Jul
17
2018
Join Joel C. Rosenberg, Founder and Chairman of The Joshua Fund as he welcomes attendees to the 2018 Epicenter Prayer Summit and introduces the message topics for the Wednesday evening sessions.
Oct
2
2017
“I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” – The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18, ESV)
The headlines emanating from the Middle East in recent years have been filled with devastating news – wars, revolutions, terrorism, even genocide.
Many in the Epicenter are being shaken as perhaps never before in human history. Syria is imploding. Iraq is convulsing. Lebanon and Jordan have been overrun by millions of refugees. Egypt has undergone multiple revolutions. Israelis and Palestinians, meanwhile, have faced repeated waves of violence.
The Church has also been deeply shaken. Many followers of Jesus Christ throughout the region have been horribly persecuted and targeted by terrorists. Church buildings have been bombed, set ablaze, and riddled with machine gun fire. Christians have been captured, enslaved, tortured, and beheaded.[1] Some have even been crucified.[2]
Yet even amidst such darkness, we can rejoice and give thanks because the Holy Spirit is on the move to advance Christ’s unshakeable kingdom. “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28)
Consider these encouraging facts:
In some ways, the current environment is evocative of the First Century. Amidst tremendous hardship and persecution, believers are reaping a harvest by God’s grace.
To be sure, one must be careful with numbers. Some Western ministry leaders and local pastors can, at times, be tempted to exaggerate progress to friends and donors. Likewise, Radical Islamists and Jewish anti-missionaries can report to their compatriots and donors inflated numbers of Jews and Muslims coming to faith in the Lord Jesus in an attempt to exaggerate a perceived “threat” to their communities.
That said, interviews with a wide range of Arab and Messianic pastors and ministry leaders in the region, and a review of relevant articles, books and studies, provide a useful, if imprecise, snapshot of the state of the Church in the Epicenter.
Is it possible that there are more Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) in the Epicenter than these numbers reflect? Yes. As a result of satellite TV and radio ministries -- as well as advanced and creative use of Internet evangelism -- Arab ministries in the region are seeing a growing number of Muslims coming to faith in Jesus Christ. That said, the precise numbers of MBBs are difficult to assess and thus only conservative numbers have been presented here.[20]
What is significant is not the precise numbers but the trend lines. We are seeing more prayer by the believers in the Epicenter, more prayer among the nations for the Church in the Mideast, more boldness amongst local believers to share the Gospel, more use of technology to reach more people with the Gospel, unprecedented openness among Jews and Arabs, and more Jews and Arabs actually placing their faith in Christ.
Thus, despite such darkness in the region, we should be encouraged by the clear evidence of God’s faithfulness. The Lord Jesus Christ is building His Church and He is refusing to allow the gates of Hell to prevail against it, just as He promised.
End Notes:
Jun
7
2017
Join Joel C. Rosenberg on Friday evening, October 6 and Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in Santa Ana, CA for Epicenter Conference 2017: What does the Future Hold for Israel and Her Neighbors? Hosted by Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in Santa Ana, CA, this is your chance to hear firsthand from Jewish, Arab and Palestinian pastors and ministry leaders, who will share the story, in real time, of how the Gospel is advancing and is uniquely being shared in Israel and in the neighboring nations. General Admission tickets for Friday evening, a full day Saturday, plus a box lunch Saturday, are $40 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Southern California EpicenterConference 2017 or visit the iTickets site or call 800-965-9324.
We hope to see you there!
May
10
2017
Join Joel C. Rosenberg and The Joshua Fund for a Prayer and Vision Tour of The Holy Land July 3-15, 2018 and the Epicenter® Prayer Summit will be held July 11-12, 2018. You will learn firsthand how current Middle East events relate to the fulfilment of biblical prophecy and see the Bible come to life as you visit the Garden Tomb, Garden of Gethsemane, sail the Sea of Galilee and so many other sites. Please prayerfully consider joining Joel C. Rosenberg and The Joshua Fund in 2018 in the Land of Israel.
To learn more visit https://www.joshuafund.com/go/israel-tours
Apr
12
2017
Please join The Joshua Fund in asking the Lord to bring His true peace to people of Egypt. We pray for God’s protection over the people and His comfort to those who have lost loved ones or have suffered injuries in the terrorist attacks yesterday during Palm Sunday services at two churches.
