John and Sandy Halvorsen, Board Members of Kairos Ministries, traveled to Israel last month. The goal while there was to travel to Mount Carmel and other strategic places, praying and proclaiming that Israel belongs to God, and that it is now time for the rain of the Holy Spirit to fall and for eyes to open to her Messiah. Here is the report on their trip.

JOHN’S REPORT

As always, it is good to have someone to bounce ideas and vision off of—hopefully, someone who knows and understands you and is wise in the faith. Fortunately, I have such people in Alan and Dorothy Langstaff. I consider Alan and Dorothy my pastors, a father and mother in the faith, and good friends.

Alan Langstaff’s counsel to Sandy and me was surprisingly simple yet shockingly relevant. As is often the case, we sought his blessing before embarking on a faith venture, this time to Israel. Before knocking on his door, the Lord told me that Alan would have a word of wisdom so to be alert. He counseled us to see ourselves as a wheel within a wheel, a reference to the book of Ezekiel, chapter one. Too he strongly urged Sandy and me to get at least twelve intercessors on board who would commit to praying for our safety while in Israel.

As I wrote earlier, The day after arriving home from our recent trip around the world by sea, we heard about an exciting global prayer effort called the ‘Isaiah 62 Fast’. Mike Bickle, founder and director of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, invited millions of Christians worldwide to pray and fast for Israel from May 7 to May 28, 2023. The purpose was to push back 2,000 years of darkness and for Jewish eyes to see her Messiah.

A few days later, the Lord moved on me and said: “I am raising an army of intercessors to pray for Israel. I want you to join them and pray on Mount Carmel for seven days.” Right away, I thought back to the fervent prayers of Elijah on Mount Carmel, which ended a 3 ½ year drought in Israel. I felt the Lord say He would do it again if only His people would pray. My assignment was to join this army of intercessors by praying and declaring from Mount Carmel.

Under the unction, I invited our friends Helen Utegaard and her son Elias of Lightnings Ministry to join us. Helen and her team prayer drove ahead of us as we walked from Miami to Seattle two years ago. Not surprised, Helen said the Lord had already given her a heads-up. They were raring to go.

Mount Carmel is a mountain range that stretches 24 miles from the Mediterranean to the southeast of Israel and is known in Arabic as Mount Mar Elias, meaning Mount Saint Elijah. For seven days, we based ourselves in Haifa at the head of Mount Carmel and made daily excursions onto the Mountain.

Upon reaching our hotel in Haifa, we saw on Israeli television that Tel Aviv was struck by several rockets the morning we landed at Ben Gurion airport. Unaware of this, we drove north to Haifa and out of harm’s way. A minimal amount of violence in a nation on the edge of war is always an answer to prayer, and we were so thankful to the Lord!

Tactical guidance also came from Melody Royal, a prophetic intercessor we met on a previous walk across America. She urged Sandy and me to contact Karen Davis, co-founder of the Messianic congregation, Kehilat HaCarmel, situated at the highest point of Mount Carmel. Straight off, we met this wonderful woman of God who became a central figure during our time at Carmel.

Karen introduced us to many believing folks in the area, including Peter and Rita Tsukahira, co-pastors of the Mount Carmel congregation. Rita seemed to know everything about me. She knew, for instance, that Sandy and I had just been around the world by sea, and I felt the voyage had much to do with future developments in Israel.

Taken aback, I asked her how she knew these things. Her comeback astonished me. Her husband, Peter Tsukahira, had served on Doctor Yonggi Cho’s Church Growth Board with Alan Langstaff. Consequently, they knew about our prophetic adventures through the Langstaff letter—small world.

Karen and Rita then invited us to pray from the roof of their ministry center, the highest point on Mount Carmel. As far as the eye could see, there were volcanic formations, pine forests, valleys, and caves. We spent a couple of hours interceding, declaring scripture, and singing praises to God. Sensing a possible attack from the northern Lebanese and Syrian borders, we earnestly prayed for divine protection upon Israel and wisdom for her governing leaders. We understand that no matter how proficient the Israeli military is, they alone will never be enough. Israel will need Divine intervention.

On a side note, my digestion was off. Then while attending a Shabbat service on Mount Carmel, I felt something snap and instantly felt better. Ironically, I celebrated my healing by eating a hotdog on Mount Carmel! Koscher, of course!

During our seven days, we drove from the Mediterranean along the 24-mile length of Mount Carmel, praying from multiple high places, including a Carmelite Monastery purportedly where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. This site offered panoramic views of the Valley of Armageddon, the location of the epic end-time battle mentioned in the book of Revelation. We proclaimed the prophetic victory Elijah had experienced on the Mountain over the coming end-time war in the valley and felt this was quite a significant connection.

