Exloring Life Eternal

Morocco – Pray that the national church would gain full acceptance within Moroccan society and for the emergence and training of the next generation of leaders.

Iraq – Pray for daily strength for each Christian, especially those living amidst the threat of violence and crime. Pray that they will know the peace of the Prince of Peace within them and shine with His light.

Israel – Pray that Christians harassed by some ultra-orthodox Jews will respond with wisdom, love and courage. Recently, there has been intense pressure on some Christians, notably in Arad.

Djibouti – Continue to pray for the small house groups meeting under constant surveillance. Pray that the blessings of the Lord will rest upon the Djibouti Church.

Yemen – Pray that those who choose to follow Jesus Christ would find safe fellowship and will be properly discipled.

Bahrain – Pray for greater acceptance of religious choice in society and a reduction in family pressure against those who choose to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Lebanon – Praise the Lord for the esteem in which the Christian Schools are collectively held. Pray that they continue to maintain their reputation and use their position for the glory of God.

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PRAY FOR JEWS AROUND THE WORLD DURING THIS TIME OF ROSH HASHANAH (JEWISH NEW YEAR)

Rosh Hashanah is known as “the head of the year” and Jews worldwide began the ten day celebration (known as Days of Awe) on Tuesday, October 3 at sundown. It starts with the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn) and it is thus known as the “Feast of Trumpets.” It ends with Yom Kippur (October 12), the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the High Holy Days for Jews. Jews worldwide are given these 10 days to repent for their sins and ask God for forgiveness. On the very first day of Rosh Hashanah, after the afternoon service, many Jews by tradition will visit a body of water or pond, containing live fish, to symbolically “cast away” their sins into the river. “The fish’s dependence on water symbolizes the Jews dependence on God, as a fish’s eyes never close, God’s watchful dyes never cease.” Jews believe God opens His Book of Life during the ten days of Awe. He then evaluates their lives, their confessions and He may record their names in His Book of Life. When Jews leave their temples after the Rosh Hashanah services they will say to each other, “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life.”

On Yom Kippur, the final day, Jews may fast, acknowledge the importance of keeping their vows and give their final confessions to God. It is the only service where the doors to the Ark (where the Torah Scrolls are stored) remain open through the service, signifying that the gates of Heave are open at this time. In the closing it is believed that God closes and seals His Book of Life. The Shofar is then sounded once and the congregation proclaims “Next year in Jerusalem.” This is to express their hope that the Messiah will come.

The population of Jews in the world is estimated at 12.5 million. Currently the number of Messianic Jews is the largest in history. They know that God sent Y'shua (Jesus) to forgive them of their sins and they know they will have eternal life. Pray that more Jews around the world will come to accept Y'shua especially during these days of Awe.

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Please feel free to distribute this to any & all so that they might pray. Suitable for Church bulletins & forwarding.

Israel, Middle East

Leader: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Dominant Religion: Judaism
Christians: 1-2%
Persecution Ranking: Not Ranked

Israel's population of about six million is very diverse. Ethnically, roughly 79% are Jewish, 20% Arab, and 1% other people groups. Consequently, church fellowships worship in many languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic (the primary language of Ethiopia) and English. Some use more than one language in a service. Christians, especially priests, are frequently harassed by the ultra-Orthodox-Jewish community.

Israel's government also has an uneasy relationship with Christian organizations. A visa policy change in 2004 excluded their professional and administrative staff from being able to acquire a religious visa. This affected many churches and Christian ministries, and one Catholic hospital was threatened with closure. Several thousand ethnically Jewish people choose to believe Jesus as the Messiah, often referred to as Messianic Believers. For some, this causes little, if any, problems. For others it can be very serious. Some who have settled in Israel risk having their citizenship revoked, leaving them stateless and extremely vulnerable, because their claim to be Jewish is undermined.

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Prayer points:

= Pray for improvements in relationships between traditional churches and the Israeli government.

= Pray that Christians harassed by some ultra-orthodox Jews will respond with wisdom, love, and courage.

= "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6). May it become truly the city of peace that God intends it to be.

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Dear LORD Jesus, the Holy One of God, we thank You that You once walked in the land of Israel. Strengthen those who call on Your name to live in keeping with Your example. Grant them courage when harassed and the wisdom to confront injustice with wisdom, tact, and clarity. Dear Prince of Peace, strengthen all who work for true peace in this land of conflict.

Sources: LifeAgape International, Barnabus Fund, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Forum 18 News Service, Jubilee Campaign, Middle East Concern, Open Doors International, Voice of the Martyrs USA, and 3P Ministries.
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