Please also be praying:
Thank you for prayerfully standing with people in Egypt and all of the Middle East during the Easter season, which is a time that believers are targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. Psalm 17:8-9
Mar
21
2017
Join Joel C. Rosenberg and The Joshua Fund as they share the story, in real time, of how the Gospel is advancing and is uniquely being shared in Israel and in the neighboring nations. In this two-day conference, you will hear from Jewish, Arab and Palestinian pastors and ministry leaders as they bring updates on what the Lord is doing in the region. Joel will also share several stories from our partners in the neighboring nations, on how Jesus is revealing Himself to men and women, boys and girls in the midst of some of the most horrible circumstances. Hear from and pray with these vital ministries from the frontlines bringing the love of Jesus Christ to the people in the Epicenter.
To be added to the list for additional updates please call us 703.860.0166 or email info@joshuafund.net.
Nov
14
2016
Gathering together, greeting each other with the love of Christ and finding a seat in the room, a small group of believers in an Arab nation prepared to meet with God. After praising and worshipping the Lord through music, the group spent extended time with some local and guest teachers who taught from the Bible, each one instructing from a different chapter. Those in the room experienced a broad range of emotions and found themselves reflecting upon all that they heard. Some had feelings of conviction for the way they were living their lives. Others, despite the horrible circumstances they had recently been through, discovered hope and joy. Many more received God’s counsel on how to handle difficulties in a marriage, strife with friends, or how to be light in a dark world. After the gathering, they enjoyed a time of breaking bread, discussing the Scriptures they had just heard, praying for one another and rejoicing, knowing that they all had just met with God. The Lord has opened up opportunities like this across the Middle East for The Joshua Fund to assist local pastors and church leaders by providing solid biblical teaching that brings refreshment to the soul, training in godly living, promoting discipleship, and providing counseling to those who have suffered traumatic life circumstances. Your gifts have made it possible to visit, encourage, and equip the saints for the work of the ministry. (Ephesians 4:12)
Nov
4
2016
One of The Joshua Fund’s dearest ministry partners leads conferences and other activities in Israel where young adults can clearly hear the truth of the Gospel. The goal is to help these young adults personally know and understand Christ’s love for them and to help them become like Him. Our partner arranges various activities for young people, such as national conferences, regional youth events, hiking and camping trips and events such as the Walk on Water conference held in August by the Sea of Galilee. The events provide teens with a support group, a sense of belonging and a greater understanding of the Scriptures. Jewish and Arab youth groups from all over Israel are invited, along with their congregational youth leaders, to learn from the Word and gain memorable new experiences. We share our partner’s commitment to keeping youth ministry meaningfully tethered to the life of local congregations. In addition to the youth conferences, our partner organizes training seminars to equip youth leaders and visit congregations – speaking clearly to pastors, parents and youth leaders about the needs of their teens.
Sep
19
2016
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36
The entire Middle East and the Epicenter is weary from war. In Syria the loss of life has been astronomical, while today inside Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon the scattered are living out their lives as refugees in the worst modern-day humanitarian crisis on the planet.
Directly after Jesus was moved with compassion, He said to His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest that He would send out workers into His plentiful harvest. The view Jesus expressed was that these tired and displaced people had no one to protect and care for them, and yet many were ready to be gathered into His fold. Among these crowds of people were a great harvest of souls needing workers to tend and bring them into the Kingdom of God.
Today, The Joshua Fund continues to labor in the fields of harvest found throughout the Middle East. We see through the eyes of Jesus the millions of people who are fatigued and have been exiled from their homes. A region gripped in the bondage of religion and rivalry of blood lines that has cost the countless lives of the innocent and helpless.
SHEPHERDLESS FLOCKS
Jesus saw the broken multitudes as if they were like sheep without a shepherd. His heart was stirred because people without anyone to care and cover them will end up weary and scattered. The Joshua Fund has been called to some very special and specific ministries in the Middle East as we seek to directly come alongside the contemporary shepherds of His people and workers in His fields.
Through being sent out, our Joshua Fund teams go into the fields of the Middle East and help identify those who are caring and ministering to the hurting and lost. The harvest Jesus spoke about is truly ready and ripe to be brought into the Kingdom. In fact, the harvest fields are as ripe in the Middle East as we have ever seen them. The pastors and leaders who work these fields can, however, themselves grow completely exhausted and pressed from every side.
One of the distinct areas of ministry for The Joshua Fund has been in the care of these shepherds. As an example, we have been able to give the pastors in the Middle East a time of refreshment, retreat and rest from the front-lines of the war both physically and spiritually. These somewhat silent and secret gatherings of church leaders have brought much fruit over the last several years. We have seen these leaders return to the fields of harvest with a fresh sense of the labor before them. In a recent gathering of Middle Eastern pastors, one of them encouraged us after our time together with the following:
“We have so many groups and missionaries coming recently to our region because of the current push of persecution by the religious radicals. The church in the West has responded by sending out people to assist us in the middle of our suffering. The lives of so many are being ministered to because of the church in the USA and other places that have responded. They send in money for humanitarian aid and supplies to help the refugees and other good works.
However, I want to tell you that the pastors here notice something different about your team – you care for us and for our families personally. You are looking beyond the projects and relief outreaches – you care for us as people and have a heart to support us in our ministries. Thank you and to all who pray and give money to your work.”
The ministry of The Joshua Fund described through the heart of pastor in the Middle East.
The body of Christ in the Middle East will soon look very different. Given the seemingly endless war, suffering and massive humanitarian needs in the region, it is not surprising that hundreds of thousands of Christians, including some church leaders, have left in recent years. Though many in the church have left, the Lord is bringing in a new crop of workers, including new Believers from a religious background who are boldly sharing their faith and discipling others in the face of tremendous opposition and persecution. Thank you once again for your continued support and prayers as we labor together in the Lord’s harvest. The harvest is plentiful and ripe, the laborers in the field are few and the Lord has called us all to minister to His people. On behalf of the many pastors throughout the weary, worn and scattered fields of the Middle East they say to you “…you care for us as people and have a heart to support us in our ministries - thank you!”
Sep
12
2016
It began in the 1980s when an Israeli pastor along with other local believers began a battle against “the shedding of innocent blood” throughout the land of Israel. Anchored on a foundation of regular prayer meetings, the group had opportunities to speak in congregations throughout the land. These dear TJF ministry partners distributed flyers on street corners – teaching and reminding that abortion is a sin against God and against the Israeli people.
This vital ministry has made a significant impact on Israeli society. Today they are assisting 450 mothers and babies and have saved at least 1,500 Israeli lives. Just recently this ministry received an award from the Israeli Knesset for “their significant contribution to the protection of mothers and children.”
In Israel, the decision to have an abortion is often borne out of severe financial need. Our ministry partner often asks women if they would be willing to keep their babies if they knew that the baby stroller, crib, diapers and other critical needs would be provided during the baby’s first year of life - and almost all of these women say that they would! What a simple gesture to enable life!
Social workers and welfare agencies around the country now often refer pregnant mothers to one of their 12 offices. “We offer sensitive and caring assistance in a loving atmosphere,” says our partner. “And we help all mothers, and all babies. Sudanese, Arab and Jewish mothers all come to us. While the largest pro-life organization in Israel will not assist non-Jewish mothers and children, including many Russian immigrants, we help them all.”
The Joshua Fund is honored to partner with this ministry by providing them with diapers and other items to help these mothers and babies. Please join us in continued, fervent prayer for this life-saving work of the Lord!
Jul
20
2016
A 6-year-old Syrian boy, fled with his mother, 2 brothers and grandparents to a safe location. Sadly, his father was a casualty of war.
Hassan’s young life has been overshadowed by a harsh reality - he has lost his home, his father, his country and has come to a new country where life is vastly different. Living his childhood in a small tent with no electricity or water, surviving on very little food and being very cold in an area where winter temperatures can reach 2 degrees Fahrenheit. The difficult conditions are a threat to the family in many ways, one being the difficulty in fighting off sickness.
Hassan wanted to go to school in order to help his family financially as he is the oldest child. Our ministry partners that serve the displaced refugees in the Epicenter operate a school for refugee children that allows them to pursue an education and interact with other children. Hassan had never been in school before and was absent for almost a month when he became ill, but has now returned and is working hard to catch up on his work. Our ministry partners have changed the life of this family by providing them with monthly food and hygiene packages and education for Hassan.
Hassan’s teacher asked him if he was happy at school and he said he said that he was very happy. He went on to say that he loves learning to read and write and wants to stay at school all day to play with the other students who have become like brothers and sisters to him. She also asked him if he knew Jesus Christ and Hassan replied that he had heard about Him at school and Jesus Christ was his friend.
Hassan wants to become a construction engineer when he grows up so that he can take care of his family and provide for them. Our ministry partner’s mission as they faithfully serve the displaced people of the Middle East is to show the love of Jesus Christ to every child and let them know that they are loved and appreciated despite all the problems and difficulties they face.
Jul
11
2016
Over the last several years, there has been an increase in the number of indigenous evangelistic efforts using the internet. Perhaps more importantly, by God’s grace, the effectiveness and fruitfulness of these ministries have grown tremendously. From beginnings that were faithful, but admittedly fairly basic attempts, these ministries now utilize the internet with extreme creativity in seeking to reach all segments of the Israeli population with the Gospel of Jesus, their long promised Messiah.
Thankfully, some of the same aspects that have often made the internet a useful tool of the enemy of our souls, are now making it effective for those advancing the Gospel. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Genesis 50:20
The secure and private nature of internet access works powerfully in helping to deliver the unobstructed truth of the Gospel, especially among Israelis who live in very privatized, intellectually isolated communities, among the very religious, and especially among women. Here, at ministry partner internet websites, these people are now able to find answers to their heart’s cry for fulfillment, purpose and true ‘shalom’ - peace and wholeness in life. So many still have honest, unanswered questions - questions which sadly don’t typically receive thorough, truthful and, more importantly, scriptural answers from those holding positions of religious leadership and authority. In many ways, not much has changed on this front since Jesus walked these streets.
Having observed and partnered with internet ministry efforts over several years, we are rejoicing as we witness an increase in the number of testimonies from those who have had honest questions about the Messiah, and who have now found the truth of Jesus and are able to examine the scriptures for themselves. We are grateful for the answers being put forth by these internet ministries in refuting some of the traditional rabbinic arguments against Jesus as Messiah – arguments that are seen as weak and skewed treatments of the scriptures.
In addition, there are now a greater number of creatively filmed, poignant videos of Israeli testimonies of salvation being made widely available on the internet, both in Hebrew and in English. Some of the more noteworthy ones have already been seen by more than one million people! Nothing is as truly compelling and impactful as hearing the truth of a personal journey of another Israeli Jew who considered Jesus as Messiah and has now placed their full trust in Him for salvation.
“...but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
The heart expressed in these video testimonies at www. imetmessiah.com helps short circuit the mindset that has historically been cultivated among Israelis by the religious that “Jesus is simply not for the Jews”.
Please know that your continued prayer and financial support have been key factors in enabling advancement of some of these vital ministries’ work within Israel. We have been blessed to be used by the Lord in key moments to help advance and, in some cases, even to help shape the impact of this critical work. We’re so blessed to be able to share with you the progress of such fruitful, Kingdom work!
Apr
20
2015
The Joshua Fund (TJF) has been ministering directly inside the neighboring nations of Israel. During the current conflicts within the region, we have been privileged to send in several TJF field teams to help encourage our ministry partners throughout the area. Thank you for helping us send in teams and praying while they travel into the countries of Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. (The massive ongoing war has prevented any ministry travels directly into Syria for some time.) This article is based on events that occurred during the most recent TJF trip into the Middle East…
“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. ‘What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?’” Matthew 18:11-12
As the temperatures soared, hope faded and the desperation of a father reached its end. Fleeing in great panic with hundreds and perhaps thousands of other families, they escaped up the mountain to a place he knew that could not sustain all the inhabitants who would soon occupy its summit. His only concern was to feed his now famished baby. The barren mountain was unforgiving and claimed the lives of many of his people during these days. Most of them, children, were tragically taken by the painful death of dehydration. This father was terrified that his baby would soon face the same fate.
Then, from amidst the clouds of dust and the thickets that dotted the mountainside, a goat miraculously strayed into his path. This became his family’s salvation. He couldn’t explain where the animal had come from. He only knew that God had answered his prayers and saved his family.
Our Joshua Fund team recently knelt with this man and his friend, both of whom had been saved from the slaughter at Sinjar. The day our team arrived, the Lord moved upon his heart to surrender to the One who had sent the goat on the mountain and would become his true salvation. He knew Jesus had sought him out and used the most dreadful situations to reveal to him that the Son of Man had come to save the lost – himself.
S AV I N G O F S I N JA R
The enemy sought to destroy all who were of Yazidi descent. Still today, the black flag-waving radicals desire to erase and “purify” the land of any who do not conform to their strict ideology. Thousands of poorly armed Yazidis trudged the face of the 62-mile mountain range in the brutal August temperatures to wait out what appeared would be a certain genocide of their people group. A mixture or syncretic religion qualified them, and the Christians living in this remote corner of northwestern Iraq and Syria, for certain extermination.
Thankfully, the international community pushed back the masked terrorists and mass genocide was avoided, although reports still cite the loss of life to be in the hundreds. Entire ancient Christian villages have been abandoned, and even now the second largest city in all of Iraq is being occupied by those who call themselves “purists.”
Today, The Joshua Fund is partnering and praying with local Believers who are ministering to the needs of those who have fled their homes throughout Iraq and Syria. Those who have been displaced and driven from the comfort of their homesteads now find themselves in the arms of desperation and are truly lost. In a physical sense, food, clothing and other basic necessities are being provided, and the message that the Lord was communicating that day to His disciples in Matthew 18 is still being heard: that the Son of Man has come to save those lost and astray in the mountain.
