Now is an opportune time to pray for the Lord’s ministry in Africa among the Jewish people. While we are getting ready to embark on a ministry trip in Zimbabwe, we are simultaneously completing a Medical Outreach in Ethiopia. Please join us in these pressing requests for effective, Spirit-led ministry.

ETHIOPIA

As we conclude our Medical Outreach to the Dawro people in Ethiopia, please pray for:

• Effective ministry on the two last days of the Medical Outreach (Wednesday and Thursday, November 11–12), including salvations and healing
• Safety and protection as we pay local workers and pack up the Clinic
• The Lord’s watchful care as team members and medical professionals travel home
• Help for the local Messianic congregation in following up with new Believers after the Outreach and identifying new leaders

ZIMBABWE

As we make regional visits to the Lemba people in Zimbabwe November 16–20, please pray for:

• Energy, safety and anointing as we travel to minister among the Lemba people in a different region in Zimbabwe each day
• The LifeStraws® we provide to be received as a cup of cool water in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name and testify of His love and provision
• Unity and effective partnerships with the local Messianic leaders in each area
• Our time with these regional leaders to be both ministry with and ministry to them as we pray and encourage them in the Lord
• The Lord’s strong protection and clear guidance each step of the way as we seek to walk by His Spirit and faithfully steward divine appointments

Let’s Pray

Lord, each time we minister in the nations, we see You at work among the Jewish people, bringing salvation and making Your name known. May Your hand be upon us during these two ministry times, both of which are open doors for the Good News. As we pray right now and continue in prayer for this ministry, please give us accurate and timely discernment regarding Your strategies for current and future effective ministry in the nations. May people be saved, leaders encouraged, and ultimately, nations discipled, for Your glory! In Yeshua’s name, AMEN.

On the morning of November 9, 1938, Jewish Germans greeted the day, unaware that the coming evening would bring a nightmare.  

For five years, Hitler had stalked them. He began by infringing on their freedoms but soon moved on to blatantly take those freedoms away. The Jewish people lost more of their rights every year.  

A strategic propaganda campaign had chipped away at the general population’s sense of decency, and much of the country had begun to despise the Jewish people. First came a nationwide boycott of Jewish businesses. Next was the sweeping termination of Jewish employees from civil, state and university jobs. Then, burning books by Jewish authors, barring Jewish doctors from German hospitals, stripping voting rights from Jewish people, and the forced registration of all Jewish property. 

As the sun rose on Germany and Austria that cold November morning, the Jewish citizens had no idea that, by nightfall, their oppressed lives would see yet another, and more traumatic, turn for the worse. One that would change the trajectory of their lives and history forever.  

That day, piles of bricks would mysteriously appear along city streets in the business district. Telegrams to local police and fire departments had been clear: stand down and don’t interfere. 

As night fell, it began – a pre-planned riot that became known as Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. Wild mobs of ordinary citizens hurled bricks to smash the windows of Jewish businesses and then ravaged the stores with looting and vandalism. 

Rabid with hatred and pack-mentality adrenaline, crowds joined Nazi soldiers in ramming through the doors of Jewish homes to ransack the interiors and arrest Jewish men.  

Bands of aggressors murdered 91 Jewish people that night, assaulting countless others. They destroyed hundreds of synagogues and thousands of Jewish businesses, homes, schools and hospitals. Tens of thousands of Jewish men were dragged off to concentration camps.  

Ruth Barnett’s father escaped the violence by hovering on the fringes of the riot. Ruth shared her father’s story in a video published by the Encyclopedia Britannica. She describes how he took her 7- year-old brother by the hand and walked on the edge of the crowd, blending in unnoticed. She knows that if her brother had been home, the mob might have been so angry at not finding her father that they may have beaten or even killed her brother. Ruth is certain that her father’s clever and daring action saved both of their lives that night. 

Kristallnacht was a turning point in Hitler’s regime. It showed him that the ordinary people of Germany and Austria would allow him to do these injustices. Whether they joined him outright in his hatred of the Jews or simply stood by out of fear or complacency, their behavior that night spoke loudly. And Hitler knew he could proceed with his plans to exterminate the Jewish people entirely. He deported millions of European Jews to death camps and ultimately murdered 6 million of them.   

Kristallnacht and the years of anti-Semitism and propaganda that preceded it are a warning to us today. We must never forget what hatred and complacency can lead to, and we must speak up against anti-Semitism whenever we encounter it. 

I wrote to you recently about the opportunity we have right now to meet critical spiritual needs for Messianic congregations in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the needs are even greater.

