Yeshua My Search for Survivors After Iranian Missile Impacts
     Sept 11 -12 Anaheim, CA Tikkun Global Conference 2025 Watch Invite Here  7/31 Every Generation! | At Tikkun Global, one of our deepest values is intergenerational relationship. We believe in the powerful synergy that happens when generations walk together—learning, honoring, and empowering one another. This upcoming conference isn’t just for one group—it’s for every generation. This will be a time of meaningful ministry that speaks to every heart REGISTER NOW

Tree of Life Israel ministries Ariel & Shayla Hyde write, “These are the SWEET TRIUMPHS on the SPIRITUAL FRONTLINES IN ISRAEL! Stories from the Harvest: Watch or Read - From New Age Guru to New Creation in Jesus  This is truly an amazing testimony – you don’t want to miss it!

Read Cookie Schwaeber-Issan’s commentaries in AllIsraelNews  8/15 Islam’s Methodical Global Takeover  and Jerusalem Post 8/10 We are the IDF

Howard Bass or the Beer Sheva congregation Nachalat Yeshua (Yeshua’s Inheritance) writes about he and Randi’s return from the US to the congregation operating smoothly in their absence, but also the continuing was of 22 months in Gaza. “This is certainly a daunting challenge for many Jewish people, including the believers in Yeshua among them. God is certainly making many, if not most, Jews around the world uncomfortable and insecure, lacking peace. The Jewish State of Israel [for especially Jewish people] has become a lightening rod, perhaps even a litmus test, for Jewish identity: as in Ps 137, Do Jews in the diaspora/dispersion/ galut/exile identify with the nation and the land and the city as being theirs, or do they identify more with being citizens of whatever Gentile country that they live in? Even for Jews living in Israel, do they remain because they know that it is home, or do they wish that they could leave, as many already have? I spoke with some Jewish friends back in Richmond, and some Gentile Christians, as well, who are very nervous about supporting Israel these days.
    
Our "world view" about the "end of the world as we know it" will greatly affect our position regarding Israel and the Jewish people. . . .
If Christians think that people just live their lives, and then go either to Heaven or to Hell, then they have no vested interest in God's covenant promises to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, and to their physical descendants. If Jewish people give up faith and identity in the significance of Israel as a nation to them, then they will much more easily want to "please the Romans/the Americans", so that the whole nation might not be left all alone to be left all alone to be destroyed.  The Nazi spirit is reviving strongly in the jihad of Islam in all its grotesque forms, with the same stated intent gaining worldwide acceptability: kill all the Jews and the Jewish nation. This is the Devil's "heart". Not the Jews only, but also the Christians: both groups are YHVH's representatives in the world. And not content to stop there, jihadis are demonically driven to kill off as many human beings, even themselves. . . . All the antisemitism, all of the Christian massacres taking place in Nigeria, etc, are all spiritual assaults against the Creator Himself, and His Anointed One. The world is falling in line to take sides with the devil's murderous hatred and very bitter root against the sovereignty and goodness of the one true God.”
     . . . .
Meanwhile, our calling is to take the gospel of salvation and the Kingdom of God to whomsoever wherever, that as many as will can enter the family of God through spiritual new birth, just as we have; and, for us to sanctify ourselves in a world becoming more and more corrupted through lust -- whether for wealth, sex, or power -- or for all of them. . . . The rulers of this world are preparing for war all the time. Only the Prince of Peace -- the Lord Jesus Christ/Yeshua the Messiah, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who is also the Lamb upon the Throne -- He alone will make wars to cease, and no one will teach or learn war anymore.  God have mercy on us all, that we will all endure in the faith and be overcomers/prevailers,”  Howard and Randi  (Happy birthday, Randi!)

Chaim Malespin asks on 8/8 8 Is Israel of the Bible the Israel of today? …. I have heard many churches and people online say that the Israel today is not the Israel from the Bible. Bible schools have even taught this. How is this possible?  . . . .Many churches today have disconnected Israel from the Word of God. And have disconnected many of the promises that God made to Israel, and exclusively applied them to themselves. And to hear countries, founded as Christian Western nations such as France, Canada, United Kingdom, Portugal, and others say that they plan to recognize a Palestinian state this September, is baffling! No terrorist organization, still holding innocent lives hostage, should have a state! . . . .God always preserves remains a Holy remnant. It took a small brave Gideon army to defeat our enemies. I also feel deeply for the Jewish communities around the world, and how things are becoming hostile in the nations for them. We believe that there is going to be a big wave of Aliyah after the war is over. Please keep us in your prayers.”
     8/15 Chaim releases this exciting news: “
I’m writing a new book, Aliyah Warrior, straight from my own time on the frontlines of Israel’s 7-front war. These are the moments I lived, the friends I fought beside, the miracles I saw with my own eyes. I need your help to finish it and share it with the world. When you give toward this book, you’re helping me tell Israel’s story the way it really happened.
 
  Go here to learn more &
Support Chaim's Work DD: I was very excited a few weeks ago to see Chaim first tell about this book. As his daily videos have done, this book will continue to impact with the truth of the battle Israel is in, and how the international Christians are to stand beside them. Chaim is a warrior in every sense – in physical warfare, but FIRST as a minister of the Messiah in Israel. I am delighted he is stretching himself to this book. Pray for Chaim, his young family, his ministry and the warfare he faces from terrorists and the devils that oppose God’s intentions in Israel. Please consider supporting Chaim as he gives his all.

