Dear Metro Family,

Since October 7, 2023, I have been watching, listening, and praying about all that is taking place in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas.  I have been trying to make sense of it all. I have been asking the Lord what to do…what to say…what to think.

Over and over again, I keep coming back to a simple answer – pray. As I pray, the words from Psalm 122 – an Ascent Psalm of David – come to mind:

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.

Thousands of innocent lives have been tragically lost – men, women, and children. Close to two million people have been displaced with little to no resources to start over or land in a safe place. Thousands of homes and public spaces have been ruined. And I find myself crying out, “How long, O Lord?!” If my heart grieves this deeply over this, I can only imagine how much the Lord is grieving right now.

So, I pray Psalm 122:6-9 over the entire region. And I invite you to join me in doing the same. May God bring calm to this chaos. May God bring an end to this war. May God bring peace to this region, comfort to those who have lost loved ones, shelter to those who are homeless, and hope to those who are struggling to find hope amid tragedy. And may the Lord hasten the day of Christ’s return and bring an end to war, strife, grief, pain, and suffering.

Many have inquired about our international workers that minister in the region. They have all been safely relocated for the time being. Some have returned stateside. Pray for them, their families, and the communities to whom they minister, as this has been a disorienting time for everyone.

And pray for the Alliance churches in the region that are ministering to people who have suffered utter devastation. Specifically, this is how the churches have asked us to pray (taken from cmalliance.org/ongoing-conflict-in-the-holy-land/):

• For all those – whether Jewish or Arab – who continue to suffer the horrific effects of this conflict.
• For the ongoing safety of Alliance churches and workers from other Alliance World Fellowship nations who remain in the affected areas to offer tangible help and hope to the suffering and displaced.
• For government and religious leaders in the region to exercise wisdom and discernment in making decisions that protect those under their authority and care.
• For unity in Christ among Arab and Israeli believers that will secure peace and restore communities.
• For the safe release and protection of all hostages.
• For believers in the affected region to recognize that the underlying struggle “is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephes. 6:12) and engage in the battle accordingly.
• That the Lord will lead many to know Him and be saved through His redemptive power.

Continually Giving God My Yes, 

Kelvin