Young Israel — Giving their lives, Longing for hope

Deep Dive into a Divisive Debate in Israel 

with Special Guest Eitan Shishkoff 
of Fields of Wheat in northern Israel

A large billboard near our home displays the intense young face of an IDF soldier. What catches my attention is the year of his birth and death next to him: 2004-2023.

He died fighting for Israel. Defending us. As a nineteen year old. A promising soccer player from Kiryat Ata, close to where Connie and I live. And as with so many of his generation, Yaron Zohar’s life is both an excruciating loss and a tribute to his generation. 

The billboard announces that he is a “hero of Israel,” who fell in battle against terrorists on October 7, 2023. Added are the initials “z”l, May his memory be for a blessing,” and an additional aphorism: Difficulty is temporary; pride is forever. 

Yaron’s mother, Lihi, described him as a wonderful boy, a modest boy, introverted, gentle, and pleasant. “He was the glue of his family, the glue of his friends, one of the best soldiers.”

From the day Yaron died, more than 1522 of his fellow soldiers have given their lives. This is a small country. Everyone knows someone who has been killed in battle, or on the killing fields of the kibbutzim and towns near the Gaza border or in the Hamas torture tunnels. Everyone in Israel has attended in person or watched a military funeral on tv.

I want to share this experience with you, to bring you into the Israel that you love. I want to write about the existential challenge Israel’s young adults are facing. This is the generation we work with as counselors in our teen camps. These are dedicated believers from 19-30, who sometimes take precious leave time from their army duty to volunteer at our Katzir (harvest) camps. They and their contemporaries are the primary fighting force of our military. These are the future of Israel in whom we want to invest ourselves, to encourage, disciple them and prepare them to bring Yeshua into every sphere of Israeli society.

Not all Israelis serve in the IDF—a deep schism

Yet not all of their contemporaries participate. An estimated 75,000 ultra-Orthodox draft age men are refusing to serve in the defense of Israel. Their claim is that Torah study is a vital part of the nation’s defense. And therefore they are exempt from army service. Yet this week’s Torah portion contains a list of 603,550 men of Israel, ready to go to war (Numbers 1:46).  

This travesty only compounds the stress of a nation continually at war on multiple fronts for 951 days. And it is creating a cavernous division in our society. Refreshingly, there are radically religious young Orthodox Jews who are serving with distinction in the IDF. But so far they are outliers — a small minority.

What is the condition of young Israel? How are 20-somethings responding to the non-stop nature of our existence being threatened? 

Young Israelis Respond to our Current Reality

I was fascinated by a Times of Israel article by Sue Surkes.  Here are some of their comments:

“Jewish Israelis are keeping their distance from Arab Israelis since the October 7 massacre. I think about leaving the country all the time.” a 27 year old Arab Israeli woman from Ma’alot Tarshiha, a mixed Jewish-Arab city in the Western Galilee

“30 months of war has changed Israeli society. Those who previously believed in peace with the Palestinians are aware of their folly.” A Jewish 19 year old man from a national religious community 

“I’m a very optimistic person, but I'm also realistic. I want to believe it will be good here (in Israel). But if we continue like this, in another five years I won’t be the only one going overseas.” Avishag, a 22 year old woman who left her ultra-Orthodox family to serve in the IDF.

Updating his own 5/15 article, Eitan sent me this article released 5/28 on AllIsraelNews.com 

Ultra-Orthodox military enlistment rises 24% as specialized service tracks expand. The article notes that the IDF has been developing specialized units to accommodate Haredi recruits in their mandatory enlistment. But since the beginnings of the State of Israel, ultra-Orthodox non-participation in military service has been a hot debate in the Israeli public.

As AllIsrael notes, "The issue has contributed to the collapse of multiple Knesset coalitions over the decades and continues to be a point of political tension in the current Knesset."

Haredi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) were among those who supported a proposal to dissolve the Knesset and move to early elections in May. They cited as a factor the lack of agreement on legislation that would formalize draft deferments for Haredi young men to allow them to focus on yeshiva studies, a commitment that had been discussed during coalition negotiations (with Netanyahu) in late 2022.

The IDF wants to resolve the issue by dedicated military installations for the ultra-Orthodox to serve in. They say they have infrastructure in place to form three more exclusively Haredim companies. If more voluntary ultra-Orthodox recruits continues to increase, the IDF will develop more command teams and infrastructure for them.

Something is going to have to give in this situation. Please pray for God's will to prevail.