We so appreciate all your prayers and support and would ask you to continue to go before the Lord on behalf of our brothers and sisters from all over the Middle East:
/1/ Ask the Lord to pour out His Spirit on the Yazidi people of Northern Iraq, especially for these two brothers who gave their lives to the Lord during our recent visit.
/2/ Pray for the TJF teams that are scheduled to be sent out into the region, for wisdom, protection, health and effectiveness.
/3/ The church in the Middle East is under great attack in certain regions – ask the Lord to send boldness to speak His Word to the body of Christ as his disciples did in Acts 4:29.
Feb
25
2015
Dear Friends,
It is with excitement about God’s love for the people of Israel that I cordially invite you to join us for The Joshua Fund’s next “Prayer and Vision Tour to Israel.” It will be held October 14-25, 2015 with an optional Jordan extension from October 25-29, 2015.
This trip will be a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of how powerfully the Lord is moving in Israel. And this tour is like no other. You will visit The Joshua Fund’s Warehouse and participate in a practical ministry project to bless the poor and needy. You will have the opportunity to meet with and pray for local pastors and ministry leaders on the frontlines of the faith. I will also teach at key locations and answer your questions about the future of the Epicenter.
Please prayerfully consider joining us. I would love to see you there!
Yours to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus,
Dec
16
2014
One of the ministries The Joshua Fund invests in is deeply dedicated to saving the lives of children in the Middle East who suffer from congenital heart defects. If treated early, children with these defects can often live a healthy life. But such medical care is not readily available in many Middle Eastern countries, or is prohibitively expensive.
These dear ministry allies have developed a remarkable system of helping children from Arab nations receive lifesaving heart surgeries in Israel of all places! They work with Arab physicians who refer children for surgery. The ministry undertakes all transportation, documentation, housing, and financial needs for the patient and his or her family members during the treatment process and the time of recovery. They also provide a loving, Christ-centered environment, prayer and true spiritual encouragement to the families. In 2014 alone, because of your help, The Joshua Fund provided the resources to pay for more than 30 children — all from Arab families — to receive life-saving medical care and life-transforming personal attention. What a joy to be able do such important work together.
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. Isaiah 9:2.
Aug
7
2014
Please join The Joshua Fund in an urgent prayer request for the followers of Jesus Christ in Iraq. As the invading terrorist forces move northward, they have overtaken cities that are mainly Christian, attacking churches, threatening believers and driving many from their homes and communities. Currently, there is a massive exodus underway, as people flee these areas to seek safety. In their haste, they are leaving all their possessions and the necessities of daily life behind.
Please join us in praying for:
Thank you for prayerfully standing with our brothers and sisters in Iraq in this critical moment.
May God bless you.
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. Psalm 17:8-9
Aug
6
2014
Please join The Joshua Fund in asking the Lord to bring an end to the fighting in Israel and Gaza. We seek the Lord for the following prayer requests:
Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord And rely upon his God. Isaiah 50: 10
You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7
Sep
13
2013
When it comes to the crises in Syria and Egypt, Christians should not sit idly by on the sidelines and watch others make moves we agree or disagree with. The Scriptures indicate we can and should play an active role in times of trouble — our top priorities should be to learn, pray, give and go.
1. LEARN — “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,” we read in Proverbs 1:5. It is important that we learn all we can about what is happening in Syria and throughout the Middle East through the lens of geopolitics and economics. But it’s also vital that we learn to see the region through what I call the “third lens,” the lens of Scripture. Only then can we truly begin to understand what the enemy is doing, what God is doing, and what we should be doing as followers of Jesus Christ.
2. PRAY — “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” we read in Philippians 4:6-7. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” How are you doing in terms of praying during these Syrian and Egyptian crises? We need to be praying daily — indeed, several times a day — knowing that our God is a prayer-hearing, and prayer-answering God, a wonder-working God. Let’s look to Him and trust Him more, especially in such dark times. Specifically, we need to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Syria that God would give them great courage and boldness in the midst of war and persecution. We need to pray that God would have mercy on all the people of Syria and Egypt, comforting them in their sorrow, healing their physical and emotional wounds, and giving them wisdom to know where to go to be safe from harm and to receive the food, clothing, shelter, and medical care their need. We need to pray that the Gospel of Jesus Christ be communicated clearly, powerfully, compassionately and consistently to all the people of Syria and Egypt, and praying that all Arabs would turn away from Islam to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who alone can and will forgive them, protect them, heal them, comfort them, encourage them, and provide for their every need. We need to pray for our leaders to have wisdom to know the right course of action. Whether we agree with them or not — whether we like them are not — we are to pray for wisdom and discernment so our leaders can distinguish truth from error, fact from fiction. We are to pray for patience and for courage for our leaders, so they don’t act rashly, but that they act with determination when the time is right. We are to pray that they govern well, protecting life and liberty, above all. We should also pray that they turn to the God of the Bible in prayer, as well, to receive “wisdom from above” and not earthly wisdom (see James chapter three).
3. GIVE — Jesus said, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21). As we look at the traumas in Syria and Egypt — but also in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq – it is important we Christians who have means seek opportunities to give to others. We should give to ministries that are caring for the poor and needy in the Middle East, feeding widows and orphans and refugees and war survivors, sharing the Gospel with them, teaching the Word of the God, encouraging Arab pastors, providing Bibles and other evangelistic literature and DVDs, assisting with Arab Christian conferences, and standing with the Arab Church in a variety of other ways. The Joshua Fund is one such organization. Our mandate is to mobilize Christians around the world to bless Israel and her neighbors — including Syria and Egypt — in the name of Jesus, according to Genesis 12:1-3. For security reasons, we can’t often describe exactly the projects we’re investing in, but everything I have just mentioned are efforts The Joshua Fund is involved with — if you would like to give a secure, online, tax-deductible financial contribution to such work via The Joshua Fund, you can click here and learn more.
4. GO — “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded…” (Matthew 28:19-20) At the moment, of course, it is too dangerous for the average Christian to go to Syria to help proclaim the Gospel, make disciples and encourage the Church. For that we need to depend on the local Church in the region and ministries that serve the local Church. But you and I can go to our friends and neighbors and small group Bible studies and home fellowship groups and Sunday School classes and other groups. We can go and share this material with others. We can go and tell them that Christ loves the people of Syria and Egypt, and all the people of the Middle East, and that we must, too. You can go and lead them in prayer, and encourage them to invest financially in God’s work in the epicenter.
The point is: Christians are not to be passive. We are to be engaged in God’s work, especially in times of wars and rumors of war. We are to learn, pray, give and go — and to lift up the name of Jesus in everything we do. May God bless you as you serve him at this critical time.
Remember:
Jun
24
2013
“The Power of the Word,” was the theme of the 2013 Epicenter Conference. Joel and the guest speakers explored how God’s Word can dramatically transform individuals, leaders and nations by studying the lives of Ezra, Nehemiah, King Josiah and the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please watch and allow “The Power of the Word” to transform your life.
Sep
12
2012
Text as prepared for delivery for the 2012 Epicenter Conference
Albuquerque, New Mexico
September 12, 2012
Good evening, and thank you, Skip. It is an honor to be here, and I am grateful to call you my friend. Pastor Skip Heitzig has a great love for the people of the Middle East, both Jews and Arabs. He has traveled extensively in the region and preached the Word of God in Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon. He’s also led more than 30 tours to Israel.
On behalf of The Joshua Fund board and staff, welcome to the 2012 Epicenter Conference….welcome to those of you here with us in Albuquerque, New Mexico….and to those watching this webcast from Israel and around the world. We are deeply honored that you would join us.
Over the next few days, you’re going to hear from Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian pastors and ministry leaders – Jews and Arabs – about how they see enormous threats and challenges….what they see God doing in the Middle East today….and what they think the future holds.
You’re going to hear from some of the world’s leading Biblical scholars on some of the most controversial and sensitive issues concerning the theology of the Land of Israel….the worldwide movement inside the Church known as “Replacement Theology.” What does it mean? How much of the Church believes it? Why does it matter?
What’s more, you’re going to learn about Biblical prophecies that speak to the future of the epicenter….and practical ways you can make a positive difference to the lives of real people in the region – Jews, Muslims and Christians.
Tonight, I have two objectives:
First, to define the “epicenter.”
Second, to describe the current “State of the Epicenter.”
Let’s begin.
What do we mean by using the term “epicenter”? It is a geological term. But I think it aptly describes the Scriptural place of Jerusalem, Israel and the Middle East.
The Bible is clear:
This is why the eyes of the nations are increasingly riveted on Israel and her neighbors, the epicenter of the momentous events that are shaking our world and shaping our future.
Now, what is the State of the Epicenter in 2012?
It pains me to report tonight that great darkness is descending on the people of the epicenter. Radical Islamic militants – both Sunni and Shia – are rising to power in one country after another….lawlessness is spreading….violence against Christians and Jews and Americans is intensifying….the global economic crisis is pushing millions of people in the Mideast further into poverty and causing them to struggle even more to make ends meet…..and the evidence suggests the most devastating war in the modern history of the epicenter could be just days or weeks away.
At the same time, amidst this darkness, there is hope.
First, the Lord God is still on His throne. Still sovereign. Always a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God, a wonder-working God. That’s why we have hope.
We saw two big answers to prayer this year:
For one, Gilad Shalit came home – Shalit is the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas 0n June 25, 2006. But God heard the prayers of His people. He showed mercy to Gilad and his family. He was released on October 18, 2011 after 1,940 days in captivity.
For another, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was released from an Iranian prison – Nadarkhani is an Iranian Muslim convert to Christianity. He faced a death sentence in Iran on charges of apostasy. But God heard the prayers of His people. He showed mercy to Pastor Youcef and his family. Youcef was acquitted on the apostasy charges. He was found guilty of sharing the Gospel with Muslims and sentenced to three years in prison. But was released in the last few days, having already served his time.
Many of you prayed for these men. Thank you. Keep praying for them. And let us take a lesson from Pastor Youcef’s example.
If you were arrested and charged with sharing the Gospel with a Muslim – or anyone in or from the epicenter – would there be enough evidence to find you guilty?
Second, in Matthew 16:18, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” What’s more, Christ is coming back soon and all of us who are born again by faith can rest assured that we are going to spend eternity in heaven with the Lord. That, too, is why we have hope.
The Holy Spirit is moving powerfully in the epicenter. More Jews and more Arabs and more Iranians are coming to faith than any other time in the history of the world. As the darkness grows darker, Christ is shining more brightly, and many are being drawn to the Lord.
Please turn in your Bibles to Ezekiel 33:1-6.
“And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, “If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.”’”
Two important questions emerge from this passage:
Since the last Epicenter Conference last summer, I’ve taken two trips that moved me deeply. Last November, I traveled with several pastors to Poland to visit the death camps in Auschwitz. A few weeks ago, Lynn and I took our boys to visit the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor. I went to these places to remember what happens when people ignore emerging threats and don’t take decisive action.
To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it.
We didn’t understand the threat posed by Adolf Hitler and the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s, and we were blindsided by the invasion of Europe and the death camps of the Holocaust.
We didn’t understand the threat posed by Imperial Japan in 1941, and we were blindsided by the attack at Pearl Harbor.
We didn’t understand the threat posed by Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in 2001, and we were blindsided by the attacks of September 11th.
Today, too many in governments around the world – and too many in the Church – either don’t see the evil rising in Iran, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and throughout the epicenter, or refuse to take action.
Tragically, the Arab Spring has been a catastrophic failure. All hope of the rise of free nations with free elections and free economies and freedom of speech and worship have been dashed. What are rising instead are dangerous Radical Islamic regimes that will oppress millions of people and foment violence and war.
And then there is Iran.
But the Bible is clear:
How, then, should Christians respond?
We must pray for peace, but prepare for war.
I want to take a few minutes now before we close this first session of the conference to share a video of what The Joshua Fund has been doing to prepare.
A few other points on how The Joshua Fund is preparing. Over the past few years we have:
Is this enough? No.
Is it more than was happening in the Land six years ago before TJF began? Yes.
Do we take any credit for the progress made? Not at all.
We are servants of a great and mighty God. We are trying to be faithful in a few things and if we are faithful, perhaps He will put us in charge of being more helpful.
The key is that God is sovereign. He is holy. He is moving powerfully. He is remembering the Jews and Palestinians that are poor and needy….and living in harm’s way….and in need of the prayers and encouragement and equipping of Christians from all over the world.
The Lord is raising up a movement of Christ-followers around the world – including many of you – who are committed to loving Israelis, because Jesus loves Israelis….and loving Palestinians because Jesus loves Palestinians….and loving Arabs and Persians throughout the epicenter because of Christ’s love for them.
This is how the Body of Christ is supposed to work – those who have praying, caring, serving those in need, and doing so in the name of Jesus Christ with unconditional love….and unwavering support.
We are to be watchmen on the walls. When we see threats, we need to warn people. We need to stand up and speak out. We need to act in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christians may have very little geopolitical influence, but we are not powerless.
We can pray. We can preach the Word. We can proclaim the Gospel. We can encourage and equip our brothers and sisters in the epicenter. We can show Christ’s love and compassion to all in the epicenter.
Jesus commands us: Love your neighbor. Love your enemy. And love one another. At its core, that is what this conference is all about.
If we don’t obey the Lord, and love the Jews and Arabs and others in the epicenter, and shine as a light in the darkness, who will?
—End—
May
15
2012
One of the most exciting phrases we find in the Bible is ‘Then they shall know that I am the LORD’. It often follows some incredible promise of God or precedes prophetically some powerful work that can only be credited to His hand.
This is what we find at the end of Ezekiel 36 as God improbably promises to bring the broken nation of Israel back into the land. It precedes one of the most incredible passages in the Bible, found in Ezekiel 37, as God asks the prophets, “Can these dry bones live?” God then goes on to give Ezekiel a vision of the nation of Israel being resurrected, a promise which sustained hope over thousands of years of scattering and persecution of His chosen people. Over those centuries, this promise of God must have seemed not only improbable, but impossible. Yet, in this century, we have witnessed the beginning of God’s fulfillment of His promise.
In much the same way, God has made incredible—some might say impossible—promises to His Church. But, as the centuries have gone by and the years have taken their toll, many of His people have lost hope and see the fulfillment of God’s predictions about the future as true in theory, but having little practical application in their lives.
Joel C. Rosenberg is joined at the Pastors & Leadership Conference in Siegen, Germany by pastors Ray Bentley, Bob Botsford, Nick Long, David Guzik and Lance Ralston as we dig deeply into God’s Word. We will focus on Ezekiel 36-39 to see how God has been faithful to His promises in history past and will continue to be faithful in the future. The promises He has made to Israel and to us, His Church, are true and have powerful, practical application in our lives and ministries today.
Now available are conference videos featuring the guest speakers and Q&A Sessions. Watch Now
Mar
30
2012
Joel C. Rosenberg, best-selling author and President of The Joshua Fund, will be joined at the 2012 Epicenter Conference by several special guest conference speakers, including:
View Speakers page for more information.
A South African native and acclaimed worship leader, Brenton Brown’s journey changed when he moved to England and joined the Oxford Vineyard. Learning from Brian Doerksen, Brenton - though still young - wrote some of the church’s best-loved songs; Your Love Is Amazing, Lord Reign In Me and Holy Holy Holy.
After contracting M.E., the debilitating medical condition, Brenton returned home to South Africa, thinking his days at the front of church were over. Then, a breakthrough; a dramatic revelation of God’s sustaining power transformed everything. Out of this came the modern-day classic anthem ‘Everlasting God’. Having moved to America, Brenton has recently been writing with other artists like Paul Baloche and Matt Maher.
New songs have emerged - Adoration, Hosanna and Our God Is Mercy - and with them a new stage of the journey has begun to emerge. With this new collection of songs this is an ideal time to meet Brenton Brown.
Mar
30
2012
The 2013 Epicenter Conference is scheduled to be held in Jerusalem on July 3-4th and will feature noted best-selling author and President of The Joshua Fund, Joel C. Rosenberg, as well as several special guest speakers. This two-day conference will feature in-depth Bible teaching, as well as relevant and timely panel discussions focusing on current events in the Middle East and God’s work continuing in the epicenter.
Plan now to join us for this significant conference event! You will also have the opportunity to join The Joshua Fund for our tour of Israel scheduled for June 25 through July 7, 2013. Walk where Jesus walked, pray where Jesus and the apostles prayed, learn Israel’s history, discover Israel’s prophetic future, meet the people of the epicenter and draw closer to the Lord. In addition to participation in the two-day Epicenter Conference, we will engage in a unique day of service, providing a rare opportunity to meet and serve the poor and needy communities in Israel.
Mar
28
2012
With varying views and beliefs on Israel taught within the Church presently, what does the Bible say about the past, present, and future of Israel and the Palestinians? This is one of the critical questions facing Christians today, and one that has recently generated debate among Church leaders across the country.
Join us September 12-16th in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the 2012 Epicenter Conference. New York Times best-selling author, Joel C. Rosenberg, will be joined by several highly regarded theological experts to discuss in detail several essential issues relevant to the Church’s view of Israel and the epicenter region as a whole.
This is a non-ticketed, free of charge event. All seating will be open based on availability.
Wednesday, September 12th: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Friday, September 14th: 7:00pm – 9:30pm
Saturday, September 15th: 8:30am – 5:00pm & 6:30pm* – 8:30pm
Sunday, September 16th: 8:00am* – 9:00am, 9:30am* – 10:30am & 11:15am* – 12:15pm
*The Saturday evening message will be the same message as the three Sunday morning messages.
If you would like to receive periodic email updates on the conference, please complete and submit the form on this page.
Calvary of Albuquerque
4001 Osuna Road Northeast
Albuquerque, NM 87109
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