Will you answer our call to prayer — now? Here’s why: in just a day or so, we will begin our fourth Outreach in Zambia. We have been there once a year since 2022 and are watching the Lord move among His precious Jewish Lemba people. In just the past few years, we’ve seen new Believers saved, disciples made, and some even go to another nation to share the Good News. The Lord has also raised up some dedicated Believers who have consistently partnered with us there, and other congregational partners from Zimbabwe will join us on this trip. In addition, our international Outreach Partners will include a group of young Messianic Jewish Believers from Israel.

Please pray with us for unity among all those working together on this Outreach. Pray also for effectiveness in the form of healing, salvation, and deliverance as we bring medical care and the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus), in the power of His Spirit.

Please join us in prayer in the following ways:

• Use the detailed, day-by-day Prayer Points below
• Commit to a specific time slot to pray for us from home during the Outreach.  SIGN UP on our Prayer Schedule, referring to the dates below

Day-by-Day Prayer Points for our Outreach in Zambia

 August 28–September 7, 2025

Thank you for praying and believing with us now for great things for the Lemba and their neighbors in Zambia!

Before the Outreach

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God’” (Isaiah 40:3 NKJV).

Wednesday, August 27

• All preparations to come together in a timely way with excellence
• All necessary paperwork to be in hand and completed accurately
• Spiritual forces of darkness to flee, making way for the King of Glory to come with salvation, healing, and deliverance as He prepares the spiritual atmosphere and hearts to receive Him

Thursday, August 28

• Protection, health, safety, and favor during preparation and travel
• All Outreach team members, partners, and their luggage to arrive on time, together, and intact
• Spiritual preparation of the community and people we’ll be serving so they will be open to coming and welcoming the Light of the Lord to transform their lives and region

Friday, August 29

• A restful Erev Shabbat as everyone gets to know each other and fellowships together
• Each participant to lay aside their own thoughts of what the week will look like, and allow the Lord to lead regarding how He plans to use them 
• Easy adjustment for international Outreach Partners as they experience a new time zone, new food, and different culture and customs

Saturday, August 30

• The four groups who are giving leadership and spearheading different aspects of this Outreach — may they work together as those who make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, doing all things in love
• Successful, clear, and anointed orientations for the Clinic and Prayer & Counseling departments
• God’s angel armies to push back the forces of darkness, enabling the seeds of the Good News to go deep into good soil and bear lasting fruit throughout the week and beyond

During the Outreach

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18).

Sunday, August 31

• Since we have been here before, may the community be open and ready to come quickly to the Outreach, starting today and continuing through the week
• The Lord to hand-pick the local workers who will work alongside us in unity; may they also be touched by the Lord and saved
• A sense of anticipation, hope, and trust in the Lord as the Clinic opens for a half day today
• May the prayer and counseling tent be busy right from the start as the Holy Spirit moves powerfully and ministers healing, deliverance, and salvation

Monday, September 1

• All our international Outreach Partners to serve in the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Pray especially for the group of young Messianic Believers from Israel — may they be refreshed as they leave a nation at war and minister the Good News to their Jewish Lemba brothers and sisters in Zambia
• The Zehra NextGen program, under indigenous leadership, to be ideally situated, fully staffed, and wonderfully effective in drawing children and teens to the Lord
• The Living Waters team, who will share the Gospel of Yeshua as they supply LifeStraws® in the community

Tuesday, September 2

• Medical and dental volunteers to give effective care and for the Lord to heal, including supernaturally, as a testimony of His power and love
• Worship times, led by a Zambian worship team, to bring great joy and refreshment, permeating the spiritual atmosphere with light and life
• Breakthrough among people who are captive to ancestral worship and witchcraft, resulting in them turning fully to the Lord to worship Him only

Wednesday, September 3

• Favor and effectiveness to last not only all week but also increase
• Physical health, stamina, and safety for all who are laboring in love to see the Lemba and their neighbors served and ministered to this week
• An amazing supernatural, international, Kingdom impact as a result of this Outreach — beyond what we can imagine

Thursday, September 4

• On this last day of the Clinic, may those in greatest need of medical or spiritual care receive care or be spontaneously healed
• Safety as teams take down the Outreach tents and pack up equipment
• Calm to prevail as our staff pays the local workers — and may these workers leave not only with a financial benefit, but more importantly, great spiritual blessings because of being exposed to the Good News and the ministry of the Holy Spirit

After the Outreach

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of [Messiah] Jesus” (Philippians 1:4–6).