A Personal, Hopeful Experience in Tel Aviv’s music scene

Eitan sent this short video on Vimeo of the Blues in Tel Aviv

Far from the battlefield is the throbbing city of Tel Aviv. For the 40 days of missile bombardment from Iran Tel Avivim made frequent trips to the bomb shelters (February 28-April 8). Online news sources showed Israelis sleeping overnight in underground parking lots to wait out the attacks.

Last week, however, “the city that never stops” had returned to full activity. On a Wednesday evening, I found myself in the city, invited to a “blues night” at a cafe run by believers as a bridge to the city’s active music/night club scene. With my harmonica (left, below), I accompanied a dear friend, Baruch, who sang gospel related lyrics to blues melodies. Most of those attending were not yet followers of Yeshua. Yet their response to our music was warmly welcoming and enthusiastic. Amidst the grief and grinding reality of war and violent international anti-Semitism, there is hope.

People here, especially the younger generation, are searching. We know that the Hope of Israel is Yeshua, our Messiah. Now is the time to work together to make Him known. Now is the time to cooperate as different ministries in Israel, and to be joined in heart with you, our dedicated friends.

Believing in the divine origin of our serving Yeshua together,

Eitan Shishkoff

Please PRAY with our Fields of Wheat local team:

§ Joel, Teresa, and their boys. As Joel is back in the reserves for another vital season of service in the defense of this nation that is precious in the sight of God.

§ Ruby. As he continues to build a team of young adult Arab Evangelical leaders to initiate teen camps for the Arab Israeli youth.

§ Eitan (myself). As I will spend the month of June in the States, connecting with our supporters and with family. Here’s my itinerary.

    Friday-Sunday, June 5-June 7: Beulaville, NC (Grace Covenant Church) & Jacksonville, NC (River of Life).

    Monday-Tuesday, June 8-9: Columbus, OH (Ministry Meeting)

    Wednesday, June 10: Phoenix, AZ (Jewish Voice)

    Thursday-Sunday, June 11-14: Abilene, TX (Beltway Church, New Hope Church)

    Monday-Tuesday, June 15-16, Dallas, TX (Upper Room, Baruch haShem, Convergence)

    Wednesday-Sunday, June 17-21, Ellicott City, MD (Tikkun America)

Flipping Tables

Flipping Tables

Sometimes when I scroll through my feed and see some of the things ministries are pushing for those that think they are on the cutting edge of spiritual things, I can't help thinking about the only time I can recall in scripture when Jesus seemed furious - a 100% righteous anger that so many deny peaceful Jesus even is capable of.

What single thing did religious people do that made Jesus so furious? It was when He came into the temple and saw the corrupt money changers and those who were price-gouging the poor who had come to the temple to make a sacrifice to God as they were instructed His Word to do.

It was one thing to sell them a dove to sacrifice at a reasonable price and an entirely different thing to over charge poor people so the seller could live in prosperity. If you don't think Jesus still thinks like this, you sure don't know the God you serve. You have no idea how much God hates this because so many have been doing it for so long, you have come to think of it as normal. It's normal for the worldly, but not normal for the kingdom of God.

Jesus said to them, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers."

All true ministries need resources to continue to minister, but those who use ministry as a get rich scheme really do not understand that God sees exactly what they are doing and Jesus doesn't take kindly to it.

I hope you understand that I am not talking about just the richest or the famous names who have become wealthy in ministry. I am ALSO talking about those ministers who are trying to build their brand using spiritual gimmicks that appeal to both the uninformed and believers with ears always itching for something brand new that no one has ever heard of before. It appeals to those who love the latest name of a demonic spirit they can command against - with a result of doing nothing for anyone of any spiritual value!

Don't waste your time following this people who are leading you off the paths of God, or those who are more concerned about the money they keep than the ministry you receive from them.
Unfortunately, Google will not allow me to share the Grok AI picture. You can find it at this link: https://x.com/i/grok/share/f8ee9bf29d5348cbbdcf142502a152e1

When I was telling Grok how I wanted this depicted, it showed what I always see from AI generated scenes about this - Jesus with an enraged facial expression. I don't think that is what Jesus expression was. How I told Grok to refine the depiction of the scene is instructive, not only to Grok but to us:

Righteous anger is a different expression than evil wrath as the first picture Grok made for me expresses. Jesus is not out of control with his face contorted in anger. He is flipping tables of merchandise over to show how displeased he is. Tone down the look of rage in Jesus - that's not what this was about. He was removing the things that corrupted the merchants.

Then Grok understood more of what I wanted: "controlled righteous indignation and purposeful authority."

Finally, this instruction gave me the picture below about the crowd: Some are merchants and some are the poor people the merchants are taking advantage of, so not all would be angry with what Jesus is doing, the poor would be marveling that he stood up for them.

Now, the final word I have on this is that the merchants-ministries that take instruction on this do not need a crowd like Frankenstein had - peasants with pitchforks baying for blood! Those who will take the flipping over of their 'merchandise' and quit acting like money is their god, will take the rebuke that Jesus intended that day when He flipped over the tables in the temple. We are His temple, and He is overturning the 'merchandise' mentality we have in our own hearts. We call it ministry when it is often the drive for riches and fame. It doesn't belong. And the poor people who have been taken advantage of are going to be grateful for the change to truth in the lives of many ministries.  

No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper

 No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper

...but how does that work exactly?

by Donna Diorio 

May 17, 2026

As I awoke this morning I was imagining a conversation with someone who did not understand that faith is not just believing in something, but it gets up and goes into actions of faith.

I was saying how there is a scripture, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue that rises in accusation against you, you shall declare wrong. Isaiah 54:17 continues to say, This is the inheritance of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness (and vindication) is of Me, says the Lord."

We enter into deeper and deeper levels of trust in God's Word and in God's care for us. When a "weapon" is formed against me, I can (and have) crumbled in my faith that God is able to bring me out of every type of weapon the enemy can "form" against me - sickness, lack, depression, people against me - situations may form against me but they cannot "prosper" - they cannot accomplish what was meant to do to me. Because my trust remains in God that I can go through and come out on the other side prospering in what God is building in me, not in the enemy's efforts to tear me down and dispose of me.

Our mindsets begin to change as we proceed in our lives after we enter into the faith and provisions God makes for us when we become His children. This is the "inheritance" spoken of in Isaiah 54:17 and God says it is because our "righteousness" is derived from our relationship with Him - we are not self-righteous, we come by our righteousness through our salvation by faith in His Son, and in the transforming of our being-like Yeshua/Jesus , which is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we cooperate with.

God never forces us into the transformative state. We can say no and remain just has bad as we were when we got saved, but the "weapons" in life are going to continue to put us in situations where we have to choose - are we going to fight everything the world can throw at us in our own strength or are we going to humble ourselves and enter into greater trust in God's righteousness and vindication?

In the two verses before the beautiful and powerful promise of Isaiah 54:17, God explains: verse 15 declares: Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by Me: whoever shall gather together against you shall fall/fail for your sake.

For ALL of God's children, know this - people who attack God's children are not acting on His behalf.

Ultimately even attackers, those who mean to bring ANY of God's children harm, will fall. When a child of God under attack grows even more trusting of God's care for them, there is no gathering of attackers that can destroy what God is doing in them - something eternal and glorious.

And here is why. God says that He created "the craftsman" - the enemy of our souls, satan.

16 Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc.

Now the devil is the one "who fans the coals into flame" of offense and evil thoughts of destroying God's children. IF A CHILD OF GOD IS OPEN TO THESE THOUGHTS we can be brought into them just as easily as people who have no relationship of care about God. We have to guard our own hearts, what we allow our hearts to embrace, because out of our own heart "flow the issues of life." When our hearts are full on conceit, speaking evil of others, what we despise in others - this is giving our heart over to the devil who is freely fanning the "coals into flame." Once flames rise up, then the schemes begin - forging a weapon to use against the one or ones hated.

God says He created "the destroyer" to wreck havoc. The destroyer is the fallen angel, who is satan and his fallen demons who have the the traits of every evil known to man. They will occupy any heart that gives them welcome entrance, and every one that entertains the demonic traits in their hearts will be vulnerable to worse and worse demonic traits. Even God's children carry places in their hearts they have not allowed the Son of God to prevail over. That is why our lives become our personal battlefield - to overcome the strongholds the enemy had built in our lives, and lay every place within our hearts over to the LORD.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:30, "for the prince of this world comes, and has nothing in Me." Jesus was tested and tried in every weapon that the "spiritual ruler of this world" has to come against human beings - Jesus went through every trial of His faith in God, and He came out proven as a heart FULL of trust in God.

For instance, in Luke 4:16-30 in His own hometown of Nazareth, when He read from the book of Isaiah passage (Isaiah 61:1-2) about the Anointing of the Messiah, He told them that they were witnessing the fulfillment of that promise of Israel's Messiah.

You must understand "Messiah" in the Hebrew means Anointing. There is no Messianic promise that doesn't bring Heaven's anointing to mankind.