Your gift today will make a significant difference by helping equip the congregations to meet spiritual needs — from encouraging Messianic Believers to grow in their faith to introducing people to their Messiah, Jesus.

Together, we can come alongside fellow Believers in these local congregations who are on the frontlines doing their best to meet the needs of Jewish people and others in their communities.

Currently, we have a team on the ground preparing for our Medical Outreach taking place this week. We appreciate your prayer support for God’s timing and look forward to sharing with you soon about all God allows us to accomplish. Your partnership makes it possible to be the hands and feet of our Savior to men, women and children in need and I’m grateful.

Right now you can help meet important spiritual needs for families in the Messianic congregations where we hold our Medical Outreaches so they can reach out to their neighbors with the Good News of Yeshua.

Let me close with my wish for you and your loved ones to enjoy a Thanksgiving celebration filled with God’s blessings. 

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.””

Psalm 118:8 NIV

No matter the outcome of this week’s U.S. election, we can trust that our God is in control. The results have not taken Him by surprise and that should be of great comfort. As it says in Psalm 118:8, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”

In the news, interesting developments continue to come out of the Abraham Accords. One being the potential sale of F-35 stealth jets from the U.S. to United Arab Emirates (UAE). The U.S. has an agreement to reserve a “qualitative advantage” in military arms for Israel above other Middle East nations. To uphold this agreement, it’s being reported that the U.S. will grant Israel access to a sophisticated satellite system that can track missiles and other objects from space using infrared sensors as well as advanced F-35 capabilities. 

Another news story that got my attention relates to passports. It was announced that U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem can now choose to list their place of birth as Israel on their passports. This means the U.S. is formally recognizing that the entirety of Jerusalem is part of Israel. As expected, the Palestinian Authority has denounced this decision, stating that it violates international law. 

I’ve included more detail in the news stories below.  

White House plans to go forward with sale of F-35 jets to UAE 

The United States and United Arab Emirates (UAE) are planning to have a letter of agreement for the sale of F-35 fighter jets in time for UAE National Day, celebrated on December 2. 

The White House notified Congress of its intent to sell 50 F-35 jets to the UAE. The U.S. legislature could vote to block the sale, sources said. 

Initially, Israel opposed the prospective sale, but changed its perspective last year after what it described as guarantees from the U.S. that Israeli military superiority would be preserved, according to The Jerusalem Post. 

Late last week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper met with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz during a visit to Israel. 

“As defense minister for the State of Israel, I am telling you this evening that the United States continues to be committed to Israel’s security and its qualitative and technological advantage in the Middle East,” Gantz said. 

U.S may give Israel access to missile defense satellites 

The U.S. plans to grant Israel direct access to highly classified missile defense satellites and ensure Israel gets critical defense platforms quickly by using production slots planned for the U.S. armed forces. This is reported in Breaking Defense, a digital magazine on the strategy, politics and technology of defense. 

In light of the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to the UAE, Israeli Defense Minister Gantz traveled to Washington two weeks ago to press for an agreement. Discussions continued when U.S. Defense Secretary Esper traveled to Israel last week. 

Israeli sources say the agreement guarantees Israel’s supremacy for decades to come. 

In addition to the missile defense satellites and more conventional weapons, the agreement could include access to the F-35’s sophisticated computer systems, Forbes reported. 

This is crucial for Israel with the likely sales of F-35 jets to the UAE and other Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In June, two more F-35 jets were added to Israel’s arsenal, bringing their total to 16. By 2024, Israel will have 50 of the elite fighter jets. 

U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem can now list Israel on their passports 

Last Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that “effective immediately” American citizens born in Jerusalem will now be able to list Israel as the country of birth on their passports, according to The Times of Israel. 

In a statement, Pompeo said the policy change is “consistent” with U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of the city as Israel’s capital and decision to move the American embassy there but stresses the administration is not taking a position on Jerusalem’s boundaries. 

U.S. to world: Yes, Jerusalem is part of Israel 

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo struck down one of the last vestiges of American refusal to recognize not just that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital but that it is part of the Jewish state all together — all with one tweet. 

In 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump relocated the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and affirmed that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. But the United States refused to allow U.S. citizens with children born in Jerusalem to register Israel as their country of birth. 

Even though Pompeo’s tweet was about passports, the message to the world is that Jerusalem is an integral part of modern Israel, according to The Jerusalem Post. 