Friday, September 5 and onward

• An outpouring of God’s grace on everyone who served, and may they each hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” from the Lord
• A safe journey home for all who traveled from elsewhere
• The Lord to continue working in this region, spreading the Good News and building up the Messianic Believers
• Those doing the follow-up work, discipling new Believers, and forming congregations

Let’s Pray

Lord, we know that Zambia is known for its cultural diversity, and You created and love each group. Thank You for all the Lemba Jewish people there that You have sent us to minister to and share Your Good News with. May they and their neighbors be incredibly blessed by all that You will do through us during this Outreach. And thank You for our partners who make real and lasting differences for your Chosen People in foreign lands, through their prayers. In Yeshua’s name, AMEN.

The shofar is a simple yet profound instrument of the Bible. It’s a key feature of Judaism’s Fall Feasts, particularly Rosh Hashanah and Yom Teruah.

Yom Teruah and Rosh Hashanah

Yom Teruah means “Day of Blowing” and is also known as the Feast of Trumpets.  It is one of the feasts outlined by God in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 29 for Jewish people to observe throughout our generations.  Over time, Jewish sages came to believe that God created the world on Yom Teruah. Thus, it became linked with Rosh Hashanah, “the head of the year,” or the Jewish New Year.  Today, Rosh Hashanah synagogue services include 100 blasts of the shofar in keeping with the command to blow the shofar on the Feast of Trumpets.

The Shofar

The shofar is one of the earliest trumpets of the Bible. As shofars are made from rams’ horns, they come in various shapes and sizes. The horn is hollowed, and blowing into the small end produces a distinctive loud blast that can be manipulated with one’s breath to create different sounds. Let’s explore the Scriptures for a look at the meanings and uses of the shofar.

Celebration, Worship, and Praise

Along with being blown at observances of the Jewish feasts and new moons (Psalm 81:4), the shofar was used to call Israel to assemblies of worship (Isaiah 27:13 and Joel 2:15). 2 Samuel 6:15 also describes the shofar sounding during the celebration that ensued when David brought the Ark of the Covenant back into the City of David. David danced before the Lord “with all his might” as the people accompanied the ark, shouting and blowing the shofar (2 Samuel 6:12–15 and 1 Chronicles 15:28). The Psalms encourage us to worship and praise the Lord with the sound of the shofar (Psalm 98:6 and 150:3).

Invitation to Come Near to God

At Mount Sinai, God commanded that Israel sanctify themselves for two days. On the third day, He would come to the mountain in the sight of everyone. The people were to stay away from the mountain until they heard the sound of the shofar. Then they could draw near (Exodus 19:13).

A Sign of God’s Presence and Voice

Spectacular sights and sounds accompanied God’s appearance before all Israel at Mount Sinai. There was thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, an earthquake, and “the blast of an exceedingly loud shofar.” Scripture indicates the Lord’s presence is in the sound of the shofar (Exodus 19:16–19 and Psalm 47:5).

A Signal to Military Troops 

As God mentioned in Numbers chapter 10, sounding the shofar indicated the commencement of war (Jeremiah 4:19). It was also used to signal troops to attack, halt, or dismiss (2 Samuel 2:28).

The shofar was instrumental in the miracle God performed at the battle of Jericho. The Lord commanded Israel to march around the city on each of the seven days. On the seventh, Joshua gave the command for the shofars to sound and the people to shout, at which time, Jericho’s walls fell down flat; its people were terrified, and Israel won the victory. (See Joshua 6.)

Shofars were also a key component in Gideon’s small army defeating Midian. With lit torches hidden under empty clay pitchers in one hand and a shofar in the other, Gideon’s 300-man army snuck up on Midian in the night. At Gideon’s signal, each man broke his pitcher, exposing the torch’s flame, and blew his shofar. The sudden, loud noise and burst of light so startled the Midianites that the victory was Israel’s. (See Judges 7:16–25.)

A Call to Listen Up

Kings and prophets blew the shofar before making an announcement for the people of Israel. Saul blew the shofar throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear,” and Isaiah proclaimed, “when the shofar is blown, listen!” God told Isaiah to use his voice like a shofar to get the people’s attention. (See 1 Samuel 13:3, Isaiah 18:3, and Isaiah 58:1.) During the era of kings, shofar blasts preceded shouts from the masses hailing the coronation of a new king.  Absalom used it when attempting to seize his father David’s throne, and David used it when thwarting this rebellion by rushing to crown his son Solomon to succeed him. (See 2 Samuel 15:10 and 1 Kings 1:32–48.)

A Warning Alarm

One of the most recognizable uses of the biblical trumpet is a warning alarm. A watchman on a city wall would scan the horizon and blow a shofar to warn the city of coming danger. Scripture shows the shofar was used to warn of physical dangers, like enemy attacks. Nehemiah chapter 4 describes the dangers that the Jerusalemites faced when rebuilding the city walls. Neighboring people groups threatened to attack and stop the work, so Nehemiah assigned half the men to build and half to hold the weapons, ready to defend when they heard the watchman’s shofar sound. (See Jeremiah 4:5, Nehemiah 4, Ezekiel 33:1–20.)

God commanded the prophets to blow the shofar for spiritual warnings as well. When He sent a prophet to warn of impending judgments, He often called him to blow the shofar (Joel 2:1).  Amid a prophecy of the Messiah’s return, Zechariah describes the day when the Lord Himself will blow the shofar (Zechariah 9:14).

In Oath Making

In 2 Chronicles 15:14, the shofar blasts were used to proclaim and seal an oath made to the Lord by the people in Judah under King Asa.

Signal of the Last Days

The shofar also appears in the New Testament regarding the Last Days. Yeshua (Jesus) will return accompanied by a great blast of the shofar. He will come down from Heaven, and at the “last trumpet,” or last shofar, God will raise the dead in Messiah to incorruptible life, “and we will all be changed” (1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). At the sound of the shofar, He will gather Believers to Himself for eternity (Matthew 24:30–31).

The Message of the Shofar

Through all of these biblical uses, we see that the shofar is a divine call to action, reflection, and worship. As we hear its blasts during Rosh Hashanah and other sacred moments, we’re reminded of its timeless message: to draw near to God, listen to His voice, and prepare for His ultimate return.

Outreach Doubleheader: “Pre-prayer” the way!

Right now, we are in what feels like a “doubleheader” Outreach season. As you read this, our Malawi Outreach trip has just begun, with trip dates from August 14–24. And our Zambia Outreach will start in just a couple of weeks, with the full trip occurring from August 28–September 7. So, there’s a lot to be excited about, and a lot to pray for!

As we’ve shared, Malawi is a new country for us, which entails building new relationships, navigating new regulations, and setting up in a new location.

• We need significant prayer covering as this is an intense timeframe in Malawi due to national events taking place
• There is also extreme hardship in this little nation that cries out for our prayers and the Lord’s answers
• Please pray for us each day, and if you are awake during the night, please pray then too, as that is daytime in Malawi when we’re seeing patients and ministering the love and Good News of Yeshua
• To cover this Outreach in day-by-day prayer, you can refer to our detailed Malawi Outreach Prayer Points here.

Also, please help “pre-prayer” the way for us in Zambia. We have been there before and feel blessed by opportunities to continue reaching out to and caring for the Lemba people there.

• Please pray for safe travels for all who will be serving on this Outreach
• We will have a discipleship group from Israel joining us to minister to the Lemba in Zambia. Please pray that their time away from Israel blesses them as they bless others
• Also, pray for safety and timely effectiveness for our setup team as they go before us and prepare a field hospital–style Clinic from which to minister

Be sure to check your email inbox on August 27 for Zambia Outreach Prayer Points along with a link to the full, detailed daily requests. And please help cover all or a portion of these Outreach dates in prayer by signing up on our 24-7 Prayer Schedule, here.

Every time our Global Outreach Team returns, they tell us stories and praises of all the Lord did in answer to prayer. Thank you for making a kingdom difference in our Malawi and Zambia Outreaches through your prayers!

Bringing Relief to a Weary Region of Ethiopia

We recently held a Medical Outreach in Northern Ethiopia, where communities are still trying to heal from years of war. The people went through tremendous trauma, and many of them haven’t even begun to recover personally. The medical aid you helped us provide for them spoke a powerful message they needed to hear – that they are not forgotten and there is hope for their future.

Here’s a quick look at how many lives you touched in this region through your support of Jewish Voice Ministries. You made a significant impact on each one.

Northern Ethiopia Medical Outreach

May 15–25, 2025

• 10,872 Patients Received Care
• 957 People Received Dental Care
• 3,314 Eyeglasses Distributed
• 200 Families Received LifeStraw® Water Filters
• 110 Minor Surgeries Performed
• 41 Eye Surgeries Performed
• 2  Community LifeStraw® Given
• 354 People Heard the Gospel
• 16 People Received Yeshua, all of them Jewish

16 New Jewish Believers

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church prevails in this location. No other faith expressions are allowed, and the Jewish people are treated with hostility. Despite government restrictions that prevented us from having a Spiritual Care department, 354 people heard the Good News.  Of those, 16 accepted Yeshua as Messiah, and all of them are Jewish. Several of them asked to be immersed. We are so grateful for the role you played in their new lives.