The people understood that this man they knew all their lives was declaring Himself to be the Messiah and that infuriated them. "Familiarity breeds contempt," or as Jesus would say, 'A prophet is not without honor except among the people who are the closest to you—such as friends, family, and hometown neighbors.'

So what happened after that was the "craftsman fanned the flames" against Yeshua among the hometown people "forging a weapon" to use against Jesus.

Having stood on that ground in Nazareth, peering down the steep boulder-filled descent down, imagining the crowd pushing Him toward the cliff from the synagogue, blind with anger, the mob pushing and shoving even each other, I saw how Jesus was not gripped in fear in the midst of all that chaos and havoc. He let them push and shove Him all the way to the cliff, then He walked out of the midst of them in the calm assurance that there was no way God was going to let Him die before He had completed what He was sent to do.

Yeshua was sent to minister - to speak and demonstrate what it looks like to possess a heart devoid of evil but full of God only, in a world where the fallen prince (angel) of darkness ruled over the lives of humankind.

Yeshua/Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb of God in the Great Passover fulfillment. But this is a matter to be told in another post: How God promised The Anointed would come through a promised line of Chosen People who would be given a Land that was to be the eternal inheritance of that people (an inheritance for all they went through to possess it!). Christians often don't know it, but it is the same for us - we go through a LOT to possess our inheritance in Jesus same as Israel has.

Like the Chosen People of Israel, Christians do not enter God's full blessings without rising up and acting on our heart level of trust in God. We don't have everything delivered on a silver platter if we are the people of God in our generation. Acts 14:22 "We must through many troubles enter the kingdom of God."

This is EVERY person's journey to God in His Anointed Son and by the transforming work of His Holy Spirit.

Arrows from Zion Summary 2025 May 15 Time for Christian Esther's Rise

 Time for the Christian Esther’s to Arise

Read ON My Blog:
The Barren Matriarchs of Israel
Part 1: REAL WOMEN

Israeli believer congregations and ministries are all financially DEEPLY stressed right now! Are we going to step up and help, or not? First the virus lockdown, then Oct 7 and the toll of the aftermath, now the Iranian & their proxies warfare. Is there any way you can understand how critical it is that we come alongside them to help? We are talking ministry staff cuts that really hurt the ministry outreach. You may not think you have a lot, but you probably have more than they do. Even a little will help.

Arrows from Zion Summary of Prayer Points for Israeli Ministries
Prayer Requests & the Chronicles of the Remnant of Faith in Israel

Shlomy and Miriam Abramov, of Awake Israel Ministries in central Israel reported on Facebook 5/12: As you know it has been really nice and refreshing to gather our thoughts and have some peace this past few weeks now. Today however there is a horrible spirit all around and crazy drivers again and bad behaviors and you can feel war is coming again. Everyone knows it, everyone feels it, it is fear. Fear of what was before is upon us.  It's like you can slice it if it were a cake. It comes when really bad is upon us, here in the holy land you can literally feel it upon us.

Reuven Doron, One New Man Today, files this video report on Emergency Preparedness and the emergency provision containers that are placed all over Israel with items Israelis would need in all kinds of emergencies from wars to fires or earthquakes.  ALSO read his article, Blessed or Cursed? The Key to a Blessed Life. To access what Reuven sends in his newsletters full of insights on current events and biblical insight into what is taking place concerning Israel, Learn more here and  SUBSCRIBE to his newsletter.
     JUST IN MUST READ: I cried my eyes out as I read the latest article Reuven sent out today: The Cost of Vision. It was about the Jew & the Gentile in the late 1800’s that worked together to “to create the Jewish state.” They worked together and broke the spiritual ground that would be realized by others in the future even though they did not see any physical change before their deaths. They died thinking they had failed, but that was far from the truth. This is the cost of this vision we carry from God – to give our all whether we see and live in the success of it or not. Please read this and be stirred by the Spirit. 

Out of Zion, David & Josie Silver sent out an excellent guest column by Australian writer Harriet Cuming who point out an exceptional speech in less than 2 minutes by British former MK Sir Jacob William Rees-Mogg. In his speech Rees challenges the platitudes about protecting our spiritual “elder brother” saying we must take real action. Harriet Cuming’s article challenges the same ground excellently. Christians all over the world are speaking out about rising anti-Semitism. Are you? | Read more here 

Ruby writing for Fields of Wheat on a tragic incident about a deadly teenage attack on a 21-year old young man, so struck a chord with me, that I posted it on Facebook so everyone can read it. The issue of a generation of young people adrift without moral anchors is a horrific problem the USA shares with Israel. Ruby’s heart of compassion in asking, Can We Prevent Tragedies like this in the Future? And his prayer points are to be taken to heart by God’s people. Let us pray for Israeli teens asking God to bring the same healing solution to American teens. You know the answer – it is a deep encounter with the Messiah Yeshua, Jesus.

