Israel Update - Dec 11
CMJ in Israel continues to minister to the displaced and unemployed in the midst of the Israel-Hamas War
Two months into the Israel-Hamas War, there are still hundreds of thousands of Israelis who are unable to return to their homes near active combat operations. Hezbollah is threatening an escalation of violence on Israel's northern border while the fighting in the Gaza Strip may be coming to an end. In Israel and the West Bank, economic slowdown has led to many people losing their jobs even as they are hurting in other ways. CMJ is stepping up to assist however we can wherever we can.
Please continue to pray peace. Not just for regional peace, but peace within families. The Mercy Fund has seen a spike in domestic violence as the war stokes anxiety and fear. Please pray for our Peles legal teams and Mercy Fund personnel as the work is very difficult and an additional battlefield in this war.
We are grateful to all who have given toward our relief efforts. We ask for your prayers and continued financial support in this difficult time.
To help you understand our prayer needs and how your donations are being utilized, CMJ Israel has put together this brief snapshot-style report.
What is CMJ doing in the current crisis?
Discipleship continues through weekly meetings and Bible studies at Christ Church Jerusalem. Many members of our community have been faithfully coming every week during the crisis, and many new people have also begun attending. Prayer meetings are always well attended as we lift up the needs of all the people in the Holy Land, including those of our community of faith.
At the Christ Church Guest House in Jerusalem, there are currently 12 internally displaced people still staying with us, most of them children. There are also a few tourists from overseas who have come to stay with us in recent days as the threat from rocket fire has receded.
CMJ volunteers from overseas have also partnered with the Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (FIRM) to help farmers harvest crops. These volunteers are filling the gap left by foreign farmworkers who have fled the war.
How can you help?
We are prayerfully seeking the best way to continue ministering amid the ongoing crisis. No matter how we are led to serve, our response requires financial resources in a season where finances are already limited. If you feel led, please consider contributing so that we can continue to serve those deeply affected by the crisis.
Please continue to pray:
- That the conflict will not escalate in the north.
- For all who remain in Gaza as hostages and for the healing of those who have been released.
- For God's grace and comfort to be with all grieving families.
- Especially for the many children who are caught up in the horror of these events. Many are scared, hungry, and have lost their homes and shelter, as well as some who have lost their parents or other family members.
- For our leadership at CMJ as we continue to assess how best to respond to the unfolding situation. At the time that we need them the most, many key personnel have been called to defend Israel. That means that their usual workload, as well as the extra work brought on by this emergency, are being carried by those who remain behind.
- Pray specifically for the peace, well-being, and strength of the individuals who are staying at Christ Church and those who continue to seek refuge.
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