Update from Julia Schatz - OCT '23

Dear Pastor Mike,
Thank you so much for your prayers. They were greatly needed and deeply appreciated. Of course I thank God for hearing your prayers.  He is able!  I have very recently returned from 28 days of ministry in the MECANA Region of the world. God gave us many wonderful opportunities to let our light shine for His glory in dark places.  We were in a three countries. You probably never thought you would hear me say that I'm at a loss for words, given that some have been reading my updates and newsletters for almost 25 years! 
So why in the world am I at a loss for words?  You may know that one of the countries where we served is Israel. We took a medical team to a poor village where men, women and children have limited access to medical care and they are in the bondage of spiritual darkness. The clinic went well. A community leader said that our team "brought joy to his people!"  It was our prayer that God would reveal the joy of knowing Him through faith in Jesus, to those we ministered to with God's love and compassion. On the morning, and the very hour, my co-leader and I were preparing to depart the country with the team, is when the horrific attack happened.  Our driver and friend arrived to take us to the airport, with these words:  "We are under attack! You must hurry!"  Shortly we learned just how dire the situation was in our beloved Israel AND as the conflict continues... well, I'm at a loss for words.  And, probably like you, I'm NOT at a loss of grief and heartache and desperate cries to our Lord.   

This is an excerpt from a newsletter from the president of Chosen People Ministries, Mitch Glazer. I really appreciate his words of advice how to pray.

      "These terrible events today will be a game changer for Israel, and as Scripture tells us, we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). We know the Lord gave the land to the Jewish people, and that he will protect them, but that’s not to say that along the way there will not be considerable pain. Finally, pray for the citizens of Gaza, many of whom are oppressed by Hamas, especially the believers. Pray that their leaders will come to their senses and release those who have been kidnapped, that they would stop sending missiles into the various territories, and that efforts will be made on all sides to make peace.........."

Please pray God will cause the seeds that were planted in our time of ministry to bear fruit for His glory!  And for the Jews in Israel as we pray for them, "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."  Isaiah 61.  God, they need your healing.   
 
Thank you!  
Blessings!

Julia

​Good News!There is actually good news coming out of Israel and Gaza.

• Praise! 4 hostages have been released so far
• Praise! There have been multiple salvations that we know of
• Praise! Believers are sharing their faith-even on the front lines
• Praise! Jewish and Arab believers are praying together for God's glory
• Praise! The gospel is being shared in Gaza, and in Judea and Samaria
• Praise! God is comforting and strengthening the traumatized
• Praise! Worship continues as believers gather in trust and expectation
• Praise! Much needed supplies are getting to those who are desperate
• Praise! Attacks meant for evil have been thwarted
• Praise! False news reports are being corrected day by day