Avi and Chaya Mizrachi of Dugit Outreach write of the recent annual Women’s gathering theme that “God meets us in our brokenness and transforms it into something beautiful....He is the Creator and the Restorer — the One who does not overlook pain, but redeems it....“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). Today, we want to remind you, dearest friends — you are seen, you are known, and you are deeply loved by God. Bring Him your burdens, your weariness, your hidden places....May He turn every place of ashes in your life into beauty.  
     Watch Avi’s powerful testimony of how one unexpected visit to his sister in America became the beginning of a personal encounter with God’s love, grace, and salvation. 

Impassioned words from Zion’s Glory, Jackie Santoro at the Jerusalem Ahavat Yeshua congregation: “Since God gave us the Land back, the new version of anti Semitism is anti Zionism which has been front and center. Once again, the forces of evil are rising up to destroy this nation which God said is His. The people God called His "chosen" do not feel welcome on the streets of most countries. In spite of the intense spiritual warfare that attacks us because Israel exists, this Land is truly God's gift to His people- a special and precious gift, given in love by God to the people he cherishes. A place where the Jewish people are able to flourish in the gifts and calling of God and truly be a light to the nations. A refuge against the hatred and a place where we can now defend ourselves against the satanic onslaught meant to destroy us and stop the return of Yeshua as King to this land of his birth, death and resurrection.
     “As believers, we have been called to take our stand and to fight the good fight of faith. Our congregation is flourishing and growing. We persevere in hope through all the wars and encourage one another daily. We do not take meeting together for granted since we know what it is to suddenly be told by the Home Front Command that we can’t meet because it is too dangerous. God is doing a deep work in our midst, knitting us together with bonds that cannot be broken. We are strong, full of faith and pressing forward to all that God has for us in the days to come. And we are raising up the next generation and the one after that to take the mantle and to be bold, strong and courageous and to love the Lord with a passionate love. Next month, we are celebrating our 20 year anniversary since the congregation met for the first time! How Eddie (Jackie’s husband, now with the Lord) would glow with pride to see all that we have become with his legacy of love firmly planted in our foundation.
     Israelis are open and just recently, I was able to witness to 4 different people with deep discussions based on all that we were going through as a nation. And each one saw and felt God’s hand on His people and I felt their hearts were soft. God is in the DNA of this nation and the openness is increasing.
     He will yet cause good to come from all the suffering we have endured.  He will yet redeem every tear, every drop of innocent blood shed, every battle that was fought in good faith for righteousness sake and the destruction of evil. God loves us and He is rising up to defeat His enemies! I thank you deeply for your untiring support and love for this nation. 

Howard Bass writing from Nachalat Yeshua, Yeshua’s Inheritance congregation in Beer Sheva: “Jesus spoke of the difficult way and the narrow gate that leads to life versus the broad way and wide gate that leads to destruction.  The Hebrew word for "narrow" is tzar/ צר.  This word, in the feminine, is the same word for "tribulation, trouble," an experience that all people will know in the world.  But with God, it serves a redemptive purpose for learning obedience, even, and especially, being His children:  to partake of His holiness.  These last 2 1/2 years of war are being used of God towards both His righteous judgments upon the nations for their hatred and hypocrisy towards His chosen people Israel; and also towards bringing Israel and the Jewish people to acknowledge their sin and rebellion against Him; and for testing and challenging the Gentile believers to show mercy to the Jewish people and nation, and to provoke them to jealousy for their own God and Savior.  The triune God YHVH is holy, holy, holy; and clearly, the Bride is not yet ready.  Just look at ourselves, and within our churches.  We need that purifying baptism of fire for that which is of Christ/Messiah in us; and for destroying everything else that is not worthy of Him. 
     The Holy Spirit is at work getting us ready to bear and to overcome increasingly serious, even painful, labor pains as the expected birth is THERE!  Our faith and trust in our Lord and Savior will save us through the ordeal, but we need to endure it for the desired outcome.  The gold and the silver and the precious stones must go into the fiery furnace to come out with the level of purity required for its purpose.  Yeshua will be there with us through it, but we need to overcome our fears of going through such a way for final purification.  Our love and complete trust in Him will be our victory, just as was His on the cross
     ....This evening -- even as I write -- we are conducting an evangelism "course" with Jews for Jesus for the young adults, ages 18-35.  They will learn why evangelism is important, and receive some "tools" to help them share the gospel with those around them.  Interestingly, Yad LeAchim, an aggressive anti-missionary group, heard about this, and thought that we were going out on the streets and inviting unsuspecting Jews to "come on in" in order to be proselytized to "change their religion".  At first group of believers had received permission for a small building at a city park.  When word came to Yad LeAchim (A Hand to the Brothers), they made the city refuse to receive us on "city" property.  So, it is being done on the property of the congregation.  We are in a spiritual battle, not one of flesh and blood, even though we may suffer in our flesh unto blood at some point.   PLEASE DO PRAY FOR A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE TO HEAR AND LISTEN TO THE TRUTH OF THE MESSIAH BEING YESHUA/JESUS. Our love and support for the Jewish people and Israel must include humbly but confidently calling them to repentance and faith in the gospel. 