Palestinian Authority denounces U.S. passport decision 

A spokesperson for Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas says the PA condemns the decision to allow Americans born in Jerusalem to list Israel as their birthplace on their passports. 

“East Jerusalem is occupied land, Pompeo’s statements are unacceptable and constitute a flagrant violation of international law,” longtime Abbas spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh says, according to The Times of Israel. 

Let us pray together 

Please pray with me for:  

• Peace throughout the U.S. during and after this election week  

• Wisdom for U.S. leaders concerning the potential sale of F-35 jets to the UAE and other Arab countries and for the U.S. to keep their agreement concerning the “qualitative advantage” for Israel’s military 

• Additional recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as we rejoice in the decision regarding passports of U.S. citizens 

• The coronavirus infection rate to continue trending down in Israel 

• Wisdom and protection for the people of Israel as the government continues to lift coronavirus restrictions and younger children are attending school 

• Continued success of clinical trials to produce an effective vaccine and, in particular, that the human trials for the Israeli vaccine, that are now under way, would go well 

• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah 

We are so glad that you will be praying with us for our first Outreach this year since February! So much has happened in our nation, our world, and in the nation of Ethiopia since then. It has all served to underscore the importance for us as Believers to have an eternal, Kingdom mindset, and to do all we can to partner with the Lord and invest in His eternal plans. You are partnering through prayer in a critical time for Ethiopia and the Jewish people! 

In terms of Jewish Voice’s work in Ethiopia, this Outreach will be in a new region – the Southern Nations region, and to a new people, group, the Dawro. We deeply desire to not only bring them medical care, but to share the Good News of Yeshua! The Lord has gone before us, even orchestrating a positive meeting between a regional official, one of our Global Outreach team leaders, and another gentleman. They all discovered that they each previously had experience on a Jewish Voice Ministries Outreach at some point in years past! This brought great unity and understanding as to why we are coming and how we want to bless the community. One of the men told us he has been praying for us to come to this new region ever since that Outreach about 10 years ago. What an encouragement regarding the power of prayer and how the Lord prepares the way! 

So please read on and pray with us daily. In fact, you can sign up here for a prayer slot to be part of our ‘round the clock prayer covering. Please pray for: 

Wednesday, November 4 – Joshua 1:9 

• The Lord’s protection throughout the entire Outreach trip in all areas in which we will be traveling and ministering, as well as over all participants, equipment and belongings; and for all shipments and other necessary items to arrive on time and in good condition 

• Safe travels, health and protection for our team members during the arduous 2-day trip from Addis Ababa to Dawro today and Thursday, as well as good rest and sleep for everyone upon arrival 

• Mild weather throughout the week as it is possible it could be quite warm, which would especially affect those waiting in lines and the medical professionals working in the confines of the clinic  

Thursday, November 5 – Matthew 24:44 

• The clinic site to be well prepared and ready for the thousands we hope to serve 

• Favor and wisdom in all decisions and work to be done, ensuring that when the clinic opens on Sunday, everything will operate smoothly and safely 

• Ongoing favor, permissions and supportive good will from all necessary local and regional authorities and the community members as well 

Friday, November 6 – Romans 9:17 

• Safe travels and protection for our in-country medical and dental professionals who are making the difficult 2-day trip from Addis Ababa to Dawro today through Saturday 

• A great meeting tomorrow, Saturday, between our team members, the Messianic Congregational leader, and local community elders. Pray that God’s peace, grace and love would overflow, they would see the Messiah in us and be personally convicted of His call to them 

• The Lord to prepare the region and spiritual atmosphere for effective ministry and the sharing of the Good News 

Saturday, November 7 – Psalm 133:1-3 

• Great unity, peace, wisdom and discernment for us all, including the Bete Kidane Messianic Believers with whom we will be ministering, that we might serve during the clinic from a place of shalom and rest 

• The kingdom of darkness to be pushed back and the Kingdom of light to advance, preparing the way for healing, miracles, salvation and deliverance! 