Meeting Emotional Needs

People in this war-traumatized area have suffered mental and physical abuse. A local psychiatrist joined us to offer counseling at this Outreach, and God used the listening ear and guidance provided by this specialist to help people move forward into healing. The services continue to be offered today after the Outreach.

Thank You for the Difference You Made

Through your gifts to Jewish Voice, you made these healing opportunities possible for individuals who have suffered greatly and carry many scars. There are lives forever changed for the good because of you. Thank you so very much.

You Can Change Lives in Person

We would love to have you join us for an upcoming Outreach. You don’t have to be a medical professional because there are several support roles necessary to make these Outreaches successful. We need you!

For the first time, we are going to the country known as “the warm heart of Africa.” Malawi is a densely populated, agricultural nation known for its warmth and friendliness. We sensed the Lord leading us to do a Malawi Outreach when a congregational leader in Zimbabwe, whose home country is Malawi, returned and planted two thriving congregations there. We believe there is great potential for the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus) among this large Lemba population.

Malawi is considered a Christian nation, but other spiritual roots are contrary to the Gospel, and Islam is making concerning inroads. There is also significant and widespread poverty as well as great need. We are aware of the challenges and opportunities, and we hope that you will cover us in much-needed prayer.

Please join us in prayer in the following ways:

• Use these detailed, day-by-day Prayer Points to prayerfully follow the daily needs throughout the Outreach
• Commit to a specific time slot to pray for us from home during the Outreach.  SIGN UP on our Prayer Schedule, referring to the dates below

Prayer Points for this Outreach in a New Location in a New Nation

Malawi, August 14–24

Before the Outreach

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God’” (Isaiah 40:3 NKJV).

Wednesday, August 6–Wednesday, August 13

• All preparations to be fully in place, such as VISAS, site readiness, team unity, and community relationships
• Safe advance transport of medical, pharmaceutical, and other supplies. Due to the remote and rural location of this Outreach, it is critical that we procure this ahead of time
• Protection, health, safety, and favor as our team and partners prepare and travel
• Spiritual forces of darkness to flee, making way for the King of Glory to come with salvation, healing, and deliverance as the Lord prepares the spiritual atmosphere and hearts to receive Him

Thursday, August 14

• Safe and on-time arrivals of all Outreach team members, partners, and luggage
• Safety for workers, participants, vehicles, and supplies while being transported, as well as during and after the Outreach
• Each participant to lay aside their own thoughts of what the week will look like, and seek the Lord for how He plans to use them
• Quick adjustment to the new surroundings, food, and time zone
• Sensitivity for our leaders and team in navigating the culture of a new nation
• Efficient Clinic set-up, which will extend the utility of the small clinic building by using tents

Friday, August 15

• Unity and fellowship to be established and grow as the team and partners come together
• A clear and inspiring welcome meeting
• A wonderful night’s sleep in preparation for an active week
• Deep, lasting trust and favor from local officials and the community

Saturday, August 16

• A meaningful Shabbat that will bring shalom and orient everyone’s hearts for the week
• Successful, clear, and anointed Clinic and Spiritual Care Ministry Orientations
• God’s angel armies to push back the forces of darkness, enabling the seeds of the Good News to go deep into good soil and bear lasting fruit throughout the week and beyond
• Good rest and health throughout the week and protection against any illness or harm

During the Outreach

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18).

Sunday, August 17

• The Lord to hand-pick the local workers who will work alongside us in unity; may they also be touched by the Lord themselves
• A sense of anticipation, hope, and trust in the Lord as the Clinic opens today
• May the community not only hear about the Outreach but come in large numbers, starting today and continuing through the week; may there be no delay in attendance
• The Lord to powerfully stand in the gap between what we are able to provide and what the incredible need is in this impoverished area
• Profound care and wisdom regarding any local factors that we may need to navigate

Monday, August 18

• The Lord to powerfully use the very small number of Outreach Partners on this trip
• The Lord to bring us more outreach partners on future outreaches — this is an ongoing prayer request
• The entire Outreach to go smoothly and be effective in treating bodies and transforming lives through the Good News of Yeshua

Tuesday, August 19

• The Spiritual Care Ministry to be busy throughout the week with healings, deliverances, and salvations as the Lord moves in power through His Word and the Holy Spirit
• Spiritual anointing and physical stamina for those ministering in that area, including leaders from Zimbabwe congregations, international Outreach Partners, and one of our US staff rabbis
• The Living Waters program to be successful in bringing clean water, health, and news of Yeshua, THE Source of Living Water

Wednesday, August 20

• The medical professionals to give valuable, productive care and for healing to take place, including supernaturally as a testimony of His power and love
• Worship times, led by a Malawi Lemba choir, and the prayer times to bring great joy and refreshment, permeating the spiritual atmosphere with light and life
• Breakthrough among people who are captive to witchcraft, ancestor worship, and false ideologies
• The ability to bless the community with a borehole, giving people access to water without high prices

Thursday, August 21

• As the Outreach winds down, may those in greatest need of medical or spiritual care either be seen or spontaneously healed
• Safety as the Outreach tents and equipment are taken down and packed up
• Calm to prevail as our staff pays the local workers. May they leave not only with a financial benefit, but more importantly, great spiritual blessings because of being exposed to the Good News and the ministry of the Holy Spirit

After the Outreach

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of [Messiah] Jesus” (Philippians 1:4–6).

Friday, August 22

• A sacred and welcome Shabbat at the end of a week of ministering out of love
• Joyous and inspiring testimonies as each participant reflects and shares on all the Lord has done during the week
• May each one sense the Lord saying to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Saturday, August 23

• The Outreach to profoundly bless Jewish people of this community in Malawi, and that they receive it as evidence that the Lord sees and values them
• May they also have an enlarged sense of the significance of their Jewish identity and live it out with intention
• An ongoing strong and positive relationship between Jewish Voice Ministries and the local authorities and community in Malawi, and among the Lemba people

Sunday, August 24 and beyond

• Safe travels home, including on the rough roads, and a special outpouring of grace for everyone who served by honoring the Lord and loving the community through this Outreach  
• Effective and timely follow-up to all who want to hear more about Yeshua
• The Lord to continue developing and establishing healthy congregations here and throughout Malawi

Let’s Pray

Lord, we are so privileged to once again break new ground in a nation that is new to us, but not new to You. You know and love the Jewish people of Malawi, and You created them to know and worship You! Use us to bring them the Good News of Yeshua, their Jewish Messiah, and to offer care in His Name. May the Light of the Gospel bring hope and help to them and their neighbors. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Tisha B’Av is a Jewish day of mourning commemorating several tragedies that befell the Jewish people on the same calendar date throughout the centuries. Tisha B’Av means the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av, and on this date in 587 B.C.E., the Babylonians destroyed the First Temple. On Tisha B’Av in 70 C.E., Rome destroyed the Second Temple, and precisely one year later, plowed over the Temple Mount, removing every trace of even its rubble. Other events through time took place on the same Hebrew date, including in 1290 and 1492, when England and Spain, respectively, expelled Jewish people from their countries. On the 9th of Av in 1940, Heinrich Himmler presented to the Nazi party his plan for the “Final Solution” to “the Jewish problem,” and in 1942, the Nazis began deporting Jewish people from the Warsaw Ghetto to concentration camps.

Tisha B’Av

Such a tragic date in Jewish history calls for commemoration. In Jewish life, Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning and reflection on these numerous losses. They are a reminder of Jewish persecution throughout the ages and the sorrow of antisemitism borne by Jewish people to this very day. For three weeks leading up to the 9th of Av, Jewish mourning intensifies. We refrain from parties, weddings, and cutting our hair – all considered luxuries or joys. From the 1st through the 9th of Av, we also abstain from eating meat, drinking wine, and wearing new clothing. On Tisha B’Av itself, we abstain from food and drink, bathing, wearing cosmetics and other activities related to luxuries or celebrations. Even studying the Torah is forbidden because it brings joy. We read only from the book of Lamentations and recite traditional prayers of mourning.

Praying for Israel as She Grieves

Grieving is a necessary part of the healing process after a death, tragedy, or other loss. The State of Israel has been through an extremely difficult season since October 7, 2023. As we approach Tisha B’Av, we recognize Israel and the Jewish people come to this day for mourning long-ago tragedies still carrying the weight of October 7 and its ongoing aftermath. Here are nine ways to pray this Tisha B’Av for groups of Jewish people carrying these added burdens of grief.

1. Tisha B’Av – Mourning Historical Losses

Pray for Jewish people everywhere who are observing Tisha B’Av. Pray that their faithfulness to honor this tragic date in history would draw them closer to God, into a hunger for the Scriptures, a longing for the Messiah, and an openness to learning about Yeshua (Jesus).

2. Hostages’ Grief

At the time of this writing, 20 Gaza hostages are believed to be alive. By the time this prayer guide is published, they will have survived 662 days of anguish, hunger, and fear on top of physical, psychological and emotional abuse. Pray that God would give them strength to continue bearing the unbearable and that they would turn to Him in new ways that bring comfort and endurance.

3. Freed Hostages

Survival during captivity may have meant pushing natural grief aside to sustain inner strength. After the jubilation of their release settles down, then comes processing the trauma they went through. Many still experience nightmares, flashbacks, depression, and ongoing fear. Recovery is long as they learn to cope with post-captivity life, often without loved ones who perished on October 7. Pray for their continuing healing, that they receive excellent care and counsel, and that they may rebuild lives filled with beauty.

4. Hostage Families’ Grief

Nearly two years ago, normal life ceased for the families and friends of the hostages held in Gaza. Some have their loved ones back, but others don’t. Their lives remain suspended in an agonizing pause as they continue to advocate, pray, and worry for their loved ones. Pray for strength and hope as they continue waiting for their loved ones’ return. The families of freed hostages may be experiencing a new type of grief as they watch their loved ones’ fight for physical and emotional healing. Pray for strength and wisdom as they serve their freed loved ones .

5. October 7 Losses

More than 1,200 people were murdered in Israel on October 7, 2023, including 38 children. Some 250 minors lost one parent that day, and 31 young people aged 25 or younger lost both parents. Additionally, 329 soldiers were killed on October 7, along with police officers and other first responders. Pray for those who are grieving loved ones they lost on this tragic day.

6. Grieving without Closure

At the time of this writing, at least 28 families are grieving the loss of loved ones whose bodies are held captive in Gaza. Unable to hold funerals and burials, these families grieve without the closure that these familiar rituals bring. Pray for these families who have said they cannot move forward with their lives into healing until their loved ones’ remains come home.

7. Trauma Survivors

Many of those who survived the violence of October 7 witnessed or experienced horrific trauma from which they must heal. Thousands have suffered from PTSD, suicidal inclinations, or general mental unwellness. The 12-day war with Iraq also brought tremendous stress as people endured daily missile attacks and violent strikes that took lives and destroyed buildings. Pray for the trauma survivors in need of healing and healthy ways to manage their memories and grief.  

8. Losses from War

Nearly 450 soldiers have died in the war against Hamas, and more than 6,000 have been wounded. The Iran war killed 28 people, injured more than 3,000, and left over 9,000 people homeless. Pray for those who have endured these losses – of loved ones, health, or home – that they would find comfort from the Lord and strength to face the challenges that lie ahead.

9. Lost “Life as They Knew It”

Among the losses that many Israelis must grieve since October 7 is the loss of the lives they led before that tragic day. About 200,000 people were displaced from their destroyed homes and communities. Many from the kibbutzim (communal farming towns) that were hit hard by terrorists lost their peaceful way of life, their community, and livelihoods. Others are grieving the loss of a sense of safety that they previously felt. Pray for these people, whose lives have dramatically changed, as they continue to make their way forward, choose how or where to rebuild their lives, and perhaps grieve the loss of dreams they once had for themselves.

As Believers in Yeshua (Jesus), the Bible tells us to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Thank you for praying for Israel and the Jewish people surrounding this national and religious day of mourning. Into this Tisha B’Av, they carry sorrows for the tragedies in Israel’s ancient history while also bearing the grief of recent tragedies.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem… “May they prosper who love you.” (Psalm 122:6).

“I will bless those who bless you…” (Genesis 12:3).

“…for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8).

We Were Invited to Come – We Invite You to Pray

If you pray for the places we visit, the name Gokwe will likely be familiar to you. We have been there before, but our next full Medical Outreach will be in an entirely new community of this region in Zimbabwe, known as Gokwe North. Local authorities witnessed our ministry in Gokwe South and invited us to do the same in Gokwe North, where there is a huge need. During our scouting visit, we discovered many Lemba in Gokwe North. Once again, we gave God our yes and began making plans to go.

In addition to great need, there are also challenges in this new area. We are counting on your partnership as you cover us in prayer for wisdom, discernment, protection, and safety.

Ways to Pray

Please join us in prayer in the following ways:

• Use the detailed Prayer Points below
• Commit to a specific time slot to pray for us from home during the Outreach.  SIGN UP on our Prayer Schedule, referring to the dates below

Day-by-Day Prayer Points

Gokwe, Zimbabwe, July 10–20

Medical Outreach

Before the Outreach

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God’” (Isaiah 40:3 NKJV).

