Israel / Hamas conflict: ongoing war
12 Oct 2023
On 12 October, Israel said there would be no humanitarian break to its ‘total siege’ of the Gaza Strip until all its hostages were freed, even though the Red Cross pleaded for fuel to be allowed in to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from ‘turning into morgues’. Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement which rules Gaza, in retribution for the deadly attack on 7 October, when hundreds of gunmen poured across the barrier fence and rampaged through Israeli towns. The death toll in Israel is at least 1,300, with more than 2,700 injured and about 150 taken hostage: in Gaza it is at least 1,400, with over 5,600 wounded. The only power station in the enclave has run out of fuel, and already some 340,000 have been made homeless by Israel’s bombing campaign. Hamas militants holding Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage have threatened to execute a captive for each home in Gaza hit without warning. Meanwhile, Israel has shelled towns in southern Lebanon in response to a fresh rocket attack by Hezbollah: see
Israel / Hamas conflict: what to pray for
12 Oct 2023
On 12 October, Israel said there would be no humanitarian break to its ‘total siege’ of the Gaza Strip until all its hostages were freed, after the Red Cross pleaded for fuel to be allowed in to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from ‘turning into morgues’. Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement which rules Gaza, in retribution for the deadly attack on 7 October, when hundreds of gunmen poured across the barrier fence and rampaged through Israeli towns. The death toll in Israel is at least 1,300, with more than 2,700 injured and about 150 taken hostage: in Gaza it is at least 1,400, with over 5,600 wounded. The only power station in the enclave has run out of fuel, and already some 340,000 have been made homeless by Israel’s bombing campaign. Hamas militants holding Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage have threatened to execute a captive for each home in Gaza hit without warning. Meanwhile, Israel has shelled towns in southern Lebanon in response to a fresh rocket attack by Hezbollah: see
Middle East churches' symposium ahead of COP28
12 Oct 2023
Dave Bookless of A Rocha writes: ‘On 4-5 October I spoke at a symposium on “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” held in Beirut by the Middle East Council of Churches. It was remarkable to see all the diverse cardinals, metropolitans, bishops and archimandrites, and hundreds of robed and bearded priests and seminary students, all coming together to address creation care. All the churches of the region were represented - an amazing witness to Christian unity. The whole event was televised across the Middle East. Amazingly, all the Churches of the Middle East have agreed to a joint statement and call to action which will be presented at COP28, due to be held in Dubai at the end of November.’
India: bank agents steal money from customers
12 Oct 2023
An exposé has shown that the Bank of Baroda made it simple and easy for its agents to steal money from customers’ accounts - and some of them did. The bank’s employees had linked unauthorised mobile numbers to accounts before uploading them onto the bank’s new mobile app. These numbers were of bank staff, managers, guards, their relatives, and bank agents in remote areas. Internal documents show that some of the bank’s agents withdrew tens of thousands of rupees from customers’ accounts. The bank’s head office has asked the managers concerned to do everything necessary to restore the money to the accounts. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has ordered an audit, and has told the bank to stop registering new customers on its app.
Afghanistan: two earthquakes within a week
12 Oct 2023
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake has struck western Afghanistan, four days after a series of deadly quakes left at least a thousand people dead. This second earthquake struck an area near Herat early on 10 October. There are conflicting reports about the number of casualties: one spokesperson reported at least 120 injured. It flattened all 700 homes in Chahak village, which was untouched by Saturday’s quakes. Rescue workers and volunteers have been working around the clock to try to dig out survivors and bodies from the ruins of the villages since the weekend. Relief efforts have been hampered by poor infrastructure in the impoverished country, following decades of war and a decline in foreign aid.
Algeria: church leader convicted
12 Oct 2023
Church leader Rev Youssef Ourahmane has been convicted of holding an unauthorised religious assembly and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and a fine equivalent to approximately £600. He is vice-president of the Èglise Protestante d’Algérie (EPA), an association of around 45 Algerian churches which have been suffering under a severe crackdown that began in 2017. Many EPA-affiliated churches have been forced to close. In March 2023 a small number of Christian families spent three days in a church compound under Rev Youssef’s supervision. The small church in the compound had been sealed by order of the provincial governor in 2019. The pastor was charged with holding an unauthorised religious assembly and holding worship in a building not permitted for worship. He was convicted in absentia and was not informed of the court hearing or the verdict until mid-September. He has appealed the verdict: a hearing date has been set for 19 November.
