Shalom dear friends and partners:
 

First we want to thank all of you for the outpouring of love and prayer that we have received over the last 8 days of war with Iran. It is a HUGE encouragement to all of us to know how many of you are watching and praying for the events that are unfolding here every day.
 

When I was growing up, we had a saying: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  Well, for us, it has been: “When the going gets tough, the saints get praying!!!” In addition to all the prayer that has been happening online, in our homes, and in our bomb shelters, we have been hosting a prayer meeting for locals at our new ministry center (MC) on the 17th floor in downtown Jerusalem, most days this past week.  
 

As we have gathered for worship and prayer each afternoon, we have experienced his presence and His leading us in intercession for the situation. We have also felt that we need to continue this prayer meeting and expand it to include all of you. We sense such an urgency for historical, biblical-sized changes that can take place here in Israel, in Iran, around the Middle East and for the whole world. 
 

In Daniel chapter 9, it was the first year of King Darius, about 539 BC. Daniel was reading in the scroll of the book of Jeremiah where he discovered the prophet’s words that the “desolations” of Jerusalem would last 70 years. Jerusalem, with its temple, had been destroyed in 586 BC. This means that Daniel discovered Jeremiah’s prophecy 47 years after Jerusalem was destroyed—not 68 or 69 years after. Yet, the prophet gave himself to prayer and fasting in light of these words, knowing that the restoration of Jerusalem would not happen overnight, but could take many years. 
 

We believe that we are at a critical time in history. Iran has been threatening to destroy Israel since the Ayatollahs took over the country in 1979—46 years ago. Since then, Iran has invested huge resources in fighting a shadowy, proxy war against Jews and Israel (and Americans). Like an eight-armed octopus, Iran created a terrorist “ring of fire” around Israel through its funding, influence and control of Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas and Islamic Jihad (Israel/Palestine), Assad-led Syria, Shia militias in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen. Since October 7th, 2023 when Hamas brutally invaded southern Israel, our country has risen up like a lion against this ring of fire. One by one, the Iranian proxy puppets have fallen or been weakened; and now, we are in an all out war against the “head of the Octopus,” Iran itself. 
 

We know from Daniel 9 and 10 that there are great archangels (Gabriel and Michael) and heavenly principalities (Persia and Greece) that are active during times of war, the changing of seasons/empires, and the fulfillment of prophecy around Israel and the Jewish people. Amazingly, the two principalities that are mentioned are Persia and Greece (Daniel 10:20). Modern Iran’s ancient roots are the people, language and empire of Persia. Greece represents the coming empire of Alexander the Great and what would ultimately become a huge pillar of what we know as the “West” today. 

Beloved, we sense that we are in such a critical time, just like Daniel. Over the last 19 months we have seen huge changes in Lebanon and Syria, and we believe that Iran is next.  Like Daniel, we want to dedicate ourselves to fasting and prayer to see His will be done in Iran, Israel and throughout the Middle East. Yesterday, President Trump said that he would make a decision about the United States’ involvement in this war “within two weeks.” It is time for us to get serious about praying for those in authority according to 1 Timothy Chapter 2. Huge fateful decisions are being made.  
 

Our faith is increasing to see a huge, historic change in Iran that will open a great door for the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to spread throughout Israel, Iran, the whole Middle East, and the whole world.  
 

Please pray about joining us for this “Daniel Fast.”