Wednesday, July 2–Wednesday, July 9

• All preparations to come together and be fully in place in good time, including VISAS, medical supplies, site readiness, team unity, and community relationships
• Protection, health, safety and favor as our team and partners prepare and travel
• Spiritual forces of darkness to flee, making way for the King of Glory to come with salvation, healing and deliverance as He prepares people’s hearts and the spiritual atmosphere

Thursday, July 10

• Timely arrivals of Outreach team members, partners, and their luggage
• Safety for workers, participants, vehicles, and supplies, traveling to the Outreach site on very rugged roads
• Each participant to lay aside their own thoughts of what the week will look like, seeking the Lord for how He plans to use them
• Quick acclimation to the new surroundings, food, culture, and time zone
• Efficient Clinic set-up, in which we will erect large event tents to create additional spaces and increase the utility of the small clinic building we’re using

Friday, July 11

• The Lord to use tonight’s Erev Shabbat meal to establish unity and fellowship among the team and partners
• A clear and inspiring welcome meeting
• An excellent night’s sleep in preparation for an active week
• Deep, lasting trust and favor from local officials and the community

Saturday, July 12

• A meaningful Shabbat Service that will bring shalom and orient everyone’s hearts for the week
• Successful, clear, and anointed orientations for the Clinic and Prayer & Counseling teams
• God’s angel armies to push back the forces of darkness and cause the seeds of the Good News to go deep into good soil and bear lasting fruit throughout the week and beyond

During the Outreach

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18).

Sunday, July 13

• The Lord to hand-pick the local workers to work alongside us in unity; may they also be touched by the Lord themselves
• A sense of anticipation, hope, and trust in the Lord as the Clinic opens for a half-day today
• May the community not only hear about the Outreach but also come in large numbers starting today and continuing through the week
• For us to have profound care and wisdom regarding any local factors that we may need to navigate

Monday, July 14

• We have a smaller number of Outreach partners on this trip – may the Lord use them powerfully and draw more people to join us next time
• The entire Outreach to go smoothly, and more importantly, be effective in treating bodies and transforming lives through the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus)
• For the Zehra Kids Program, under indigenous leadership, to be ideally situated, fully staffed, and wonderfully effective in drawing children and teens to God

Tuesday, July 15

• May the Spiritual Care Ministry be busy throughout the week with healings, deliverances, and salvations as the Lord moves in power through His Word and the Holy Spirit
• Spiritual anointing and physical stamina for those who are ministering in that area
• The Living Waters program to be effective in bringing clean water, but also in bringing news of Yeshua, the Living Water

Wednesday, July 16

• Medical and dental volunteers to give effective medical and dental care and the Lord to heal, including supernaturally, as a testimony of His power and love
• Worship (led by the Lemba) and prayer times to bring great joy and refreshment, and permeate the spiritual atmosphere with light and life
• Breakthrough among people who are captive to witchcraft and false ideologies

Thursday, July 17

• As the Outreach winds down, may those in greatest need of medical or spiritual care either be seen or spontaneously healed
• Safety as the Outreach tents and equipment are taken down and packed up
• Calm to prevail as our staff pays the local workers. May they leave not only with a financial benefit, but more importantly, great spiritual blessings because of being exposed to the Good News and the ministry of the Holy Spirit

After the Outreach

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of [Messiah] Jesus” (Philippians 1:4–6).

Friday, July 18

• A sacred and welcome Shabbat at the end of a week of ministering out of love
• Joyous and inspiring testimonies as each participant reflects and shares on all the Lord has done during the week
• May each one sense the Lord saying to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Saturday, July 19

• The Jewish people of this community to be profoundly blessed because of the Outreach and see it as evidence that the Lord sees and values them
• May they also have an enlarged sense of the significance of their Jewish identity and live it out with intention
• An ongoing strong and positive relationship between Jewish Voice Ministries and the local authorities and community

Sunday, July 20 and beyond

• Safe travels home, including on the rough roads, and a special outpouring of grace for everyone who honored the Lord by serving and loving the community through this Outreach  
• Effective and timely follow-up to all who want to hear more about Yeshua
• The Lord to continue to establish and develop healthy congregations there and throughout the region

Let’s Pray

Lord, we have experience in Gokwe, Zimbabwe, but this is an entirely new area for us. We need Your protection and favor in the community, as well as real wisdom and discernment, to navigate this new place and our first-time Outreach there. As we break new ground, may Your Kingdom come, with salvation, healing, and deliverance to profoundly impact this place of great need. In Yeshua’s name, AMEN.