Tension is rising in Guatemala, where protests by supporters of president-elect Bernardo Arévalo have run into a second week. They are demanding the resignation of attorney-general Consuelo Porras, who they accuse of plotting to prevent Mr Arévalo from taking office. He won the presidential election by a landslide in August, but just hours later his party was suspended by the supreme electoral tribunal - a move widely viewed as an attempt to stop Mr Arévalo, a political outsider who has campaigned against corruption, from being sworn in as planned. Ms Porras argues that the party was not properly registered, but critics point out that she only launched her investigation after Mr Arévalo secured a spot in the run-off. The protests intensified last week as demonstrators blocked key roads across the country, causing fuel and food shortages and paralysing traffic. The outgoing president, Alejandro Giammattei, condemned the blockades, and asked Mr Arévalo to sit down with mediators sent by the Organisation of American States (OAS), to ensure a peaceful handover of power.
We sense this is a key moment for the body of Christ to release a call to 21 days of focused prayer on behalf of Israel: Jews, Arabs and Internationals – Oct 11th to Nov. 1st.
We want to pray for a Great Harvest and for the Peace of Jerusalem
In light of recent signs that I have shared - of a significant harvest emerging in the Middle East, and Israel now at war, we want to contend for the Gospel of the Kingdom to be proclaimed with demonstrations of power and love throughout the land of Israel.
Our of our partner ministries has hundreds of volunteer laborers prayer walking and sharing the message of Hope in Jesus across Israel this month. Their assignment has heightened importance due to the war. They are finding that people are more receptive than ever to the Gospel - but they need our prayers!
Will you pray with us for these Laborers, for a massive Harvest - and for Peace?
As the Lord leads you, would you consider praying each day for 21 days in your home, church, house of prayer, workplace, or prayer tower on behalf of the nation and peoples of Israel.
12:11 – HOW TO PRAY
We invite you to set your alarm for 12 Noon each day and pray for 11 minutes (minimum) using the 12 prayer points below – a Revelation 12:11 call to pray!
“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” Rev 12:11 (ESV)
You may also consider fasting – a Daniel Fast – 21 days of no meats or sweets – as the Lord leads you!
Here are some prayer points to help guide your prayers:
EXALT JESUS!
- Pray for Jesus Christ to be exalted as King and take His rightful inheritance in the land! Ps. 2, 110
PRAY FOR THE HARVEST
- Pray for laborers to be sent forth throughout the land of Israel who will overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and laying down their lives even unto death” (Rev. 12:11)
- Pray for the Lord to remove the blindness that the God of this age has placed over the minds of the unbelievers that they might see the Light of the Gospel in the face of Jesus! 2 Cor. 4:4-6
- Pray for Open Doors for the Gospel in the hearts of men, both Jews and Arabs in the land. Co. 4:2-4
- Pray for signs, wonders and miracles throughout the land of Israel! Acts. 4:29-31, Micah 7:15, Acts 2:17-21
PRAY FOR PEACE
- Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and an end to war and bloodshed. Pray for this war to be ‘restrained and contained’ and not pushed into a larger regional or global war - Psalm 122
- Pray for the Lord to rebuke the enemy, bind the spirit of violence, and rage, and cast down the accuser of the brethren.
- Pray for the poor and vulnerable ones in the midst of war who are suffering and grieving.
- Pray for those being persecuted for the Gospel to remain loyal in their love and allegiance to Jesus, even in the face of Satan’s most severe persecutions.
- Pray for governmental leaders to have wisdom walking in the ‘fear of the Lord’ 1 Tim. 2:1-2
PRAY FOR ISRAEL
- Pray for a global ‘gift of tears’ to be released to the body of Christ, as we cry out for mercy on behalf of Israel, Ps 126:5-6 (See Video)
- Pray for the Highway of Holiness, from Egypt to Assyria to Israel to be established, Isaiah 19:23-25
May the Lord call us to a Revelation 12:11 lifestyle – Soaked in the Blood, Strong in Witness, Sacrificial in Life. (See Video)
For the Glory of the Lamb,
Dr. Jason Hubbard – Director
International Prayer Connect