“Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.”   (Zechariah 8:22)

Dear friends and prayer partners!

We must thank the Lord for answering our prayers over recent weeks concerning the boastful threats of Iran and Hizbullah to launch massive retaliatory attacks against Israel. Amazingly, Iran has held back so far. And when Hizbullah was poised to fire thousands of rockets and drones deeper into Israel, the IDF took pre-emptive action just minutes beforehand and the enemy’s plans ended in an embarrassing failure. Indeed, God has been a shield to Israel, and enabled this nation to defend itself.

Our attention is now turning to our Feast of Tabernacles 2024, which is now only a few weeks away. As we gather for the Feast from 16-23 October, it will come at a time when Israel will be marking one year since the great tragedy of last October 7. So, it will not be a normal Feast but more a solidarity mission to stand with the people of Israel as they commemorate those lost on Simchat Torah last year. Yet this also presents a unique opportunity for our Feast pilgrims to comfort Israel as never before.

Planning for this year’s Feast has not been easy, given the uncertainties over the war, a potential ceasefire, pilgrims arranging flights, and many other factors. But it is possible to safely visit Israel right now and the Christian Embassy is preparing to hold the Feast as planned – both in-person and online. And we would greatly appreciate your prayers that everything will come together smoothly in God’s will and timing.

Please be praying for our leadership and staff in Jerusalem as we finalise decisions on Feast venues, speakers, worship leaders and other key aspects of our Succot gathering. Pray for our national branches and tour group leaders as they arrange their travel plans. Pray for all the Feast pilgrims that the Lord is drawing to this year’s Feast, that they will have the means to come. And pray that this year’s Feast will have a deep impact on our Israeli friends as we engage with them during the week of the Feast.

We are trusting that the Lord will bring together at this year’s Feast the largest solidarity mission to Israel since the war began. And we believe our presence here at this time will be a tremendous encouragement and blessing to the Jewish nation and people as their Christian friends come to stand beside them in their hour of need. Please join us in praying this through to God’s intended end.

Perhaps God is also calling you to “come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord” at the Feast (Zechariah 8:22). If you would like to know more about this year’s Feast of Tabernacles, go to: feast.icej.org

Thank you again for your prayer support. We are so grateful to have faithful intercessors around the world standing behind Israel and the ICEJ in prayer.

Blessings from Jerusalem!

David Parsons
Senior Vice President & Spokesman
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem