Israel-Iran: Urgent prayers for peace

Christian organisations are calling for urgent prayers for lasting peace in Israel, Iran and the wider Middle East.

On social media, Messianic Jewish organisation Jews for Jesus posted a video from an unnamed staff worker in Israel in which he said: “It’s 4:00 AM in Israel [and] we’ve been awakened twice by push alerts and alarms … Would you stand with us and pray for the peace of Jerusalem; pray for peace in the whole area of the Middle East.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ve been alerted to stay next to shelters as an expected response from Iran may happen in the next hours or days. But would you pray for God to bring peace to this region, peace to all of the Middle East, for wisdom for the leaders.

“And pray for our staff in Israel that are all waiting in bomb shelters.”

Elam Ministries, which works to strengthen and expand the Iranian church, wrote via email: “First, we pray for mercy – for the innocent, for families gripped by fear, and for those most vulnerable in both Iran and Israel. Second, we pray for peace – that this conflict would be short-lived and that its resolution would not simply be a pause in violence, but a step toward real and lasting peace.

“We also pray for the Church in Iran. For many years, the church has quietly grown in courage and love. In whatever new season Iran is entering, the church has a profoundly important task: to be salt and light, to care for the hurting, and to point all people to the love of Christ.”

Global Christian Relief, which supports persecuted Christians, stated online: “As followers of Christ, we are called to pray – for peace, for wisdom, and for all who are vulnerable.”