Hosting from Tikkun Global Ministry Center a Shavuot/ Pentecost online gathering with 5 prayer watches starting Thurs 5/21 at 11pm Israel Time & 4pm US-EST | Ending in Israel at 5/22 6:30am & In US 5/21 11:30pm EST | INFO |Asher Intrater & Tal Robin write Messianic Pentecost | Asher writes Second Pentecost | Ariel Blumenthal video teaching Jerusalem: Throne of Thrones for the King of Kings | Esther Call for Iran Sun & Tues (3pm Israel/8am US-EST) on Zoom BUT NO ESTHER CALL ON 5/21. CATCH the REPLAYS | VISIT our Israel Ministry Center-Get info |Ariel video teaching God is Restoring Now! | Forgiveness Requires Great Faith by Jeremiah Smilovici | Ariel teaching Prophetic Intercession from Daniel | Guy Cohen article The Example of Stephen |

Beit Hallel pastor Israel Pochtar | Last weekend 500 people from across Israel came to the Shavuot event in Israel! |  | Pentecost in Jerusalem: A Time for the Gospel to Go Forth | The Burdens We Help Carry for Widows & Single Mothers | She Thought She Couldn’t Pray – then things changed! | Watch The God of Second Chances: When God Makes a Way | A Simple Act of Kindness | Restored Heart: A Stone Lifted 

Arni & Yonit Klein send this enlightening Emmaus Way catch-up letter after a ministry time in Africa had to be extended due to the Iranian war. Arni sees great insight into current spiritual realities: "The need to prepare the way is not a new revelation. Yet it in all our crying out, somehow relating to this aspect of the process seems to have fallen by the wayside. Perhaps a fullness of time was yet to come. In that regard, if our personal lives, calling, and ministry were a measure of anything, it would be that a fullness of time has arrived. Since our calling to Israel in 1989 and our immigration in 1992, we have been specifically led by confirmed words from God. And now at 80 years old, sensing that this moment is what we were created and prepared for, and being sent into such a prepared field, we believe it all testifies about something bigger than us…that the fullness of time to prepare the way is upon us. . . .
     "Once again, with the specter of war and possible airport closure looming on the horizon, we are preparing to travel to Uganda on Friday May 15th for another month of ministry. We are scheduled to have two full seminars and a third gathering to complete a series we began last trip…which is only a month behind us. It’s hard to fathom all the doors that have opened, the number of personal connections we have made, and the scope of future plans formulated during our whirlwind two-month visit there. In contrast to our usual way of doing things, it’s rather quick to be engaged and committed to the depth we find ourselves. Our challenge, with all the open doors and possibilities before us, is to have the wisdom not to build or expand the house beyond the degree to which the foundation has been tested and proved. Time is relative. We trust and pray that God will orchestrate everything. . . .
     "We left Uganda with a sense of fullness and thankfulness for all that was accomplished and that laid open before us. Within even our first day home we found ourselves under a weight of exhaustion and depression. It actually took a few days for us to recognize what we were thinking and feeling. We unpacked our state with a close friend that travels quite a lot. We noted that our totally positive inner sense went dark in a moment for essentially no earthly reason. It dawned on us that we were experiencing the spiritual oppression that sits over the Land 24/7. . . . we had never before experienced the contrast so clearly beyond any shadow of doubt. It’s amazing, as the lead point in our message to our African brethren is a call for spiritual help to counter the extreme demonic oppression that sits over the Land. Realizing it exisits doesn’t make it disappear; however, it does keep one from going into a place of condemnation. The common initial reaction is that the depression is due to something wrong with us personally. All in all, we are very thankful to now be able to issue the call for help from even a more personal position. Please pray with us for the African brethren that God has raised up to work with us there." To read the full inspiring, report write to subscribe.” 

A fashion model in her Israeli youth, now a widowed believer in northern Israel , Ronit Bender is a model for Israeli personal evangelism. She is the message of Yeshua’s love for people who cross her path in living daily to serve the Lord. Her monthly emails speak of the people she meets and how God leads her in connecting with them. Ronit is a people magnet – people of all walks of life, Jew, Arab or anyone living in the Land of Israel. Her stories and walking with many she is asking prayers for are numerous, and inspiring to anyone who wants to know how to go beyond just living daily life to making daily life an ambassador of Heaven experience.
     This month Ronit shared about an Arab salon owner she has become very close to over the years and in whose shop she has broken kingdom ground in the hearts of many. Ronit writes about how (in her ministry to others in the woman’s salon, the woman has responded by returning care and kindness back to Ronit: “….one day she asked me if I would like help with my food shopping on a Mondays, her only day off. I was delighted. That day a deeper relationship was formed that is not easy to explain. I was rather amazed that someone who is not a believer in Yeshua [yet], can be so loving, without motives or self serving. I guess she became the daughter I never had, making sure I have food in my fridge, go to the health club/gym so I will be fit and she goes with me to doctor appointments….I am no longer by myself for evenings when families would be together. She has filled a big hole in my heart that was left since Tom departed 12 years ago.” This is the power of the love of Yeshua, freely given and freely received. Please pray for “L” to complete the circle of her journey toward receiving the Savior very soon, and for continued blessings and healing for Ronit (see prayer for healing section below). 

In central Israel, Tony and Orna Sperandeo lead a loving congregational family in Kfar Saba, HaMaayan. They post their prayer and ministry letters on a blog, you can read it here and see the pictures taken at various events. One of the prayer requests I would like to share here is “Due to the economic stress caused by the war, we are praying for practical support for our most needy members in Israel as well as our believing partners….While these past 2 months were very difficult in Israel, our trust, confidence and hope are in the Lord. He gave us the peace that surpassed all understanding.” 

Leon Mazin of Return to Zion in Haifa writes, When a Young Heart begins to Ask, “What About Me?” "Over the weekend, some of our young people joined a youth conference getaway together with Netivyah, built around the theme: “What about me?” It was not a light question, and it was not treated lightly. The weekend opened space for honest, searching, and sometimes difficult questions about identity, calling, responsibility, and each young person’s place in the Body of Messiah and in the Kingdom of God." Read in full here. 

Moti Cohen leads the team at Tiferet Yeshua in Tel Aviv. Watch this personal video message. Also: “Over the last couple of months, we have been facing a difficult challenge: the dollar has fallen below three shekels for the first time in 30 years, meaning that we have lost 20% in value on our dollar-based support. As a result, we find ourselves facing a budget crisis. As always, we rely on the support of our friends in the nations to help us keep this congregation in downtown Tel Aviv open. This is the case now more than ever! In this moment of financial challenge, we ask that you prayerfully consider making a special donation to help us overcome this shortfall.” | And a Testimony of Supernatural revelations of Yeshua among Muslims, particularly in Iran.

Ariel and Shayla Hyde, leading the team at Tree of Life Israel, send this video testimony of a woman who survived her mother’s abortion attempt, gives her life to Yeshua. Explore the other great things on  the landing page to this Testimony link.

     Speaking of TREE, Ariel and his brother Avi at Tree of Life, are proof that the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. In this case the tree are their parents, Carolyn and Richard Hyde of Heart for G-d Ministries who I met in Texas before they moved to Israel (in what seems like decades ago!). Carolyn is a well-known Messianic worship musician and with that background currently is leading Prophetic Artists Journeys (PAJ) in Israel –watch her speak of it this video.  “Thank you for keeping watch with us from May 25-27 during the next PAJ. As the lgbtq+ community of Israel tries to call forth the days of Sodom at the Dead Sea, we will pray as we've been shown for multitudes in the valley of decision to choose wisely! Also a group of us locals plan to repent and pray there soon. Contact them at mailto:hydefamilyisrael@gmail.com 

Revive Israel led by Youval Yanay on the Messianic Moshav at Yad Hashmona write about the tragic car accident that shook their community when a 9 year old boy lost his life in their streets. The community mourned as the child Itai who was so full of life and “whose presence was so deeply part of daily life here in the village.” The young discipleship students, housed very close to where the accident happened, “saw everything, and it shook them deeply. Almost immediately that gathered together and began praying for Itai and for his family. In the middle of the shock and sorrow, there was also the quiet comfort of knowing that Itai walked with Yeshua.” Pray for those who mourn the loss, and for those who need to find the Door to eternity as Itai had before leaving this life.
     In the days since then, a group of 12 to 14 year olds visited the moshav from the Makor HaTikvah, Messianic Jewish middle school in Jerusalem. The current discipleship students spent the day with them guided them through different activities and showing beautiful leadership in the process. It was something “healthy and beautiful” taking root. In the coming week they are heading to Tel Aviv to serve on the streets, preparing and distributing food to the poor and those in need. “Every person we meet carries a story, often marked by loneliness, hardship, or brokenness. We continue praying that through these encounters, people would not only receive practical help but also experience the love and nearness of God.

Jennifer and Eliahu Guetta of Plant Hope Israel, Jennifer got the greatest gift on Mother’s Day – and answer to 14 years of prayer for daughter, Limor’s salvation.
Jennifer writes, "She came to know Jesus miraculously this year, was baptized, and is following Him....she just sent me a picture of herself in an evangelical, Holy Spirit-filled church learning about Israel! Pfff, what a gift from the Lord on Mother's Day!”
   "For years, Jennifer Guetta supervised excavations at Megiddo (Armageddon), digging for evidence of the Bible. But her greatest discovery...came through a miraculous encounter with Jesus Christ through dreams that rescued her from the darkness of the New Age....Jennifer’s journey from the trenches of archaeology to the glory of God is a wake-up call for the modern world....To partner with Jennifer’s upcoming U.S. Speaking Tour (June 25 – August 26....We need to raise $9,000 to cover travel and ministry costs for events in California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and beyond. Will you help us bring this message of hope to America?"

Avner Boskey, Final Frontier Ministries, writes Standing in a Divided Nation with an Undivided Heart. DD: This is about America and is a serious wakeup call for American Christians who support Israel: “An April 7, 2026 survey published by  Pew Research Center reveals that 60% of US adults have an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53% last year.” Read online

Kobi and Shani Ferguson of Maoz Israel send out an article, In the Middle of it All that you can read online to see how they help with funding other believers in Israel. This focuses on aid they want to give parents suffering because of lack of steady income through all the war activity of recent months. The link will give access to much more in the Maoz Israel Report.
 

Watch the report from May 1 from Chaim Malespin, Aliyah Return Center:
Update (Day 936) Swords of Iron/Lion’s Roar “Jews Attacked in UK”. This is so important in all Western Nations right now!

Commentaries from Cookie Schwaeber-Issan in AllIsraelNews and Jerusalem Post
email contact | 5/15 Will Americans be Forced to Dress According to Islamic Standards |5/13 How America is slowly abandoning Israel and Jews | 5/11 What they’ll do to you if they think you’re Jewish | 5/9 JPost: The Political Calculation of Sympathy for Jews | 5/8 The gaps that will never be bridged between Hamas and Israel  |5/6 Should Jews fight their country’s antisemitism or move to Israel? | 5/4 What Part of Islamic Terrorism is Lost on Saudi Arabia? |  5/1 The Burden Called Israel

Joseph Magan, the founding visionary of KehilaNews is on top of the trend of how younger generation believers access news – including ministry news. Unlike those of us who actually still read, most of the younger are viewing everything the consume online. That’s why it is so important what Josepth has pioneered in aggregating the ministry videos from Israeli ministries each week. If that is the news you want – and I highly recommend that you get your Israel news in LARGE majority from Israeli ministries (whether print or video) because so few hold the same level of truly understanding what is going on regarding Israel. This week, Joseph is featured on HAPPY JERUSALEM DAY, The Longest Wait in Jewish History Ended on this Day which commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem following the Six-Day War in 1967. It is observed on the 28th of the Hebrew month of Iyar. This year, it begins on the evening of May 14 and runs through the evening of May 15. + 18 other videos released in the last week. Save the link, sign up for a weekly list of what’s new in Israeli ministry videos.

To plant a gift in this ministry I have been doing for the last 25 years, please email me for giving options to Donna Diorio at ArrowsDDiorio@protonmail.com  I do not have non-profit status and all gifts are just that - gifts! No tax deduction to be had. But much appreciation for your blessings on this labor of love calling the Church to support our spiritual kin in Israel - the Israeli Messianic Jewish believers and Arab Christians practicing "one new man" in the faith of Yeshua, Jesus.