• Our team to be given great strength, insight and foresight all week long from the Holy Spirit, enabling us to walk in the Spirit in love, power and effectiveness 

Sunday, November 8 – Isaiah 43:18-19 

• Wisdom in hiring local workers with integrity and who will faithfully serve the purposes of the Outreach 

• A great start Sunday with shalom and order in the lines and clinic for as many as possible to be served and ministered to in the Name of Yeshua  

• That the Lord will protect us from every disease, including Covid-19, as we travel and minister even while cases are increasing in Ethiopia 

Monday, November 9 – 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 

• Blessing and salvation for the Jewish people who have been marginalized, persecuted – literally and physically pushed to the margins and outskirts of the community 

• Our spiritual care team on this trip, consisting of Believers from the southern Ethiopian Messianic Congregation who had this region on their hearts and recommended it to us as an Outreach location 

• Unity, anointing, safety and effectiveness for our spiritual care team as some of them go into the Jewish community and villages; and others as they stay near the medical clinic location to minister 

• Safety and wisdom as we transport people from the Jewish community on the outskirts of Dawro to the medical clinic and back each day for treatment 

• Boldness to proclaim the Good News and to be protected from evil 

Tuesday, November 10 – Acts 5:14 

• An outpouring of blessing, shalom and unity upon the Messianic Congregation with which we are partnering  

• Peace and protection for their families as they are away from home ministering with us during the Outreach; please pray for that for our own staff members’ families as well, at home during an unsettled time in our own nation 

• God’s help for the Messianic Congregational leaders as they seek to identify, encourage and equip leaders among the Dawro community of Jewish Believers as they begin gathering, first perhaps in home fellowships and eventually congregations 

Wednesday, November 11 – Psalm 138:8  

• That the Messianic Congregational elders will also be able to effectively follow up with those who come to know Yeshua as a result of the Outreach 

• Good rest and stamina for all as the Outreach moves towards the last day 

• Favor and clear understanding as to what the immigration requirements will be for our staff team members who will be coming from either Ethiopia or the U.S. in order to minister the following week in Zimbabwe (watch for next week’s Prayer Points email for further information on that) 

Thursday, November 12 – Psalm 121:8 

• The ability to see as many as possible on this last day, and safety and protection in closing the clinic, packing up, and paying local workers 

• Leaving a blessing in the community as we go that will pave the way for further ministry and Kingdom growth! 

• Journeying mercies traveling back to Addis Ababa and other areas of Ethiopia as well as home to the U.S. for some staff team members, or on to Zimbabwe for others 

Even though this Outreach will have a smaller team and we expect to see fewer people, there are just as many logistics and hoped for outcomes for which to intercede! We thank you so much for your partnership in prayer for the Dawro community and the Jewish people in it. 

Let’s pray: Lord, we are humbled, blessed and expectant regarding the opportunity for this Outreach. We want to see the Dawro people as You see them and minister to them by the love and power of your Holy Spirit. May many come to know You, as well as their neighbors. Please pave the way with your provision, protection and anointing and lead us every step of the way, for Your Name’s sake. Amen. 

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.””

Romans 12:12 NIV

I hope you find great encouragement in the words of the verse above. No matter what we are experiencing or what is happening in our world, because of what Jesus has done for each one of us, we can “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Again this week there is much to share on countries seeking to normalize ties with Israel. There are further developments with both Sudan and Saudi Arabia as well as Oman being back in the news regarding a potential agreement. And United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel are moving forward with multiple agreements that deepen their ties. 

The latest on the coronavirus in Israel is still good news. The positive virus test rate hit a new low early this week. In addition, the number of patients in serious condition has fallen below 500 for the first time in about six weeks. 

In news closer to home, as the U.S. elections approach, we have a three-part series of our A Jew and a Gentile Discuss podcast where Carly and Ezra talk about the elections. The first episode, airing the week before the elections, has Carly and Ezra discussing important issues to consider as you go to the polls. The week of the election, they will follow up on what the results mean going forward. And then the week following the election, they will discuss any further developments and impact from the election results. Be sure and check out these episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts or at www.ajewandagentilediscuss.org. 

Please read the stories below for greater detail and thank you for your faithfulness in prayer for Israel and the Jewish people. 

Sudan moving forward with normalizing ties with Israel 

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry reported that Sudanese and Israeli officials will meet in coming weeks to discuss a package of cooperation deals to “achieve the mutual interests of the two peoples.” 

The ministry’s statement came three days after U.S. President Donald Trump made the announcement that Sudan would begin normalizing ties with Israel. Trump pledged to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of the deal to normalize ties with Israel. 

Sudan has agreed to designate Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement as a terrorist organization, a senior U.S. official said. This is something Israel has long desired from its neighbors and other countries. 

On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was “sending $5 million worth of wheat immediately to our new friends” in Sudan, according to The Times of Israel. 

In addition, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. would work with its international partners to relieve the country’s foreign debt, which is in excess of $60 billion. Both the U.S. and Israel would also help Sudan “consolidate its democracy, enhance food security … and fight terrorism,” the ministry said. 

