And a voice
softly called: Do not be afraid,
For I will be your warmth in the cold
Your power in the weakness, your comfort
in the sorrow, Your peace in the storm
And if you face your doubt, and give it
all to ME, Then from the longest
night of agonizing tears
You will be set free
In Me there is
No night!
Trust
me
February 3rd 2005
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In HIS great mercy HE Has given us new birth in to a Living Hope”
We are grateful to the Lord and to You Dear Prayer Partners and Friends for lifting the worship Team and us who visited prisons, before the throne in prayers besides supporting financially for buying the gifts that added more Joy to the hearts of so many prisoners, Israeli Christian, Arabs + Russians, residents, as well as foreign workers who stayed their visas. We, a mixed group of believers form different churches and congregations, had the opportunity to minister to a total of 762 inmates so far. We still have a couple prisons in the Negev area to visit.
- How sweet it is to find ourselves in the position of being encouraged when we are meant to encourage others. Inmates from Ghana were filled with the Holy Spirit after our worship together and they sang, prayed and spoke blessings upon our lives. Their anointed words filled us with power from above for the whole day as we saw 342 inmates (starting 9.00 and finishing 19.00). This was the second prison of this kind and the guards were very co-operative in both, that they brought out prisoners according to their languages. Our Team had people with different tongues and we could reach each and every one with the message of salvation. Those who already knew Jesus, were given a message that urges them to reach and encourage others seizing the opportunity like Joseph did (Gen.).
- Many received us with great enthusiasm. They were waiting eagerly to get Bibles which we had in their different mother tongues. Some of the inmates are there already for a month, others for months and a couple are still there from last year, waiting for their papers to be ready and complete that they can go back home!!!
- Christmas Carols reminded especially “Mothers” of their families and children. They had left them and come to Israel to work and earn money to enable their families have (a better life)!! Tears dropped and the Lord saw and heard the sighs.
- Inmates continue to meet, twice a week, In one of the prisons for worship and prayers. Some in other prisons would love to do that but because of high security they are not allowed.
Inmates’ Testimonies:
- “We had a time when we were lukewarm but praise the Lord, now we are on fire for Him and more inmates want to join our meetings”
- “Though my guitar was taken because I sang Christian songs in the open air, I feel I sing more powerfully now, yet inside, but the Lord can open the ears of others to hear, and the Holy Spirit can move hearts”
- “Please give me more Bibles, I want to give my friends whom I always share with, about our wonderful Lord”
- “I expected to have more mercy from the Judge. Do I have to pay my life for the fault I did? Please pray for me!!”
- “How can I be silent when the Lord healed me from a dangerous virus? Everybody thought I’m going to die. Physicians at the Prison hospital isolated me. But His eyes see what others can’t see. I’m alive by His grace. I’m sentenced for life but the bars can’t stop my faith from setting me free”
Jailors testify how trust worthy are many of those who attend the monthly sessions and lessons with Anis. And the phone calls we get home from inmates are encouraging. They urge us to come back sooner. They want to be prayed with, over the phone too! “
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness”
Seven prisoners who attended the meetings are released now. We are praying that we would join our weekly lessons at the HOL and we want to invite them and their wives to a special event, in a restaurant I think, where they can feel important, watch King’s Kids perform 2 dances and hear a short message. Please pray with us for this event.
Worship Team reactions:
- We thank God for His mercy to the prisoners we visited in Nazareth. I was truly amazed to see how mightily the Lord was working among them and us who brought the Gospel. More than ten people gave their hearts to Him that day. Two of them asked for baptism. I am hopeful for the guards co operation in this matter. Looking forward to going on this ministry.
17.01.05
- Shalom! I thank the Lord for the blessed time of warm brotherly fellowship with you, Fadi, Alon, Rajaa’ and all the others that participated in the ministry of evangelism in prisons. Above all, I am thankful to the Lord for the lost souls that opened their hearts to Him and by His grace received the words of eternal salvation. Hallelujah! The Spirit is speaking to my heart saying that now those newborn babes must be discipled through regular meetings with them. So I continue to pray for your ministry and if God's willing that I may too help you in this on a regular basis.
In Yeshua's love,
- I’m glad the Lord blessed me (Nawal) with a year round permit to visit different prisons. Encouraging and sharing scriptures and experiences in life is what I feel the Lord is calling me to do now. I still hold women I met in prison in my heart and thoughts. Many opened their hearts and they all are precious in the Lord’s eyes and in mine.
The Lord continues to be at work. Two or three prisons in the Negev are still in our prayers and plans. It seems, concentrating on prisoners and their families is our calling for the coming years. Many prisoners ask us to visit their families which we do and we continue to support these families by giving humanitarian support as well as Christian counseling and follow up. Some need medication on a regular basis so the Lord provides and we support. We also do our best to take these families on trips. It’s amazing to see How God’s grace reaches out to so many that human eye and mind can never think of. HIS eyes see different and His thoughts are much higher than ours Praise be to HIM.
May He be gracious to you. Show you His favour, and give you His peace.
One in His Love and Service
Anis Barhoum / HOL/ Prison Ministry