Speaking of books, Avner Boskey’s book Israel, The Key to World Revival – is FREE for download in 5 Languages! “While the English original is available for purchase on our website at we are making German, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish versions of the e-book available for free download at the same link. Please feel free to pass this complimentary link on to friends anywhere in the world who speak one of these five languages. Your prayers and support hold up our arms and are the very practical enablement of God to us in the work He has called us to do. In Messiah Yeshua, David and Rachel Boskey

From Revive Israel, the team write: This week, we had the privilege of sowing seeds of faith and transformation. Valerie and Tal poured into the hearts of the children every day at one of the Messianic summer camps that they served at this week, and we are deeply thankful for your prayers. . . . Youval also had the privilege of teaching at the Chezim (Arrows) program, a discipleship initiative for young people preparing for their military service.. . . We are also beginning preparations for the next discipleship program, which will begin in November. Please pray for wisdom and the right participants to be led to this program. Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we trust in God’s timing and purpose for these young hearts. To support the Revive Israel community

Josie Silver of Out of Zion ministries in Haifa writes to give an update on her husband David Silver, who after  the Hamas assault on Israelis 10/7/23 began to suffer mild symptoms of depression that gradually worsened, even with medication. David has MDD, Major Depressive Disorder and anxiety for 1 ½ years and entered the hospital in July for specialized treatment. Now home again, Josie reports that David is benefiting  from the right medical treatment and therapies, as well as re-establishing healthy routines at home.  She writes, “We are confident that in time David will return to the work he loves and the calling he has faithfully fulfilled for decades through Out of Zion Ministries. In the meantime, our eldest son Stefan and I are leading and administrating the ministry. The mission and message of Out of Zion Ministries have not paused.” In the meantime she and their son, Stefan, who is a pastor at the Kerem-El congregation are continuing the weekly prayer points and perspectives. stefan.m.silver@gmail.com  And, If you would like to send David a note of encouragement, please email me directly at josiesilver7@gmail.com.
     DONNA: As you pray for David, please lift up prayers for an enormous amount of Israelis who are suffering from depression, anxieties and fears since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the wars on 7-fronts that Israel is facing. Even an alarming number of IDF soldiers and rescued hostages have committed suicide. The grief is at an all time high in Israel and only our King Yeshua has the peace Israelis long for.

Also needing special prayers we are RENEWING PRAYER FOR SHLOMY Abramove FOR GREAT PAIN FROM A SLIPPED DISK HE HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW. He was healed 15 years ago, but it has returned. Please pray for Shlomy because he continues to minister through the pain, and does not want surgery. Please remember to lift Shlomy before the LORD for complete healing.

New on Norma’s blog — From this Mountain thoughts from Mt. Zion isThirsty Sometimes we aren’t thirsty, just dry.

 New on Orna Grinman’s blog Is God a Pacifist?

From Michael Beener at City of Live Ministries, a great testimony from a formerly Iranian Jihadist now living in Israel. Watch and read heard how the love of Yeshua turned this young Jihadi around!  Also Read here what City of Life Ministries is doing in their outreach in Sderot and surrounding region: Childhood Stolen by War – Relief for Anxiety in Israeli Children

Ronit Bender in the Carmel Congregation writes about spiritually pouring out to the people in her community as she goes about her normal shopping, trips to the salon and health club and local eateries and coffee shops. This is her mission field – she goes out making friends and pouring spiritually into the people she makes friends with. Many come to the Messiah in faith and others have seeds planted that she can see are growing. One example Ronit writes about, “It's been almost a year since I started at the gym. It was a gift to me and I resisted it with many words - But GOD wanted to use it for His glory. Yesterday a man came to tell me that I bring much color and joy to the club, when a lot of people are so sad because of the situation both with the hostages, the war. Put simply: it is tough living here. I have never spoken to this young man before and was very touched by his comment. It is an answer to my daily prayer to bring love, light and joy wherever I go. Bless His Holy name! The needy aren't only in the streets. Lift up your eyes, the fields are before you!”
     “This coming year is so special for me. On September 24th I will be 75, and on October 9th it will be 20 years since Tom and I arrived at this mission field. I still remember driving my little car behind Tom's to our son's home with tears running down my cheeks, I barely could see the road. We left the two cars there to give to others in need. I was 55 then, Tom was 61, and we headed to this mission field. The rest is history. . . .
As anti-Semitism rises and deception in the world increases, God is turning Israel to seek HIm, and YOU and I are labouring in this field together by your prayers and support. I can't thank you enough for walking by my side as we point others toward our eternal Home. Love from Mount Carmel”

Lastly, from Reuven Doron he takes on the “To the Jew First” verses which Reuven points out are for both the good and the bad – it’s to the Jew first. Then he connects the dots of that straight to “To the Jew First” is a biblical pattern that is meant, among other things, to serve as an early warning of upcoming events for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand.” When Paul wrote in 1 Cor 10 that the things recorded in the Hebrew scriptures about the Jews were to be “as ), and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (I-Corinthians 10). This same principle is still valid today, and possibly more than ever, as our generation is closer yet to the time when “the ends of the ages have come.”
     “It is important for the intercessors to realize that Israel’s present struggle, warfare, and increasing global isolation are an example, a pattern for God’s elect all over the world. In her painful preparations for the FINAL REVIVAL that will usher in the return of the Lord, Israel is serving the world, one last time, as a forerunner in the birthing of God’s Kin.”
     “As noted
my video of November 2024, we pray that the Word of God, His eternal promises for all His children, will “become flesh” and transform all of us, “to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
     Reuven gave an update on the enemies in play right now against Israel. I do not have room to share that here but you can subscribe by emailing
reuvendoron@gmail.com. You can also reach out to him for giving options at that address.


No comments: