Council of Bishops Executive Committee
International Pentecostal Holiness Church
October 17, 2023
The International Pentecostal Holiness Church stands in solidarity with the people of Israel as they respond to the atrocities committed by the terrorist group Hamas on October 7, 2023. Besides being the holy day of Shabbot (Sabbath), it was also the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), and the 50th anniversary of an earlier attack on the holy day of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
Established on May 14, 1948, the state of Israel became the answer to the longing prayer of generations of Jews at the close of the Passover meal, “Next year in Jerusalem.” For two thousand years Jews were scattered among the nations (the Diaspora). Sometimes Jews found refuge and places where they could safely prosper. But they also experienced hostility, discrimination, pogroms, and in the 20th century efforts to systematically destroy them in the Holocaust.
The horrific violence committed by Hamas on October 7 is a bitter reminder that the descendants of Abraham are still vulnerable to the evil that seeks to destroy them. They are a people chosen by divine grace as instruments of divine revelation and through whom the Messiah and Savior of the world, Jesus of Nazareth, came (Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Romans 3:1, 2; Galatians 4:4).
The International Pentecostal Holiness Church believes God’s promised blessings to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 remain part of His eternal faithfulness. We believe the hope of God’s dealings with Israel described by the Apostle Paul in Romans 9-11. We proclaim that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news to the Jew first and then to Gentiles (Romans 1:16).
As many have observed since October 7, there is no moral equivalency between how Israel engages in protective warfare and how her enemies engage in terrorism. We denounce Israel’s enemies and appeal for them to reject their desire to destroy Israel and instead choose the blessings of peace.
We pray for the thousands of Jewish families around the world grieving over their massacred loved ones. We pray for the Israeli government and military that their success will bring peace in Gaza and beyond.
We also pray for the innocent Palestinians caught in this conflict in Gaza. We pray that Hamas will be destroyed and that the people of Gaza will find leaders that will bring them peace and prosperity.
We are thankful for the IPHC presence in Israel and Bethlehem. We pray for their protection and that their witness to God’s love in Jesus will bring hope and life to those they serve.
Besides our prayers, IPHC World Missions Ministries is providing financial assistance that will be shared in Israel. You are encouraged to give to this special project at https://give.iphc.org/project/israel-relief.