Those who love Israel and the Jewish people love to pray for them. Yet, sometimes we may wonder how to pray for them. General prayers for salvation and protection come immediately to mind, but after that, we may not know what to pray. Since July contains national holidays for both Canada and the United States, we thought we’d draw inspiration for prayer from the themes surrounding each of these holidays.

Canada Day is July 1. It celebrates the forming of a Confederation which unified three separate British colonies – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada (now Quebec and Ontario) – into one Dominion of Canada. This historic event paved the way for Canada’s development into the sovereign nation it is today.

July 4th is U.S. Independence Day. With the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the free and sovereign nation of the United States of America was born.

Building on these themes of unity and freedom, here are 10 scriptural ways you can pray for Israel during the remainder of the summer.

Unity

Like most countries, Israel is composed of people with differing opinions and ideologies. Divisions exist regarding politics, policies, ethnicities, the war, the hostages, and many other vital issues. Also, like many nations, these differences seem to be growing more emphatic, passionate, and vocal.

Naïve as it is to expect perfect agreement among such a diverse population, unity is worth praying for because it is something God highly values. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) “High Priestly Prayer” of John 17, He prayed to the Father five times that His followers “be one” and live in unity. And while we know that He was speaking of the body of those who believe He is the Messiah, unity is desirable, to whatever degree it can be achieved, among those who don’t believe in Him. God deeply loves Israel, His “treasured possession,” and unity is dear to His heart.

Here are some ways you can pray for unity in Israel. Understanding that only Yeshua is the true unifier who brings peace among divided people, pray also for eyes and hearts to open to Him.

Love

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:14).

Love brings hearts and minds together. Pray for love to reign.

Increased Harmony

“Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10 TLV).

Pray for increased harmony, understanding, and cooperation among people of different opinions, faiths, and worldviews – leaders and everyday citizens.

Common Ground

“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Messiah, if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship of the Ruach [Spirit], if there is any mercy and compassion, then make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, united in spirit, with one purpose” (Philippians 2:1–2 TLV).

One of the quickest ways to come together is by focusing on common ground and shared values. Pray for unity in Israel and among Jewish people, that they can move toward each other rather than away when they disagree.

No Division

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: ‘Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall’” (Luke 11:17).

Division makes things weaker. Pray for Israel to stand strong, defending its right to exist, protecting its people, and homeland.

Pleasantness

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

Pray for the spread of unity and its pleasantness throughout Israel and among the Jewish people. Pray for protection, security, and unity.

Freedom

Since sin entered the world, mankind has not been free from its effects. Captivity of some sort – whether literal, emotional, mental, or spiritual – is often part of our existence in a fallen world. Since our liberation as a people from Egypt, we have been grateful to God for our freedom. Even so, we cannot escape the problems and trials, sorrows and sufferings of life since The Fall. God promised us One who would break yokes of bondage and set captives free. He has done that for us in the Messiah, yet we will not know complete freedom until the age to come. In the meantime, we wait in hope and pray for the precious freedom He offers us here and now.

Here are some ways you can pray for freedom for God’s people.

True Freedom

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

True freedom is only found in Yeshua, the Messiah. Pray for the salvation of all Israel so that they might know the freedom God intended for them all along as His people.

Freedom for Captives

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1).

Pray for the Israeli hostages still held captive in Gaza, that they will be freed soon. Pray also for freedom and healing for those held captive to trauma, grief, fear, and other life crises.

The Truth

“Then Yeshua said to the Judeans who had trusted Him, ‘If you abide in My word, then you are truly My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!’” (John 8:31-32 TLV).

Pray that God will make the truth known to Israel and the Jewish people – the truth about Yeshua, about governance and security matters, and more.

Freeing the Burdened

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:6–7 NKJV).

Pray for the Messianic Jewish ministries and Believers in Israel. They serve their neighbors with the love of Yeshua by meeting their needs in times of crisis, helping set them on paths to recovery from various life burdens and finding spiritual freedom in Messiah.

The Lord’s Spirit

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Pray that the Spirit of the Lord will move throughout Israel, among Jewish populations worldwide – in neighborhoods, synagogues, and organizations, calling His people to freedom in Yeshua.

What other ways can you pray for Israel, focusing on themes of unity and freedom? Let the Holy Spirit guide your prayers, and, as always, pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).