Also, about day four, we came close to colliding with another car. Had we been just feet ahead, it could have been nasty. The other vehicle lost control on a sharp bend in the road and slid sideways. Alan’s word about the necessity of prayer coverage hit home. Later in the week, we encountered a vehicle veering side to side on a four-lane highway. Again, I was thankful for Divine protection.

Alan’s thought about a wheel within a wheel played out during this time. It’s easy sometimes to feel too highly or lowly of your calling, especially in the Holy Land. Israel has more than its share of robe-clad Elijahs. Throughout the seven days, I reminded myself our team had a role to play, but within a much bigger picture. We were not Elijah, but players sent to accomplish a specific purpose.

Too, we interacted with people that only God could have set up.

A case in point was tea with a Messianic Jewish believer, Dalia Dery. In the 1980s, she was on the fast track to becoming a Buddhist Nun, shaved head and all. Then she gets radically saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, and now functions as a modern-day apostle with signs and wonders following. Sitting next to her was like sitting next to a character straight out of the Book of Acts. As I listened to her stories, Romans 11: 12 & 15 came to me.

“Now, if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.”…” For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be Life for those who were dead!”

I could hardly spit the words out because the Holy Spirit’s presence was so powerful. As I looked at this five-foot-60ish woman with the innocence and demeanor of a child, I saw the first fruits of this Biblical promise. In the future, the anointing of God will be so powerful upon God’s Jewish people that they will provoke Gentile Believers to jealousy. That day is fast approaching!

After our week on Mount Carmel, we went to Jerusalem via Tel Aviv. Providently, it was ‘Jerusalem Day.’

Jerusalem Day is an Israeli national holiday commemorating the reunification of East Jerusalem (including the Old City) with West Jerusalem during the Six-Day War of 1967. In this miraculous war, Jewish people gained something they hadn’t had for 2,000 years: access to pray at the Western Wall, their most Holy site. With joyous singing and dancing, thousands of Jewish folks parade through the old city carrying Israeli flags, celebrating their return to their beloved historical capital. We witnessed this annual celebration up close by spending the day in the Old City.

At dusk, looking down on the Wailing Wall and its sizeable public square from a high set of stairs, we met a man who took part in the liberating force that first reached the Western Wall in 1987. He said that when he arrived at the Wall, he was incredulous. At that moment, filled with joy, I proclaimed to him that there must be a God!

Unfortunately, in recent years, Jerusalem Day has been marred by clashes of Israeli police with Palestinian protesters and by rocket attacks from Gaza. Due to the extensive prayer covering this year, there were only minor skirmishes for which we were thankful.

On our last day in Israel, some friends invited us to join them in Ein Kerem, the birthplace of John the Baptist. Jesus referenced John as Elijah, so the trip began and ended with a focus on Elijah. We had a great time of mutual encouragement, and our friends, who smell war on the horizon, ask Christians worldwide to continue praying for Israel.

We also saw God’s protection unfold over the entire nation. Our visit encompassed celebration days for the Jewish state on which Arab violence historically breaks out. Amazingly no violence materialized in the areas we visited. Also, an expected multi-front war against Israel dwindled into a campaign of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel’s southern cities alone. The thought of rocket fire is shocking to Westerners but commonplace in the volatile Middle East. Living in Israel is not for the timid of heart!

On May 21, our small team returned to the US, carrying Israel in our hearts. Since our return, we have heard from folks in Israel who again ask for our continued prayers. A Christian celebration on the last day of the Isaiah 62 fast was held in the old city of Jerusalem, and many Orthodox Jews were there to protest. As one of the Messianic believers was trying to enter the area, a group of young Jewish men and an Orthodox Rabbi resisted her. They reviled, kicked, and threw her around, injuring her neck.

She says that Yeshua stood with her during the ordeal as she released forgiveness to her attackers and she felt no physical pain, but keenly felt the pain in God’s heart at their behavior.

Reflecting on the fruitfulness of our trip to Israel, I am grateful for the prayers that undergirded us and for His calling us back to the Holy Land.

What’s next? Here’s something to keep in your prayers. While in Haifa, Sandy spoke to a woman who happened to be from Cuba. Sandy asked how she could pray for her, and the young woman burst into tears. Then she gave Sandy a colossal hug and pleaded to pray that God would set her people free. Shortly after, I felt nudged to consider traveling to Cuba.

Then, when I got home, I found a Cuban flag draped on my dresser. During our last prayer walk, Sandy ordered Appeal to Heaven flags, and this stray one was inside. Sandy had just pulled it from her dresser and placed it on mine. Imagine my joy upon seeing this because I had been asking God for a sign.

Being in His service is always exciting, and it’s equally excellent to have like-minded friends who understand our call to a walk of faith. God bless you now and always. Amen!

John and Sandy Halvorsen