Could Saudi Arabia announce desire to normalize ties with Israel after U.S. election? 

In closed conversations, Mossad Director Yossi Cohen said a normalization announcement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is close and major developments could follow the U.S. presidential election, depending on who wins, The Jerusalem Post has learned. Mossad is Israel’s national intelligence agency. 

It’s reported that the normalization deal would also involve an arms agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, Cohen said. 

According to recent polls, normalizing ties is something many in Saudi Arabia and Israel desire. A poll by Zogby Research Services found nearly 80% of Saudis are in favor of working toward normalizing ties within the next five years. In a poll published by Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, Saudi Arabia is the country with which most Israelis would like to establish ties. 

Oman could be next to normalize ties with Israel 

Citing Israeli sources, N12 news reported that U.S.-mediated normalization talks between Israel and Oman are close to achieving a breakthrough. 

These sources believe Oman is the country most likely to be next to normalize ties, according to The Jerusalem Post. 

Israel and UAE agree to new, deeper ties 

Last Tuesday diplomats from the UAE made their first official trip to Israel since the countries normalized relations in August. 

The two countries signed pacts deepening their ties. This included allowing their citizens to travel from one country to the other without visas – a first for Israel with an Arab state, reported The New York Times. 

“Today we are making history,” Netanyahu said. “The enthusiasm for this peace agreement among our peoples is enormous, it’s real, it’s broad, it’s deep.” 

The UAE delegation also made a formal request to establish an embassy in Tel Aviv. Israel is expected to do the same in Abu Dhabi. 

Another signed agreement paves the way for direct flights between the two countries. 

Modernizing the checkpoints for the approximately 2.7 million Palestinians living in the West Bank is another project being discussed. 

Israel and UAE open talks about oil pipeline 

Talks have begun between Israel and United Arab Emirates (UAE) over a top-secret oil pipeline that links the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. 

Europe Asia Pipeline Co. (EAPC), controlled by Israel’s government, and UAE-based MED-RED Land Bridge Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding, according to an EAPC statement. The two companies have agreed to collaborate on the transportation of crude and oil products between the Persian Gulf and Western markets, according to Bloomberg online news. 

Coronavirus restrictions extended by a week 

On Sunday the coronavirus cabinet extended virus health regulations until next week.  

“If morbidity goes down, then the restrictions will also gradually come down. If morbidity goes up, there will be no choice but to reimpose the restrictions,” Netanyahu said. 

The cabinet reportedly agreed to a proposal to allow students and teachers to gather outdoors in informal groups of up to 15, even as schools remain closed, according to The Times of Israel. This is effective immediately. 

No decision could be agreed upon by the cabinet regarding reopening open-air markets. 

The government plan to ease restrictions has been broken down into nine distinct stages by the Health Ministry. Netanyahu expressed interest in condensing the plan to five stages, but this could cause infections to rise dramatically, health officials warned. 

Grades 1-4 to go back to school next week 

On Sunday the coronavirus cabinet voted to reopen schools for kids in 1st-4th grade early next week. This will only be implemented if virus cases remain low. 

According to the approved plan, children in 3rd and 4th grade will be divided into pods and resume attending school five days a week. 1st and 2nd grade students will be split into two groups and alternate days, going to school only three times a week. Remote learning will continue for children in 5th grade and above. 

Human trials to begin November 1 for Israeli coronavirus vaccine 

The Defense Ministry announced that the first human trials of its coronavirus vaccine will begin Sunday, November 1. The trials will continue through next spring before it can receive approval for use. 

The trials will be conducted by the Israel Institute for Biological Research starting with two initial participants, increasing to 80 through November. If they respond well to the vaccine and develop antibodies against the virus, beginning in December the testing will expand to 960 participants. If this larger group responds well, the vaccine will then be given to some 30,000 people in April or May 2021. 

If there are no significant side effects and the vaccine works well, it will then be approved for full use in the general population. 

The first stage of testing will use healthy participants, aged 18-55. The second stage will use healthy participants 18 and older, and the third stage will have no limitation on the age or medical condition of the participants, according to The Times of Israel. 

Let us pray together 

Please pray with me for:  

• Continued progress on potential normalization between Israel and Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Oman  

• The coronavirus infection rate to continue the current trend of going down in Israel 

• Wisdom and protection for the people of Israel as the government has begun lifting coronavirus restrictions and younger children are attending school 

• Continued success of clinical trials to produce an effective vaccine, in particular, that the human trials for the Israeli vaccine would go well 

• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah